City Intensifies investigation on GenSan Bomb Blast

City Mayor Pedro Acharon, Jr., with PRO 12 Regional Director, CSupt Felizardo Serapio, Jr. and City Director PSSupt Robert Po, CEO VI in today's Press Briefing has orderdered an intensified investigation on the bombing incident that traspired at 6:40pm on January 30, 2008 outside the fenced property of Philbest Canning Corporation (owned by Rd Group of Companies) in Barangay Tambler, General Santos City.

GSCPO investigators were directed to interview the victims including the owners of the two motorcycles damaged by the explosion to gather exploitable information that may facilitate in the identification of the perpetrators or motives behind the incident.

On the previous information that the possible motives for the explosion are extortion and labor/management-related, this could have not been possible. According to Mr. Rodrigo Rivera, Chairman and President of the PhilBest Canning Corporation, their companies and affiliates have never received any demand in any manner from anyone for cash or extorting in "exchange" for "protection".

Mr. Rivera further revealed that they have a harmonious relationship with their employees and that they take care of their workers as members of the family. Nevertheless, our Office will look into a previous labor dispute filed by at least eighteen individuals for "illegal dismissal" against an affiliate company, RD Fishing Industry. The initial decision on this case was favorable to the company owners, however, it is on appeal by the dismissed workers.

The initial findings of our EOD personnel and PRO12 crime laboratory personnel is that the blast was caused by an explosive material of small quantity. From the evidences gathered, a grenade blast is discounted and that the explosion was caused by an improvised explosive device or IED. The order of detonation is also high is revealed by the gathered pieces of evidence. They are small or minute pieces which means that the IED almost completely disintegrated. The pieces of evidence are being examined and pieced together at the office of CL,PRO12, Their final report on the shape and make of the IED including the type of explosive material will be submitted anytime soon.

Our investigation as of this moment is looking into other possible causes or motives aside from those mentioned. Another report will be submitted as soon as the examination of our EOD and CL personnel will be finished.

The OIC, GCSPO has already directed all COP's of (8) police station/CMG/SWAT to undertake appropriate security measures to all vital installations, economic key points places of convergence and public places to thwart occurrence of same incident within this city.

PRESS BRIEFING. GenSan City Mayor Pedro Acharon, Jr. answers a query from a media personnel during the January 31st Press Briefing conducted at the Camp Fermin Lira, Jr. in relation to the previous night's bombing incident in Barangay Tambler. The mayor together with PR 12 Regional Director CSupt. Felizardo Serapio and City Director PSSupt. Robert Po announced that an intensified investigation is still going on with regard to the identity and motives of the perpetrators of the crime. (GenSan CMO/avel manansala)

Mayor Finishes 2nd Module on Toxic Waste Management

Gen. Santos City Mayor Pedro Acharon, Jr. recently finished another round of training seminar on his road to completing a Certificate Program on Toxic and Hazardous Waste Management at the University of the Philippines Diliman (UPD).

The 5-day training course which was on “Chemical Emergency and Preparedness (THW 220)” was conducted by the UP through the National Engineering Center (NEC). This is the 2^nd module in the 4-module program which aims to build the technical capacity of staff from the government and private sectors on the key elements of toxic and hazardous waste management as a requirement for the implementation of RA 6969 (Toxic Substances and Hazardous and Nuclear Wastes Control Act of 1990).

The mayor has placed Environment Regeneration and Protection in the forefront of his administration’s guiding policies under the SHEEP program and has always been cognizant of the need of the local government to be adept, updated and knowledgeable on issues related to it.

In November of 2007, he finished the program’s first module together with City Planning Officer Engr. Nael Cruspero and will be going back for the 3^rd and final modules next month and March 2008 at the same university in Quezon City. (GenSan CMO/avel manansala)

TOXIC WASTE MANAGEMENT. GenSan City Mayor Jun Acharon assisting his team (where he acted as Incident Commander) in preparing to respond to a hazardous chemical spill simulation at the Clark Development Corporation grounds in Angeles City last January 24, 2008. This activity is part of the 2nd phase of his 4-module course leading to a Certificate Program on Toxic & Hazardous Waste Management conducted by UP Diliman through the National Engineering Center (NEC). (GenSan CMO/avel manansala)

TransCo finishes repairs on damaged towers

The National Transmission Corporation (TransCo) said it has completed repairs on eight of the nine transmission line towers that were damaged by the recent series of bombings in the Lanao provinces.

TransCo assistant vice president for Mindanao OIC Emmanuel Abellanosa said TransCo’s line crews have already repaired Towers 22, 26, 4, 36, 19, 15, 8 and 9.

“We are now rushing repairs on the ninth, Tower 50, in Lanao del Sur,” he said.

Abellanosa also reiterated that contingency measures to address the situation are firmly in place.

“Although the bombings have affected the efficiency and reliability of our system, we are in control of the situation. If these destructive acts continue, we have a system in place to mitigate a possible prolonged power interruption,” he added.

Abellanosa cited TransCo’s linemen for risking their lives in order to repair the transmission towers and energize the lines at the soonest possible time.

He also thanked the Philippine National Police and Philippine Army contingents assigned in the Lanao areas for their help. “We are constantly in coordination with them in these trying times,” he said. (transco pr)

TransCo Adopts Contingency Measures on felled towers

The National Transmission Corporation (TransCo) has activated a number of contingency measures today, January 25, to normalize power supply in the grid following the reduction of its power transmission capacity to various parts of Mindanao due to three separate bombings of its transmission line towers early morning today.

TransCo line crews have been dispatched to the trouble spots to immediately start repairs on Tower 8 and 9 of the Abaga-Tagoloan line in Balo-i, Lanao del Sur and Tower 50 of the Agus 2-Kibawe line in Brgy. Fatima, Iligan City respectively.

TransCo OIC-Assistant VP Emmanuel Abellanosa said TransCo is dealing with the reduced transmission capacity in accordance with its contingency plan. The recent series of bombings have affected the efficient delivery of electricity to several provinces in Mindanao.

“All remedial measures are being done to restore the affected lines at the earliest time possible,” Abellanosa said.

Expanded City Hall sa Barangay Starts

City Hall sa barangay is scheduled to resume this coming January 23, 2008.

City Administrator Engr. Teodorico Dumagan met yesterday with barangay officials and department heads of the city government to thresh out last minute arrangements.

First to be visited will be barangay Fatima (Jan. 23-25) to be followed by barangay Dadiangas North on January 30-February 1.

Administrator Dumagan said City Hall sa Barangay will now be expanded to 3 days. Offices under the different clusters will be deployed to deliver services on separate days.

Barangay residents could now expect an improved service delivery by various offices of government participating in city hall sa barangay activities Dumagan said.

The succeeding CHB schedules will be discussed by barangay captains in a meeting to be called by Barangay Captain Lulu Casabuena, Liga President, next week. (CPIO/ping aponesto)

Mayor's Stand on IRA cut

SOLID STAND. GenSan City Mayor Pedro Acharon, Jr. wears a black arm band on his left arm during an interview by ABS-CBN in solidarity with the stand of the League of Cities of the Philippines where he is the Vice-President for Mindanao, against the congress' plan to convert 16 municipalities into cities without having to comply with the laws on cityhood. GenSan will stand to lose about P57 million this year from its IRA (Internal Revenue Allotment) increase of P82 million with the plan. (GenSan CMO/avel manansala)

OFW's form association

Former Overseas Filipino Workers and their immediate family members residing in barangay Fatima were orgaized into an association by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA-12) and the OFW Desk of City Hall Wednesday this week.

The 22 OFWs who joined the Fatima OFW Association also participated in the 3-day Capability-building Training and Seminar on Leadership, Value Formation and Team-building held at the Senior Citizens building at barangay Fatima.

The training was facilitated by Ms. Nurul Ashiqin Basman, Family Welfare Officer of OWWA 12 and Ms. Erlinda Abara, OFW Desk in-charge of the city.

The group is beneficiary of OWWAs livelihood assistance. After the training, they are scheduled to start their Groceria Livelihood Project.

This is the first OFW association in Gensan which was lucky to be the beneficiary of OWWAs livelihood assistance program.

Another group, the Barangay South OFW Association, is also scheduled to undergo a separate 3-day training on January 24-26, 2008.

OFWs of Barangay Dadiangas South are also set to benefit from OWWAs Groceria Livelihood Project this first quarter of 2008.
(CPIO/ping aponesto)

City's Biz Permits Collection Increases

General Santos City – The local treasury has recorded an increase in its collection for the first quarter of this year compared to the same period the previous year.

City Treasurer's Office Chief Rodilon Lacap said in a press conference that this year's collection on the renewal of business permits reached P57 million, higher by P2 million compared to the same period last year.

Lacap said that as of January 21, total assessment of the amount collectible has managed to reach P119 million, which is higher by P17million compared to the same period the previous year.

Councilor Jong Gonzales, Committee Chairman on Finance during last week's council meeting, backed the treasurer's claim by reporting that there are a lot of new business registrations this year.

"Media reports that the city did not hit its target collection is not true", he said.

Lacap attributed the increase in revenue collections to the massive tax collection campaign launched by his office and the City Mayor's Office through their "One Stop Shop" Documentation at City Hall.

He is optimistic that his office could surpass this year's target set forth by the Department of Budget and Management.

The Permits and Licenses division has reported a total of 2427 printed permits as of today , 144 of which are new businesses. The figures shows that it is about the same trend last year in the same period.

More than 6,200 business permits were issued last year and has recorded 1,118 new applicants. It is expected that there were still other businesses that will come for renewal in the coming weeks. (GENSAN CPIO)