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Tuesday, July 10, 2007; Sun-Star Zamboanga
Mayor awaits Central Bank construction

MAYOR Celso Lobregat looks forward to the emergence of a tourist and financial hub rolled into one in Pettit Barracks with expected construction of the Central Bank building and the soon to be completed Paseo del Mar at the former CDCP squatter's area.

Lobregat said the City Government and officials from the Central Bank or Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas are finalizing a usufruct agreement that pertains to the subdivision of the bank's property in Pettit Barracks right in front of the proposed Paseo del Mar.

"We are in the midst of concluding a usufruct agreement between the Central Bank and the city government," Lobregat said in a message during the bank's 14th anniversary celebration at the Garden Orchid Hotel recently.

The Central Bank property in Pettit Barracks, it is recalled was acquired from the city government at a cost of P15 million in the mid '80s. Only half of the amount was transferred to the city government so far and the city since the time of the late Mayor Maria Clara Lobregat has been negotiating for a settlement of the deal.

The Central Bank property used to be the site of the Zamboanga City High School-main and right in front of it used to be the CDCP area, a squatters' abode. It was during the time of the late Mrs. Lobregat that the school moved to its new location in Tetuan and the CDCP area was cleared.

Based on the usufruct agreement, instead of paying the remaining P7.5 million, the Central Bank will allow the city's use of about over 7,000 square meters of the property for a period of 50 years.

"We hope that that piece of agreement will be signed soon and we hope that the Central Bank will start constructing the building sometime next year," Lobregat said in his message, as he congratulated the bank's management and staff for continuous and dedicated banking service to the people of Zamboanga.

Lobregat said he is pleased that the Central Bank construction project in the city will be done during his administration.

Meanwhile, the mayor said Zamboanga is fast becoming the financial center not only in Zamboanga Peninsula but entire Western Mindanao.

"Zamboanga is moving very fast forward", he declared. He said there is so much money circulating in Zamboanga as evidenced by the opening of more banking institutions in the city.

The almost 40 bank branches operating in the city will be augmented soon with the expected opening of two banks more. Just recently, the city witnessed the opening of Farmers' Bank and Postal Bank. (SEC)

Mayor grants loans to poor families

Posted by Riza Lacbao in Top Headlines
Friday, June 22. 2007; Zamboanga Today Online

Mayor Celso Lobregat yesterday distributed funding assistance to 11 families belonging to the poor and marginalized sector in the city aimed to help them sustain small business ventures

Dubbed as the Self Employment Assistance (SEA) program, the assistance ranged from P3, 000 to P5, 000 per beneficiary and is given in the form of a loan that is interest-free. It also needs no collateral.

Lobregat said the 11 families, identified by the City Social Welfare Office under Francisco Barredo, comprise the second batch of SEA loan beneficiaries for this year. The first batch, composed of 22 families received their checks last February 27.

The SEA program is an on going advocacy of the city government aimed to alleviate the plight of families living below the poverty line.

The amount will be used to subsidize small business ventures such as sari-sari (variety) store, fish vending, carinderia, buy and sell of poultry chicken or hogs, stuffed toy/slipper and bag making and other income generating activities, Lobregat said.

The beneficiaries of the program are assessed and monitored by Barredo’s field personnel. They come from the different barangays of the city. The payment of the loans will cover a period of 10-12 months. The roll back or payment of the loans will be used as revolving fund for other interested and qualified beneficiaries.

Lobregat said beneficiaries of the program need to pay their obligations in order to allow other equally deserving families to avail of the program.

The city government is extending all assistance to the residents in a bid to help alleviate the situation of the poor and marginalized sector.

Meanwhile, Barredo said most of the beneficiaries comply with their obligations paving the way for the continuous implementation of the SEA program in the city. (City Hall PIO)

Saturday, July 07, 2007; Sun-Star Zamboanga
Mayor forms TF Contra-Avenida to resolve flooding

MAYOR Celso Lobregat on Friday formed Task Force Contra Avenida, a group mandated to develop and formulate short-, medium-, and long- term mitigating measures to totally resolve drainage and flooding problems specifically along the city's 7-kilometer radius.

The creation of the Task Force was a result of a meeting with multi-sectoral groups held at the City Hall conference room Friday.

It is a follow-through of the present administration's relentless effort to prevent and control flooding during heavy rains in the city.

Lobregat stressed that flood control and the improvement of the city's drainage program are among the top priorities of his administration since his first term in office in 2004.

The same programs, he said, are included in the League of Cities and World Bank-sponsored program City Development Strategies 3 Program or CDS3, which is an enabling platform for good governance and improving service delivery.

During the meeting, the mayor cited the need for a thorough study and assessment of the existing flood control and drainage program in view of the ongoing development in the different areas of the city.

Directly affected by the flooding and drainage problems are the barangays of Tumaga, Pasonanca, Tetuan, Tugbungan, Talon-talon, Mampang, San Jose Gusu, and the areas within the city's 7 kilometer radius.

The task force is composed of national government agencies such as the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Science and Technology (Dost) and its line agencies, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), National Irrigation Administration (NIA), Department of Agiculture (DA), Philippine National Police, City Engineer's Office, District Engineer's Office, the United Architects Association of the Philippines-Zamboanga chapter, the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers (PICE) Zamboanga chapter, the Sangguniang Panlungsod, the barangay officials of the concerned areas several other groups.

Lobregat chairs the task force with DOST Director Brenda Nazareth as vice chair.

The group's functions will include the following: to maintain technical databases to assist in planning and decision making to include but not limited to existing drainage system, rainfall data, inventory of existing flood control, topographic maps, location maps and barangay center maps, flood susceptibility map, barangay inputs and tidal record; to review and evaluate existing flood control/ drainage programs of the national and local government and submit appropriate recommendations; to review and assess on the Report of the Flood Susceptibility Map of Zamboanga and other relevant data/ studies and draw up a flood control on the Master Development Plan identifying specific mitigating measures which can be implemented within the next 6 months, medium term and long term; and to draw up capital investment plan for the implementation of the project.

The meeting Friday was attended by the representatives from the different national government agencies, CEO, City Planning and Development Office, Zamboanga City Water District, Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company, Cables Networks, barangay chairman from concerned barangays, and Councilors Abdurahman Nuno, Lilia Nuno, Jawo Jimenez, Eddie Saavedra, Nonong Guingona, Rey Candido and many others. (SEC)

Monday, July 09, 2007; Sun-Star Zamboanga
Climaco seeks French help for city impounding dam

DISTRICT I congresswoman Beng Climaco has made representations with French Ambassador Gerard Chesnel for a possible linkage between Zamboanga and the French government in the implementation of a water system project in the city.

Climaco is looking at the possibility of seeking French support in the construction of an impounding dam for Zamboanga to totally resolve the water problems besetting the city particularly during dry season.

Climaco had the opportunity of conferring with Ambassador Chesnel who visited the city recently to explore socio-economic ties.

During conversation, she brought out the issue concerning the construction of an impounding dam, a facility that will ensure sufficient and continuous water supply to local residents.

Climaco said the existing dam of the Zamboanga City Water District in Pasonanca is a French model, thus they are seeking the support and assistance of the French government for its improvement.

"The construction of impounding dams is a specialty of the French people and that is one of the areas that Ambassador Chesnel is interested to partner with us," the lady legislator said.

Last Friday, Climaco also conferred with engineer Alejo Alvarez, the assistant manager of the Zamboanga City Water District, to discuss the water firm's plans and relay results of her initial talks with the French representative.

The implementation of water system projects in District I is one of Climaco's priority agenda during her term in Congress. Malagutay is one area where an effective water system is badly needed.

Climaco vowed to pursue efforts to partner with the French government in the water system aspect.

Ambassador Chesnel called on Mayor Celso Lobregat at City Hall recently as part of the itinerary of his visit to Zamboanga City. Congresswoman Climaco and other city officials were also present to receive the ambassador and Defense Attaché Antoine Goursoala at City Hall.

Meanwhile, the congresswoman also expressed concern over the city's flooding and drainage problems.

She promised to also find ways and means to assist the city in the aspect of flood control and drainage programs. (SEC)