Zamboanga City News August 2016

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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.

NFA assures sufficient rice supply in Zamboanga

By Bong Garcia (BG /Sunnex)

A TOP official of the National Food Authority (NFA) has assured the public of stable rice supply in Zamboanga City despite the lean months.

The lean months are from April to September as rice harvest starts in October.

NFA Provincial Manager Nieves Toca said they have available stocks of 103,400 sacks of 50 kilos each for this city alone.

Toca said the existing stocks at the NFA warehouse are good for 18 days as the consumption of this city is 5,760 sacks daily.

NFA supplies 20 percent of the local market demand since 80 percent of the rice sold in this city is commercial rice.

Toca said her office is set to receive fresh shipment of 200,000 sacks of rice either last week of September or by first week of October.

The price of NFA rice is P27 a kilo for the 25 percent broken while P32 per kilo for the 15 percent broken.

Zambo barangay eyed as eco-tourism spot

(PNA), RMA/TPGJR/PR

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Aug. 30 (PNA) - About 20 kilometers away from the city proper lies a hidden paradise. The Barangay La Paz which is known as the “little Baguio” of this city speaks for itself.

The fogs and its cold weather can still be experienced even in the late mornings. The La Paz community hopes to be discovered as an eco-tourism spot in the west coast area of this city.

In its 7.5 hectares of land rewarded by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for the development of their Tree Park in Camp Susana Kilometer 9, the barangay council of La Paz and its residents, spearheaded by its Barangay Chairperson Ancelita Dalingay, and with the support of the Zamboanga City Civil Society Organizations Climate Change Alliance (ZCCSOCCA), took on its first step.

On Saturday, Aug. 27, more than 200 participants from the community of La Paz, members of the ZCCSOCCA coming from selected barangay local government units and its sectoral representatives, government line agencies, personnel of the military’s Task Force Zamboanga and Police Station 9, and many others.

“We are grateful that ZABIDA (Zamboanga-Basilan Integrated Development Alliance, Inc) along with the alliance inspired us and helped us push for this initiative,” said Dalingay in her welcome remarks.

“We fervently hope that our barangay will soon be known, not only as flower and vegetable growers in Zamboanga, but as eco-tourism destination of our local and out-of-town tourists,” Dalingay added.

Ben Acana, Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) chief, who also graced the event shared that La Paz is the only barangay that has designated its own Barangay Tree Park.

With some legal battle in the past, Acana said that, finally the barangay was able to assert its rights.

Acana said the Barangay Tree Park could be developed into a sustainable and developed area of eco-tourism with the assistance of the non-government organizations (NGOs) such as ZABIDA and different government agencies.

He said that there are potentials in the area, its cold weather and abundant water resources and different species of the flowers that can be found.

He also told the audience that there was a time the flowers in this city came from Iligan City and that he is glad now, that flowers come from La Paz, into our very own city.

Two hectares of land of the tree park were now planted with 1,250 seedlings of wood of different varieties in which 1,000 of them were sponsored by the CENRO and 250 seedlings from the forestry department of the Western Mindanao State University.

A 10-year-old Grade IV student and a resident of La Paz named Arcie Jay Yaun, who was also there to join the tree planting activity, when interviewed why he joined the planting, said that he was happy that there was an activity such as these especially in his barangay.

“I am happy that I am able to learn for my future. I can see what I have planted,” Yaun said in vernacular.

“When I grow up, I can say that I was the one who planted this, and of course I was able to help the environment,” he quipped.

Zamboanga City to host 2016 MSMEs conference

(PNA), LDV/TPGJR/SSC

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Aug. 29 (PNA) -- It’s all systems go for the conduct of the 2016 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) conference on Tuesday in this city.

Grace Aduca, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) provincial office Business Development Division chief, said the event aims to increase awareness among MSMEs on the latest policy directions and trends as well as identify issues and concerns affecting them.

“Although updates are disseminated to the MSMEs in the city during training, there is still a need to gather all MSMEs and provide them with the latest policy directions and trends as well as discuss issues and concerns,” she said.

Aduca said they aim to gather at least 500 participants consisting of industry stakeholders, existing MSMEs, potential MSMEs, local government unit and non-government associations.

She said the conference will be highlighted by plenary presentations on market facilitation, financing, improved productivity, technology and efficiency, as well as investment enabling environment.

She Suraida Guro of the DTI-Export Marketing Bureau will lecture on ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) market, European Union Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP)+ and other export markets.

It will be followed by a discussion on the financing program for MSMEs by Maria Linda Orsos of the Small Business Corporation.

Engineer. Rolando Acuña, DTI provincial director, will talk about improved productivity, technology and efficiency with focus on fabrication laboratory and investment enabling environment with focus on Negosyo Centers.

The MSMEs conference is a brainchild of the DTI provincial office.

‘Digital Journalism’ media workshop held in Zambo

(ALT-PIA9/Zamboanga Sibugay)

The 7th Metrobank Foundation Media Training Series: “Digital Journalism: Does Journalism Still Matter in the Digital Age?” sponsored by Metrobank Foundation and PROBE Media Foundation was held Friday) at a local hotel.

The training aims to provide a venue to further advance the practice of journalism in the country and discuss current issues, concerns and challenges faced by the profession. Resource persons for the training are the 2015 Metrobank Foundation Journalists of the Year (JOY) awardees.

Three focal persons spoke during the training with the first session entitled “Changing Media Landscape: Mainstream vs. Online/Digital Media, Is it One or the Other, or Both?” It was discussed by Ms. Luz Rimban, journalist and trustee for the Vera Files and executive director of the Asian Center for Journalism. She talked on the transition from traditional to online journalism, the roles of the journalist, challenges and benefits and the skills needed to make the shift.

The second session dealt with the topic “Embracing the New Media Environment: Planning Stories and Staying Relevant” discussed by Ms. Marites D. Vitug, Editor-at-Large of Rappler. She provided insights into the interests of the online audience, how solid stories, good sources, and balanced reportage are still key. The session also tackled how fact checking analysis, research and context will set the journalist apart.

The final session entitled, “Making Stories that Matter and Safety in Reportage.” was tackled by Ms. Nancy C. Carvajal, senior reporter formerly with the Philippine Daily Inquirer, who explained how powerful stories can contribute to positive change, and how to stay alive to tell the story another day.

Some 40 participants from the Zamboanga Peninsula Region attended the training.

DAR tells beneficiaries to join Agrarian Reform Cooperatives

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

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Aug. 27 (PNA) – The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) has advised its beneficiaries to join the agrarian reform cooperatives (ARCs) to be able to avail of the agency’s assistance.

Eng’r. Felix Aguhob, DAR regional director, made the call following observation that more than half of the 115,035 ARBs in the region were not members of the Agrarian Reform Communities (ARCs).

Of the 115,035 ARBs, Aguhob told the Philippines News Agency that only 44,976 ARBs were members of the ARCs.

“To those ARB’s who are not yet member, we are encouraging you to be a member of the agrarian reform cooperatives to avail of the services of the government,” Aguhob said.

“Make your land productive for the future of your family and the community,” he added.

He said DAR only facilitated training and extended assistance to ARCs rather than individual ARBs since the agency’s resources were limited.

He said the other ARBs did not join the ARCs “since they have this wait and see attitude” and they would only join once they see the cooperatives are already getting assistance from the agency.

Meanwhile, he assured that the agency would continue to provide training and assistance to improve the livelihood of the ARCs in the region.

Zambo City allocates PHP83.2-M to build 19 barangay halls

(PNA), FPV/TPGJR

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Aug. 26 (PNA) – The local government is closely monitoring the construction of new barangays halls to ensure it is done in accordance to plans and specifications.

Mayor Ma. Isabelle Climaco-Salazar said the city government has allocated PHP83.2 million to construct 19 new barangay halls this year.

Salazar said five of the 19 barangay halls have already been completed while the other 14 are either near completion or still under construction.

Salazar said that records from the City Engineer’s Office showed that the barangay halls completed are as follows: Panubigan, PHP2.9 million; Taguiti, PHP3 million; Landang Gua, PHP3 million; Tumitus, PHP3 million; and, Pamucutan , PHP4.8 million.

The almost completed barangay halls are the following: Quiniput, PHP4.5 million; Lapakan, PHP4.8 million; Campo Islam, PHP4 million; Capisan, PHP1.5 million; Divisoria, PHP2 million; Cawit, PHP4.9 million; Curuan, PHP6 million; Pasilmanta, PHP3.6 million; and, Manalipa, PHP3.6 million.

Ongoing construction are the barangay halls in Zone III, PHP2 million; Zone II, PHP5.9 million; and, Limaong, PHP3.5 million.

Salazar said the construction of barangay halls in Limpapa worth PHP5 million and San Jose Gusu amounting to PHP6.6 million are subject to rebidding.

House confers Congressional Medal of Distinction on Diaz

(PNA), RMA/TPGJR

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Aug. 25 (PNA) – The House of Representatives on Wednesday conferred the Congressional Medal of Distinction on Zamboangueña weightlifter Rio Olympics silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz.

House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez led the awarding of the medal to Diaz during her visit at the House of Representatives.

Diaz also received Php 1.5 million cash reward, which was achieved through the personal, voluntary and generous contributions of congresspersons through agreed salary deduction.

First district Rep. Celso Lobregat delivered a privilege speech to welcoming, congratulating and extolling Diaz before the awarding ceremonies.

“Finally after 20 long years, a Filipina, a Mindanaoan and Zamboangueña, weighing only 53-kilogram (117lbs) measuring less than five feet wins a silver medal in the 2016 Olympics,”

Lobregat said that Diaz have proven to all Filipinos, especially the youth, that with hard work, determination, perseverance and true gift, “no dreamer is too small and no dream is too big to be realized.”

“Hidilyn you make us proud and you stand tall, the tallest among all Filipinas for you are the first and only Filipina to achieve this feat, a medal, a silver medal at that in the Olympics,” Lobregat said.

The House of Representatives approved a resolution that congratulated and commended Diaz in recognition of her outstanding performance in the Olympics.

Lobregat has thanked Alvarez, Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas, Minority Leader Danny Suarez and the members of the House of Representatives for their support in giving monetary award to Diaz.

Westmincom, bikers group set bike race in Zambo City

(PNA), LAP/TPGJR

CAMP NAVARRO, Zamboanga City (PNA) -– The Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom), in partnership with the Bikers One-O-One Unlimited, Inc. will hold a cycling race on Saturday, August 27, this city for the benefit of the soldiers wounded in skirmishes here in Mindanao.

Maj. Filemon Tan Jr., Westmincom spokesperson, said the activity, dubbed as the “Race for Heroes: MTB Circuit Race,” will be held at the Girl Scout Camp Site at the Climaco Freedom Park in Mount Abong-Abong, Barangay Pasonanca, this city.

The race will have seven categories: the Open Elite; Women (Open); Executive Beginner; Executive Elite/Lawman; the Beginner for Juniors below 25 years old and the Seniors from 26 to 39 years old ; Veterans; and the Golden Boy for 50 years old and above.

Tan said that military and police personnel who are professional cyclists and are regularly joining races are disqualified from joining the Executive Elite/Lawman category and should, instead, register at the Open Elite category.

He said the proceeds of the activity will be utilized for the benefit of the wounded personnel of the Westmincom.

He said the winners will receive prizes ranging from PhP500 to PhP3,000, medals and certificates for the third and tenth finishers.

He said the race is in line with the celebration of the 10th founding anniversary of Westmincom on Sunday, August 28.

Zamboanga City readies 2017 budget

By Bong Garcia (Sunnex)

THE City Government is expected to operate on a P3.13-billion budget in 2017 with a projected income of P2.83 billion based on the proposed Local Development Investment Program (LDIP).

Mayor Ma. Isabelle Climaco-Salazar said the 2017 annual budget marks an 11 percent increase compared with the current year's budget of P2.82 billion.

A comparative review of the annual budgets of the city in the past years showed that the budget was P2.19 billion when Salazar assumed office in 2013.

The following year, 2014, the budget was pegged at P2.43 billion or 10.96 percent higher than in 2013.

In 2015, the City Government was operating on P2.60 billion or 7.02 percent higher, and P2.82 billion in 2016 with 6.46 percent increase.

Under the LDIP, reviewed and endorsed by City Development Council (CDC) to the City Council, budget carries an allocation of P1.6 billion for total capital outlay, of which P1.4 billion is for infrastructure and P244,197.3 for equipment.

The technical hearings on the proposed 2017 executive budget continued on Thursday with discussions focused on the requirements for maintenance and other operating expenses of the city's different national high schools and vocational schools.

Zamboanga readies new tour package for tourists

By Mary Grace Padin (The Philippine Star)

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Tourism (DOT) in Region 9 is eyeing to create new tour packages catering to Visayan tourists following the launch of a new roll on/roll off (RoRo) service from Zamboanga to Dumaguete.

DOT Region 9 director Mary June Bugante said the operation of Archipelago Philippine Ferries Corp.’s (FastCat) vessel serving the Dapitan-Dumaguete route is expected to decrease travel time between the two cities and encourage more tourists from the Visayas to visit the Zamboanga Peninsula.

“This makes traveling faster for tourists. They can leave the Dumaguete port in the morning, then go back in the evening. It’s good for tourism, specifically for day trips,” Bugante said in an interview.

“So now, we’re looking at Visayas as a possible target market. Plus, of course, the fact that Cebu is now a major gateway of the Philippines. So we’re creating new tour packages for Dipolog and Dapitan,” she said.

The official said DOT Region 9 has started intensifying its tourism promotion campaigns to attract more Visayan tourists in view of this development.

“We’ve been active in travel fairs in Cebu and Bacolod. We want to attract more people to visit, especially the students. We’re asking our private sector and tour operators to engage in this market,” Bugante said.

FastCat started serving Dapitan-Dumaguete passengers in July 30 this year. It is operating new catamaran vessels, which shortened the traveling time from four to five hours to only three hours.

Other operators, such as George and Peter Lines Inc. Cokaliong Shipping Lines Inc., Aleson Shipping Lines Inc. and Ocean Fast Ferries are also operating in the Dumaguete-Dapitan route.

Aside from this, Bugante said RoRo operators in the neighboring Dipolog City are also serving trips to Cebu.

Tourist arrivals in Region 9 reached 600,000 in 2015, with majority of the visitors being domestic travelers, according to the official.

Meanwhile, Bugante said the local government of Zamboanga remains keen on having Zamboanga International Aiport transferred outside the premises of the city.

“The city has really been pushing for the transfer of the airport, because right now, it is within the city proper. That is hampering to the growth of the city,” she said.

She said the local government has once again asked the national government to accept its proposal to move the airport 15 to 20 kilometers away from the city proper.

Zamboanga City readies for Lung Monday activity

By Bong Garcia/Sunnex

PREPARATIONS are underway for the observance of the Annual Lung Month Activity in Zamboanga City.

City Hall Information Officer Belen Sheila Covarrubias said the City Health Office will spearhead the activity, which will kick off with a motorcade at 8 a.m. on August 26.

Covarrubias said the motorcade will start from the City Health Office in Pettit Barracks and end at the Western Mindanao State University (WMSU) gymnasium.

A program will follow at the gymnasium, highlight of which is a hip-hop dance competition among high school students.

Mayor Ma Isabelle Climaco-Salazar, along with the Department of Health officials and members of the Zamboanga Hermosa Tuberculosis Council led by Dr. Rodel Agbulos, will grace the event.

AFP to honor Rio silver medalist Diaz Monday

(PNA), CVL/PFN

MANILA, Aug. 20 (PNA) -- Rio Olympic Games silver medalist for weightlifting, AW1C Hidilyn F. Diaz will be presented the "Outstanding Achievement Medal" by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Monday morning.

Diaz will also be given a "Plaque of Recognition" for her “extraordinary achievement and distinguished service rendered as the first female Filipino athlete to win a silver medal," AFP public affairs office chief Col. Edgard Arevalo said.

The awarding ceremony will be held at the GHQ Canopy Area, Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City at 7:30 a.m.

"Airwoman First Class Diaz brought national pride which merited public recognition of the highest order for her accomplishment as the country’s lone athlete-delegate to the said international event to win a medal for the Philippines,” Diaz's Outstanding Achievement Medal's citation read.

The silver medalist was given a hero’s welcome by the Philippine Air Force on Thursday in an awarding ceremony at the Villamor Air Base.

She was also promoted to AW1C, a step higher than her former rank of AW2C.

AFP chief-of-staff Gen. Ricardo R. Visaya also extended his warmest congratulations to Diaz for her “accomplishment that inspired admiration and respect from the men and women in the military”.

“Diaz’s world-class achievement earned recognition for the country. I extend my congratulations to her and to the other soldier-athletes who continue to work hard in their own fields to bring honor and pride to the AFP and to the Filipinos,” he added.

The 25-year-old Diaz, a native of Zamboanga City, won her silver medal in the women’s 58 kg. class event which was won by Chinese Hsu Shu-ching of Chinese Taipei via a record-breaking fashion.

In the snatch event, she only tallied 88 kg. but recovered in the clean and jerk lift, successfully lifting a 112 kg. lift in her second attempt, for a total of 200 kg., against Hsu.

Her silver medal win last Aug. 7 (Brazil time) was the Philippines' first Olympic medal in 20 years and the first ever for a Filipina.

The last time the Philippines won a medal in the Olympics was in 1996 when Mansueto “Onyok” Velasco competed and won a silver medal in the light-flyweight category in boxing at the Atlanta Olympic Games.

Zamboanga IP community to receive motorboats

By Bong Garcia

GOVERNMENT agencies and non-government organizations (NGOs) have formed a climate change adaptation alliance and will spearhead the Simariki Community Mangrove Planting and Banca turnover in Zamboanga City.

City Hall Information Officer Belen Sheila Covarrubias said the activities will be held on Saturday, August 20, at Simariki Island in the village of Talon-Talon, east of this city.

Covarrubias said the activity will kick off at 8:30 a.m. with the symbolic turnover of 49 banca (motorboats) units to 50 beneficiaries followed by the community mangrove planting, which is in line with the Simariki Coastal Resource Management project.

The event will culminate with the signing of the memorandum of agreement (Moa) with representatives from the National Commission for Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), Zamboanga-Basilan Integrated Development Alliance Inc. (Zabida) and the Talon-Talon village council as signatories.

The event is a joint undertaking of the Zabida, City Agriculturist Office, Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro) in partnership with the Simariki Island Sama Banguingui Association (Sisba) community.

Zambo health office immunizes 18,518 school children

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

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Aug. 18 (PNA) –- The City Health Office announced that 18,518 school children have already been vaccinated through the school-based immunization that started August 1.

Dr. Rodelin Agbulos, city health officer, on Thursday told the Philippines News Agency that 11,234 of the 18,518 vaccinated students are enrolled in Grade 7 and the remaining 7,284 in Grade 1.

Agbulos is optimistic they can meet the target of the school-based immunization, which ends August 31, since the City Health Office’s physicians and nurses are focused on the program.

The City Health Office targets to immunize 16,905 Grade 1 pupils and 16,869 Grade 7 students.

The Grade 1 pupils are injected with tetanus, diphtheria and measles vaccines and the Grade 7 students with tetanus, diphtheria, measles and rubella vaccines.

The objective of the school-based immunization program is to protect the schoolchildren from the mentioned diseases which are potentially fatal but can be prevented.

Agbulos urged the parents to allow their children to be immunized since “it is for their own protection.”

He advised the parents to give appropriate dose of paracetamol if and when their children would experience body pain and fever after the immunization.

Diaz launches scholarship program

By JEAN RUSSEL V. DAVID

Rio Olympics weightlifting silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz announced that she would launch a scholarship program to attract more young people to the sport.

Open to the youth of Zamboanga City, the scholarship, backed by Alsons Power Group, will pay for the full tuition and provide a stipend to cover uniforms and school supplies of students who will qualify for the program.

“I am happy today. I always think that the blessings which I received is not all for me but I have to share this to kids who have potentials of becoming the next Olympian,” Diaz told the media in a news conference in Makati City on Wednesday.

“Alsons motivates me before and after the competition which really helped me. They want more kids to try the sport and train early in their childhood,” added Diaz.

The 25-year old Diaz ended the Philippines’ 20-year medal drought in the Olympics when she won the silver medal in women’s weightlifting 53 kilogram category in Rio.

She is also the first Filipina and Mindanaoan to win an Olympic medal, and her silver is the first outside of boxing—the sport that gave the country its two other Olympic silver medals through Anthony Villanuena in 1964 and Mansueto Velasco in 1996.

“We have regional coaches in Region 9 who can hone their talents. And there are also schools that are starting to show strong potentials,” national team coach Alfonsito Aldanete said.

“We lack in logistics and that triggered us to find for companies to help us. We are lucky in the last end that they believed in us,” said Zamboanga City Councilor Bong Atilano, a weightlifting coach himself.

The Weightlifting Association of the Philippines, the sport’s local governing body said it would support Diaz’s initiative.

The national sports association also said that it has an ongoing grassroots program to develop new talents in different parts of the country.

Comelec readies for barangay, SK polls

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

ZAMBOANGA CITY (PNA) – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is finalizing the list of voters in preparation for the conduct of the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections on October 21.

Atty. Lerdo Matildo Jr., second district elections officer told the Philippines News Agency that the final list of voters will be ready by August 20, citing they are on the 50 percent stage of completion.

A total of 13,135 new youth and regular voters have registered from July 15 to 30.

Of the total, 6,137 registered in the first district, which comprises 37 barangays, and the remaining 6,998 in the second district’s 61 barangays.

Matildo said the Barangay and SK polls will push through as scheduled since there is no move to suspend nor postpone the conduct of the elections. The mode of election is manual.

Registered youth voters aged 18 to 24 can file their certificate of candidacy while those 15 to 17 years old can only vote.

The filing of candidacy is scheduled from October 3 to 5.

The last SK elections was held on 2010.

New, high-security passport launched

(Daily Zamboanga Times)

Every Filipino who wishes to go overseas and applies for a passport will receive the “all new high-security passport” beginning on Monday, Aug. 15.?

The new passports will feature impressive design promoting the regions of the country.

Other changes include intaglio printing used for the printing of money and the printing of the coat of arms using optical variable illusion ink where color varies at different angles.

Added security features have been placed such as upgraded security feature of microchip to capture the personal data of the applicant, invisible UV fluorescent ink and thread, and elaborate design when subject to UV light.??

Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Martin Andanar assured that the new passports would be readily available. “The new APO printing system increases the production speed of the new passports to 35%.”

Andanar, whose office controls and supervises the APO Production Unit Inc., further said, “This means the new passport printing system results to delivery of passports from press to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to an average of five days compared to 7-14 days previously.”

“It is the objective of the PCO to keep on improving our printing processes so we can even hasten the delivery from our APO Lima Plant in Batangas to DFA within four days by 2017,” Andanar explained.

Hidilyn Diaz receives P500K incentive from Zamboanga City - report

By Naveen Ganglani (Rappler.com)

The Olympic silver medalist had previously been granted separate bonuses of P5 and P2 million pesos

MANILA, Philippines – Philippine Olympian Hidilyn Diaz received a P500,000 bonus from the city of Zamboanga to add to the P7 million she’s already attained from winning silver in the women’s 53kg division of weightlifting at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Diaz, 25, received the additional P500,000 during a motorcade around her hometown on Friday, August 12.

The weightlifting star arrived back in Manila from Brazil on Thursday and then flew to Davao where she met Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte at the presidential guesthouse in Panacan.

It was there where she was given a check worth P5 million for winning the silver - by lifting a total of 200kg - thanks to the government’s Republic Act 10699, also known as the National Athletes and Coaches and Trainers Benefit and Incentives Act. Diaz is also set to be awarded with a housing unit from 8990 Holdings Inc - Deca Homes.

Duterte, who won the presidency during the elections last May, then added an extra two million to her bonus. Putting all incentives together, Diaz has earned P7.5 million.

During a press conference held at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 on Thursday, Diaz said that she’s planning on making a fourth trip to the Olympics in Tokyo 4 years from now, and with the goal of winning the gold medal.

With regards to what Diaz plans to do with her incentives, she says that part of it will be given to putting up a weightlifting gym in Zamboanga.

“Bibilhin ko muna yung lupa, tapos mag papatayo ako nang gym duon para sa weightlifting club,” she said.

(I’ll first buy the land, then I’ll put up a gym for the weightlifting club.)

The president applauded the plan, emphasizing the need for athletes’ training away from Manila.

“Yes, I would agree with her plans, para yung iba naman na probinsya [may] attention (so that the other provinces get attention). And also to give focus to the sports. Maybe you’ll be able to harness good athletes.”

City Hall rolls out hero’s welcome for Diaz, Colonia

By Jasmine Mohammadsali

A hero’s welcome is scheduled today, August 11, at 2 p.m. to herald the arrival of Rio Olympians Hidilyn Diaz and Nestor Colonia in the city.

Mayor Beng Climaco will lead the welcome honors which will kick off with the arrival of Diaz, Colonia, and coaches Alfonsito Aldanete and Prof. Elberto Atilano at the Zamboanga International Airport at 2 p.m. from Davao City. This will be followed by a motorcade to City Hall for a welcome ceremony.

The motorcade route will pass through Gov. Camins Avenue, Mayor Jaldon Street, and Mayor Climaco Avenue. Both the City Hall’s and the Bureau of Fire Protection’s sirens will sound off to signal and celebrate the returning Olympians.

Mayor Climaco, along with other local officials, are expected to give their congratulatory messages as well as turn over to Diaz a symbolic check of P500,000 for her silver medal win at the Rio Olympics.

Diaz made history when she clinched the second-place finish at the women’s weightlifting 53kg competition at the 2016 Rio Olympics, breaking the 20-year medal drought of the Philippines as well as becoming the first Filipina and Mindanaoan to have won an Olympic medal.

Meanwhile, Colonia made a valiant effort in the men’s weightlifting 56kg, finishing 16th in a field of 19 participants.

Diaz and Colonia qualified for the Rio Olympic after winning in the Asian Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, which served as the Olympic qualifying event for weightlifting.

Diaz was slated for a bronze medal after successfully lifting a combined 200kg but shot to silver when China’s Li Yajun failed in her third and final attempt and scratched out of the contest.

Colonia, on the other hand, cleared his first 120kg in the snatch but failed to clear 125 kg in his second and third attempts. He failed to clear in the three attempts for the clean and jerk category, placing 16th overall in a field of 19.

POEA grants tax exemptions to ‘Balik Manggagawa’

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

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Aug. 11 (PNA) – The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) announced that the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) “Balik Manggagawa” will enjoy tax exemptions starting September this year.

Marietta Bellotindos, POEA regional director, made this announcement Thursday, saying Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Sec. Sivestre Bello III had approved Resolution No. 12 passed by the POEA Governing Board headed by Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac.

Bellotindos said among the exemptions the Balik Manggagawa would enjoy included the payment of travel tax and terminal fee. They will no longer be required to secure Overseas Employment Certificate.

Bellotindos said Balik Manggagawa referred to registered OFW, who would return to the same employer and jobsite and those hired through the government placement branch.

With the exemptions, Bellotindos said the OFW can spend and enjoy their vacation with their families instead of processing papers such as the Overseas Employment Certificate with the POEA.

Meanwhile, she disclosed that her office has processed a total of 9,569 Balik Manggagawa from January to June this year.

She said they were working in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Brunei, Singapore, Papua New Guinea, Seychelles, Bahrain, and other countries.

They are employed as nurses, engineers, household service workers, operator, laborers, managerial work, administrative work, and agricultural workers.

Zamboanga City posts decrease in number of malnourished kids

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

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Aug. 10 (PNA) – Zamboanga City has reported a drop in the number of malnourished children by 270 from 4,490 in January-April last year to 4,220 in the same period this year.

The city health office's nutrition division chief, Virgie Sagrado, told PNA that their "Operation Timbang" has also recorded 3,087 underweight and 1,133 severely underweight children in the first four months this year, compared to 3,149 underweight and 1,341 severely underweight kids in the same period last year.

Most of them were from "hard-to-reach" barangays, she said.

The office meanwhile noted a 1,204 rise in the number of children with normal weight from 123,898 in the January-April period last year to 125,102 in the same months this year.

Sagrado attributed the decline in the number of malnourished children to the “Feeding Preggy” nutrition program that targets pregnant women to ensure they give birth to healthy babies, and nutrition education in barangays.

She said they plan to expand the Feeding Preggy program since it is only conducted in selected barangays.

Health workers, she said, have also been instructed to closely monitor families with malnourished children, especially those with working mothers.

They are also encouraging new mothers to breastfeed their babies from birth until two years, feed them nutritious food when they are weaned, and give them complete immunization.

Hero's welcome awaits Olympian silver medalist Diaz in hometown Zamboanga

(PNA), JMC/TPGJR

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Aug. 9 (PNA) –- A hero's welcome awaits Rio Olympics silver medalist weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz here as the city prepares for her return.

Mayor Ma. Isabelle Climaco-Salazar said preparations are underway for the ceremonies scheduled on Monday (Aug. 15) as Diaz, a resident of Barangay Mampang, is set to arrive here on Sunday evening.

Diaz, 25, bagged the silver medal on Sunday (Brazil time) in the women’s 58-kilogramn weightlifting category in the 2016 Rio Olympics.

She is arriving together with her coach, Alfonsito Aldenete, also a Zamboangueño.

Also included in the welcome ceremonies is Nestor Colonia for his valiant performance which placed him 16th out of a field of 19 weightlifters in the men’s category, Salazar said.

Diaz will receive PHP500,000 from the local government as per local ordinance granting cash incentives to athletes with podium finishes.

With Diaz’s win, she became the first Filipina and Mindanaoan to win an Olympic medal.

She also broke the country’s 20-year Olympic medal drought, and gave the country its third silver medal.

PRC Zambo gears for Walk for Humanity

By R.G. ANTONET GO (R.G. A A. Go)

The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Zamboanga City Chapter gears for the yearly Walk for Humanity to promote International Humanitarian Law (IHL) on August 14 at Paseo del Mar.

Joseline Fernandez, OIC PRC Administrator, said that they are expecting some 10,000 participants coming from the different sectors during the activity.

Participants will walk from the Vitaliano Agan Avenue (Nunez Extension) to Paseo del Mar where a simple program will follow after.

The theme for this year’s Walk for Humanity is “IHL: Mga Aral ng Nakaraan, Hamon sa Kasalukuyan.”

During the walk, adults will donateP20 while students will give P5. The proceeds will be used to promote IHL in this city.

“Ta man invite kita con todo sectors man support con el walk for humanity. Quierre kita todo puede anda participa,” Fernandez said.

The office will also go to military camps and schools to provide lectures on IHL.

IHL is a set of rules which place restrictions on the use of weapons and methods of warfare. It protects people who are not or no longer participating in hostilities and it has the aim of protecting human dignity and to limit suffering during times of war. The law requires parties to a conflict to distinguish combatants and civilians and to refrain from attacking civilians, care for the wounded and sick, ensure that the dignity of prisoners of war and civilian internees is preserved by allowing visits by International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) delegates.

The law is protecting civilians, medical and religious military personnel, wounded, sick combatants and prisoner of war it is important because it is one of the most powerful tools the international community has at its disposal to ensure the safety and dignity of people in times of war with the guiding principles that even in war there are limits.

The IHL is applied in two situations during international conflicts which involved two countries and armed conflicts that take place in one country such as government and rebel forces and the IHL applies to all conflict parties regardless of who started it.

City Government opens Chavacano composition contest

By Bong Garcia (BG/Sunnex)

THE City Government of Zamboanga announced that entries for the Festival Music Composition Contest 2016 are now being accepted.

City Hall Information Officer Belen Sheila Covarrubias said the competition is open to all Chavacano music composers and enthusiasts.

The winning piece will serve as the official soundtrack of the Zamboanga Hermosa Festival 2016 and the performance piece for the street dance competition, Covarrubias said.

The Chavacano Music Composition Contest is one of the activities the City Government has lined up for the Zamboanga Hermosa Festival in October.

The highlight of the festival is the feast day of Our Lady of the Pillar, the most revered saint of Zamboanga City, on October 12.

Last day of submission of the Chavacano music composition is on August 12.

Competition guidelines are available for download at the Zamboanga Hermosa Facebook page.

LTO-9 holds seminar on work attitude

By Allen Abastillas

The two-day seminar, on “The Power of Integrity, Accountability & Focus”, conducted by the Land Transportation Office-9 for its selected officers and personnel ended successfully. It was held at Grand Astoria Hotel on Thursday and Friday.

LTO-9 Director Aminola P. Abaton said the seminar is all about focusing on good behavior and attitude to work so that people would be satisfied with the delivery of efficient services.

Seminars like are regularly held by LTO-9 so that its officers and personnel will maintain in the delivery of quality services to people.

The lecturer was Mr. Santos E. Getalado, a known educator and human resource development consultant in the country and abroad. He is also a retired manager of Samar Electric Cooperative.

Getalado told the participants that work is a source where one can serve people and make them happy. “It is a source of happiness and dignity.”

He said Filipinos are good workers, talented, skillful, resourcesful, obedient to law and order.

He said Filipinos abroad are obedient to law and order but not totally true in the Philippines which needs a good leader like President Rodrigo R. Duterte and Director Abaton. “ I askyou to pray for President Duterte’s leadership so that Philippines will move forward to progress. During Pres. Diosdado Macapagal, the Philippines is only competing with Japan but now where is our country going?. Let’s pray for the President so that Philippines will be great again,” Getalado said. —

DTI holds PQA, PQC orientation in Zambo City

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

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Aug. 5 (PNA) -- The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) here gathered stakeholders for a one-day orientation on the Philippine Quality Award (PQA) and Philippine Quality Challenge (PAC) on Thursday.

Philip Jason Roque, DTI senior trade and industry development specialist, told the Philippines News Agency that the orientation was aimed at promoting DTI’s PQA and PQC programs in the countryside.

Roque said that PQA is a template to be used by businesses and offices to achieve performance excellence while the PQC is a stepping stone towards achieving PQA.

Roque added that PQC is also an assessment program, a consultancy program, and at the same time a recognition program.

He cited that these performance excellence management tools are important for effective business management. Their utilization enables products and even the entire organization to become competitive not only in the Philippines but even abroad.

He noted there are several businesses that fold up few years after opening since they are not competitive enough.

Roque said the conduct of the orientation is timely especially with the establishment of the ASEAN economic community (AEC).

The participants included representatives of small and large companies, private and government offices, the academe and others.

The gathering also allowed participants to learn some of the best practices of PQA and PQC awardees in 2013.

Ciudad Medical Zamboanga (CMZ) chief executive officer Atty. Jihan Hairun-Natividad said that they continue to utilize PQA to improve their organizational management and the performance of the hospital.

“PQA taught us to do strategic planning, set targets, set strategic objective, and from there measure our own performance,” Natividad added.

Prayers sought for 2 Zambo Olympians

By R.G. ANTONET GO

Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar has appealed for support to Zamboanga City’s Olympians Hidilyn Diaz and Nestor Colonia.

Both Diaz and Colonia are Philippines bets on weightlifting in the 2016 Rio De Janeiro Olympics which will kickoff on August 5.

“I’m asking Zamboangueños to please show support thru Facbook and prayers to Hidilyn and Nestor our Olympians in Rio de Janeiro,”Salazar said in a press conference.

“It’s a very rare opportunity for the number of athletes in the Philippines that a male and female athletes from Zamboanga will be representing us,” Salazar said.

Both Diaz and Colonia are asking for prayers for the competition set on August 7. They ranked fourth in the world in their respective weight divisions, 53kg for Diaz and 56kg for Colonia.

This will be the first Olympic for Colonia while the third for Diaz, who competed during the 2008 Beijing Olympics, 2012 London Olympics, and now in Rio de Janeiro.

Both are also being coached by Alfonsito Aldanete who is also a Zamboangueño. — R.G. A A. Go

Zamboanga City gov’t pays tribute to retired employees

By Bong Garcia

THE Zamboanga City government has paid tribute on Tuesday, August 4, to its retired employees in simple “despedida” ceremonies and breakfast “salo-salo” at City Hall in appreciation of their years of dedicated service.

Dubbed the “Despedida de Agradecimiento para los Retirados de Gobierno,” the special ceremonies gathered and honored 19 retirees who left government service from the period of January to June 2016 for a morning fellowship with Mayor Ma. Isabelle Climaco-Salazar, their respective department heads and supervisors, and colleagues.

They composed of the fifth batch of retirees who were honored and recognized by the City Government since the activity’s launch last 2014.

The ceremonies, organized by the City Human Resource Management Office (CHRMO), featured messages from Salazar and the retirees, provision of tokens of gratitude, and a video presentation, followed by a breakfast salo-salo.

In her message, Salazar expressed her gratitude to the retirees for the years of service that they have rendered to the local government and the people of Zamboanga City.

Comelec registers 13,135 new voters in Zambo City

(PNA), LDV/TPGJR/RGAAG

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Aug. 2 (PNA) -- The Commission on Elections (Comelec) announced that a total of 13,135 youths and regular voters have registered in this city during the just concluded 15-day registration period.

The registration of voters started on July 15 and ended July 31.

Atty. Lerdo Matildo Jr., second district election officer, on Tuesday told the Philippines News Agency that 6,998 of the 13,135 new voters registered in his district while the remaining 6,137 in the first district.

The first district consists of 37 barangays and the second district comprises of 61 barangays, including eight island villages.

Matildo said the registration documents of the new voters will be sent to the Comelec central office for Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) to ensure none of them are multiple registrants.

Matildo said the Election Registration Boards (ERBs) of the first and second districts will also convene to deliberate and approve the registration of the new registrants.

The youth registrants aged 15 to 24. However, only those 18 to 24 years old can file candidacy for the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections while those aged 15 to 17 can only vote.

Youths 18 to 24 years old can also vote in the regular elections.

Meanwhile, Matildo announced that the filing of the certificate of candidacy for the barangay and SK elections is from Oct. 3 to 5. The election is on October 21.

NHA turns over houses to 2013 Zamboanga siege victims

(PNA), JMC/TPGJR

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Aug. 1 (PNA) -- A total of 1,657 houses constructed under the Zamboanga City Roadmap to Recovery and Reconstruction (Z3R) have been turned over to victims of the 2013 Zamboanga siege, the National Housing Authority (NHA) said.

In his report, NHA District Manager Engr. Al-Kwarizimi Indanan said the number of awarded houses represents 44.84 percent of the total 6,483 housing units, both land-based and on stilts, targeted for construction for the families displaced in the 21-day September 2013 siege.

The siege started when hundreds of Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) members loyal to MNLF Founding-Chair Nur Misuari infiltrated and laid siege in at least four coastal barangays in this city.

Indanan said the houses awarded to the beneficiaries included 815 one-storey houses and 842 houses in stilts.

Of the 815 one storey houses, 44 were awarded to members of the Martha Drive Homeowners Association, Inc.; 146 awarded to residents in Paniran; 162 for Tulungatung Resettlement Housing site; 16 awarded to St. Peter Homeowners Association; 153 for Chistian-Muslim Housing members; 67 for Islamic Village Homeowners Association (Duplex loftable); 152 for Lustre Homeowners Association; and, 75 for Ayer Village I Homeowners Association.

Indanan said the housing units in all the other areas are fully completed except for Tulungatung and Christian-Muslim Housing areas where additional housing units are still under construction.

He said the 842 houses on stilts awarded to beneficiaries are located in Barangay Mariki with 642 units and Barangay Taluksangay with 200 units.

Meanwhile, Indanan said that 2,783 houses under the different housing packages are ongoing construction at present.

The national government has allocated a total of PHP1.536 billion for the construction of 6,483 permanent shelters under the Z3R.

As this developed, the Local Inter-Agency Committee will convene on Thursday, August 4, to discuss updates concerning the Z3R program and other urgent matters pertaining to recovery and rehabilitation efforts.

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