Ligao City inaugurates hydroelectric powered Class "AA" Slaughterhouse

In celebration of its 13th Cityhood Anniversary, Ligao City inaugurated the Class "AA" Slaughterhouse and Mini-Hydro on March 24, 2014 at Tinago, Ligao City.

The Class "AA" Slaughterhouse and the Mini-Hydro was envisioned by former Ligao City Mayor Linda Gonzalez during her administration, in partnership with the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Department of Agriculture (DA), and the Department of Budget Management (DBM), with the support of the Sangguniang Panlungsod. The two facilities were built using the Performance Challenge Fund (PCF) when the Local Government Unit (LGU) of the Ligao City was awarded with DILG's Seal of Good Housekeeping in 2012.

According to former Mayor Linda Gonzalez, NMIS Executive Director Dr. Minda S. Manantan visited the slaughterhouse more than a year ago to make sure that the machines and other internal components were already installed. "While we were building the structure, sila [NMIS] ang partner natin for providing us with all the instruments and machines and other requirements to operate 'AA' slaughterhouse," said former Mayor Linda Gonzalez. She also added that Dr. Manantan was delighted to see that the LGU is complying with Republic Act No. 9296 (Meat Inspection Code of the Philippines) in which the proper and safe handling of meat and meat products is observed.

Using renewable energy to operate the slaughterhouse

Former Mayor Linda Gonzalez was also grateful to witness the realization of her envisioned renewable energy as source for operating machines in the slaughterhouse. The plan was originally to use methane as the alternative energy produced from the waste products of pigs. However, upon computation, they found out that there will not be enough waste products to produce methane.

Former Ligao City Mayor Linda Gonzalez

explained the challenges encountered by the

LGU in establishing the Class "AA" 

slaughterhouse

Fortunately, Mayor Linda Gonzalez was able find another way to make renewable energy feasible. "It was very providential that I had a chance to be able to talk to a resource person on hydroelectric energy," said Mayor Linda Gonzalez. Hydroelectric energy is another alternative renewable energy, produced from flowing water, that can operate machines in the slaughterhouse with high power requirement. The thorough research led to the conceptualization and establishment of the Mini-Hydro.

The water supply for the hydroelectric power plant will come from the irrigation systems at Barangay Herrera. However, according to Mayor Linda Gonzalez, upon consultation from experts, the water supply will not be able to generate the 100 % energy target but enough to meet the energy requirements of the slaughterhouse.

The process for pursuing a renewable energy as major energy source for operating the slaughterhouse took a long way. Several plans were rejected and altered in order to successfully reach the goal.

"It cost a lot but in the long run this will be already providing the electricity without having to pay ALECO. We will be running this facility with [an energy] source coming from a natural source not with any bills every month," said Mayor Linda Gonzalez.

Another envisioned goal of Mayor Linda Gonzalez is the installment of refrigerated storage to maintain the quality of meat. She also envisions the establishment of the Meat Processing Center which will provide additional income and revenues for the City. This, according to her, can be one of the projects that LGU, under Mayor Patty Gonzalez-Alsua's leadership, can focus on in the coming years.

Maintaining a high class slaughterhouse

NMIS OIC-Regional 

Director Dr. Mateo Puatu

The butchers who will operate the machines in the slaughterhouse underwent 12 trainings in Sorsogon. However, according to Mayor Linda Gonzalez, they still need to undergo the national training to become qualified butchers in operating a Class "AA" slaughterhouse. Four meat inspectors will also manage the slaughterhouse to make sure that the facility is complying with the standards of the NMIS.

NMIS OIC-Regional Director Dr. Mateo Puatu said that with accreditation of the slaughterhouse as Class "AA", the "meat and meat products of this establishment can be transported and transacted nationwide." The NMIS was also responsible for the accreditation of the slaughterhouse by providing technical package and financial support for the establishment of the facility.

Congressman Fernando V. Gonzalez said

that the establishment of the class "AA" 

slaughterhouse is an effort to expand the 

service catering more localities outside

Ligao City.

DILG-Albay Provincial Director Danton M. Vibar also stressed that with the aggressiveness of Ligao City, it will surely grab the Seal of Good Housekeeping again. He also said that being a Hall of Famer, garnering awards, means a higher budget allocation which will open opportunities for Ligao City for more projects.

Congressman Fernando V. Gonzalez who also gave support in the successful establishment and accreditation of the Class "AA" slaughterhouse said that the replacement of the old slaughterhouse is not an indication of low quality meat products but an effort to expand the service, making the the high-quality meat and meat products available nationwide. The expansion will also help the local meat business establishments as the service will be open not only in Ligao City but also in the neighboring towns and cities, even in Metro Manila, according to Congressman Gonzalez.





Written by Lala Peñafiel

Ligao City launches Sunflower festival on its 13th Cityhood Anniversary

To celebrate its 13^th Cityhood Anniversary on March 24, 2014, Ligao City launched its official Sunflower Festival. The celebration was grander as festivals from Masbate City (Rodeo Masbateño), Iriga City (Tinagba Festival), Legazpi City (Ibalong Festival), Naga City (Peñafrancia Voyadores Festival), Daet (Pinyasan Festival), and Guinobatan (Longganisa Festival) joined the Parade of Festivals led by Ligao City Mayor Patty Gonzalez-Alsua, with the local government officials and employees.

To introduce the Sunflower Festival dancers, City Tourism Office Officer-in-Charge Ms. Gina Balingbing told the history of how they were carefully selected. According to her, the Sunflower festival committee conducted a four-day screening of dancers and instrumentalists on Septermber 2013. The screening was announced via radio, and in schools and barangays to inform potential dancers and instrumentalists. By the end of September, the committee was able to come up with the official Sunflower Festival Dancers consisting of more than 150 members which include students, out-of-school youths, and a teacher.

The Sunflower Festival dance features the story of Ligao City "from the legendary roots of the five ancient Datus that instituted this land [Ligao City] to the gifts of the Spanish colonizers, the gift of fate, and up to the present where we Ligaoeños take pride in our beautiful sunflowers," as told by Ms. Balingbing during the introduction of the Sunflower Festival.

To welcome the official Sunflower festival dancers, exhibitions from Tinagba Festival dancers, Longganisa Festival dancers, and Rodeo Barn Dancers were featured at the City Pavilion. 

The Sunflower festival of Ligao City launched on its 13th Cityhood Anniversary

DAY 5: Ligao City celebrates 13th Cityhood Anniversary

Rain or shine, the show must go on. Despite the overcast weather, participants gathered at the City Pavilion to join the Cityhood Fun Run on March 23, fifth day of Ligao City's 13th Cityhood Anniversary celebration.

More than 200 participants from Ligao City with visiting participants from Legazpi City joined the 7-km fun run. The participants include male and female ranging from 9 to 60 years old. As Mayor Patty Gonzalez-Alsua fired the starter pistol, participants began running from the City Pavilion passing through Barangays Tinago, Pinit, Batang (through access road), Bay, Tuburan highway, Calzada, then back to the City Pavilion.

Coach Sonny Magno, who joined the Palarong Bicol as running coach of Ligao City athletic team, wishes to someday launch a Milo® marathon at Ligao City sponsored by the Nestlé Milo®. Coach Magno was also one of Lydia de Vega's running coach and has been in the sports industry as a national coach since he was 27 years old. He said that while he's still in Ligao City, he would like to help the city develop its sports team. His envisioned Milo® Marathon at Ligao City can be a venue for selecting champions that will represent the region for the National Milo® Marathon.

Aside from the annual fun run, Ligao City also held its first Mayor's Cup Boxing Tournament at City Gymnasium headed by the Sports Committee Coordinator Edgardo Gonzalez during the evening. Other events held during the fifth day of Ligao City's 13th Cityhood Anniversary were Laro ng Lahi participated by City Hall employees and Pedicab Race.

Distribution of wheelchairs

The City government of Ligao, in coordination with the Church of the Latter Day Saint Humanitarian distributed wheelchairs to the Persons with Disabilities (PWD).

DAY 4: Ligao City celebrates 13th Cityhood Anniversary at coastal area

Aside from showcasing local products and local talents, the 13th Cityhood Anniversary is also a celebration of potential world-class tourist destinations in Ligao City.

On its fourth day of celebration, March 23, Ligao City held activities at the coastal area where the beautiful and well-maintained white sand beach at Catburawan awaits. Lead by Mayor Patty Gonzalez-Alsua and Congressman Fernando V. Gonzalez, the Coastal Caravan was participated by City Hall employees, local officials, and residents from Centro and Coastal area.

Residents in the coastal area joined the Kite-Flying Competition, Sibid Race, Volleyball Exhibition, Fun-at-Sea (Fish Show) Laro ng Lahi, and the Climate Change Film Showing. Little girls dressed as mermaids went to showcase their beauties at the Fun-at-Sea (Fish Show).

Participants also enjoyed resting in the colorfully-decorated balsa prepared by the different Puroks (districts) of Barangay Catburawan while some took a ride at the bancas (native fishing boats). Some also enjoyed swimming at the Catburawan white sand beach with their friends and families.

Environment and Natural Resources Officer Maria Soledad T. Preña headed the Mangrove and Coastal Clean-up at Catburawan.

The City Health Office (CHO) headed by Dr. Wynns Samar also conducted the Medical and Dental Mission at the Cabarian Barangay Hall and Covered Court. Medical services that were offered include dental and medical checkup, laboratory tests (i.e. RBS, Cholesterol, Uric Acide, and ECG). Senior citizens also availed the Anti-Pneumonia vaccination which is done only every five years. Medicines and Vitamins were also distributed to the residents.

A team of medical staff from CHO also visits the coastal area every month to conduct immunization among children.

DAY 3: Ligao City opens City Tourism Office and Pasalubong Center

The celebration gets even grander as Ligao City's 13th Cityhood Anniversary on March 24 is approaching. Unique and remarkable events were held since day one and still more one-of-a-kind events to look forward to in the coming days of the celebration. The third day, March 21, 2014, is another date to mark in the history as Ligao City opened the City Tourism Office and Pasalubong Center at Jessie M. Robredo Building in Tuburan, Ligao City.

Realization of a vision

Former Ligao City Mayor Linda Gonzalez conceptualized

the City Tourism Office and Pasalubong Center during her 

administration.

Former Ligao City Mayor Linda P. Gonzalez expressed her gratitude for the realization of the envisioned City Tourism Office and Pasalubong Center which she conceptualized during her administration. She also added that the building was indeed intended to be a tourism office and pasalubong center since the second floor is dedicated for skills training for women. She also mentioned the presence of satellite production for the native products and the supposed covered court at the back of the building intended for more training. "Kaya nga tinawag na Productivity Center [This is why it's called Productivity Center]," said Former Mayor Linda Gonzalez who also mentioned Congresswoman Maria Leonor "Leni" Robredo's high interest and delight on the facility.

Former Mayor Linda Gonzalez ended her message with a polite and straightforward request to Regional Director Maria O. Ravanilla of the Department of Tourism, Region V to support Ligao City tourism through the projects and programs available in Bicol region. She also sees the great potential of Ligao City to become a major tourist destination in the Philippines. "...because we are young and yet aggressive on becoming a destination for tourism in the Philippines," justifies former Mayor Linda Gonzalez.

Pasalubong Center: a mirror to Ligao's culture and tradition

"The Ligaoeños deserve a big applause," said Director Ravanilla. The City Tourism Office is a manifestation that Ligaoeños are now ready to accept and receive tourists, she added. "This is a powerful information tool" said Director Ravanilla as it will serve as a guide for local and international tourists on the best places to visit in Ligao City.

Ligao City Mayor Patty Gonzalez-Alsua also showed photographs displayed at the City Tourism Office featuring the local tourist destinations. "These are the sites that we Ligaoeños are proud of. We would like to showcase our sites and tourist destinations to all Ligaoeños and to all tourists," said Mayor Gonzalez-Alsua.

Director Ravanilla, on the other hand, referred to the Pasalubong Center as a reflection of what and who Ligaoeños are. "This is a reflection na ang mga Ligaoeños determinado, very creative, mga mahihigos... Iyo po ini ang kultura asin tradisyon na winalat kan satuyang mga ninuno. [This is a reflection that Ligaoeños are determined, very creative, hardworking...This is the culture and tradition we inherited from our ancestors]," she added.

Photos of famous tourist destinations in Ligao City are displayed in the City Tourism Office

Only in Ligao City

Director Ravanilla also emphasized the unique beauty of Kawa-Kawa Hill which brings people closer to nature and closer to God. She even personally advertised the unique products along the way when trekking the hill. "Where else can you taste the best dila-dila? I love the dila-dila! Where else can you taste the best puto na may macapuno filling?...Where else can you taste a halo-halo na may lambanog? It's only in Ligao City"

Region V Tourism Office Director Maria Ravanilla proudly

shows off her shirt with a printed photo of her in a 

sunflower field.

Ligao City has always been part of her presentations in international gatherings and she herself promotes Ligao City. She even proudly showed off her worn shirt with a printed photo of her in the middle of a sunflower field; and people always mistook the photo to have been taken in foreign places, according to Director Ravanilla.


Director Ravanilla also urged the office to design a promotional material with a map (collateral) that will be used as a guide for tourists. In addition, she suggested to develop the sunflower backyard gardening for each household that can later lead to sustainable development. She emphasized that sunflower should always be present in Ligao City as it is part of the culture and people will always look for it.

Congressman Fernando V. Gonzalez encourages Ligaoeños

to participate in the development of tourism in Ligao City.

Congressman Fernando V. Gonzalez commended the continuous efforts of local officials and personnel, and utmost support of Director Ravanilla in preserving and developing tourist destinations in Ligao City. He also sees the great potential of the coastal area in becoming a major tourist destination in the Philippines.

Congressman Gonzalez estimated a two-year time span to develop an industry of sunflower and sunflower products. He also encouraged everyone to participate in the regional tourism programs as it will in turn benefit Ligao City.