Award-winning Eco-Park and cheaper cost of dredging the river highlight Mayor Gerry Calderon’s physical improvement of Angono

Mayor Gerry Calderon identified the construction of Angono’s Eco-Park and cheaper cost of dredging the Angono River as two of his most significant projects.

Photo shows some of Mayor Gerry’s current and future projects involving physical rehabilitation of Angono, Rizal.

 In a report during the Peace and Order Council recently, Mayor Gerry noted that the former garbage transfer station area has been developed and actually gained recognition.

Earlier, a United Nations Organization watchdog commended the Municipality of Angono, Rizal for its remarkable steps in achieving the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in terms of environmental sustainability.

The MDG Achievement Fund cited Angono for its admiring waste management program and for constructing the Angono Eco-Park, which consists of segregation area, dog pound, transfer station area and canal.

The MDG Achievement Fund is an international cooperation mechanism whose aim is to accelerate progress on the MDGs worldwide. It was established in December 2006 and supports national governments, local authorities and citizen organizations in their efforts to tackle poverty and inequality.

The award, signed by UN Resident Dr. Jacqui Badcock and League of Municipalities president Strike Revilla, was received by Mayor Gerry Calderon on February 10 at the University of the Philippines.

Meanwhile, Mayor Gerry explained that dredging the Angono River was less expensive under his watch.

“The previous administration spent worth P1M for dredging 400 meters while in year 2011, we had dredged 4,000 meters amounting to P4M only. The saving was achieved because of the ‘bayad lupa scheme’ a private – public partnership,” Mayor Gerry said, quoting the report of the Engineering Office.

Mayor Gerry also emphasized the Techno-Demo Farm and Gulayan Bayan project in Mahabang Parang, which is part of his Upland Development Program or “Sagip-Bundok, Sagip-Buhay” campaign.

The project aims to protect and preserve the remaining vegetation in the upland area as well as stop building structures in areas both covered and uncovered by Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).The project is managed by Dr. Alejandro Medina, officer-in-charge of the Municipal Agriculture Office.

A component also of this project is disallowing further development of subdivisions.

Other major physical rehabilitation projects of Mayor Gerry include the operational Material Recovery Facilities (MRF) located at Sitio Labahan, Brgy. San Isidro, Angono, Rizal and managed by former Councilor Danny de Guzman, renovation of the Lakeside Park,  and the construction of the “Malakas and Maganda” sculpture in front of the municipal building.

The MRF produces cement out of the recycled materials such as garbage and plastic, which were eventually given for free or sold lower than the existing price in the market.

The Lakeside Park, on the other hand,  is a favorite jogging and leisure area of many Angono residents, where the Angono scene at dusk is better than the Manila Bay sunset.

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Report by Richard Gappi

Photo by Manda Icasiano

Rizal province receives P30M-prize grant for good governance; Teresa and Jalajala also get the same recognition under the municipal category

SEAL OF GOOD HOUSEKEEPING – Rizal Gov. Jun Ynares (second from left) recently received the plaque of recognition and facsimile cheque amounting to Php 30 million from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) after the Province of Rizal was awarded the Seal of Good Housekeeping for its good governance performance for the year 2011. Witnessing the awarding rites are Sangguniang Panlalawigan members and department heads of the provincial government. (Photo credit: Public Information Office-Rizal province)

Because of its admiring good governance, the province of Rizal is set to receive some P30 million from the Department of Interior and Local Government’s Local Government Support Fund (LGSF) to finance its various programs and projects.

This developed after the DILG awarded a Seal of Good Housekeeping to the province for calendar year 2011.

DILG Assistant Secretary Rolando Acosta announced the good news through a memorandum sent to its regional and provincial directors.

The Seal, which refers to the full disclosure of local budget and finances, bids and public offerings, is a DILG device which measures the LGUs performance based on fiscal management, transparency and accountability.

Rizal province’s two municipalities – Teresa and Jalajala – also received the same recognition under the municipal category.

The 30-million fund will be used as capital expenditures to augment the LGUs’ approved annual investment program (AIP) for implementation of any or combination of the following projects only – rural electrification, local roads, farm-to-market roads and bridges, local economic enterprises, flood control and drainage.

The LGSF is also intended to support the following projects of the national government – millennium development goals (MDGs), Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010, and the Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.

“We will continue to improve, not for recognition but for our constituents who will benefit from our good housekeeping ways,” Rizal Gov. Jun Ynares said in response to the latest award which the province received.(Richard R. Gappi/Rizal Public Information Office) 

Mayor Gerry welcomes officials of South Africa wishing to learn from Angono’s arts and tourism experience

Local officials of Angono, Rizal led by Mayor Gerry Calderon welcomed officials of Northern Cape, South Africa on Feb. 16.

Mayor Calderon and Barangay San Isidro Captain Joey Calderon (extreme left) gave figurines of "Higantitos" as souvenir to the South African guests. Also shown in this photo are local officials namely Vice-Mayor Ronald Patrick Rubin; councilors Gino Miranda, Aristito Gil, Snooky Reyes and Barangay Bagumbayan Capt. Boy Tolentino.

Ambassador Agnes Nyamande-Pitso; Johann van Schalkwyk, manager of the Department of Economic Development and Tourism; Hugo Lambrechts, Counsellor of the South African Embassy; Zora Wookey, owner of the Worldwide Travel Agency; and Conrad Mouton, owner of Aukwatowa Tours comprise the South African delegation.

The guests were accompanied by Tourism provincial official Mar Bacani.

Counssellor Lambrechts said that his group went to Angono, Rizal to get insight and learn from the town’ successful programs and projects.

He added that like Angono, Northern Cape has a rich arts, culture and tradition but how to transform these advantages in boosting the tourism industry and economic development of Northern Cape remains wanting.

In his speech, Mayor Calderon stressed that tourism plays an important role in uplifting the lives of Angono people.

“As a local government unit that supports and implements the United Nation’s Millennium Development Goals, we are continually exploring global partnership with different countries utilizing the medium of art and culture.

As positive proof of this endeavor, we have been recognized by ASEAN countries as one of the Culture Capital in the region. Recently, we also received a Certificate of Appreciation from the Millennium Development Goals Fund and League of Municipalities of the Philippines for our innovative initiative in MDG achievement through the establishment of ECO-PARK, a new technology in proper management of solid waste reduction and management,” Mayor Calderon said.

After the welcome ceremony, which students of Regional Lead School for the Arts made festive and warm because of their performances, the guests rode jeepney and visited the Blanco Family Museum and Nemiranda Art Gallery. (Richard R. Gappi)

Angono, Rizal – pinangaralan ng United Nations Millennium Development Goal Achievement Fund!

ANG ANGONO AY ISA SA WALONG BAYAN AT SYUDAD SA BUONG PILIPINAS NA NAPAGKALOOBAN NG NASABING PARANGAL MULA SA UNITED NATIONS-MDG.

News: Rizal province receives P30M-prize grant for good governance; Teresa and Jalajala also get the same recognition under the municipal category

Because of its admiring good governance, the province of Rizal is set to receive some P30 million from the Department of Interior and Local Government’s Local Government Support Fund (LGSF) to finance its various programs and projects.

This developed after the DILG awarded a Seal of Good Housekeeping to the province for calendar year 2011.

DILG Assistant Secretary Rolando Acosta announced the good news through a memorandum sent to its regional and provincial directors.

The Seal, which refers to the full disclosure of local budget and finances, bids and public offerings, is a DILG device which measures the LGUs performance based on fiscal management, transparency and accountability.

Rizal province’s two municipalities – Teresa and Jalajala – also received the same recognition under the municipal category.

The 30-million fund will be used as capital expenditures to augment the LGUs’ approved annual investment program (AIP) for implementation of any or combination of the following projects only – rural electrification, local roads, farm-to-market roads and bridges, local economic enterprises, flood control and drainage.

The LGSF is also intended to support the following projects of the national government – millennium development goals (MDGs), Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010, and the Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.

“We will continue to improve, not for recognition but for our constituents who will benefit from our good housekeeping ways,” Rizal Gov. Jun Ynares said in response to the latest award which the province received.(Richard R. Gappi/Rizal Public Information Office/Angono Dream News)