In line with its cost-cutting measures and climate change initiative, the city government of San Fernando has adopted the Four-Day Work Week for the months of April and May 2008.
Executive Order No. 06-2008 of the City Government provides the adoption of the said scheme which was signed by Acting City Mayor Pancracio Q. Nisce on March 31, 2008. Starting April 1 to May 31, 2008, city employees will report at 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
The city government believes that the initiative will be a measure to mitigate the adverse effects of the series of oil price increases and ill-effects of climate change. It is also expected to lead substantial savings from power and other related office operating and maintenance costs for the city government.
The scheme, which has been implemented in 2002 and 2005 by several government offices, is pursuant to President Arroyo’s call for austerity measures among government agencies.
On March 28, 2005, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed Administrative Order No. 117 which directed all government offices in the executive branch, except those performing front-line services, to adopt the Four-Day workweek for the months of April and May.
In line with the austerity measures, the city has also continued implementing the previous directive to turn on air-conditioning units from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
Monday, March 31, 2008
City Adopts Four-Day Workweek Scheme
Thursday, March 20, 2008
City of San Fernando Turns 10
On Saturday, March 15, the different schools and groups again participated in the Street Dancing Contest which started at 7:00 AM. In the evening, the annual graduation ball was held at the Diego Silang Hall of the Provincial Capitol of La Union.
Early morning on Palm Sunday, March 16, a mountain bike race started off in front of the city hall. On March 17, flag-raising and wreath-laying ceremonies was conducted in front of the city hall, followed by the city Olympics, a sports festival for all city employees.
On Holy Tuesday, City Officials and Employees joined the Estacion General, otherwise known as the Station of the Cross, a reenactment of Jesus’ suffering before he has nailed on the cross.
A commemorative Mass was conducted on March 19 at 8:00 in the morning followed by a Commemorative Program of the Victory of Bacsil Ridge and Awarding Rites for Outstanding Barangay Health Workers, Barangay Nutrition Scholars, Barangay Service Point Officers, Day Care Workers, Farmer Achievers, and Environmental Support Group. In the afternoon, the Barangay Merit Awards, Loyalty Awards, City Service Awards and Pagwadan Awards was given during the Aldaw ti Pammadayaw at the Diego Silang Hall.
The City of San Fernando became a city on March 20, 1998, by virtue of Republic Act No. 8509, An Act converting the Municipality of San Fernando, La Union, into a Component City, which originated in the House of Representatives as house Bill No. 7594 sponsored by Congressman Victor F. Ortega of the First District of La Union.
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Pindangan Festival Opens CSF’s 10th Cityhood Celebration
The annual street dancing competition among students and residents from various schools and barangays in the City of San Fernando marked the first day of the five-day celebration for the 10th cityhood foundation anniversary of the city.
Known as the “Pindangan Festival”, students from the elementary, secondary and tertiary levels and including the different barangays and civic organizations in the city set foot their best street dance steps and displayed their colorful costumes on March 15.
Mayor Pablo Ortega greeted the competitors as they started dancing at around 7:00 a.m. along the city streets wearing colorful attires. The participants later gathered at the city plaza for their respective dance exhibitions.
According to Councilor Joseph M. de Guzman, the organizer of the competition, the winners of the street dancing competition for category A, which includes elementary schools, are Lingsat Community School as the Champion, Catbangen Central School as first runner-up and San Agustin Elementary School as second runner-up. Lingsat Community School also bagged the Most Entertaining Award, while the Dalumpinas Elementary School won the Best in Costume and Props award. The Catbangen Central School was considered the Most Organized and the Tanquigan Elementary School was the Most Original/Unique.
For Category B, which comprises high schools and colleges, Union Christian College (UCC) was again declared as Champion, while Sacyud National High School and Don Quintin Balcita Sr. Memorial National High School were first and second runners-up, respectively. Union Christian College also bagged the Most Entertaining, Best in Costume and Props and Most Organized awards, while CICOSAT was chosen as the Most Original/Unique.
Category C comprises of the different barangays and civic organizations and Barangay Poro won as the Champion again this year and was adjudged as the Most Entertaining and Best in Costume. Barangay Ilocanos Sur won as first runner-up and was chosen as Most Organized. The second runner-up for the category was Barangay IV. Barangay San Agustin was chosen as the Most Original/Unique.
Residents, local and foreign tourists alike trooped to the streets during the festival to witness the street dancing by the participants in a stunning display of mastery, gaiety, coordination and energy.
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Senator. Chiz Escudero Adopted Son Of La Union
Honorable Senator Francis Joseph “Chiz” G. Escudero, the Guest of Honor and Speaker during the 158th La Union Foundation Anniversary Celebration last March 2, was adopted as son of the Province of La Union by virtue of Resolution No. 009-2008. The plaque was presented to the Honorable Senator by Governor Manuel C. Ortega, Vice-Governor Eulogio Clarence Martin P. De Guzman III and the Members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.
Senator Chiz Escudero has endeared himself to the people of La Union due to his unending support to the different projects and programs of the provincial government, particularly in crossing party lines to stand out for the inclusion of the former U.S. Wallace Air Station as Poro Point Special Economic and Freeport Zone (R.A. 9400) which spurred both economic and tourism investment opportunities from both local and foreign, thereby improved greatly the province’s economic progress and well-being of its people. He was likewise instrumental in supporting and fast-tracking the approval of the cityhood of the City of San Fernando, which now evidently a flourishing and progressive city working harmoniously with the Province of La Union.
His adoption as son of the Province of La Union would further strengthen the bond of common concern and oneness among our people --- giving inspiration and motivation in the pursuit of a stronger republic.
Meanwhile, thirty-four municipal and Barangay officials from Naguilian and Sto. Tomas, La Union pledged their membership to the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) before Senator Chiz Escudero, NPC Member and Governor Manuel C. Ortega, NPC La Union Provincial Chairman immediately after the simple ceremonies.
The Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) is a political party in the Philippines founded in 1991 after some members of the Nacionalista Party led by then Rizal Governor Isidro Rodriguez bolted from the Nacionalista Party after some disagreements with Nacionalista Party leader then Vice President Salvador Laurel in preparation for the 1992 Presidential elections.
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Casino Prospers In La Union
The casino war in Baguio City may have been won by the city government, which had opposed its operation, but the casino's owners may be laughing all the way to the bank.
Cheryl Ann Ruiz Arnold, corporate communications officer of Thunderbird Resorts Inc., said 60 percent of customers of their casino in San Fernando City in La Union come from Baguio. She adds that the casino attracts from 1,000 to 2,000 patrons daily.
Thunderbird is the same company that wanted to open a casino in Baguio five years ago but the thunder against it was stronger there.
Arnold said they are not planning to revive their campaign in Baguio within the next two to three years and are satisfied with their operations at the Poro Point Freeport. Instead, Baguio residents drive for an hour to La Union to play in the casino.
Baguio Mayor Reinaldo Bautista Jr. was among those who opposed the casino plan by Thunderbird. The proposed casino was supposed to have been built at Camp John Hay.
Thunderbird had signed a lease contract in 2006 with the Bases Conversion Development Authority for a 65-hectare resort at Poro Point, a former American naval base. The firm's operation was approved by the La Union government despite opposition from religious groups that were ignored in the course of approving the casino. Thunderbird complements the other casino in the region, the Fort Ilocandia Resort and Casino in Laoag City, which caters mostly to Taiwanese tourists. The Panama-based Thunderbird has plunked $13 million in its Poro Point resort since 2006 and will invest another $16 million for the second phase including the establishment of a golf course, said Arnold.
She said the firm also contributed P55 million in January to the San Fernando Airport upgrading project.
The airport's rehabilitation is being undertaken to accommodate international flights from East Asia, Arnold said.
