READY, SET, GO - SHARIFF KABUNSUAN FESTIVAL 2012

A grand celebration will be expected as preparations are now underway for the 14th Shariff Kabunsuan Festival in Cotabato City.

Preparatory talks are now being made with prospective sponsors for the different activities lined up for the celebration. A number of new competitions will be expected like the Search for Ginoong Shariff Kabunsuan and Festival Queen. Meanwhile, Kuyog Street Dancing Competition and the Guinakit Fluvial Parade will still remain as the main events of the festival.

Aside from the Annual Celebration of the Shariff Kabunsuan Festival, the 2nd Cotabato City Crabfest will be held simultaneously. A Crab Exhibit will be done all throughout the occasion. There will also be a Crab Forum to be participated by interested groups and individuals in venturing into the crab business. A fun-filled Crab Race will also be done. And the highlight of the event will be the Crab Culinary Arts Competition where the creativity, taste, and originality of our crab cooking chefs will be tested.

The local government has tapped the Department of Trade and Industry 12, the Department of Tourism in ARMM and Region 12, the Metro Cotabato Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation, Department of Education, City PNP, the MBLT-1, and others for their cooperation during the 5-day event that will start on December 15 to 19, 2012.(http://www.cotabatocity.net.ph)

COTABATO CITY GOT HOTLINE NUMBER

With the emerging need for a faster and more efficient means of communication, the Cotabato City Government, in partnership with Sun Cellular, has officially launched its Emergency Hotline Number.

For emergency situations or reports of any crime or malicious acts, every Cotabateño is encouraged to text or call the number 0932-9600-888. A city government employee will be assigned to be the controller of the city's hotline 24/7. Any text or call received by the number shall be instantly forwarded to the concerned office for immediate action.

City Mayor Japal J. Guiani, Jr. said through the hotline, every action made by the local authorities and other line agencies will be centralized and be easily monitored. This can help prevent delay in delivering services to the people.

Sun Cellular will also be providing Sim Cards to the City Police Office, Philippine Marines, and Bureau of Fire Protection, the 37 Barangays, City Department Heads and private partners like the Metro Cotabato Water District and Cotabato Light and Power Company. The City's Hotline Number has all their numbers stored for faster texting once a report has been received.

But still, reports made will be verified first before acted upon. In a meeting with some elements of the local authorities, representatives from the City PNP said there are times when false information is being reported to their hotline numbers and they end up responding to a non-existent crime or situation.

City Police Director Danny Reyes suggested that verification from the Barangays be made first to make sure whether the report made is true or not. He says this is also important to secure the safety of the police officers responding to the area.

"Hindi po kasi natin maiwasan na minsan mayroon mga nagrereport ng kung ano ano kahit hindi naman totoo. There might be some who will say a crime has transpired, but when our men respond, they might just get harassed" Reyes said.

Sun Cellular representatives made sure that phone signals are not a problem since they have already intensified placing towers or tapping other network service providers for stronger signals even in the interior parts of the city.

With the creation of the hotline number, the city government and all its partners is hoping for the support and active cooperation of the Cotabateños in keeping Cotabato City safe and orderly.(http://www.cotabatocity.net.ph)

0932-9600-888

COTABATO CITY GOT THE SEAL OF GOOD HOUSEKEEPING, SIGAY KA!!!

Cotabato City now reaps its rewards and receives the Seal of Good Housekeeping for its full commitment to the principles of performance, accountability, transparency, and participation.

Ever since the release of the DILG Memorandum Circular 2012-78 titled Scaled-Up Seal of Good Housekeeping, the local government, headed by City Mayor Japal J. Guiani, Jr., has been working hard to comply with all the requirements needed in order to receive this prestigious award.

Along with the SGH came the amount of 50 Million Pesos from the National Government and will be used to finance several development projects in the city. Priority projects will include the improvement of the delivery of services concerned with the better health and wellbeing of the city's constituents and the education of the youth sector.

Mayor Guiani also added that he will be looking into the plight of the Cotabateños residing beside river banks and bring them to safer grounds.

Aside from the 50 Million Peso reward, the city was also a recipient of almost 30 Million Pesos for its Performance Challenge Fund—also one of the rewards for receiving the Seal of Good Housekeeping. All of these will be used to fund several development projects identified by the City Government.

"We feel happy for this prestigious award and we would like to thank our City Government employees for their support. This award is dedicated to the people of Cotabato City", Mayor Guiani said.

Out of 100 cities competing for the award, Cotabato City was chosen to receive the SGH Bronze.

As explained in the DILG Memorandum Circular 2012-78, there are three award levels of the Seal—SGH Bronze, SGH Silver, and SGH Gold.

The SGH-Bronze Award is given to Local Governments who passed the criteria in Accountable Governance and Transparent Governance.

These are reflected by the documents like the Annual Budget for the General Fund of Cotabato City, Summary of Expenditures, Statement of Cash Flows, Statement of Debt Services, Assets, etc., being posted in conspicuous places like bulletin boards and other materials that are visible to the public and being placed in the local government's website—all of which were fulfilled by the LGU.

MUNATO FESTIVAL 2012

MUNATO is a local indigenous term for Sarangani Province’s “first people”.  Pottery shards and jars found in a cave in the municipality of Maitum attest to the province’s early cultural history dating back to as far as 5 BC and others that are believed to be dating back to the Late Stone period of at least 3,000 years ago.  These pot shards are unique because of their anthropomorphic designs that are shaped like portraits of individuals.   These jars may have served as the containers of remains of individuals.

This year, on the 20^th anniversary of the province, it will be celebrated from November 28-30, 2012.

Below is the schedule of events and activities of Munato Festival 2012.

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FIRST EVER COFFEE SUMMIT IN COTABATO CITY

Preparations are now underway for the conduct of the Coffee Summit, a first in Cotabato City.

The two-day activity will be spearheaded by the Metro Cotabato Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation, Inc. in partnership with the City Government, other business chambers, and the USAID-GEM Program. A Coffee Forum will be held on September 20, 2012 wherein representatives from the Philippine Coffee Board, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Trade and Industry, and others will be invited to speak to the participants about the coffee industry. On the next day, a Coffee Brewing Contest that is open to interested contestants will be held.

MCCCIFI President Dr. Danda N. Juanday says the Coffee Summit will be a catalyst for the development of a new and unique product option that can help rouse the city's economic boost, as well as to serve as the venue for laying down of strategies for the City to launch itself as the trading center for coffee lovers and producers.

The primary purpose of this event is to create awareness among the stakeholders/sectors and the producers of the opportunities in the coffee industry. The same is over and above the possible job and revenue generation that may result in the sustained development of the coffee processing industry.

In Cotabato City, one can say that the people are really coffee-loving ones, evidently shown beside the streets and market places where brewed coffee products are conveniently available. But because of the other industries, like rubber production, that have dominated the economy of Region 12, coffee production is dramatically diminishing.

With the huge demand for coffee all over the country, MCCCIFI sees the opportunity to revive the interest of farmers in Cotabato City and its neighboring municipalities in the coffee production business.

"It is the opportune time that the city comes up with its own Cotabato brand coffee. And we are also known for the native delicacies we serve our visitors, so it is just proper that we also showcase our unique tasting coffee", says Juanday.

In a meeting with the representatives from the local government, it was further discussed that coordination be strengthened in order to promote this business and create a window of opportunity to Cotabateños who are involved in the production and processing of coffee products.

Secretary to the Mayor Aniceto V. Rasalan says the city government is ready to extend any type of assistance to this project. Once implemented, coffee industry will surely help boost the economy of the city.(http://www.cotabatocity.net.ph)