Zamboanga City News August 2018

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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 health centers accredited adolescent-friendly

By Jasmine Mohammadsali (PR)

The city’s health centers received its level 1 accreditation as an adolescent-friendly health facility, the City Health Office announced Monday, August 13.

According to City Health Office OIC Dr. Dulce Miravite, all 16 main health centers in the city have been awarded as Adolescent-Friendly Health Facility – Level I. The centers are currently working to earn the next accreditation levels.

Per World Health Organization (WHO) standards, adolescent-friendly health centers are facilities that implement measures making it easier for adolescents to obtain the health services they need to protect and improve their health and well-being. These services include sexual and reproductive health services.

The certified health centers were presented with Certificates of Adolescent Friendly Health Facility during the Monday morning flag ceremonies. Presenting the certificates were City Administrator Apple Go and Dr. Miravite.

In line with adolescent health and in celebration of the Adolescent Immunization Month, Miravite reported that the school-based immunization for adolescents on all government public schools officially began on August 13.

Aside from Adolescent Immunization Month, the heath office is also gearing up for its August health calendar and advocacies for the Lung Month celebration and the Family Planning Services at the CHO for the National Family Planning Month.

In support of Breastfeeding Month, the CHO will spearhead the synchronized breastfeeding of 100 mothers on August 23, and a Breastfeeding Summit on August 27.

Meanwhile, the Zamboanga City Blood Council will recognize the Bloodiest Barangay, an award given to barangays with the highest number of units of blood donated, on August 23.

DOLE provides employment to 467 Zamboanga indigents

By Teofilo Garcia, Jr (PNA)

ZAMBOANGA CITY -- The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has employed 467 individuals through the agency’s “Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced workers (TUPAD)” in this city.

The beneficiaries, who started working on Monday, are residents of different barangays in the first district of this city.

TUPAD is a temporary employment program of the DOLE, wherein the beneficiaries are employed for a period of 15 days with a daily salary of PHP296.

First district Rep. Celso Lobregat, who initiated the program, said the temporary employment aims to help alleviate the plight of the beneficiaries, who have been identified as living below the poverty line.

On Sunday, the beneficiaries underwent orientation in batches conducted by DOLE personnel and Lobregat’s office.

The first batch consisted of 303 beneficiaries, who have undergone orientation in the morning at the Zamboanga City State Polytechnic College gymnasium. The remaining 164, who consisted the second batch, underwent an orientation in the afternoon at the Ayala National High School covered court.

“This livelihood program is very relevant and beneficial to its recipients. This is why I am trying to procure more funds from DOLE to augment the number of recipients which can benefit the unemployed constituents of the city,” Lobregat said.

The lawmaker said he asked DOLE to increase the fund allocation for the program “so that more indigent residents and to included families displaced by fire can avail of such laudable government program.”

NEA to take over Zamcelco

(SunStar Philippines)

THE National Electrification Administration (NEA) will soon take over the operations of debt-ridden Zamboanga City Electric Cooperative (Zamcelco) to ensure that services would not be disrupted.

“Definitely, we will take over — partial temporary operation and management takeover,” NEA administrator Edgardo Masongsong said.

He said they will look into the cooperative’s systems loss and collection efficiency as well as allegations of corruption against its officials.

Zamcelco has 23 percent systems loss, which is way above the allowable 13 percent set by NEA. For every percentage point, the cooperative loses P3 million.

Zamcelco general manager Edgardo Ancheta disclosed that the cooperative has a total standing debt of P2.1 billion, including a loan secured from the NEA.

Masongsong said a memorandum on NEA’s takeover is being finalized.

He said they will ask the organization of electric cooperatives for assistance in managing the affairs of Zamcelco.

An Energy Summit on August 10 to discuss the problems besetting Zamcelco was initiated by First District Representative Celso Lobregat.

During the summit, Masongsong was asked to provide technical and administrative assistance to the cooperative.

The cooperative has 128,299 member-consumers as of July 2018.

DOLE to conduct usapang 2P's

By R.G. Antonet A. Go

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Regional Tripartite Wage and Productivity Board (RTWPB) will conduct its usapang 2P's or Productivity at Pasahod for the employers and employees next week in Region 9.

The activity will focus on disseminating information about Wage Order 20, a directive passed last July 30 which provides the new minimum wage for workers in Region 9.

Joel M. Ijirani, RTWPB secretary, said that the activity will also focus on how workers can be productive.

The activity will be conducted in the cities of Ipil, Pagadian, Dipolog, and Zamboanga.

"For the employers we hope you consider the plight of our workers by paying them the just wage. For the workers tiene sila responsibilidad ase bueno el serbisyo y el produkto debe de kalidad. " Ijirani said.

The office is expecting more or less 100 participants during the activity.

Wage Order 20 became effective on July 30, 2018.

The new wage order states that for non agricultural employing more than 30 workers the minimun wage is P316 while for agricultural employing not more than 30 workers the new wage is P303.

Local traders present 191 designs to DTI

By R.G. A A. Go

Four designers have presented 191 prototype designs to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) yesterday at a local hotel located in this city.

Of the 191 designs, 107 were food items while 84 were non food items.

DTI officials headed by regional operations group assistant secretary Demphna Du-Naga and DTI regional director Sitti Amina Jain critiqued the designs and advised the designers on how they can improve their work.

Some of the presented items included furniture items, souvenir items, dishwashing liquid, fabric, juice, and food items such as peanuts, sardines, and others.

These products came from Zamboanga City, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, and Zamboanga Sibugay.

"Im so happy nakita kong ganito, masyadong creative ang ganda ng produkto. Ang laki ng kaibahan," Naga said.

These products will be further improved in preparation for the Zamboanga Peninsula Exposition 2018 scheduled on October.

NEA sets energy summit in Zamboanga City

  • Source: www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1044343
  • Friday, August 10, 2018 1:17 am
By Teofilo Garcia, Jr (PNA)

ZAMBOANGA CITY -- The National Electrification Administration (NEA) will conduct an Energy Summit on Friday, August 10, to address the problems besetting the Zamboanga City Electric Cooperative (Zamcelco).

Initiated by first district Rep. Celso Lobregat, the summit will be spearheaded by no less than NEA Administrator Edgardo Masongsong. It will be held at the auditorium of Zamcelco.

Lobregat said among the problems besetting Zamcelco include administrative, operations, and financial aspects, which according to the lawmaker “needs to be resolved before everything is too late.”

Lobregat said he has invited all stakeholders and local officials who have concerns with Zamcelco and NEA to attend the forum.

He said the issues about the proposed NEA take-over to the Zamcelco, the standing debts of the coop, the systems loss issue, the status of loans and to include the pending Investment Management Contract (IMC) will also be discussed during the summit.

Lobregat said he visited Masongsong last week and requested the NEA official to the forum, and for the agency to provide the necessary technical and administrative assistance to Zamcelco.

He also asked Masongsong to facilitate a “win-win solution” to manage and operate Zamcelco for it to be able to sustain its services to the member-consumers.

City gov’t sets Chavacano music competition

By Bong Garcia (SunStar Philippines)

THE Zamboanga City Government announced that Chavacano music enthusiasts and musicians have until Friday, August 10, to submit demos of their music to be considered for the Hermosa Festival’s Chavacano music competition.

Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar said the Original Chavacano Video Music Festival 2018 will have three competition categories for song composition, performance, and music video based on the guidelines of the competition.

Salazar said the competing entries must adhere to the music festival’s theme for this year, “Happy, Upbeat, Feel Good Music.”

The mayor said that a total 15 entries will be accepted for the competition.

She said that only entries whose submissions have complete requirements and comply with the competition guidelines will be considered by the organizers.

Interested participants must submit all requirements, including a demo and lyrics, on or before August 10.

Salazar said that for the song composition competition, a pre-judging will be held on August 17 to determine the finalists eligible for the competition.

She added that entries under this category will be judged for lyrics (content, idea and meaning, language and choice of words) and music (melody and accompaniment).

City-owned school opens in Zamboanga

By Bong Garcia (SunStar Philippines)

ZAMBOANGA City Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar is calling on the out-of-school youth (OSY), especially those in the far-flung villages, to take advantage of the free education at the newly established Colegio de la Ciudad de Zamboanga.

Salazar said the city government will be enhancing the opportunity for career development of the young people “so that we will be able to match the employment opportunities with the courses offered by the Colegio de la Ciudad de Zamboanga.

The Colegio de la Ciudad de Zamboanga merges the Ayala Technical-Vocational School and the Vitali Technical-Vocational School into one college with Dr. Jose Genaro Yap-Aizon as the college president.

“We will review the course offering subject to the capability of the faculty,” Salazar said, stressing that the primary objective of the city-run college is to provide the OSY with free but quality technical education.

Education is one of Salazar administration’s priority thrusts under the Security, Health, Education Program.

IPOPHL opens satellite office in Zamboanga City

By Teofilo Garcia, Jr (PNA)

ZAMBOANGA CITY -- The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) on last Friday opened its satellite office here, the agency’s fourth office in Mindanao and the 13th in the country.

IPOPHL Director General Josephine Santiago said the Intellectual Property Satellite Office (IPSO) aims to expand its presence and reach more businesses and individuals in the region who are keen to register their intellectual property.

“We have opened this fourth satellite office in the region because we have seen that the area is so promising, particularly in the service of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and other products and services,” Santiago said in a press conference.

Santiago said they have seen micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) increasingly becoming responsive to the call to protect their trademarks, and gain a competitive edge in businesses.

“Gradually, they’ve been recognizing the significance and value trademark brings them in the cutthroat environment in the marketplace,” she said.

“This growing awareness explains the multi-year growth in intellectual property filings from satellite offices. IPSO filings have been on a growth path since 2013. With our continued expansion in the farthest areas of the Philippines, we expect this trajectory to remain on an uptrend,” Santiago added.

She said the IPOPHL saw an average annual growth of 14 percent in IP filings outside Metro Manila from 2013 to 2017, based on data from the Intellectual Property Field Operations Unit of the agency.

Trademark applications have consistently taken up the bulk of the filings in the same period, she added.

Last year, Santiago said it took up 60 percent of all IP filings from the 11 satellite offices, boosted by IPOPHL’s “Juana Make a Mark program.”

Santiago said that in Mindanao, the top three goods that MSMEs have applied for trademarks were local pastries, delicacies, coffee, tea and sugar; local food outlets and kiosks; and processed food from fruits and vegetables indigenous to the areas.

Dr. Sitti Amina Jain, Department of Trade and Industry 9 (Zamboanga) director, said 19 trademark applications were submitted this year to the IPOPHL through her office. Of the 19, nine trademark applications submitted by MSMEs have been approved.

Santiago said the "Juana Make a Mark" program is a trademark registration incentive program that allows the first 1,000 eligible MSMEs to apply to have their trademarks registered at a reduced cost.

She said trademarks are expected to lead the growth of IP filings, and more MSMEs, especially in newly-opened satellite offices may benefit from the incentive program.

GAD sponsors PWD biz mgt skills training

(GAD PR)

In celebration of the National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation, persons with disabilities (PWDs) in the City have been trained in Basic Business Management Skills to help them manage their businesses well.

About 90 participants made up of persons who are physically challenged, mute and hearing impaired and who are into various types of trade benefitted from the day-long skills training.

The Gender and Development Unit of the Office of the City Mayor in coordination with the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) facilitated the training, with aim of equipping the beneficiaries with practical tools in business management that would help them to take control of their activities and also manage their funds efficiently.

The facilitator urged the beneficiaries not to see their disability as a misfortune and advised them to go the extra mile to achieve their goals. “To be physically challenged is not inability,” and entreated them to utilize the knowledge they had acquired to improve their businesses to be self-reliant.

‘Once Islas’ in Zambo a big hit

(PR)

Almost a month after its soft opening to the public, locals as well as domestic and foreign tourists have been flooding the newly-opened tourist destination in Zamboanga City.

As of this report, a total of 810 guests were recorded by the Once Islas reception unit. These guests have enjoyed a day tour and cruise of the islands of the Baung-Baung, Buh-Buh, Bisaya-Bisaya, and Sirommon, the four islands identified in the approved Once Islas ordinance that shall be open for eco-cultural tourism purposes.

The carrying capacity of the islands is limited to 200 guests a day. This is the reason why a prior booking should be made at the City Tourism Office. The carrying capacity of 200 guests per day is designed to ensure that the habitat or state of the environment of the islands shall remain intact, unaltered, preserved, and protected as a practice of responsible and sustainable tourism development.

The Once Islas are located at the eastern part of the city having its terminal located at Barangay Panubigan. A day tour of the said eco-cultural tourism destinations shall give guests access to swimming, snorkeling, diving, island cruising, kayaking, and trekking. The Once Islas are now considered as one of the prime ecotourism destinations in the Zamboanga Peninsula Region with its pristine waters, fine white sand, and majestic rock formations.

For reservations and bookings visit the City Tourism Office at Paseo del Mar,Barangay Zone IV, or call at telephone no: 062-9756341, or send a message in any of the following social media accounts:

Gmail - tourism.zambo@gmail.com

Yahoo - asiaslatincitytourism@yahoo.com

FB - fb.com/ciudad.zamboangafull

Twitter - @zamboanga226

IG - @ciudad.zamboanga

City completes PPP workshop

(Investment Promotions PR)

The city government joined the one and a half-day workshop on public private partnership (PPP) spearheaded by the PPP Center on Wednesday, August 1.

The Orientation on Public Private Partnership (PPP) Concepts and Processes for the City Government of Zamboanga covered the topics of Build Operate Transfer (BOT) law, the definition, salient points, and processes of joint venture, and the roles of local PPP for the People (P4).

This, as the city government eyes six potential P4 projects which include the upgrade of the City Abattoir, Sta. Cruz Commercial Complex, Integrated Bus Terminal (Lease of Lot), Main Process Outsourcing (BPO) Hub at the former Zamboanga Convention Center in Pasonanca, and Waste to Energy project.

Members of the Local P4 Selection Committee, Regulatory Authority, and Technical Working Group along with representatives from the private sector were the participants of the workshop, with City Administrator concurrent Local Economic Investment Promotion Officer (LEIPO) Marie Angelique C. Go presiding.

Also in attendance were councilors Rommel Agan, Al-Jihan Edding, Joselito Macrohon, and Benjamin Guingona IV, and representatives from the city departments.

The private sector representatives were from the Zamboanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation Inc., Southern Philippine Deep Sea Fishing Association Inc.,Galleria Zamboanga, and Zamboanga Market Stall Operators Inc.

City hastens infra, road projects

By Jasmine Mohammadsali (PR)

Different infrastructure and road projects under the city government are currently ongoing and in various stages of implementation.

The City Engineer’s Office on Monday, July 30, reported 19 ongoing infrastructure projects amounting to P302 M.

Seven other projects, worth a combined P74 M, are with the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) for bidding.

Seven road projects are also underway. Amounting to P110 M, these include road construction and rehabilitation projects, specifically: Tetuan to Kasanyangan road, junction Falcatan to junction Atilano road in Tetuan, rehabilitation of Sta. Catalina to Kasanyangan road, rehabilitation of Sampaguita road, and rehabilitation of Tugbungan main road in LB supermarket to Tugbungan barangay hall.

“We have also six projects with the Bids and Awards Committee for other road improvements in the total amount of P36,135,000.00 which were already bidded out and soon to be implemented,” Engr. Joy Lee of the City Engineer’s Office said.

Lee also reported on the proposed evacuation center, which will be a P33.5 M undertaking of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

“It will be the DPWH who will implement that project. The proposed site was provided by the city government, and currently the DPWH is conducting soil analysis where the proposed evacuation center is to be constructed,” Lee said.

In addition to different infrastructure and road projects, the city government has also turned over five new school buildings sporting the new climate-resilient design, amounting to approximately P70 M.

The first two schools were turned over to Cabaluay National High School and Cabaluay Elementary School sometime last June, followed by Tulungatung National High School, Manicahan National High School, and the Ramon Enriquez National High School.

Considered as one of Zamboanga’s many first, the school buildings are equipped with climate change resilient features, including a rain water collectors, passive cooling systems, bigger windows, and ventilation innovations.

A total of 21 school buildings are expected to be turned over for school year 2018-2019.

City gov’t readies for Zamboanga Hermosa festival

By Bong Garcia (SunStar Philippines)

THE Zamboanga City Government on Thursday, August 2, 2018, announced that the registration for activities under the Zamboanga Hermosa Festival 2018 calendar is now underway.

The activities and competition for the festival this October will include the following: “Arco” competition, dance sport, and the street dance competition.

Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar said the deadline for submission of entries will be September 18.

Salazar said interested parties may contact the Special Events Team at the Public Information Office division through telephone numbers 990-1356.

She said the inter-barangay Arco competition is open to all barangays and entries showcase the best attributes of the respective barangays, including products, culture, tourist spots, legends, and symbols.

The dance sport competition will have four categories--interschool elementary, interschool secondary, interschool tertiary, and the open category.

The street dance competition will have four categories will be opened for the competition – the Hermosa-based elementary, high school and college, and open category, and the regional open category.

OCD-9 bares Gawad Kalasag 2017 winners

By R. G. Antonet Go (PNA)

ZAMBOANGA CITY -- The Office of Civil Defense-9 (OCD-9) on Tuesday announced the winners of the 2017 Gawad Kalasag Award in a ceremony held in one of the hotels in this city.

Emilia Vasquez-Julhajan, OCD-9 assistant regional director, said the winners for the best province category are: Zamboanga del Norte, first prize; and, Zamboanga del Sur, second prize. Kalasag stands for Kalamidad at Sakuna Labanan Sariling Galing ang Kaligtasan.

Zamboanga City is the winner for the highly-urbanized city category while Dapitan City and Isabela City won the first and second prizes, respectively.

The first to third class municipality category winners are: Bayog, Zamboanga del Sur, first; Diplahan, Zamboanga Sibugay, second; Siay, Zamboanga Sibugay, third; and, Molave, Zamboanga del Sur, fourth.

Piñan, Zamboanga del Norte is the lone winner for the best fourth to sixth class municipality category.

The winners for the best higher education institutions are: Pilar College, first; and, Universidad de Zamboanga, second. The best Civil society organization winner is the Southwestern Action for Emergency.

Julhajan said the winners received plaques and cash prizes--PHP50,000, first; PHP30,000 second; and, PHP20,000, third.

Julhajan said the first prize winners in the different categories will represent the region in the National Search for Gawad Kalasag. She said the cash prizes will be used for disaster risk reduction management projects.

The Gawad Kalasag is an annual search for excellence in disaster risk reduction management (DRRM) and designed to encourage the participation of various stakeholders in crafting and implementing DRRM related policies, strategies and programs to protect or shield the hazard prone communities from the adverse impact of natural and human induced calamities.

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