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.
