Job fair, other activities lined up

Cebu City charter day

CEBU, Philippines — Aside from conferring awards to outstanding individuals, employees, and institutions, the Cebu City government has scheduled weeklong activities in line with the celebration of the 82nd Charter Day on February 24.

Catherine Yso, secretary to the mayor, invited city’s constituents to avail of the services and programs at Plaza Sugbo within the week.

“We have prepared several activities and programs for the constituents of the city for our Charter Day Celebration,” she said.

Yesterday, the Cebu City Agriculture Department awarded the 2018 Ten Outstanding Farmers at St. Mark's Hotel, Barangay Kamputhaw.

These farmers were awarded for their excellence in the different fields of agriculture.

The awardees were Diomedes Panaginip and Eric Banate (Vegetable Growers), Divina Lastimosa and Remegias Gabunada (Cutflower Grower), Samuel Navarro (Livestock Grower), Cha Goc-ong (Mango Grower), Leonardo Tugado (Corn Grower), Gerald Cantarona (Ornamental Grower), Teofanis Englis (Rice Grower), and Jovencia Arcilla (Agri-Entrepreneur).

Each of them received a plaque of recognition and a check worth P10,000.

"Mahinungdanon kaayo ni para namo ug dako ni nga dungog kay sa among pagpaningkamot isip naghumayan gitagaan mi og importansya," said Englis, the rice grower awardee.

Englis said his fellow farmers are thankful for the full support of the agricultural technicians who monitored their activities and provided them with high-breed seeds.

City Agriculturist Apple Tribunalo said the awardees were evaluated for a year and they were determined through a nomination and a series of onsite evaluations until they were short listed.

Tribunalo said these farmers were chosen because they were all receptive to modern agricultural technologies and that they are innovative, risk-takers, and they treat farming as an enterprise.

"We want people to know nga naay oportunidad sa pagpanguma, kinahanglan lang og kugi ug ensaktong kapital; di na kailangan magpalayo para makakita og greener pastures," she added.

Osmeña, who graced the awarding, announced that a school bus will be given to the mountain barangays as service for the students.

He said students who wish to study in the urban area need not to rent rooms anymore because they can avail of the free bus service in the morning and afternoon.

Osmeña said the buses could provide a better future to students especially the farmers' children.

For today, Yso said there are 10 local companies and 10 other companies of Business Process Outsourcing that will participate in the job fair at Plaza Sugbo.

Yso said the number of companies might increase since it is not yet final as of yesterday.

Also, Yso said the Farmer’s Market will start from Thursday to Friday. It will offer fresh produce from the city’s mountain barangays.

The items will be cheaper compared to other markets since the farmers and their families will be the one to sell their own products, she said.

Yso added that there will also be a 50 percent off discount from selected items from 12:00 noon to 2 p.m. at the Farmer’s Market.

For Sunday, she said there will be a flag raising ceremony at the City Hall’s Plaza Sugbo wherein conferring of awards to outstanding City Hall employee, department heads, department, 10 service excellence for the youth, and 15 board topnothers will be held.

At 6 p.m., the Testimonial Dinner will be held at White Gold House wherein the city, through the Cultural and Historical Affairs Commission, will confer awards to outstanding individuals and institutions. — Isabella G. Obor (FREEMAN)