Category: Press Release

CITY GOV’T TO UPDATE TRICYCLE ROUTE PLAN

KIDAPAWAN CITY – In consideration for the welfare of the general public, the City Government here will be formulating an updated Tricycle Route Plan in compliance with the directive of the DILG prohibiting tricycles operating along the National Highway.
City Mayor Joseph Evangelista, on February 28, 2020 met City Government Officials, officers of the Federation of Kidapawan Integrated Tricycle Association FKITA , the City DILG Local Government Operations Officer and police officials of the City PNP and Highway Patrol Group for the creation of a Tricycle Task Force to discuss the revision of the new Tricycle Route Plan that will be acceptable to drivers, operators and the riding public, yet, compliant with DILG Memorandum Circular number 2020-036.
On February 17, 2020 the Department of the Interior and Local Government mandated all Local Government Units to prohibit tricycles in operating along national highways, hence, the formulation of an updated Tricycle Route Plan by the City Government.
Memorandum Circular 2020-036 also set a deadline for all LGU’s to implement the prohibition of tricycle operating along national highways by March 17, 2020.
The primary reason for the issuance of MC 2020-036 is the safety of the riding public as a measure of preventing tricycles getting involved in road accidents.
However, there is an exception according to the law, as it may allow tricycles to ply the national highway when ‘there is no alternative route available for transporting passengers’.
Mayor Evangelista instructed the Tricycle Task Force that will formulate the TRP to ponder on the said considerations.
The City Government has already formulated an earlier version of the TRP under the Local Public Transport Route Plan or LPTRP in 2017.
This covers routes for all Public Utility Vehicles and tricycles plying Kidapawan City in compliance with a similar directive coming from the Land Transportation Franchising Regulatory Board or LTFRB.
It was already submitted to the LTFRB but the latter has yet to inform the City Government of its approval up to the present.
The Mayor requested the task force to communicate with the LTFRB and determine the status of the LPTRP, as the City Government is formulating an updated TRP.
The Tricycle Route Plan shall contain the schematic map showing the locations of all tricycle terminals and routes authorized by the City Government. Also, it must identify portions of the national highway utilized by 4 wheeled vehicles greater than 4 tons and where normal speeds exceed 40 kilometers per hour. In addition, it must identify portions of the national highway that tricycles may use for lack of alternative route.
The TRP will be used as basis for an ordinance that will be enacted by the Sangguniang Panlungsod that will be approved by the Mayor, and submitted to the DILG for compliance.
The City Government plans to refine the TRP taking into consideration DILG MC 2020-027 or the road clearing mandate that was implemented earlier.
At present, the City Government is in talks with the FKITA and other tricycle operators and drivers in an effort to discuss the said matter to ensure the smooth implementation of MC 2020-036.##

NHA GM Lauds City Government leadership’s immediate provision of permanent housing units to earthquake displaced families in Ilomavis

KIDAPAWAN CITY – THE NATIONAL HOUSING AUTHORITY LAUDED City Mayor Joseph Evangelista for his immediate action in providing needed assistance to earthquake displaced families in Barangay Ilomavis where the NHA turned over the first 20 permanent housing units for affected families.

This according to NHA General Manager Marcelino Escalada Jr., where he served as one of the distinguished guests of the Turn Over Ceremony of Permanent Housing Units on February 24, 2020.

“You have to thank your City Mayor Joseph Evangelista for his immediate action in providing you these permanent homes. Kidapawan City have done exceptional in implementing this project compared to Super typhoon Yolanda affected areas as well as in Marawi. Mayor Evangelista truly did an outstanding job in making it easier for us in the National Government to facilitate the post disaster recovery program compared to other affected areas”, Escalada addressed the crowd during the turn over ceremony.

Escalada is referring to the areas devastated by Yolanda in 2013 and the communities destroyed during the Marawi siege in May-October 2017 that have yet to complete their recovery programs that is much slower compared to Kidapawan City.

The Resettlement Site Project in Kidapawan City was implemented within four months and eight days since the Earthquakes struck in October 2019, Escalada noted.

The first housing units to be turned over is part of the 1,700 units to be awarded to displaced families living in earthquake and disaster high risk areas in Barangays Ilomavis, Perez, Balabag, Indangan and Nuangan that were hard hit areas during the October 2019 series of earthquakes.
Each housing unit costs P289,000 and is given for free, according to the NHA.

These permanent shelters have its own solar lights, toilets with septic tanks, water tanks and space for dirty kitchen, Mayor Evangelista said.
Total amount for these permanent housing projects is more than 400 Million Pesos.

The Mayor thanked the Sangguniang Panlungsod for appropriating P25 Million for the purchase of the resettlement lots in the afore-mentioned affected barangays.

“These houses are permanent. You should take care of it. The Government will continue to help you by bringing in livelihood programs in March once the first 50 units are completed and awarded.”, Mayor Evangelista said to the beneficiaries.

Based on the Site Development done by the City Government in the resettlement sites prior to the construction of the permanent housing units, open spaces are allocated for common laundry areas and toilets that will supplement the water needs of the communities.

Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development Secretary Eduardo Del Rosario, one of the distinguished guests during the Turn Over Ceremony, affirmed the steadfast support of President Rodrigo Duterte in helping families displaced by the earthquake recover and bring their lives back to normalcy.

The residents of the resettlement site in Ilomavis, mostly members of the indigenous people deserved the immediate help from the government, Del Rosario said.

The event was also graced by Assistant Secretary Melissa A. Aradanas of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development and Jackiya A. Lao of the DSWD Region XII Disaster Response Management Division Unit who represented DSWD Secretary Rolando Joselito D. Bautista ##(cio/ajpme/lkro)

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City Gov’t spearheads Jobs Fair for overseas and local employment

KIDAPAWAN CITY – 447 out of the 598 applicants qualified for local and overseas employment during the Jobs Fair activity spearheaded by the City Public Employment Services Office and the Department of Labor and Employment in partnership with VXI Global Holdings on February 18, 2020.

The Jobs Fair activity is one of the employment generation programs initiated by City Mayor Joseph Evangelista in partnership with the DOLE, TESDA, overseas recruitment agencies and local companies.

In a message coming from Mayor Evangelista relayed thru City Information Officer Atty. Jose Paolo Evangelista, the City Government reiterated its continuing support for all job seekers through the Jobs Fair and finding ways for applicants to have job opportunities through skills development trainings that will generate livelihood and employment.

The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority is also an active partner of the employment generation program since the agency is the one who gives scholarship and facilitates the skills training and issuance of National Certificates for qualified scholars.

The National Certification issued by TESDA is proof that the scholars are equipped with the right skills and highly are qualified for employment.

For the February 18, 2020 Jobs Fair activity, the City Government thru the PESO in partnership with the VXI Global Holdings were the sponsors of the event that was conducted at the City Convention Center.

The PESO also coordinated with the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration XII or POEA 12 for overseas employment hiring.
A total of fourteen (14) Local Companies with 912 job vacancies and seven (7) Overseas Recruitment Agencies with 1, 280 job orders available participated in the Jobs Fair.

Of the total number of qualified applicants, ninety nine (99) qualified for overseas employment while three hundred ninety eight (348) for local employment.

Thirty nine (39) were hired on the spot for local employment, data from the PESO showed.

Gracing the Jobs Fair event are Atty Evangelista, DOLE Kidapawan City head Marjorie Latoja, Ms. Emerita Germo of the POEA Regional Satellite Office XII, Global Holdings VXI Operations Manager Mahedi Brizuela, TESDA Representative Brix Ambol, OWWA Representative Lavenia Corpuz, Nendy May Quirante a staff of City Councilor Carlo Agamon and City Peso Manager Herminia Infanta.##(cio/ajpme/lkro)

Photo Caption : City Gov’t and partner agencies spearhead Jobs Fair: VXI Global Holdings Operations Manager Mehdi Brizuela addresses the employment seekers during the Jobs Fair activity spearheaded by the City Government and partner agencies. Also in photo are DOLE Kidapawan head Marjorie Latoja and City Information Officer Atty Jose Paolo Evangelista.(cio photo)

BAHW, LOCAL HOG RAISERS, MEAT BUSINESS OPERATORS GATHER TO FIGHT ASF

KIDAPAWAN CITY – On February 19, 2020, the City Veterinarian together with representatives from San Miguel B-Meg conducted a forum on ASF in Barangay Magsaysay.

Barangay Animal Health Workers, local hog raisers and meat business operators attended the forum.

Dr. Gilda Flauta, DVM from B-Meg served as lecturer of the said forum.

She is urging hog raisers to refrain from slaughtering the animal right in their own backyard as it may contribute to the possible contamination of ASF.

ASF virus on contaminated pork can still thrive, even if frozen and can last up to 1,000 days, she said.

She also emphasized that hog raisers need to clean and disinfect their farms on a regular basis as ASF virus can be killed through the use of disinfectants.

Showing graphic data through a Power Point presentation, Dr. Flauta revealed that the Philippines, being the 8 biggest producer of hogs in the world, has already lost around 4 million out of the 12.7 million swine population in 2019 as a result of the African Swine Fever that broke out in piggeries in Southern Luzon.

She is urging all stakeholders to help the Government in containing the disease as it will adversely affect the economy and livelihood of many hog raisers and producers as well as meat business operators.

“Pork sold at the City Mega Market is safe to eat.”

This according to the City Veterinary Office as assurance to all consumers in the city amidst the issue on African Swine Fever.

ASF virus cannot harm humans but consumers are advised to buy pork only at the Mega Market or meat shops certified by the National Meat Inspection Service or NMIS to ensure its safety, City Veterinarian Dr. Eugene Gornez, DVM said in an interview.

“Pork is safe to eat because it passes through the City Slaughterhouse and is certified by our office before being sold at the Mega Market. Meat shops can sell pork as long as their products are certified by the NMIS. ”, the official explained.

Though the city swine farms registered negative for ASF, the City Government is intensifying its campaign against the possible spread of the disease.

The City Vet has deployed additional manpower to Makilala Local Government Unit in manning the quarantine check point along the boundary of Cotabato and Davao del Sur.

Likewise, the City Government will strictly enforce the banning of swill feeding on swine.

All restaurants, eateries and food businesses are prohibited to dispose their left overs to backyard hog raisers who may feed these to hogs – a possibility for ASF contamination. ##(cio/ajpme/lkro)

CITY GOV’T EMPLOYS THERMAL SCANNERS FOR COVID19 PREVENTION
KIDAPAWAN CITY – SINCE THE START OF THE 22ND CHARTER DAY CELEBRATIONS, THE CITY GOVERNMENT HERE began employing the use of Thermal scanners in selected public places.

The move is for the prevention of possible spread of Corona Virus Disease 2019 or COVID19 among individuals and communities.

Thermal scanners are pointed to individuals coming in public places to detect body temperature and determine the presence of fever – the first possible symptom of COVID19.

If and when someone’s recorded to have a fever with the use of the thermal scanner, his/her contact details will be recorded for contact tracing in order for the City Government to deter possible COVID19 infection.

Thermal scanners are now deployed at the City Hall, Overland Terminal, City Hospital and Mega Market, among other public places.

Scanners are placed along public entry points and operated by designated employees.

At present, the number of COVID19 Persons Under Monitoring or PUM’s in the city are down to 4 from the 12 persons earlier reported by the City Health Office.

The public is advised to observe proper hard hygiene and sanitation plus boosting of one’s immune system at all times, as prevention for COVID19.
Aside from thermal scanners, hand sanitizers containing 60-70% alcohol solution were placed in the different offices of the City Hall as added precaution.

The City Mayor has earlier issued a public advisory enjoining private establishments to do the same.##(cio/ajpme/lkro)

POLIO BUSTERS: CITY GOV’T IMPLEMENTS NEW ROUND OF SABAYANG PATAK KONTRA POLIO VACCINATION

KIDAPAWAN CITY – THE CITY GOVERNMENT HERE continued the fight against polio by vaccinating children aged 0-59 months old in the new round of the Sabayang Patak Kontra Polio on February 17, 2020.

Personnel coming from the City Health Office conducted door to door vaccinations in different communities in the city in an effort to make sure all children identified to receive doses of Anti Polio vaccines are covered.

Earlier, City Mayor Joseph Evangelista urged parents to have their children administered with the vaccines.

“All children aged 0-59 months old must be administered with the Anti Polio Vaccines. I urge parents to please allow the City Health personnel administer the vaccines to protect your children from polio. There is no cure for polio and prevention is the most effective way to address it”, said Mayor Evangelista.

The Sabayang Patak Kontra Polio is a joint program of the Department of Health and the City Government.

Aside from conducting anti polio vaccinations door to door, CHO personnel were also deployed to implement the program along entry and exit check points, City Mega Market and Overland Terminal, Gaisano Grand Mall, Day Care Centers and at the Our Lady Mediatrix of All Graces Cathedral.

All children aged 0-59 months old whether vaccinated earlier or not, are covered by the Sabayang Patak Kontra Polio.

The new round of the Sabayang Patak Kontra Polio is from February 17 – March 1, 2020.

The Department of Health has declared a polio outbreak in the country in 2019, more than twenty years since it last recorded cases of the disease.

There are 17 confirmed cases of polio in the country as of February 2020, the DOH confirmed.##(cio/ajpme/lkro)