Scheduled on September 6-7, 2011 at the Talisay City Public Plaza Covered Court, the job fair will open with a short program at 8:00 in the morning to be attended by Talisay City Mayor Eric M. Saratan, M.D., Vice-Mayor Neil Lizares and City Officials, OIC DOLE Region VI Director Crispin Dannug, DOLE LEO Victoria Mondragon, Carmen Nagum, POEA Field Director, and TESDA Provincial Director Lorena P. Yunque.

Dubbed “Obra Para Sa Masa,” this activity is one of the programs pursued by Talisay City Government to assist job-hunting constituents by providing them adequate venues in order to find job here and abroad.

Talisay City Mayor Dr. Eric Saratan believes that by regularly holding job fairs in the City, it will ease the underlying unemployment problem which other local government units are also facing.

Talisay City PESO Manager, Gilbert G. Robles confirmed that there will be 15 overseas agencies and 10 local companies participating in the event. Overseas agencies include Al-Alamia International Manpower, Concorde Human Resource Specialist, EEI Corporation, Magsaysay Maritime Corporation, Mirben International Manpower Services, Confideral, MMML Recruitment Services, Inc., YWA Human Resource Corporation, Placewell International Services, Alliance International Recruitment and Placement Services, East West Placement Center, Eureka Personnel Management, Mori International Agency Corporation and SK Manpower.

Local companies include SM City Supermalls, Dynamic Builders, Pepsi Cola Bottling Company, San Miguel Corporation, Natures Village Hotel and Restaurants, Convergys, Transcom and Colorsteel.

Urgently needed for immediate hiring are engineers, nurses, accountants, call center workers, mechanics, technicians, construction-related skilled workers, heavy equipments operators, cashiers and storekeepers, checkers, hotel and restaurant personnel, drivers, housekeeping and servicing, sales managers/supervisors, sales operators, HRD assistants, security and safety technicians, and others.

Interested applicants are advised to bring comprehensive resume and 2×2 I.D. pictures. For inquiries please contact Talisay City PESO through Telephone no. 495-0831 or 496-6282 mobile number 09215883828.

Mayor Eric M. Saratan, M.D. with City Officials, Barangay Officials and School Heads led the Earth Walk around the City of Talisay

An Earth Day Camp was held in Talisay City on May 22-24, 2011 in connection with the national celebration of the Earth Day.

Sponsored by the City Government of Talisay in cooperation with the SK Federation and SK Green Brigade, the three-day celebration drew an estimated 250 participants representing the SK, Green Brigade, Boyscouts, and the Pag-asa Youth Association of the Philippines (PYAP).

With the theme “Be Ready: Climate Change and Disaster Preparedness”. The celebration opened with lecture on Solid Waste Management and Environmental Quiz & On-the Spot Poster

SK Green Brigade from 27 barangays and other youth organizations of the City participated in the Earth Day Camp

Making Contest sponsored by the SK Federation spearheaded by SPM Rosalinda Tuvilla II, SK Federation President. In his opening message, Mayor Eric M. Saratan, M.D., commended the great idealism and the strong conviction of the youth that led to the realization of such a huge significant activity. Dr. Saratan raised their confidence by saying that the youth are the most vibrant, reliable and competent catalysts in achieving what we desire to protect and preserve the environment.

Mrs. Olive Seruelo, Information Officer of the Provincial Environment Management Office (PEMO), delivered a detailed account of the state of our environment that fired up the passion of the participants to get their acts together to save our wounded Mother Earth.

The first day ended with a lecture on Disaster Preparedness and Drill given by Mr. Allen Pablo, Director of Disaster Management Office of Carlos Hilado Memorial State College, Talisay City.

SK Federation Officers headed by SPM Rosalinda S. Tuvilla II, spearheaded the celebration

An environmental planning workshop highlighted the second day’s activities, preceded by a film showing on a documentary “Inconvenient Truth” followed with a lecture on climate change conducted by Engr. Joan Nathaniel Gerangaya, Officer-in-Charge of the Community Environment Natural Resources Office (CENRO), Province of Negros Occidental.

Engaging more stakeholders and creating wider public awareness, Mayor Saratan together with the City Officials and Punong Barangays, led the Earth Walk backed by some strong 250 members of SK, Green Brigade, City Scholars, Boyscouts and PYAP. After which, simultaneous activities on coastal clean-up, Mangrove Planting and Tree Planting were held in various coastal and upland barangays.

Capping the three-day activities, a Search for Lakan at Lakambini 2011 was held at Public Plaza in the evening of May 24, 2011. SKs John Rae Ani of Barangay Zone 2 and Regen Natiag of Barangay Matab-ang came out winners of the Seach. A Musikalikasan then followed after the Search, for the Youth to enjoy.

Also present in the MOA signing in Pasay City were Dr. Mildred Garay, DepEd Region 6 Director and Mr. Rizalino Tortosa, Schools Division Superintendent of Negros Occidental.

In 2008, the Sangguniang Panglusod of Talisay City adopted Resolution No. 103 Series of 2008, urging the Department of Education to create a separate schools division for Talisay City. Likewise, the said resolution also granted authority to Mayor Saratan to enter into a MOA with DepEd for the establishment of the interim city schools division in said city. However, the initiative failed to push through before the May 2010 elections.

The election of Rep. Benitez, whose primary advocacies include education, signalled a new opportunity for the City government to pursue a separate schools division in Talisay City.

“I am very thankful that this initiative was finally realized. This would guarantee better delivery of quality education to our constituents” Mayor Saratan said. “The interim schools division would mean recruitment of more teaching personnel to cope with the influx of more enrolees every school year”.

Rep. Benitez and the Talisay City government, through Mayor Eric Saratan, both agreed to subsidize the various expenditures that will be incurred by the interim schools division. In the MOA, both parties will allocate 2 Million Pesos each for every school year until the budget for the schools division is included in the General Appropriations Act (GAA).

Rep. Benitez said that the interim schools division in Talisay is a necessary step towards the improvement of education system in the district. “Education is every child’s key to a better future.” Benitez stressed. “There is no reason for us to delay anymore the creation of Talisay interim schools division. Ensuring accessible and quality education to our youth is never debatable”.

DepEd Regional Director, Dr. Garay said she was left optimistic after the signing of the said MOA. “I congratulate both Rep. Benitez and Mayor Saratan for their efforts. Their eagerness and willingness to invest in not only the interim schools division, but also in education as a whole, is what prompted us to go ahead with the MOA signing”.

The signed MOA is one of the requirements for the approval of the interim division. All parties are hopeful that DepEd Secretary Bro. Armin Luistro will immediately give the go-signal with the signing of the MOA.

Benitez also committed to work towards the national budget allocation for Talisay City schools division. “I am confident that the funding for the schools division will be included in the GAA soon”. He said he will file a bill amending the City Charter of Talisay to include its own schools division, as soon as Congress resumes next month.

One of the highlights of the 6 days celebration is the Search for the Lin-ay sg Talisay 2011. The Talent Night and Swimwear Competition are scheduled on February 8, 2011, 6:00 PM at the City Public Plaza and the Pageant Night will be on February 11, 2011, 8:00 PM at the same venue.

There are ten lovely candidates vying for this year’s search for Lin-ay sg Talisay 2011. The candidates are Frances Keith Torres of Brgy. Zone 1, Ma. Anthonette Bandola of Brgy. Zone 10, Karen Joy Corteza of Brgy. Zone 9, Tiffany Vargas of Brgy. Concepcion, Lucille Joy Dusaran of Brgy. Zone 6, Joska Alberto of Brgy. Zone 3, Rose Ann Arroyo of Brgy. Zone 7, Neri Joy Ordaniel of Brgy. Matab-ang, Rozene May Pablicar of Brgy. Zone 3 and Lilamay Tecson of Brgy. Dos Hermanas.

Scholars sang Masa in action at Brgy. Zone 3

More than three hundred (300) volunteers observed the International Coastal Clean-up last September 26, 2010 in the City of Talisay. A kick off program was held at the public plaza with Mrs. Olive Seruelo, Information Officer of PEMO who talked on the importance of coastal clean-up to preserve marine resources. Hon. Archibald H. Tuvilla, SK President led the reading of the Earth Covenant (A Citizen’s Treaty for Common Ecological Security) to promote environment consciousness among the constituents especially the youth.

After the program, an advocacy walk dubbed as “Clean Walk” was participated by the Scholars sang Masa of Mayor Eric Saratan from Carlos Hilado Memorial State College (CHMSC), Kolehiyo sa Baryo from the two (2) campuses (Brgy. Dos Hermanas & Brgy. Concepcion), Technological University of the Phil.-Visayas (TUP-V), and Negros Occidental Science High School (NOSHS) with Sangguniang Kabataan Green Brigade and officers and members of the Federation of Talisay City Fisherfolk Associations (FETACFA) from the public plaza going to coastal areas for clean-up in five (5) coastal barangays namely: Zone 3, 5, 15 (Binalayan), Bubog and Zone 16 (Mambucog) of the City.

An estimated of 180 sacks of segregated waste (biodegradable, non-biodegradable, recyclable) and other particular waste were collected.

The activity was spearheaded by the Scholarship Committee composed of Rosalinda S. Tuvilla, Mayor’s Office Chief of Staff and Ellah Mae L. Javier with the Mayor’s Action Team.

In an awarding and recognition ceremony held last July 22, 2010, at Ground Opera Hotel, Manila, during the 78th Philippine Public Health Convention, Health Secretary Enrique T. Ona, M.D., Atty. Alexis C. Albao, M.D., MHA, CSEE, PPHA President and Ma. Liduvina F. Dorion, M.D., MPH, Awards Committee Chairman presented the award to Mayor Saratan for his innovative strategies and outstanding support towards the attainment of sustainable health development in service delivery, health care financing and health regulations.

Mayor Saratan, who is the former Focal Mayor for Health and at present the Representative for Western Visayas of the League of Cities of the Philippines, was also recently elected as Chairman of the Northern Negros Inter-Local Health Zone composed of five cities and municipalities in the Third District of Negros Occidental.

The importance of having committed and dedicated members in the Local Health Board and the all-out support of the Local Chief Executive and the Sanggunian Panlungsod are the keys towards the success of the health programs of the City, as well as the active involvement and collaboration with the non-government organizations (NGOs) in all health initiatives of the Local Health Board.