(January 9, 2012) - The start of 2012 proved to be bountiful for the Butuan City Government after receiving Php1.2 Million from the Department of Science and Technology. Said amount is intended for one (1) bioreactor unit which will be used to convert biodegradable waste into fertilizer, in support of the city’s Clean Ground, Zero Waste Program (CGZW).

DOST Caraga Regional Director Mr. Lyndo G. Villacorta personally handed over the check to City Mayor Ferdinand M. Amante, Jr. and CGZW Program Coordinator Ruth Jugao last January 6, 2012.

A bioreactor is a machine that grinds and converts biodegradable solid waste into compost, a good fertilizer for vegetable crops. Biodegradable waste includes spoiled/wilted vegetables, fruit peels, meat/fruit/vegetable trimmings, food leftovers, fish entrails/trimmings, leaves/twigs, and seeds, among others.

The Langihan Public Market Public is one of the major sources of biodegradable waste daily, as stated by Ms. Jugao. At present, biodegradable waste from the market are distributed to Barangays Ampayon and Bit-os for the vermiculture project.

Dr. Villacorta further said that he was glad that DOST was tapped to take part in strengthening the campaign on Solid Waste Management as part of the convergence efforts between the City Government and Regional Line Agencies for a more efficient public service to the people of Butuan City. - CMO-PIO 

City Mayor Jun Amante accepts the check worth Php1.2M from DOST-13 Regional Director Lyndo G. Villacorta

December 29, 2011 - The City Government of Butuan has been awarded the Seal of Good Housekeeping by the Department of Interior and Local Government, making it a qualified recipient of the Local Government Support Fund (LGSF). 

In a memorandum issued by DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo to Caraga Regional Director Atty. Rene Burdeos, the DILG chief directed Atty. Burdeos to inform the City Government of Butuan to submit a one-page project brief based on the corresponding amount of the LGSF share in the amount of Php60 Million that may be released to them.  

The memorandum further stated that the said fund shall be utilized as capital expenditures and used to augment their approved 2012 Annual Investment Plan for implementation of any or combination of the following projects, namely: 1) rural electrification; 2) local roads connecting national roads; 3) arterial farm-to-market roads and bridges; 4) local economic enterprises and; 5) flood control and drainage.   

Also, the DILG chief said the fund can also be used to support the priority projects of the national government such as the 1) Millennium Development Goals (MDGs); 2) Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010; 3) Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.   

However, DILG emphasized that the release of the LGSF shall be subject to the evaluation or approval of the project by the concerned DILG Regional Office, based on the above-stated requirements. Once the concerned DILG Regional Office has determined the soundness of the project, it shall then be endorsed to its counterpart regional office of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) for fund processing.   

This development shows that the internal reforms which were implemented in the city government here through the leadership of Mayor Ferdinand Amante, Jr. were recognized by the national government. 

The City Government of Butuan is among the local government units of Caraga Region that complied and adhered to the flagship program of President Benigno S. Aquino III on transparency and accountability as highlighted in the Philippine Development Plan for 2011-2016. – CMO-PIO/PIA-13

(December 2, 2011) – Butuanons gathered at the Butuan City Hall today to witness the annual Light-Up Butuan 2011, a traditional switching–on of Christmas lights which signifies the opening of this season’s festivities. This year’s celebration highlighted the convergence of stakeholders coming from the national agencies, private sector, civil society groups and many other constituents who worked hand-in-hand to exemplify the spirit of giving, receiving and sharing. This year’s ceremony was considered a milestone as for the first time, it was done simultaneously with the Provincial Government’s lighting of the Capitol grounds, which is also one of the most anticipated annual attractions during the Christmas season.

Mayor Ferdinand M. Amante, Jr., together with the members of the Sangguniang Panglungsod and officers of the Butuan City Tourism Council, marked the start of the Christmas Season by lighting the giant Christmas tree, followed by a fireworks display and the releasing of sky lanterns by the City Officials and Department Heads.

Mayor Amante stressed out that “We have experienced trials in our lives… may these trials turn into challenges, hope and inspiration as we jointly celebrate the birth of our Savior.”

Mayor Amante added that all regular employees will receive a cash bonus equivalent to their one month salary, while contractual and job order employees will receive P5,000 each. - CMO-PIO (Photo courtesy of Jojo Lozada)

(December 2, 2011) – The prime Crime Incident Reporting System in Mindanao was officially launched at the Butuan City Police Office today in the presence of PNP Director General Nicanor Bartolome.

To augment peace and order measures and prevent proliferation of crime incidents in the city, the E-blotter system of the Philippine National Police was created to allow fast and accurate reporting of crime incidents and prevent tampering of police records. Also, through this new system, the local police could easily track and monitor the efficiency its personnel from different stations in responding to various crime situations. Information from the PNP substations will be sent to the headquarters and then entered into the database. This project is jointly developed by the Information Technology Management System (ITMS) and Directorate for Investigation in Detective Management (DIDM).

The ceremonial clicking-on of the E-Blotter System was led by PDG Nicanor A. Bartolome and Butuan City Mayor Ferdinand M. Amante, Jr., together with Rep. Jose S. Aquino II, PNP-13 Regional Director Reynaldo Rafal and BCPO Director Jose Carillo.

In his message, Gen. Bartolome acknowledged the support of the Local Government of Butuan, through Butuan City Mayor Ferdinand M. Amante, Jr., who donated six (6) laptop units which were used for the E-Blotter System. He also appealed to the Butuan PNP personnel, headed by PSSupt Jose Carillo, to strive harder to bring the city crime rate lower as a response to the enormous support of the City Government to the local PNP unit.

          In his response, Mayor Amante cited the concerns of Butuanons over the recent series of incidents in Butuan City. “Though the number remains significantly lower compared to the previous year, we shall continue to pour out our best efforts to bring our crime rate even lower. The City Government of Butuan shall continue to support our police force in maintaining peace and order in Butuan City,” Mayor Amante said.

          Mayor Amante added that “by promoting good family values, we also promote good behavior which translates to peace and harmony in our neighborhoods.” - CMO-PIO

In line with the celebration of the Government Employees Week, the Butuan City Government Employees Association (BCGEA) , the acknowledged employees' union of the city,  is calling for a general assembly on December 6, 2011 from 1:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M.

                To be deliberated  during the assembly are the following concerns:

1.) Proposed amendment  to the BCGEA constitution and by-laws  approved on Dec. 4, 2009;

2.) Proposed amendment to the Medical Assistance Program (MAP);

3.) Status of the BCGEA application for registration with the Dept. of Labor and Employment;

4.) Annual financial report ;

5.) Accomplishment report from Septmber 2009 to date;

6.) Plans and programs for CY 2012

BCGEA President Samuel Carampatana requested all members to participate in the discussion.

BCGEA is also spearheading the City Hall Christmas party on December 16, 2011 where big prizes await the winners in the raffle draw.

          (November 14, 2011) Tokyo, Japan - Toyo University PPP Research Center presented today its final report on “PPP Possibilities for the Future of Butuan City” at the Japanese university’s main campus in Tokyo, Japan. The presentation was attended by the Butuan delegation composed of representatives from the LGU, led by City Mayor Ferdinand M. Amante, Jr., with representatives from the business and academe sectors of Butuan City.

The Butuanons were formally welcomed by Dr. Makio Takemura, President of Toyo University, and Prof. Yuji Nemoto, PPP Research Center Principal. Also present to witness the presentation were Mr. Geoffrey Hamilton and Mr. Michael Flynn, PPP experts from the United Nations, and Mr. Froilan Pamintuan of the Philippine Embassy in Japan. 

The final report contained observations in the fields of agriculture, recycling, renewable energy, economic enterprise and tourism. The most noteworthy recommendations include the mechanization of the agriculture industry, the conversion of waste to energy and the use of wood pellets as biomass fuel. Prof. Sam Tabuchi, team leader of the group that conducted the study, emphasized that Butuan City is rich in timber and has the ability to grow trees, such as falcata and ipil-ipil, in three to five years. He says that this is a major advantage over Western countries which need approximately 40 years to grow trees for biomass fuel production. 

In his response, Mayor Amante expressed that his administration is serious about the current efforts to strengthen Public-Private Partnership in Butuan, in line with the PPP advocacy of Pres. Noynoy Aquino, and that the City Government is committed to work on the recommendations of Toyo University for economic development in Butuan City. 

The presentation of the report is a component of the MOU between Toyo University and the City Government of Butuan which allowed Toyo University PPP Research Center to conduct a study on possible Public-Private Partnership Projects in Butuan City. A team from Toyo University conducted interviews and site inspections in Butuan City last September. The study marks the first time that Toyo University conducted such study outside Japan, choosing Butuan City as its first non-Japanese LGU subject. 

Today’s event also included the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding for academic, scientific and cultural cooperation and exchange between Toyo University, Caraga State University, Father Saturnino Urios University, Saint Joseph Institute of Technology, and the City Government of Butuan. It was immediately followed by a business forum, where Mayor Amante presented Butuan’s investment opportunities to potential Japanese investors, and a reception dinner hosted by Toyo University for the Butuanon guests. – CMO-PIO