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Published: 27 November 2012

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With the end in view of empowering the 25 barangays in the City of Balanga by way of promoting social consciousness among the local elective leaders, the Barangay Week Program (Version 2), again, is being implemented in the City of Balanga, Province of Bataan by the honorable Jose Enrique S. Garcia III supported by the esteemed Governor Enrique T. Garcia, Jr. and 2nd District Congressional Representative Albert Raymond S. Garcia.

As an expanded version of the Barangay Assembly, the core of the said program, now on its 4th year of implementation, is the provision, through consultation with community leaders and local folks alike, of the basic needs of the community  as well as the promotion of transparency among barangay leaders. The linchpin of the program is the guiding principle that sustainable development could be achieved collectively from the   grassroots level of governance coupled with active participation of the barangay constituents and other stakeholders all committed to share their expertise, resources and common desire to come up with a master piece of delivering to the ordinary folks a package of programs and projects such as  Orientation on Katarungang Pambarangay, Barangay Performance Management System, Barangay Health Day, Financial Management, Disaster Prevention and Solid Waste Management, among others.

Giving spirit and substance to the program, the City Mayor and all other stakeholders held five (5) Barangay Week cum Barangay Assembly program for this quarter of CY 2012. The most recent of which was conducted in Barangay Tortugas, whereby Honorable Mayor Garcia was welcomed by the local folks through singing of their official barangay hymn entitled “ Hawakan Mo Ang Bukas” (Hold On To The Future).

On that event, the members of the said Sangguniang Barangay led by Punong Barangay Victor A. Baluyot, Jr., like all the rest who conducted Barangay Week in the said locality, reported their accomplishments vis-à-vis programs and plans they presented on the last barangay assembly in October CY 2011.                 

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Published: 27 November 2012

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DILG Pampanga personnel, under the leadership of Provincial Director Angelina S. Blanco, joined the City Government of San Fernando during the biggest-ever Independence Day Celebration last June 12, 2012, reaching a record of over 5,000 individuals from various local, regional and national organizations and sectoral groups – who marched in high spirits from City Hall to Heroes Park where wreath-laying ceremonies honored the country’s foremost heroes.

City Mayor Oscar S. Rodriguez urged Fernandinos not to lose sight of their common responsibility towards attaining the objectives and fruits of good governance that benefit all and not just a few, pointing out the theme of this year’s commemoration, “Kalayaan: Pananagutan ng Bayan para sa Tuwid na Daan.”  It marked the 114th anniversary of the Philippine independence from three centuries of Spanish rule.
 “We owe our brave heroes the freedom that we now enjoy,” Mayor Oca said. “Let us not waver in honoring them and in defending the independence that now allows us to attain our aspirations.”

Together with Vice Mayor Edwin Santiago and the rest of the officials of the city administration, Mayor Oca launched the day’s activities at 6 a.m. with the ceremonial raising of the Philippine flag.

Vice Mayor Santiago said that Fernandinos should value independence and “always bear in mind the noble acts of our heroes.” He said that the people should be free from the ill-effects of poverty to become “excellent citizens.”

Sought for comments, Pampanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PamCham) chairman              Rene Romero said there was need to “continue supporting the people [in terms of] employment that would make them feel that they enjoy their independence from hardships.

“One cannot claim that one is truly independent and free if one is still not free from poverty,” Romero stressed.

PamCham’s contribution in celebrating the Independence Day annually, Romero said, is to create jobs for the people by expanding businesses. The group, according to him, is also inviting local and foreign investors to set up industries locally.
Romero said that “the modern day heroes of today, the OFWs, should also be given recognition for their contributions in the progress of the economy.”
Among the most active participants in the day’s celebration was the Muslim community in San Fernando. A colorful float representing Muslim culture was one of the widely applauded features at the parade.

Muslim community secretary and spokesperson Samad Zacharia said that the group regards this celebration as “an important event in the history of the country and our community.”  The June 12 event is “an appreciation of the independence that we now enjoy,” he added.
In the evening, Mayor Oca hosted the annual Independence Day Banquet, which was attended by different representatives from government, religious groups and the private sector.

Mayor Oca said in an interview that “we should fight for freedom from want, freedom from illiteracy and freedom from extreme deprivation before we can confidently say that we are free.”

“Here in the City, we are addressing these needs simultaneously because we believe that this is the key towards a better life. We are again pleased to celebrate with our cabalens this year in this important gathering,” he said.

The night ended with an impressive fireworks display at the Heroes Hall Park.

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Published: 27 November 2012

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To further raise the city’s standards for disaster preparedness and climate change adaptation, village chiefs together with their council members convened in a four-day seminar  on June 25-28, 2012 at the Maharajah Hotel, Angeles City to analyze hazards, prepare plans, identify needs and have an overall awareness for calamities.

The seminar-workshop, dubbed “Enhancing the Local Government Unit on Disaster Risk Reduction & Management and Climate Change Adaptation”, was spearheaded by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) with the support of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD).

According to Myrvi Apostol-Fabia, DILG Director of Angeles City, the main concern of the workshop is to capacitate the barangays and its officials on how they are going to respond to certain disasters and calamities.

“Let us remember Cagayan de Oro and how it was devastated from typhoon Sendong – we should not wait for such to happen in Angeles City,” Apostol-Fabia said.

Apostol-Fabia explained that all these measures are requirements which are to be used in the city’s attempt to be awarded of the DILG’s ‘Seal of Disaster Preparedness.’

“The seminar also checks to see if the city is ready to face calamities, mitigate disasters and prevent them in the near future. Several aspects like availability of equipment, contingency planning, emergency response, search and rescue and the formulation of a disaster and risk reduction management plan is all covered,” she added.

According to Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan, the city has to further strengthen its efforts to combat disasters that may occur in the future.

“The cooperation of all our barangay officials is an imperative to make the city and its citizens safe from any untoward incidents during the occurrence of heavy rains and strong typhoons,” Pamintuan said.

The mayor also appealed for the cooperation of the citizens of Angeles to be aware of how they can ask for aid when calamities would strike.

“The responsibility does not lie solely on our barangay captains and councilmen, but to all Angeleños to stay vigilant and cooperative in times of disaster,” he added.

The mayor recalls how Angeleños were able to turn tragedy into triumph in the 1991 Mount Pinatubo eruption where his administration back then rallied the people to one united cause.

He hopes that this could be emulated today for climate change adaptation and the preparation for disasters and calamities that may come.