Zamboanga City News December 2013

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Zamboanga City - Archived News

Wars of ancient history were about possessions, territory, power, control, family, betrayal, lover's quarrel, politics and sometimes religion.

But we are in the Modern era and supposedly more educated and enlightened .

Think about this. Don't just brush off these questions.

  • Why is RELIGION still involved in WARS? Isn't religion supposed to be about PEACE?
  • Ask yourself; What religion always campaign to have its religious laws be accepted as government laws, always involved in wars and consistently causing WARS, yet insists that it's a religion of peace?

WHY??

There are only two kinds of people who teach tolerance:
  1. The Bullies. They want you to tolerate them so they can continue to maliciously deprive you. Do not believe these bullies teaching tolerance, saying that it’s the path to prevent hatred and prejudice.
  2. The victims who are waiting for the right moment to retaliate. They can’t win yet, so they tolerate.
Limpapa Beach.JPG
Limpapa Beach

Dietary supplement is a product that contains vitamins, minerals, herbs or other botanicals, amino acids, enzymes, and/or other ingredients intended to supplement the diet. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has special labeling requirements for dietary supplements and treats them as foods, not drugs.

Manufacturers and distributors of dietary supplements and dietary ingredients are prohibited from marketing products that are adulterated or misbranded. That means that these firms are responsible for evaluating the safety and labeling of their products before marketing to ensure that they meet all the requirements of DSHEA and FDA regulations.

City-run hospital to hire more personnel

By Bong Garcia

THE government-run Zamboanga City Medical Center (ZCMC) is hiring additional 241 personnel to complete its staffing pattern to be able to better serve the public.

ZCMC Chief of Hospitals Dr. Romeo Ong said the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has approved the fund for the standard staffing pattern of all government-run hospitals in the country.

Among the personnel the ZCMC will hire are physicians, nurses, and other hospital support staffs to enhance the service to the public, according to Ong.

The ZCMC, which is one of the Department of Health (DOH)-administered hospitals, is not only serving the medical needs of the resident of this city but to include those from other parts of Zamboanga Peninsula.

Also availing the services of the ZCMC are residents of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi provinces, which are part of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm).

Ong said those interested and qualified can submit their application before January 6 for evaluation.

Ong said those who will be hired will start working on February of 2014.

He said the hiring of additional personnel is in preparation to meet the required number of staffs of a 500-bed capacity hospital.

The National Government had upgraded the ZCMC this year to a 500-bed capacity aimed to serve more people.

Zamboecozone approves P152-M budget for 2014

(PNA), PDS/TPGJR/R.G. ANTONET A. GO/UTB

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Dec. 30 (PNA) -–The Zamboanga City Special Economic Zone Authority and Freeport (Zamboecozone) has approved P152 million budget to pump prime development in 2014 at the Zamboecozone in this city.

This was announced by Zamboecozone Chairman and Administrator Christopher Arnuco citing the budget approval came after the Board backed his desire to accelerate development at the Zamboecozone.

Arnuco said the budget was approved in a recent Board meeting held at the Zamboecozone satellite office in Makati City.

Arnuco, as the Chairman presides the meeting of the Board that comprises of Mayor Ma. Isabelle Climaco-Salazar, first district Rep. Celso Lobregat, Councilor Benjamin Guingona, IV, National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) Regional Director Rafael Evnagelista, Edgard Lim of the business sector, and Jose Suan from the labor sector as members.

He said part of the budget will be used for personnel services, maintenance and other operating expenses, projects and capital outlay aside from pump priming development at the economic zone.

Zamboecozone was conceptualized to be an economic hub that is designed to generate local economic activities that will serve as a springboard for the promotion of trade, investments, and ecology tourism not only in this city but also throughout the region.

2013: ‘Explosive’ Year for Mindanao

(Camcer Ordoñez Imam, Malu Cadelina Manar, Ali G. Macabalang, Nonoy E. Lacson, Joseph T. Jubelag, Alexander D. Lopez, Cherry Mae D. Palicte, Vanboyd C. Torres, and Mike U. Crismundo / Manila Bulletin)

Mindanao was rocked by atrocities in 2013, which claimed the lives of many people, displaced thousands of residents, and destroyed millions of pesos worth of properties and infrastructure.

But the 23-standoff between government forces and Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) rebels loyal to founding chairman Nur Misuari in Zamboanga City remains the most destructive.

The siege lasted for three weeks marked by sporadic fighting, as the military engaged the MNLF in “close quarter battle.”

Residential houses, buildings, and other structures were totally destroyed by fires.

Misuari signed a peace accord with Manila in 1996, but the rebels accused the government of violating parts of the agreement.

The group also felt excluded from new negotiations between the government and a larger rival faction, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), which separated from the MNLF in 1978.

Due to the atrocities, thousands of people evacuated to the state-of-the-art Joaquin F. Enriquez Memorial Complex for fear of being caught in the crossfire.

The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) reported that 3,591 houses were destroyed in Barangay Sta. Catalina, 2,113 in Rio Hondo, 1,685 in Kasanyagan, 1,592 in Sta. Barbara, and 1,179 in Mariki.

The OCD also said that 118,819 persons or 23,794 families from 14 barangays (villages) have been affected by the violence, with almost 100,000 people sheltered in 33 evacuation centers in the city.

As the year ends, government efforts are into the rehabilitation of the affected families, but were somehow stalled when super-typhoon “Yolanda” wrecked havoc in the Visayas.

On September 28, 2013, the government declared the end of military operations in Zamboanga City, where Malik, reportedly the leader of the attacking MNLF rebels, was nowhere to be found.

Eventually, a court issued warrants of arrest for Misuari, Malik, Bas Arki, and Assamin Hussin. They have been charged with rebellion and human rights violations.

Misuari, who is the founder of the MNLF, has been accused of allegedly ordering the attacks.

Given the kind of police capabilities and justice system, there is general skepticism whether these bombing cases can really be solved.

But before the curtain falls regarding the “2013: Explosive Year for Mindanao,” the government peace panel and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) signed an important portion of the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, during the 42nd exploratory talks.

In the spirit of attaining peace, the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the MILF steadfastly worked on for so many years toward a fruitful conclusion that would benefit not just the Bangsamoro people but the rest of the people in Mindanao.

The government panel stressed that prospects are now brighter than ever for the signing of a Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA).

With the peace talks entering the end stage, the Annex on Power-Sharing to the FAB was finally signed in the evening of December 8 – after 16 months of negotiations.

The government and MILF peace panels signed the Annex on Power-Sharing with both parties agreeing that the unresolved issue on “Bangsamoro waters” be treated as an addendum to the annexes on Power-Sharing and Revenue Generation and Wealth-Sharing.

The signing leaves only one more annex unsigned – the Annex on Normalization to finally complete the Comprehensive Peace Agreement that would hasten the drafting of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), and to finally give way for the creation of the Bangsamoro autonomous political entity that would replace the 23-year-old Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

Like the skepticism on law enforcement and justice system, the peace negotiations earn some of them, as well.

Looking back, chaos by way of bombings, siege, hostage-taking, and house burning dominate the headlines for stories coming from Mindanao.

But, Mindanaoans are steadfast in their resolve that everything will come to pass, even as they found ways to help their “kababayans” in the “Yolanda”-affected areas in the Visayas despite the miserable incidents they were into.

It’s not just giving back, they said. It is their way of being positive and being forward looking towards 2014.

New DTI-Zambo Peninsula chief lays down priorities

(PNA),BP/TPG/PJN

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Dec. 28 (PNA) -- Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Zamboanga Peninsula assistant director Sitti Amina Jain has laid down four priorities as she assumed as the office-in-charge.

Jain replaces former DTI Regional Director Nazrullah Manzur, who retired from the government service effective last December 1 under the agency’s rationalization plan.

Jain’s priorities are in line with the policy direction of the DTI central office to achieve breakthrough results in 2014.

Among the priorities is small and medium enterprise development to further spur growth of the sector to include the provision of Shared Service Facilities (SSF), industry clustering, SME disaster readiness/resiliency program, green growth (i.e., focus on climate change mitigating ventures), and grassroots participatory budgeting (i.e., BUB) that is supportive of SME growth.

Jain noted that the SMEs comprise over 90 percent of all business establishments registered in the country providing gainful employment to hundreds of thousands of Filipinos.

Another priority is consumer protection wherein Jain’s office will be ramping up its consumer welfare protection initiatives to better safeguard the rights of consumers and “ensure that they get best value for money.”

Next is better management of resources, which according to Jain does not only mean good governance but also includes accelerated disbursements of funds for so-called big ticket items that would increase our region and the Philippines' competitiveness standing.

The last but not the least is H2R (hire to retire) initiative as the DTI believes that its people are its best resources.

Hence, Jain said that H2R is an initiative that would ensure the agency gets the best people, train and motivate them to give the best public service they could in line with the DTI’s continuing aspiration as the “agency of choice.”

“All these strategic initiatives however, would be of little value to most if these will not result to the upliftment of the lives of the general populace. That is why at the heart of all these things were are doing, should at the end of the day, result to inclusive growth -- the trickling down of the fruits of economic development to all Filipinos”, Jain said.

DSWD beneficiaries’ stories to be shared in new book

By Dominic I. Sanchez (PIA9)

ZAMBOANGA CITY - Who are the poor? What are their struggles, and how do they cope? These questions will be answered in a book by the poor themselves who wish to have their voices heard by the public.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Social Marketing Unit here is currently producing Paglaom Part II, a compilation of success stories of the poor, particularly the beneficiaries of its poverty-reduction programs. The book is tentatively scheduled to be launched January 2014.

“The beneficiaries of our programs, Pantawid Pamilya, Kalahi-CIDSS and the Sustainable Livelihood Program have much to share about how they are very determined to succeed in spite of their struggles,” said Narrabelle Bue, DSWD-IX regional information officer.

The book shall contain stories of beneficiaries of the three programs from different municipalities in Western Mindanao. The programs are collectively called Tatsulo, which is the agency’s convergence initiative geared towards multiplying the impact of the three among individual families.

In the poorest municipalities all over the country, the three programs are complementary. While Pantawid provides families with conditional cash grants for children’s education and health, Kalahi-CIDSS capacitates community residents in the poorest areas to identify and implement by themselves priority developmental projects such as the construction of roads, schools, health stations and others.

In addition, the SLP trains Pantawid beneficiaries to be able to start a sustainable micro-enterprise. These programs also involve the participation of various non-government and civil society groups, to ensure that the programs are free from corruption.

Social welfare Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman has defined Tatsulo, or the merging of the programs as a “torch that will bring the poorest out from poverty”.

Zambo health official expects dramatic decrease of firecracker—related incidents

(PNA), FFC/TPGJR/R.G. ANTONET A. GO/UTB

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Dec. 26 (PNA) -– Zamboanga City Medical Center (ZCMC) Chief of Hospitals Dr. Romeo Ong has expressed optimism that cases of firecracker-related incidents will be drastically reduced this year.

Ong made the statement on Thursday as the city government has banned the sale of firecrackers and pyrotechnics this year here.

Mayor Ma. Isabelle Climaco-Salazar has issued Executive Order BC-23-2013 which temporarily suspending the display, sale and distribution for use in this city firecrackers and pyrotechnics this Yuletide Seasons.

Salazar said that the mayor issued the order citing the last September’s 20-day standoff that brought untold trauma, stress and anxiety to all residents of this city as among the reasons.

“Over the years, the incidents of firecracker-related injury decreased. Maybe this year, we expect it to dramatically decrease because of the issuance of the E.O. by the mayor.” Ong said.

Local police information officer Senior Police Officer 2 (SPO2) Alexander Mabalot said there was no case of firecracker-related injury reported during the Christmas Eve and Christmas Day celebrations.

The Department of Health (DOH) has recorded 48 firecracker-injuries, including stray bullets victims, from December 21, 2012 to January 1, 2013 here in the region.

Forty-five of the 48 were injured by firecracker-related accidents and three by stray bullets.

Zambo hospital, ECC ink MOA for ‘Kagabay’ program

(PNA), FFC/TPGJR/R.G. ANTONET A. GO

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Dec. 25 (PNA) -- The Employees Compensation Commission (ECC) and the Zamboanga City Medical Center (ZCMC) have inked a memorandum of agreement (MOA) to entitle disabled workers to avail of the benefits under the “Kagabay” or “Katulong at Gabay sa Mangagawang may Kapansanan.”

The MOA was signed Monday by ECC-9 information officer Serna Ahmad and ZCMC Chief of Hospitals Dr. Romeo Ong.

Ahmad said workers employed in a private or government firm, who were injured while on duty, are the ones who could avail of the benefits under Kagabay program.

Under the MOA, Ahmad said, the ZCMC specialist will assess the patient referred to them by the ECC and “if qualified, they can avail the benefits.”

If qualified, Ahmad said the worker will be given free Physical Therapy, prosthesis and others.

The ECC is a government corporation attached to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

The ECC is a quasi-judicial corporate entity created to implement the Employees’ Compensation Program (ECP) that provides a package of benefits for public and private sector employees and their dependents in the event of work-connected contingencies such as sickness, injury, disability or death.

NFA-Zambo receives 77,000 shipment of Vietnam rice

(PNA), PDS/TPGJR/R.G. ANTONET A. GO/EBP

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Dec. 24 (PNA) --The National Food Authority (NFA) has received a shipment of 77,000 sacks of Vietnam rice of 50 kilos each, an NFA official announced Tuesday.

NFA Provincial Manager Gaudencio Nuega said the rice shipment arrived Monday night at the local wharf aboard M/V Mekong.

“The 77,000 bags of rice from Vietnam form part of the 428,000 bags intended for Region 9 for 2014,” Nuega said.

Nuega said all the 77,000 sacks of rice will be for this city as replenishment since the inventory of the office went down due to the standoff in September.

Nuega said that they have at present a stock of 80,000 sacks of rice of 50 kilos each.

Nuega said the Vietnam rice will be sold at P25 and P30 per kilo.

Nuega said the rice will be unloaded on Thursday and it will take three days to unload all the 77,000 sacks of rice.

He said the remaining 351,000 of the 428,000 shipment will be allotted for Zamboanga Sibugay, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, and the provinces of Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi Tawi, which are part of the autonomous region.

It is expected to arrive by the end of February next year, he said.

DOH places on code white alert public hospitals in Zambo

(PNA), FFC/PTR/TPGJR/R.G. ANTONET A. GO/UTB

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Dec. 23 (PNA) -- The Department of Health (DOH) has placed all the three government-run hospitals in this city on code white alert in preparation for the Christmas Day and New Year's celebrations.

Zamboanga City Medical Center (ZCMC) Chief of Hospitals Dr. Romeo Ong said Monday that under the code white alert status all hospital personnel to include doctors, nurses and support staffs are on call.

"Starting today (Monday) until January 2, we will be issuing a memorandum on code white alert because of the coming Christmas holidays Christmas and the New Year," Ong said.

Also placed on code white alert are the Labuan Public Hospital in Barangay Labuan, 36 kilometers west of this city, and the Mindanao Central Sanitarium in Barangay Pasobolong, 12.80 kilometers east of this city.

The ZCMC is located just a few hundred meters away from City Hall.

Ong said they have complete hospital supplies and medicines ready to be used for would-be victims of firecracker-related accidents.

However, Ong said they are also ready to attend to other medical cases such as hypertension and other illness as well as emergency cases.

The three hospitals in this city are among the seven hospitals in the region that are under the supervision and control of DOH.

It is already customary for the DOH to place all public hospitals on code white alert during Christmas and New Year's celebration.

President Aquino visits Zambo evacuees

By Teofilo P. Garcia, Jr. [(PNA),CTB/TPGJR/RSM]

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Dec. 22 (PNA) -- President Benigno Simeon Aquino III, has assured the families displaced by the September standoff that they will have a better community to live in when they return to their respective places.

Aquino made the assurance during his visit here Sunday where he inspected the bunkhouses that were built inside the Joaquin Enriquez Memorial Sports Complex.

Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Sec. Rogelio Singson briefed President Aquino about the Zamboanga City Roadmap to Recovery and Reconstruction (Z3R) upon his arrival here at noontime from Compostela Valley Province.

Aquino told the evacuees housed at the sports complex that his office has allocated P3.5 billion for the implementation of the Z3R.

The Z3R shows the communities that were destroyed during the 20-day standoff last September will have a good road networks with complete facilities and amenities like a community park.

Aquino said the reconstruction based on the Z3R will have an implementation phase of six to 18 months.

The evacuees applauded the President when he showed them the perspective view of the Z3R drafted by the UP Planning and Development Research Foundation, Inc. (UP PLANADES, which was commissioned to laid down the recovery and reconstruction plan.

He told them that their stay at the bunkhouses are on a temporary in nature and later on they will have a better community to live in as the Z3R is anchored on the theme “build back better.”

Aside from Singson, the President was accompanied by Rehabilitation Czar Panfilo Lacson, Social Welfare Sec. Corazon Soliman, Defense Sec. Voltaire Gazmin, Energy Sec. Jericho Petilla, Cabinet Sec. Rene Almendras and National Housing Authority General Manager Chito Cruz.

From here, President Aquino and party flew to Tacloban City to visit and inspect the rehabilitation works for the “Yolanda” victims.

PRC-Zambo funds exhausted; plans to stop serving the evacuees

By R.G. Antonet A. Go [(PNA), CTB/TPGJR/R.G. ANTONET A. GO/RSM]

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Dec. 21 (PNA) -– The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) is planning to stop serving food to the evacuees housed at the Joaquin Enriquez Memorial Sports Complex in this city by January 31 next year.

PRC-Zamboanga City Chapter administrator Victor Liozo, Jr. disclosed that their funds had been exhausted since they served the evacuees for more than three months already.

The relief goods they provided to the families displaced by the standoff in September include donations from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

“We already served them for more than three months and we only have limited funds. The funds that we received from abroad like the ICRC is only good up to January since they have also focus in assisting the ‘Yolanda’ victims,” Liozo explained.

However, he said they have yet to finalize everything and it should be approved by the ICRC and PRC central office.

He assured that the PRC, once food rations stop, “will still be there when the need arises” like in providing ambulance.

The PRC has deployed several volunteers and staff to serve the evacuees housed at the sports complex since the start of the standoff last September 9.

To date, there are still 14 evacuation centers in this city which house over 4,974 families comprising of 24,974 individuals.

More than half of them or some 2,732 families consisting of 13,399 individuals are housed at the sports complex.

Zambo City eyes construction of sports complex

(PNA), PDS/TPGJR/FELINO M. SANTOS/RSM

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Dec. 20 (PNA)--Mayor Ma. Isabelle Climaco-Salazar has tasked Councilor Rogelio Valesco, Jr. to conduct an in-depth study on his proposal to build a new sports complex for this city.

Valesco, who heads the City Council’s Committee on Education, has suggested to construct a new sports complex at the regional government center in Barangay Cabatangan, 6.64 kilometers north of City Hall.

Valesco’s suggestion came after the Joaquin Enriquez Memorial Sports Complex has been damaged when it was converted into an evacuation center when the standoff broke out last September.

Thousands of people, especially those whose houses were burned down during the standoff, are still housed at the sports complex.

City Sports Development Officer Bernardito Patiño said the sports complex is unserviceable since most if not all of the playing fields have been damaged.

The situation has also forced the local education officials to hold the Division Athletic Meet that kicked off last Monday and ended Friday in the different public and private schools.

Salazar said the funding for the construction of a new sports complex, if approved, may come from the P3.89 billion allocated by Malacañang to rehabilitate the areas destroyed during the standoff.

ConsumerNet-9 inspects business establishments in Zambo City

(PNA), LAP/TPGJR/UTB

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Dec. 19 (PNA) -- Two teams composed of personnel from ConsumerNet-9 member agencies swooped down simultaneously on pre-identified supermarkets and wet markets in this city recently in a surprise inspection of food products on display and for “Operation Tamang Timbangan.”

Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) regional officer-in-charge Sitti Amina Jain said in a statement that as a result, 46 stall owners selling fish, meat and vegetables at the Aderes Public Market in Barangay Guiwan were fined a total of P16,340 for using non-calibrated weighing scales or those without the required seal from the City Treasurer’s Office (CTO).

Jain said that the CTO-led team also confiscated three weighing scales in the same market that did not give accurate readings when tested and therefore, deemed defective.

Jain said the other team led by personnel from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) covered three major supermarts in this city, namely Yubenco, LB, and Budgetwise to monitor these establishments’ compliance to FDA’s advisory particularly on the expiry date of food products as well as on the license to operate (LTO) required by FDA from food manufacturers/processors before they are allowed to display or sell their products.

Jain disclosed that some locally made food items like älfajor, chica-chica, yema, and peanut brittle at LB and Yubenco were confiscated because their labels did not have FDA license number.

She said that Ma. Luisa Gonzaga of FDA-9 reminded store supervisors of the three establishments to accept and display only food products that were issued FDA license to ensure that they are safe for consumption.

She said that other than those items, all the other food products inspected, including bottled water, were found to be FDA-compliant.

Prior to the simultaneous inspection, representatives of ConsumerNet-9 member agencies converged at the Philippine Red Cross-Zamboanga City Chapter headquarters to donate clothing and other items for the victims of the standoff.

ConsumerNet-9 Chairman Rodolfo Iglesias in an interview disclosed that the inspection of supermarkets and wet markets was supposed to have been done in October during the celebration of the National Consumers Month.

However, because of perceived instability of the peace and order situation in the city then, the group decided to move the activity to December.

Zambo mayor reaffirms support to peace process

(PNA), CTB/TPGJR/PR/SSC

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Dec. 18 (PNA) -- Mayor Ma. Isabelle Climaco-Salazar reaffirmed Wednesday her unwavering support to President Aquino’s program for peace, particularly the ongoing peace talks between the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

“But we reiterate that the people Zamboanga City in two plebiscites, just a reminder, do not want to be part of the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) or the Bangsamoro territory that the MILF is currently negotiating with the government,” Salazar said during a dialogue between officials of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) led by GPH Peace Panel Chief Miriam Coronel-Ferrer and members of the City Council headed by Vice-Mayor Cesar Iturralde at the Sangguniang Panlungsod here Wednesday.

Despite the Moro National Liberation Front’s (MNLF) attack in this city last September, Salazar still believes that Zamboanga, being a very influential and important part of Mindanao, needs to continue the dialogue with all other sectors that really want to be relevant to any efforts at attaining peace in Mindanao.

“The lesson that we have learned is very painful that up to now we are still reeling from all the difficulties. We know what it was and what it is, and we still feel the pain years onward,” Salazar said.

According to her, the city of Zamboanga holds the GPH peace panel dearly that whatever actions, initiatives and programs it will have will hopefully redound to a more progressive, a more participatory understanding of what is for Minadanao to forge peace.

“It is not peaceful when we say everything is okay, but there are disgruntled groups,” she said. “Time and again, as I have already said in congress that we just really have to patiently continue on dialoguing and that is what we have been doing in Zamboanga City,” she added.

“It might be in this particular term that we will try to contribute to what we call peace but definitely also we respect the voice of the people of this city and we will continue to strive for justice so that our children will have a better opportunity for a brighter future,” Salazar further said.

For her part, Ferrer shared with the mayor’s statement, stressing that learning from the lessons of the past is one of the guidelines that the President has given to the OPAPP.

“Learning from the past, lessons of the very recent past, the pain that Zamboanga continues to feel and the difficulties in rebuilding. This is something that is very paramount in all considerations that we are doing now in OPAPP,” Ferrer said. “The process is also participatory, transparent and of course within the constitution.”

She told the mayor and the councilors that “we are not negotiating independence; that’s overstepping the constitution, but the flexibilities of the constitution”. “Within these parameters we have been able to reach this stage where we are at the brink of completing the comprehensive agreement hopefully by either January or February next year.”

Ferrer was in the company of former Agriculture Secretary Senen Bacani and NCMF Commissioner Mehol Sadain.

Zambo City gov’t workers start receiving P28-T cash bonus

By Felino M. Santos [(PNA), LOR/TPGJR/FELINO M. SANTOS/JSD]

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Dec. 17 (PNA) -- Majority of the 2,000 city government employees will receive their P28,000 cash bonus each starting this week.

However, Mayor Ma. Isabelle Climaco-Salazar clarified that not all city government workers will receive P28,000 bonus for lack of funds.

Salazar said her office is still sourcing out funds to provide cash gifts to some 400 personnel employed through “job orders.”

Salazar said she has also directed the city budget office to source out funds for the job order workers.

Each of them would receive P500 cash gift, according to Salazar.

The cash gift is a separate benefit from the 13th month pay that all regular city government employees receive.

Zamboangueña weightlifter bags silver medal in the 27th SEA Games in Myanmar

(PNA), PDS/TPGJR/R.G. ANTONET A. GO/UTB

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Dec. 16 (PNA)--A Zamboangueña weightlifter has bagged the silver medal in the 58-kilogram (kg) category Sunday in the ongoing 27th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Myanmar.

The 27th SEA Games started last December 11 and is set to end on Sunday, December 22.

Hidilyn Diaz, a member of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) participating in the SEA Games, won the silver medal after she lifted 102-kg in Snatch and 122-kg in the Clean and Jerk with a total lift of 224-kg.

Prof. Elbert Atilano said it was Diaz’ determination that made her won the silver medal in the ongoing SEA Games.

Atilano is the former coach of Diaz when the latter was still studying at the Universidad de Zamboanga (UZ).

“Hidilyn has the determination, patience and hard working as a student and athlete. If properly supported, she still has a long way to go,” Atilano said.

He said Diaz, a resident of Barangay Mampang, this city, had been an athlete since grade school until such time she became a member of the National Weightlifting Team in 2007.

Diaz, a daughter of a tricycle driver and housewife, was also at the top of her class during her student years.

Meanwhile, Atilano said that Jeffrey Garcia is another Zamboangueño weightlifter in action in the 27th SEA Games in Myanmar aside from Diaz.

Atilano said Garcia finished 4th place in the 62-kg category.

Fil-Canadian team brings ‘mobile learning center’ to Zamboanga siege student-victims

By Antonio P. Rimando (Correspondent)

ZAMBOANGA CITY—A group of Filipino-Canadian citizens—who earlier saw on television the suffering of local elementary and secondary school children during the recent monthlong invasion by heavily armed Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) rebels on this highly urbanized city—has banded together to bring to this coastal metropolis a so-called Jeepney Story Mobile (JSM).

The team described JSM as a learning center on wheels designed to train teachers with creative approaches to efficiently teach schoolchildren displaced by the Zamboanga siege, which affected the semi-urban coastal villages of Santa Catalina, Rio Hondo, Santa Barbara, Mampang, Talon-Talon and Masangkayan.

The attack—which killed some 300 rebels, responding soldiers and policemen, and civilians, and wounded over 1,000 others—resulted in the burning and destruction of some 95 percent of houses, school buildings and other structures in the six villages causing thousands of local residents (including local teachers and schoolchildren) to flee and be temporarily sheltered by the city government and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) at the Joaquin Enriquez Memorial Sports complex grandstands and playgrounds, and other evacuation centers.

As a result, hundreds of affected schoolchildren were out of their classes for several weeks, thus adversely affecting their educational advancement.

Acting as JSM convenor is Fil-Canadian Evelyn Yadao, a Zamboangueña who immigrated to Canada two decades ago. Her team members included IIdrenne Lim-Alparaque, a retired research professor in Canada; hotel marketing executive Monette Ledesma; and Patrick Elaschuk, executive director of Hope for the Nations.

Elaschuk said Hope for the Nations is supporting the JSM in Zamboanga because they want to empower students of risk to become children of change.

Alparaque noted that while she was meeting with displaced students, these schoolchildren proactively participated in their learning games, and they love to sing and dance.

“These children tirelessly keep on dancing and singing and we don’t see the scars of war on their faces,” Alparaque added.

Yadao said “God kept on sending the right people to be our partners as we introduce these children’s mobile learning center to Zamboanga.

She said in the launching program of JSM, no less than City Mayor Ma. Isabelle Climaco-Salazar served as its keynote speaker and thanked the Fil-Canadian visitors for coming “to help make the local displaced children’s future a reality today.”

Francisco Miranda, coordinator of Project Banig, an implementing partner of JSM, said when Supertyphoon Yolanda hit Eastern Visayas, many non-governmental organizations and volunteer groups flew to Tacloban City, but Project Banig stayed put in Zamboanga to attend to the city’s humanitarian crisis.

“Zamboanga still needs our assistance and there are more tasks to be done in this MNLF-invaded urbanized metropolis,” Miranda added.

The JSM has organized local core volunteer teams, composed of civic-spirited individuals, to sustain and continue the learning center on wheels project as the Filipino-Canadians prepare to fly back to Canada.

“But our local partners are hopeful that advocacies of the JSM will stay a lifetime,” Yadao said.

Muslims help rebuild Catholic church in Zamboanga

By Julie S. Alipala (Inquirer Mindanao)

ZAMBOANGA CITY – Christian residents of this city’s Santa Catalina district found nothing unusual about Muslims bearing carpenters’ tools — until they realized the Muslims had volunteered to help rebuild a Catholic chapel.

“We thought they were just looking for damaged mosques to rebuild,” said Jimmy Villaflores, Santa Catalina barangay (village) head.

But to the surprise of the mostly Christian residents, the Muslims, a number of them residents Zamboanga City who returned home from abroad recently, announced they had come to Santa Catalina to rebuild the Christ the King chapel.

Built in the early 1980′s, the chapel on Martha Drive was razed by one of many fires that broke out during a three-week battle between government forces and a band of Moro National Liberation Front guerrillas loyal to MNLF founder Nur Misuari last September.

When the fighting ended, only the chapel’s back wall and altar were left. The 100-year-old wooden image of the Christ the King, which was regularly used in major religious processions here, did not survive the flames.

“We have not heard of any Muslim helping build a chapel before,” Villaflores said.

But before the Christians could say anything to the Muslims, they went to work, sawing lumber, driving in nails and doing other things to rebuild the chapel.

“We are very happy about it. Santa Catalina residents are deeply touched by their efforts. We really appreciate how our Muslim brothers and sisters are helping us,” Villaflores said.

He said that the help extended by Zamboanga’s Muslim residents, who suffered equally during the three-week siege, hastgened the rebuilding of the chapel.

“Barely a month since the work began our chapel is about 90 percent completed already,” he said.

Father Michael Ufana of the Saint Joseph parish said he was overwhelmed by what the Muslims had shown.

Ufana said these efforts did not only result in the speedy rebuilding of the chapel but also strengthened the harmonious relationship between Muslims and the Christians.

Ufana, along with his father, Isidro, sister Madelyn and other relatives were among those taken hostage when MNLF gunmen occupied Santa Catalina and other adjacent parts of Zamboanga City last September 9.

He admitted that like other Christians here, he felt some animosity toward Muslims in the past. But all of that has changed, he said.

“The way other Muslims painstakingly reached somehow eased this,” he said.

Retired police Chief Superintendent Sukarno Ikbala said he was listening to a live-streaming radio broadcast in the United States one day when he heard a fellow retiree, Senior Supt. Julmunier Jubail, rallying Muslims to help in the rebuilding and relief efforts in the city.

Ikbala said he immediately came home, met with Jubail, retired Senior Supt. Bensali Jabarani and several other Muslim professionals and formed a group they called “Esperanza” (Hope).

“Esperanza stands for Environmental, Socio-Psychological, Economic, and Religious Advancement of Neo-Zamboangaenos’ Aspirations,” he said.

Ikbala said from that meeting, they raised P120,000 from the Asia Foundation and from fellow Muslim Abdurahman Nuno. The money is now being used in rebuilding of the Christ the King chapel.

“We are also using our own resources. We give whatever we have in our pockets, and in due time we can complete the roofing of the chapel,” he proudly announced.

Jubail said what prompted him to call for action was the thought of how the Christian population viewed the Muslims after the siege.

“I did not want the general Christian community to look down on us as bad people because we were all victims,” he said. “We do hope that in our own small ways of reaching out, something beautiful will come out.”

It has.

“Not all Muslims are bad and not all Christians are good. The rebuilding of our chapel by the Muslims is indication enough that they were not bad and they want to lift our spirits and our hope [for peace],” said Rey Zaragosa, a 67-year-old resident of Santa Catalina.

Zaragosa said he was looking forward to the completion of the chapel so he could celebrate and attend Misa de Gallo there.

CDRRMC takes over tasks from CMC

By Claudine Uniana

Mayor Beng Climaco convened Wednesday afternoon the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (CDRRMC) to discuss plans and updates on the ongoing efforts to rehabilitate the city, particularly the barangays severely affected by the 23-day long Zamboanga siege and the natural calamity that followed.

The CDRRMC took over from the Crisis Management Committee effective December 5 the responsibility of overseeing recovery and rehabilitation efforts.

The primary point of discussion during the meeting was the approval of the CDRRMC Investment Plan as well as the revised CDRRMC Plan for the year 2011-2012.

Acknowledging the importance of speedy decision-making, a motion was raised and immediately seconded for the immediate approval of both plans.

City Budget Officer Virginia Gara, however, sought the agreement of the council to put a ceiling on the city government’s expenses in response to a crisis, especially at the beginning of a fiscal year.

“This is to ensure we do not deplete our funds so we will still have enough in case, God forbid, another disaster hits us,” Gara said.

To this, Councilor Abdurahman Nuño moved that the mayor be given the authority to set the ceiling as she sees fit, a motion immediately seconded by other attendees.

In attendance during the meeting were councilors BG Guingona, Noning Biel and Cesar Jimenez Jr.; City Administrator Antonio Orendain Jr., City Veterinarian Dr. Mario Arriola, Assistant City Planning and Development Coordinating Officer Ofelia Despalo, Assistant City Social Welfare and Development Officer Leonida Bayan, Assistant Environment and Natural Recourses Officer Eduardo Bisquera Jr., Philippine Red Cross Administrator Vic Liozo Jr., Task Force Zamboanga Commander Col. Androlino Colina, Zamboanga City Fire Marshall Supt. Dominador Zabala Jr., among others.

Zambo to hold athletic events outside the sports complex

(PNA), PDS/TPGJR/R.G. ANTONET A. GO/UTB

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Dec. 12 (PNA)--The athletic division meet dubbed “Juego na Zamboanga” will be held outside the sports complex for the first time in the history of this city.

This as the Joaquin Enriquez Memorial Sports Complex still houses 2,848 families who were among the more than 100,000 of people displaced by the September standoff.

The athletic division meet will start on December 16, and will end on December 20.

City Division of Schools superintendent officer-in-charge Pedro Melchor Natividad said Thursday that this year’s athletic division meet will held in different schools.

Natividad said most of the games will be held at the Don Pablo Lorenzo Memorial High School (DPLMHS) formerly known as the Zamboanga City High School (ZCHS)-north in Barangay Sta. Maria.

Natividad said the city government has constructed a six-lane track oval and leveled the grounds for ball games liked baseball and softball.

The other venues of the games like swimming, basketball, volleyball wrestling, wushu, and others are the Sta. Maria Central School, San Roque Elementary School, ZCHS-main, Ateneo de Zamboanga University.

Natividad said they expect thousands of spectators to witness the games although it will be held in different areas.

Natividad said the athletes from the far-flung barangays will be housed at the DPLMHS.

“We cannot do away with the sports events since we need to send an athletic delegation to represent the city in the regional meet,” he said.

“We cannot afford to sacrifice the future of our children who are eligible to compete this year. It’s our moral obligation to provide them with avenue where they can show their talent in sports,” he added.

The theme for year’s athletic division meet is “stand up Zamboanga, rebuild lives through sports.”

DOH, City Treasurer’s Office inspect groceries, wet markets in Zambo City

(PNA), PDS/TPGJR/R.G. ANTONET A. GO/UTB

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Dec. 11 (PNA) -–The authorities have ordered the removal of a locally-processed product, confiscated weighing scales and slapped fines to several market stall holders for failure to renew weighing scales’ registration in this city.

This came about after the Department of Health (DOH) and City Treasurer’s Office together with the Consumer Net-9 inspected Wednesday groceries and wet markets to ensure the businessmen comply with the law while doing business.

The DOH and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) personnel inspected groceries and checked products labeling, expiration dates and licenses while the staffs from the City Treasurer’s Office checked on the wet markets.

The DOH and FDA personnel have ordered the supervisor of one of the groceries to remove from the shelf a locally-processed food product since it has no FDA license.

FDA Regulation Officer Malu Gonzaga said the producer of the locally-processed food product must seek first a license from the agency before they can display for sale their commodity to the public.

Gonzaga said it is to ensure that the product was processed in accordance to the standard of manufacturing procedures set by the FDA.

The City Treasurer’s Office personnel have confiscated three defective weighing scales at one of the flea markets they inspected.

Several other stall holders in the same flea market were slapped with administrative fine since they failed to renew the registration of the weighing scale they use.

Kim Anthony Mateo of the City Treasurer’s Office said stall owners are required to register and renew annually the registration of their weighing scale in accordance to City Ordinance 92-005.

Consumer Net 9 Chairman Rodolfo Iglesias said the inspection should have been done last October but was postponed due the standoff the preceding month.

Iglesias has advised the consumers to ensure that the products they buy are of the corresponding weight they pay and of good quality.


BFP inspects Zambo business establishments

By Felino M. Santos [(PNA), LAP/TPGJR/FELINO M. SANTOS/JSD]

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Dec. 10 (PNA) -– The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) has scheduled the inspection of at least a thousand business establishments in this city until this week or up to December 13.

Zamboanga City Fire District (ZCFD) chief Supt. Dominador Zabala, Jr. said the inspection is in preparation for the renewal of business permits the deadline of which is January 20, 2014.

The inspections on business establishments started last month.

Zabala said they will check for compliance with fire safety rules of the business establishments applying for renewal of license or for new license.

Among the requirements to be checked on the business establishments are fire exits, alarm system, sprinklers, rooftop water tanks for high rise buildings as well as firefighting equipment.

The BFP strictly requires compliance with fire safety rules to ensure the safety of the building occupants.

The Zamboanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation Incorporated (ZCCIFI) reported last month that about 4,000 business firms failed to secure business permits this year because of stringent fire safety regulations.

DOT sets '1st Regional Tourism Council Summit' in Zambo City

(PNA), FFC/PTR/TPGJR/JSD

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Dec. 9 (PNA) -- The Department of Tourism (DOT) is holding the "1st Regional Tourism Council Summit" in a bid to boost the tourism industry of this region.

DOT Regional Director Mary June Bugante said the summit is scheduled to be held Tuesday at the Yakan Function Hall of the Garden Orchid Hotel in this city.

Bugante said the summit will see the participation of the different tourism stakeholders in a bid to draw a concrete tourism plan for this region.

She said the summit's guest of honor and speaker is Tourism Assistant Secretary for Mindanao Arturo Boncato Jr.

She said the summit is part of a series of activities of her office aimed to promote tourism here in Zamboanga Peninsula.

Bugante's office has conducted last month the "Getting to know your Tourists" seminar for all frontline agencies of government.

The frontline agencies include the following: Philippine Coast Guard; Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines; Bureau of Immigration and Deportation; Bureau of Customs; Philippine National Police Aviation Security Group; Office of Transportation Security of the Department of Transportation and Communications; and DOT regional and city offices.

Lawmaker pushes for farm-to-market road projects

By Bong Garcia

ZAMBOANGA City Representative Lilia Macrohon-Nuño is pushing for the construction of 11 farm-to-market-roads (FMR) in a bid to increase productivity and hasten the delivery of farm product to the market.

Nuño said she has requested Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala to allocate P22 million for the implementation of the projects.

She said the project costs a total of P22 million, with P2 million each.

She said that City Agriculturist Diosdado Palacat identified the FMR projects as vital for the agriculture sector in this city’s east coast.

The FMR projects are for Sitio Gapuh, Talabaan village; Calle Real extension, Mercedes village; Barangay Tigbalabag; Sitio Imelda-Pangulayan, Barangay Tolosa; Sitio Dugan Hoa, Barangay Lunzuran; Sitio Sapa Pungkul, Barangay Tictapul; Barangay Lubigan; Barangay Sangali; Barangay Muti; Barangay Panubigan; and, Sitio Lower Tigbao-Stitio Talaga, Barangay Licomo.

Nuño said she is also meeting with the village chairmen in her district to determine what are the projects they to source out funds from the concerned agencies of government.

Nuño’s district covers 61 of Zamboanga City’s 98 barangays which are located in the east coast.

Zambo City gov’t confers Service Awards to 22 employees

(PNA), CTB/TPG-PR/PJN

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Dec. 7 (PNA) -- The city government has afforded Service Awards to 22 employees for having rendered exemplary service for the last 25 years to this city.

The awarding ceremony was held late Friday at the city government-owned Centro Latino Convention Center at the scenic Paseo del Mar.

Mayor Ma. Isabelle Climaco-Salazar led local government officials in giving due recognition to the employees as she thanked them for their dedication and commitment to government service.

An employee is qualified to receive the Service Award if he or she has served the city government for 25 consecutive years.

The 22 personnel were conferred with a 14-karat gold ring and tribute book each as a token for their commitment, hard work and dedication that exemplify the core values of Civil Service.

The awardees were as follows: Orlando Abarabar, Domingo Biliran, Jr., Josephine Mangila, Pilar Muta, Jocelyn Saavedra, Rogelio Ramos (who recently passed away), City Health Office; Marieta Alvarez, City Social Welfare and Development Office; Esmeraldo Andico, Jr. and Luis Narag, Jr., Office of the City Environment and Natural Resources; Dr. Elmeir Apolinario, and Norberto Julian, City Administrator’s Office; Mario Bucoy, Virgilio Piniones, and Plaridel Ricaforte, City Treasurer’s Office; Jose Lindon Cadelinia, General Service Office; Rolando Cristobal, City Agriculturist Office; Edwin de la Cruz, City Human Resource Office; Luis Allan Ebojo, City Assessor; Capistrano Espinosa, City Treasurer’s Office; Argen Fernando, City Veterinarian Office; Donald Recinto, City Engineer’s Office; and, Flordeliza Yusop, City Mayor’s Office.

The service award is a special award launched in 2008 to recognize the efforts of the city government employees.

During its launch in 2008, the event was called “An affair to remember: a tribute to retirees and service awardees” and coincided with the observance of the Civil Service month.

Since its launching, a total of 492 employees have been conferred with the Service Award.

Meanwhile, Salazar called on the government workers to continue to support her administration’s plans and programs particularly in the thrust to Build Back Better Zamboanga following the 20-day siege in September.

Health office leads World AIDS Day events in Zamboanga City

(PNA), LAP/TPGJR/PR/UTB

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Dec. 6 (PNA) -– The City Health Office spearheaded Friday the observance of World AIDS Day with fitting ceremonies held at the Western Mindanao State University (WMSU) covered court in a bid to drum up awareness on the prevention and control of Human Immuno Virus-Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV-AIDS).

City Health Officer Dr. Rodelin Agbulos said an inter-school quiz bowl will highlight the celebration which forms part of the intensified advocacy on the fight against HIV-AIDS.

“We are continuously intensifying our advocacy on the prevention and control of HIV-AIDS. Correct information dissemination particularly to the youth sector is a must considering that recent statistics show that majority of those prone to HIV infections are those belonging to the 15-34 age bracket,” Agbulos pointed out.

He said national statistics revealed that the month of October registered the most number of HIV-AIDS infection for this year at 15 to 16 cases daily.

He said the record for the same period in 2012 showed 9 to 10 cases registered daily.

Agbulos said that this city is not spared as eight positive cases were reported in October this year, bringing the total number of cases in the city to 79 since 1995.

Nevertheless, Agbulos said the Zamboanga City Multi-Sectoral AIDS Council has been working closely with the local government and other agencies such as the Department of Health (DOH) in support of the anti-HIV-AIDS program.

The increase in statistics is attributed to various factors foremost of which is the intensified advocacy as many people are coming out to report about infections and the surfacing of local infections, according to Agbulos.

World AIDS Day is being observed December 1 every year to raise awareness about HIV-AIDS and to demonstrate international solidarity in the face of the pandemic.

This year’s observance is themed “Getting to Zero: Zero new HIV infections. Zero discrimination. Zero AIDS-related deaths.”

“Vinta de Esperanza” Sail of Hope

By Jocelyn P. Alvarez (FPG/JPA/PIA/DOT)

ZAMBOANGA CITY - Three months after the “Zamboanga crisis” that pinnacled the city in the international arena with international attention, the locals are continuously trying to move on with life as Zamboanga City sturdily conveys message that she remains strong and is doing well in getting up again, and one better way to show this is to propel local tourism.

Known as “sail of hope,” the Department of Tourism (DOT)-9 launched Tuesday morning (Dec. 3) “Vinta de Esperanza” project, at the Paseo Del Mar.

The activity was a symbolic sailing, a beacon of hope, which sends meaning that after all the Zamboangueños had gone through, there is still hope for everyone.

“Harnessing tourism as a means of creating jobs for communities, the project aims to provide income opportunities specifically to the affected Samals,” said DOT-9 Regional Director Mary June Bugante.

It can be recalled, the city of Zamboanga was shaken by heart-wrenching event that displaced hundreds of families, halted economic dynamism, leaving peaceful barangays devastated.

The crisis in Zamboanga was a result from the firefight between the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Moro National Liberation Fron (MNLF)-Misuari faction. The government forces stood to defend the city against the MNLF fighters that launched terror in the city, holding captive hundreds of residents and using them as human shield.

The ordeal which broke last Sept. 9, has displaced more than a hundred thousand civilians mainly coming from the barangays of Rio Hondo, Mariki, Sta. Barbara, Sta. Catalina, Kasanyangan, Talon-talon, and Mampang.

Mostly affected by the crisis are the Muslim indigenous people (IP), including a group of Samals who used to earn their living from fishing and Vinta Sailing at Paseo.

Bugante said the Vinta de Esperanza project engages Samal women in the production of 50 units colorful vinta sails; fishermen who owns vintas to participate in the “Regatta de Esperanza” that will set sail upon resumption of peace and order and at the same time use the event as a beacon of hope in the road to recovery and rebuilding the devastated areas of Zamboanga City.

“The activity intends to instill in the hearts of all Zamboangueños the account of how its people braced for the ordeal and win the battle – a turn of unwelcome events that will certainly contribute a significant chapter in the history of Zamboanga Hermosa,” the DOT lady director said.

Partner agencies/institutions in this undertaking include the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Zamboanga City State Polytechnic College (ZSPC) and the city government.

Project beneficiaries were the Muslim IP evacuees.

Pascua na Zamboanga 2013 kicks off

By Jocelyn P. Alvarez (PIA9)

ZAMBOANGA CITY – Thousands went out of their homes to enjoy the fun, as the second day of December was greeted with colorful and bright Christmas lanterns signaling opening salvo for “Pascua na Zamboanga 2013” celebration.

The city government kicked off Monday the annual Christmas festivity with a mass attended by all city government officials and employees at the Metropolitan Cathedral, followed by a lantern parade dubbed “Parada de las Estrellas” at 6:30 p.m. from the Cathedral to the city hall grounds where a short program was conducted.

The opening activity for this year’s Christmas festival was a simple yet meaningful one.

“The City Government celebrates the advent season with simplicity and austerity in view of the crisis that happened in Zamboanga as well as the natural calamities that struck other parts of the country,” said Mayor Beng Climaco in her message during the program.

“Let us practice the spirit of simplicity, we can forego with our lavish celebration but let us not forego the spirit of Christmas that Christ is born into our hearts,” she added.

This year’s Pascua na Zamboanga celebration is anchored on the theme, “Build Back Better Un Familia Zamboangueño,” which is rooted in the city’s transition from the crisis to recovery and to rehabilitation phase with the family as the main focus of the celebration, said City Information Officer Sheila Covarrubias.

Inter-office Christmas presentation made the event more festive and exciting. The night was made even more alive and thrilling with the ceremonial switch-on of Christmas lights and Christmas tree at the City Hall, and other known landmarks like the Plaza Pershing lights, Plaza Vicente Alvarez, Paseo del Mar and Plaza del Pilar.

Lined up activities for the Pascua na Zamboanga festivity include vinta sailing on Dec. 2-15, from 8-11a.m. and 3-6p.m. at the Paseo del Mar, and Gulucinasa y Comida de Pascua from Dec. 2-23, 6p.m. and onwards at the City Hall grounds.

Other activities include Weekend Christmas Fair on Dec. 7-8, 14-15, 21-22 and 28-29, at 10 a.m. to 1p.m. at Centro Latino at Paseo del Mar, Best Belen competition on Dec. 13 at 4p.m. still at Centro Latino, Arco de Pascua, best barangay Christmas, Mascota de Zamboanga on Dec. 17, at the City Hall grounds at 7p.m. and a lot more.

‘10 commandments of nutrition’ to be launched in Zamboanga City

By Dominic I. Sanchez (PIA9)

ZAMBOANGA CITY - The National Nutrition Council (NNC) will be launching the “Ten Nutritional Guidelines for Filipinos” shortly after a fun run on Dec. 15 here in the city.

Ms. Pamela Tarroza, nutrition program coordinator of NNC-9, shared that the guidelines are ten condensed versions of nutritional knowledge advocating for the correct daily practices to ensure good health for Filipinos.

“The guidelines are lifetime messages that will reiterate the proper practices in order for us to be at our healthiest,” she said.

The messages include items on proper diet and nutrition, regular exercise, breastfeeding for infants, the need for the use of iodized salt, and the need to eliminate vices such as smoking and drinking alcoholic beverages.

Last October, the NNC in coordination with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA)-9 conducted focused-group discussions with community members in key areas in the region to validate translated versions of the messages into the vernacular, particularly in Chabacano and Bisaya.

“It is important to have these messages in the local dialect so it will not be difficult for our residents to understand them and to eventually practice them,” added Tarroza.

The messages will be put up on tarpaulins which will be displayed in public places. During the fun run, the NNC will be distributing nutritional guidelines leaflets to the participants.

Meanwhile, Tarroza invites adults and children alike to participate in the fun run on Dec. 15.

“The run is also an advocacy for regular exercise for the adults and the children as well,” she said. Tarroza explained that children should be encouraged to have more physical activities, as she has noticed that the majority of children these days only find fun in video games and computers.

The fun run dubbed “One Run, Flag, Nation and Nutrition,” is a joint effort of the NNC, SkyCable and RMN-Zamboanga. It aims to benefit the Nutrition on Wheels program, as well as local feeding programs of the city. Assembly time will be at the Paseo del Mar at 4 a.m.

For registration or additional information on the run, interested participants may contact SkyCable at (062) 992-0783.

Zamboanga City lifts curfew hours

(PNA), LGI/PTR/TPGJR/RGAG/UTB

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Dec. 2 (PNA) -- The Crisis Management Committee (CMC), through an unanimously approved resolution, has lifted the implementation of curfew hours effective Dec. 2, Monday, in this city.

This was announced here Monday by Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) City Director Mohammad Taha Arakama during the "Tribute to Heroes" held in front of City Hall.

Arakama said the resolution was unanimously approved during the CMC meeting held Thursday following recommendations from the security officials as the peace and order situation of this city has normalized.

"It is hereby resolved to approve the recommendation of the Task Force Zamboanga and the Zamboanga City Police Office for the lifting of curfew hours in Zamboanga City starting December 2," Arakama said quoting the resolution as stated.

The CMC chaired by Mayor Ma. Isabelle Climaco-Salazar has implemented the curfew hours since September 9, the first day of the standoff brought about by the infiltration of hundreds of Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) supporters of Nur Misuari in this city.

The curfew hours, which was first implemented for nine hours from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m., was aimed to ensure the protection of the civilians from the MNLF rebels.

It was later shortened to six hours from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. and recently to 12 midnight to 4 a.m.

Meanwhile, rehabilitation efforts continue for the thousands of displaced families brought about by the standoff in September.

Muslim groups urge MILF, MNLF to unite

(Mindanao Examiner)

ZAMBOANGA CITY - Muslims groups here have called on two Moro fronts to unify their efforts in advancing the interests of the Bangsamoro people.

“[The unity between the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF)] is very important. This is to facilitate discussions in the peace process,” Ali T. Yacub, president of a Muslim group called Golden Crescent.

Yacub, who is also one of the conveners of the Interreligious Solidarity Movement for Peace in this city, said there is a need for the two fronts to come into terms and address their differences.

Both fronts have been at odds for years due to ideology differences and to some extend the issue of Moro ethnolinguistic division. The MNLF has huge followers in Western Mindanao, while the MILF controls the mainland Mindanao. “Unity of purpose is the emphasis not the movement,” said Alih Sakaluran Aiyub, of the Darul Ifta of the Philippines.

The Organization of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has earlier created a Bangsamoro Coordination Forum as one of the solutions to unite the two Moro fronts in Mindanao to solve their difference in the ideologies.

Earlier, Prof. Ekemelddin Ihsanoglu, Secretary-General of the 57-nation OIC, has said the two Moro fronts should unite since the peace processes of the MILF and MNLF “revolve around the same problem and the same territory. The process of coordination between the two fronts has become of utmost necessity.”

Several international groups have earlier noted that the divisions between Moro groups in Mindanao weakens and undercuts the efforts to establish a strong and unified Bangsamoro identity, and clear shared goals.

Other Muslim groups here have also noted that before any efforts to unify the two Moro fronts, the MNLF itself should be unified.

Years after the signing of the 1996 Final Peace Agreement between the Ramos government and the MNLF, the organization has broken into several factions due to the leadership issues.

Datu Randy Karon, an MNLF leader based in Central Mindanao, said there are efforts to resolve the internal conflict within the MNLF.

He said dialogues have started among key senior leaders of the MNLF in unifying its efforts to move the peace process forward.

The senior leaders came from the island provinces of Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi, and mainland provinces of Maguindanao, and Davao areas.

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