Tagbilaran Media Bureau reports city’s events and information
Dignitaries from the provincial and city governments converge during the wreath laying ceremony as the opening salvo of this year’s “Saulog Tagbilaran”. The event took place at the Tagbilaran Friendship Park on Mar. 16, 2021. From left are: City Councilors Eliezer Borja, Joseph Bompat, Tim Butalid, Jonas Cacho, and Adam Jala, with Cong. Edgar Chatto, City Mayor John Geesnell Yap II, First Lady Jane Yap, Gov. Arthur Yap, and Tagbilaran Bishop Alberto Uy. Photo courtesy of City Media Bureau
Tagb launches Saulog 2021
Despite the health crisis, the City Government of Tagbilaran shows that it is decided to continue with the tradition of staging the yearly Saulog Tagbilaran festivities that will culminate on the city’s fiesta celebration, keeping in mind the health and safety protocol.
City Mayor John Geesnell Yap II assures Tagbilaranons that strict health protocol will be observed in the conduct of the events slated during the festivities related to Saulog 2021.
“Most of the activities will be done online. We started it with the Saulog launch where we aired it via FB livestream. The same goes with the Saulog Festival King and Queen. For the activities which would include face-to-face interactions, strict health protocols will be implemented”, Yap said.
The wreath-laying ceremony for the 456th Blood Compact Anniversary took place on Tuesday, Mar. 16, 2021, with Tagbilaran Bishop Alberto Uy, Gov. Arthur Yap, Congressman Edgar Chatto, City Councilors Adam Relson Jala, Jonas Cacho, Tim Butalid, Joseph Bompat, and Eliezer “Ondoy” Borja present during the said event.
The blessing of the vaccination centers immediately followed which was spearheaded by City Health Officer Jeia Pondoc.
Moreover, the preparations for the Saulog Festival King and Queen are underway, with the Mutya sa Tagbilaran barangay level winners representing each barangay.
The blessing of Senyor San Jose’s image in all the entry points in Tagbilaran was also conducted last March 19.
In a related development, the Saulog sports events consisting of billiard, tennis, air soft, and e-sports will run from March to April 2021.
The City Agrivet will also host a series of activities from April 11 to 21, 2021, which would jumpstart with the Saulog Pet Meet and Greet Funday, to be followed by the Saulog Free Massive Neuter Mission, Saulog Free Anti- Rabbies Vaccination, and Saulog Urban Agriculture Funfare.
The Group Spoken Poetry dubbed as Saulog Pama-basa Dughan will be held from April 13 to 21, 2021, which would be facilitated by the City Youth Development Office (CYDO).
Furthermore, the General Services Office (GSO) will lead the “Saulog sa Hinlo sa Pagpalambo”.
Then there will be a “Saulog sa Alimpatakan” activity to be followed by the “Saulog Visual Arts Exhibit” which will be staged from April 17 to 21, 2021.
A novelty activity will also be launched dubbed as “Tiktok sa Pagsaulog and Saulog Tabanog Festival”, where the dates will be announced soon, according to the City Media Bureau.
The staple events of Saulog Tagbilaran such as Kumbira sa Tagbilaran, Tabo, and the Saulog Fluvial Procession are still included in the schedule of festivities.
City Mayor John Geesnell Yap (third from left), with (from left) Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Federated President Raul Aparicio, United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Opportunity 2.0 Youth Development Coordinator Loucille Dabhi, Assistant Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Casiana Caberte, Dr. John Ariel Lagura, and Dr. Beatriz Luga lead the turn-over ceremonies of new laptops to be used in the educational activities of city schools. This took place last Monday, March 15, 2021. Photo from City Media Bureau.
Tagb’s ALS implementers receive new laptops
New laptops were given to Alternative Learning System (ALS) Mobile Teachers and Division ALS Focal Person, according to a report from the City Media Bureau.
City Mayor John Geesnell Yap II, along with United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Opportunity 2.0 Youth Development Coordinator Loucille Dabhi, Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Federated President Raul Aparicio, Assistant Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Casiana Caberte, Dr. John Ariel Lagura, and Dr. Beatriz Luga led the turn-over of the new laptops last Monday, March 15, 2021. This is part of the United States’ ongoing commitment to support the Philippine government’s Basic Education Learning Continuity Plan during the pandemic.
Tagbilaran City is one of the pilot sites out of the 12 local government units (LGU) identified in the whole Philippines.
The USAID turned over 371 units of laptop computers worth more than P16 million to the Department of Education (DepEd).This assistance is part of USAID’s Opportunity 2.0 – a five-year, P 1.9-billion project that supports the DepEd, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), and the LGUS in their ongoing programs of providing relevant education, employability skills, and work experience to out-of-school youth.
The laptops will support ALS teachers and coordinators assigned in the field who provide education to out-of-school children and youth. ALS teachers and administrators will use these equipment to continue working with students, updating lesson content, innovating teaching methods, and monitoring learners’ progress.
The latest donation of USAID supplements an October 2020 USAID handover to DepEd of laptops, printers, projectors, and learning materials. USAID also provided five DepEd “e-Skwela Centers” with equipment to expand their reach to vulnerable out-of-school youth who want to enroll in the ALS.
Over the course of the program, USAID’s assistance will benefit 180,000 youth in more than 12 cities across the Philippines. Opportunity 2.0 is implemented by U.S.-based Education Development Center together with DepEd, TESDA, Accenture, Philippine Business for Education, Catholic Relief Services, Voluntary Services Overseas, and Seameo Innotech.
PHOTOCOPYNG MACHINES FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS. City Mayor John Geesnell Yap II (third from left) turns over 38 brand new photocopiers to the Department of Education (DepEd) Tagbilaran City Division. Present during the turnover ceremonies are shown in the photo (from left): Tagbilaran City Division Schools Superintendent Dr. Joseph Irwin Lagura, Copier Source Enterprises representative Jeffrey Famor, and Asst. School Division Superintendent Dr. Casiana Caberte. The activity was held at Reyna’s Haven and Garden last March 9, 2021. The new photocopying machines will be used in the duplication of modules that will be distributed to the city’s public schools. Photo courtesy of City Media Bureau
DA 7 provides P3 M for Tagb’s UA program
City Vice Mayor Jose Antonio S. Veloso
In an effort to improve food security, the Department of Agriculture 7 (DA-7) provides P 3 million for the implementation of the Urban Agriculture (UA) program in Tagbilaran City, according to reports coming from the Sangguniang Panglungsod (SP).
The DA-7 knows the capacity of Tagbilaran City to implement the said agency’s UA projects.
On Friday, March 19, 2021, the SP, led by Vice Mayor Jose Antonio S. Veloso, gave the green light to a resolution giving authority to Mayor John Geesnell Yap, to enter into a Memorandum of Agreement with DA-7 in relation to the UA program.
DA Regional Executive Director Salvador D. Diputado, attended the SP’s regular session on Friday, Mar. 19, 2021 and discussed information about the program.
For his part, Diputado assured that the DA-7 will provide the technical and financial assistance for the operation, repair and maintenance of the facility to ensure continuity and sustainability of the UA sites and projects.
Moreover, the City Agriculture and Veterinary Office (CAVO) will tasked to reach out to various communities in urban areas for the implementation of the UA.
The City Government of Tagbilaran and DA are aiming to boost the economy through improved food security.