Zamboanga City News February 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.

NSO launches ‘Juan-Stop; Juan-Click’ center in Zamboanga City

(PNA), LAM/TPGARCIA/EBP

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Feb. 28 (PNA) -- The National Statistics Office (NSO) has launched a “Juan-Stop; Juan-Click” public information center in this southern port city.

NSO Regional Director Ronaldo Taghap said the center, which was launched Wednesday, will greatly help the public in transacting with the agency.

The center offers services on civil registration, civil registration library and resource center, civil registration on-line service, civil registration publication and bookshop, among others.

Taghap said the center will provide the public all the needed information as many usually come to ask for assistance especially on civil registration.

Technical services will also be provided by the center through seminars to those who need NSO’s assistance, he said.

Zambo police receive 30 motorcycles from city gov’t

(PNA), FFC/TPG/ABB

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Feb. 27 (PNA) -- Mayor Celso Lobregat has turned over to the Zamboanga City Police Office (ZCPO) the city government’s donation of 30 units of motorcycles worth to P2.070 million.

The turn over ceremony was held after the commemorative program marking the 76th Dia de Zamboanga (Charter Day) Tuesday afternoon at the Joaquin F. Enriquez Memorial Sports Complex, this city.

Lobregat handed over the motorcycles to Police Regional Office-9 (PRO-9) director Chief Supt. Juanito Vaño who in turn handed over the keys to ZCPO officer-in-charge Senior Supt. Edwin de Ocampo.

Witnessing the turn over were Aurora Rep. Juan Edgardo Angara, the keynote speaker of the Charter Day celebration, House Deputy Speaker and District I Rep. Ma. Isabelle Climaco-Salazar, District II Rep. Erico Basilio Fabian and other city government officials.

Lobregat said the donation of 30 brand new motorcycles costing P69,000 each is part of the continuing assistance the city government has been extending to the ZCPO for peace and order operations.

Lobregat said the city has been constructing police stations in the growth barangays, donated computers, communications equipment, pump boats for sea patrols, firearms with ammunitions and other administrative support like gasoline allowance and monthly cash incentives.

For his part, Angara could not help but admire Lobregat’s efforts in helping the local police and recalled that during his last visit to this city late last year he also witnessed the turned over of 4x4 pickup vehicles to the barangays in front of City Hall.

Angara was in this city Tuesday as keynote speaker of the 76th Dia de Zamboanga program.

Zambo folks celebrate 76th Dia de Ciudad

By Sheila Covarrubias

Zamboanga City today celebrates a triumphant milestone marking the day when the first set of appointed officials of the city were formally installed into office 77 years ago.

Aurora Congressman Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara will be the City’s honoured guest during a commemorative program that will be highlighted by the competicion de selyo or seal competition participated by various schools and government and private agencies.

Cong. Angara is scheduled to arrive in the city this morning from Manila and will be met by Mayor Celso Lobregat and other city officials at the local airport. He will be having a number of engagements together with the mayor before proceeding to the Baliwasan grandstand for the Dia de Zamboanga activities.

The 76th Dia de Zamboanga celebration today kicks off at 1pm with a parade from the City Hall premises to the Joaquin Enriquez Memorial Sports Complex where the seal competition participated by government and private groups will be held.

The activities will culminate with a commemorative program where Cong. Angara will address Zamboangueños at 3pm, also at the Baliwasan grandstand.

The Dia de Zamboanga activities initially reeled off February 9 with the Dia Roseller Lim. The cheer dance and hip hop competitions were held Feb. 22 and the highly successful 2013 Zamboanga International Film Festival was held from Feb. 22-23 with the partnership of the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) and the City Government.

Today is a non-working holiday in Zamboanga per declaration by Malacañang.

City fetes Zamboangueño achievers

By Sheila Covarrubias

The City Government tonight pays tribute to Zamboangueños who have excelled in various fields of endeavors highlighting the eve of the celebration of the 76th Dia de la Ciudad de Zamboanga.

Dubbed as Local Achievers, the awardees will be feted in a program to be held at the Centro Latino in Paseo del Mar with Mayor Celso Lobregat leading the tribute.

This year’s local achievers were selected among numerous nominees based on criteria set by the City Government.

The awards will include the Top Local Corporate Taxpayer, an honor bestowed on a corporation for paying highest tax locally thus directly benefiting the city of Zamboanga and the Top Local Individual Taxpayer, an honor bestowed on an individual for paying the highest tax locally thus directly benefiting the city of Zamboanga.

The other awards will be the conferred on the individuals with top achievements in Sports, culture and arts, public service, City Government service, community service award, investment promotion award, tourism oriented establishment award and the Orgullo de Zamboanga Premiar Award (Mayor’s Award) which is bestowed on an individual in recognition of his or her significant and meritorious contributions to the City.

Names of the awardees will be announced during the awarding rites set at 7 tonight.

Meanwhile, the Dia de Zamboanga celebration tomorrow marks the installation of the first set of city officials in 1937. Tomorrow will be a non-working holiday in Zamboanga per declaration from Malacanang.

Tomorrow’s activities will kick off with the grand parade at pm from NS Valderoza Street to the Joaquin Enriquez Memorial Sports Complex where the commemorative program will follow at 3pm with Aurora Congressman Juan Edgardo Angara as guest of honor and speaker.

The program will be highlighted by the competicion del sello de Zamboanga to be participated by various private groups and government agencies.

Other events that will be held coinciding with the Dia de Zamboanga are the convention of the League of Sanitation Inspectors of the Philippines, Inc. from Feb. 26-March 1 and the Chabacano choral competition at the WMSU gym, Feb. 26 at 1pm.

The Dia de Zamboanga celebration kicked off Feb. 9 with the commemoration of Dia de Senador Roseller T. Lim, the first and only Zamboangueno senator. Other activities that were held leading up to the Dia de Zamboanga are the cheer dance and hip hop competitions last Feb. 21 at the City Coliseum, Sineng Pambansa Zamboanga International Film Festival 2013 from Feb. 22-23 at Mindro cinemas 1 and 3 and several others.

Malunggay from Zambo finds market in China

(PNA), LAM/FMS/EBP

Did you know that the lowly malunggay now joins the ranks of Region 9’s export products? Yes Matilda. Our locally grown malunggay now finds a market in China as an ingredient for pet foods.

A local businessman discovered that there is a demand for the product in China and started to ship malunggay chips processed from the leaves, pods, branches, and even trunks of the plant.He revealed that the malunggay chips are being further processed or milled into pet food by a feed miller in China.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) through its Zamboanga City Field Office assisted the fledgling company in registering its business and in export document facilitation.

The DTI also mulls on helping the company in mechanizing its operations because right now the chips are being produced mano-mano (manually). It will also help the company in sourcing raw materials as well as find financing to enable it to increase production.

Malunggay, scientifically known as Moringaoleifera is sometimes called the miracle tree because of the diverse benefits one gets from the plant – from the leaves down to the roots.

The leaves and pods are said to be power-packed with nutritional value, containing more vitamins and minerals gram for gram compared with most other fruits and vegetables.

The DTI said that it hopes the export products derived from maluggay will eventually diversify from the present form as pet food ingredient to move up the value chain, such as into malunggay-based nutritional supplements, as food fortificant, as source of biofuel, and even as an organic water purifier.

Zamboanga City to host 9th Bird Festival in October

(PNA), LAM/FMS/EBP

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Feb. 22 (PNA) -- The city government will host this year’s 9th Bird Festival in October, a gathering of bird lovers from all over the country and the world.

Department of Tourism (DOT) Regional Director Mary Jane Bugante said officials of the Wild Bird Club of the Philippines arrived last week to assess the city’s capability to host the festival last held at the Teodoro F. Valencia Circle in Rizal Park here last December.

The festival opened to the public exhibits of bird photos, the biodiversity of Manila Bay, films and lectures, bird watching trips, and fora on eco-tourism, birdlife management, and aviation safety.

Last years theme for the 8th Bird Festival was “Birdwatching. It’s More Fun in the Philippines” and highlighted the little egret, a common migrant that congregates in the coastal lagoons of the southern coast of Metro Manila.

Bugante said the 9th Bird Festival will bring to the city bird watchers and enthusiasts from Singapore, India, Europe, Malaysia, and Japan, among others.

She said the city is home to several endemic bird species common only in Zamboanga including millions of swallows which converge in the heart of the city during late afternoon and fly away at break of dawn.

The city also maintains an aviary at the Pasonanca Park some four kilometers away from city hall.

Bugante said the activity will help market and promote what the city offers.

U.S. builds P12.3-M police training facility in Zamboanga City

(PNA), LAM/TPGARCIA/EBP

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Feb. 21 (PNA) -- United States Ambassador Harry Thomas and Philippine Public Safety College (PPSC) president Ruben Platon led the inauguration Wednesday of a P12.3-million training facility in this southern port city.

The training facility was constructed on the grounds of the Philippine Public Safety College (PPSC) Regional Training Center-9 in Barangay Pasonanca, north of this city.

The facility will benefit the police units from Zamboanga and Sulu through training to include courses on community-oriented policing, human rights, ethics, leadership, and police forensics.

The training will be provided by the U.S. Department of Justice, through its International Criminal Investigative Training Assistant Program (ICITAP).

The construction of the facility, which was completed last month, was funded by the U.S. Joint Inter-Agency Task Force-West (JIATF-West).


Zamboanga business chamber, Israel counterpart discuss trade, investments

(Mindanao Examiner)

ZAMBOANGA CITY (Mindanao Examiner / Feb. 20, 2013) – The president of the local business chamber Pocholo Soliven has met with top Israeli business investors and government officials and discussed trade opportunities for Zamboanga City.

Soliven, of the Zamboanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation, Inc., met with the 14-member Israel business delegation headed by Ran Cohen, president of the Israel Asia Chamber of Commerce, at the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Taguig City.

Cohen was accompanied by Menashe Bar-On, the Israel Ambassador to the Philippines, and Generoso D.G. Calonge, the Philippine Ambassador to Israel, including Doron Hemo, the Israel Trade attaché, among other officials.

PCCI president, lawyer Miguel Varela and Oscar De Venecia, the co-chairman of the PCCI International and Trade Affairs, welcomed the Israeli visitors.

Mario Oreta, the president of Alpha Land Development, also gave a business overview of the Philippines as the rising economic power in Asia with Filipino Honorary Consul to Jerusalem Shimon Weinbaum.

Soliven, a well-respected business leader in Mindanao, underscored the strategic location of Zamboanga City as the "Front Door" to the Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore economic growth corridor. The area will serve as a vital link once the ASEAN integration is realized on 2015.

Members of the Israel business delegation come from diverse sectors and are looking for investment opportunities in Zamboanga City and areas outside Metro Manila, Cebu and Palawan.

Soliven said Zamboanga was the only city which made a pitch to lure Israel investors into putting up trade and commerce, and as an investment hub in Southeast Asia. Israel’s business interests include Homeland Security and Smart House Technology, Water Treatment and Desalination, Seed and Agri Technology, Tourism and Real Estate Development.

President Aquino declares February 26 as special non-working day in Zamboanga City, its 76th Charter Day

(PNA), DS/PCOO/SSC

MANILA, Feb. 19 (PNA) -- President Benigno S. Aquino III has declared February 26, which falls on a Tuesday, as a special (non-working) day in the city of Zamboanga, in celebration of its 76th Charter Day anniversary or "Dia de la Ciudad de Zamboanga”.

The Chief Executive issued the declaration through Proclamation No. 544 signed by Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. on February 6 to give the people of Zamboanga City the full opportunity to celebrate and participate in the occasion with appropriate ceremonies.

Zamboanga City became a chartered city in 1937 by virtue of Commonwealth Act. No. 39, when the Philippines was still ruled by a Commonwealth Government under then-President Manuel L. Quezon.

For the second year, the City Government will co-sponsor with the Film Development Council of the Philippines, the 2nd Zamboanga International Film Festival.

The festival gives young and old Zamboangueños the opportunity to screen Filipino and international indie films at the Mindpro Cinema.The Red Carpet Night will be at 7 p.m. at the Centro Latino Hall at the Paseo del Mar on February 23.

The city government has also lined-up several activities for the celebration of “Dia de la Ciudad de Zamboanga, including street dancing, a cultural dance festival and a regatta.

‘Dia de Zamboanga’ fete heats up

By Sheila Covarrubias

The City Coliseum in Tetuan will be the center of activities on Thursday, February 21, as the City Government holds the 11th Cheer Dance Competition in celebration of the 76th Dia de la Ciudad de Zamboanga.

Various high school and college quads, which submitted their entry forms with the City Tourism Office last week, will battle it out for the title during the 2-hour competition. Huge cash prizes are at stake for the winners.

On Friday, February 22, will be the start of the two-day 2nd International Film Festival, a free exhibit of short Filipino and international films at the Mindpro Cinema. Screening will start at 9am from Feb. 22-23.

The Red Carpet Night will be at 7pm at Centro Latino Hall at Paseo del Mar on Feb. 23.

The film festival is a project of the Film Development Council of the Philippines in partnership with the City Government and is intended to create a platform to showcase great short films and as importantly, to promote and stimulate local film making.

Highlight of the international film festival event will be the Cine Chabacano short film competition.

February 23- 24, meanwhile, will be the Zamboanga Food Festival that will feature native delicacies and cuisines at the Plaza del Pilar. It will start from 5pm onwards.

The Achievers’ Night which fetes hardworking and successful Zamboangueños will be held February 25, the eve of Dia de Zamboanga, at the Centro Latino in Paseo del Mar at 7pm.

The Dia de Zamboanga celebration on February 26 will kick off at 1pm with the grand parade to be participated by all sectors from N.S. Valderoza St. to the Joaquin Enriquez Memorial sports Complex in Baliwasan.

The commemorative program highlighted by the drum and lyre competition with high school participants and the competicion del Sello de Zamboanga will follow at 3PM.

Aurora Congressman Juan Edgardo Angara will be the keynote speaker and guest during the main program on February 26, which has been declared a special non-working day in Zamboanga City.

Dia de Zamboanga marks the day when the first set of city officials led by appointed Mayor Nicasio Valderoza were installed into office, 76 years ago.

City allocates P28M to buy 4 firetrucks

(TPG)

The city government has earmarked P28 million for Zamboanga City Fire District (ZCFD) of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) for the purchase of four units of fire trucks.

ZCFD fire marshall Supt. Dominador Zabala, Jr. said the acquisition of four fire trucks would increase their present fire fighting capability.

Under Zabala’s command are seven fire stations, which also maintain seven sub-stations covering 90 mainland barangays.

Zabala said the four new units will be distributed to fire stations that needed most new firefight equipment.

Among the fire stations that need new fire trucks are those in the far-flung Barangay Labuan, west of this city, and Barangays Sangali and Curuan, both east of this city.

Zabala is thankful for the support the ZCFD is receiving from the city government.

Visiting coop leaders find Zambo peaceful

By Vic Larato

A number of cooperative development officers from the different provinces nationwide arrived in Zamboanga yesterday and found the city peaceful, contrary to what they used to hear on television newscasts or read in the dailies.

“Hindi magulo sa Zamboanga. In fact, it’s more fun to be in Zamboanga,” Cely Atienza, president of the National Cooperative Development Officers of the Philippines, declared when asked why they chose Zamboanga City to host the national cooperative development convention in October this year.

The cooperative development officers are here in Zamboanga form the 6th National Tripartite Conference in preparation for the national convention slated for Oct. 9-11, which will jibe with this year’s Zamboanga Hermosa Festival.

The group paid a courtesy call on Mayor Celso Lobregat in City Hall yesterday morning, during which the chief executive briefed the visitors on the tourism and economic potentials of Zamboanga, and some issues affecting the city’s image.

Atienza shared the mayor’s views that when something happens in Zamboanga City it is unfairly magnified that would scare people from mother parts of the country to come.

For her part, Lilia Ko, provincial cooperative development officer of Benguet, said before coming to Zamboanga she was a bit scared.

“I’ve been hearing and reading in newspapers na ang Zamboanga ay napaka-gulo. Pero nung dumating po ako, I have proven na hindi pala totoo,” Ko said. “Zamboanga City ay safe. Kung may mangyari na hindi maganda yun ay hindi kagustuhan,” she added.

Coordinating the tripartite conference was Councilor Myra Paz Valderrosa-Abubakar together with Councilor Percival Ramos.

Public urged to use rechargeable lights

By R.G. Antonet Go

The Bureau of Fire Protection IX (BFP), Zamboanga City Fire District (ZCFD), District Fire Marshall has urged the public to use rechargeable lights instead of candles to avoid fire incidents especially now that the city is experiencing brownouts every now and then.

Zamboanga City Fire District, District Fire Marshall F/Supt. Dominador Zabala Jr. said during an interview that “We discourage the public to use candles because in our experience last year, many fire incidents started with unattended lighted candles due to the brownout. We are suggesting the public to use chargeable lamps and flashlights it’s safer.”

Aside from this, he also urged the public to check their electrical connection, do not overload their connection, and use the appropriate wires and connection, and these must be connected only by licensed electricians since the power is erratic come and go.

According to Zabala, the city now has a total of six fire incidents from January to present. Three fire incidents in January and as of this time three for February and still counting.

He added that when buying flashlights and chargeable lights to always look for the PS mark which means that the product passed high quality standards. Usually candles and the use of gasera are cheaper than the prices of chargeable flashlights and chargeable lights which cost hundreds of pesos.

However, in case the use of candles or “gasera” is unavoidable never leave a lighted candle or gasera unattended. The office is also advising in case of fire immediately call 117 and the acronym RACE or Rescue people in immediate danger,

Alarm sound the alarm and call the nearest fire station, Confine close all doors and damp towels under doors to prevent smoke from spreading and Extinguish a small fire with the use of appropriate fire extinguisher.

At present, the Zamboanga City Fire District has seven fire stations located in Sta. Maria, Tetuan, Ayala, Manicahan, Quiniput, Vitali, and the City Fire Station, with seven fire sub-stations Guiwan, Boalan, Sta. Catalina, Upper Calarian, Recodo, Talisayan, Mercedes.

106 couples avail of Pag-IBIG’s mass wedding in Zambo City

(PNA), PDS/TEOFILO P. GARCIA/ABB

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Feb. 14 (PNA) -- A total of 106 couples who are living together without getting married have availed of the Valentine’s Day free mass wedding in this southern port city.

The Valentine’s Day free mass wedding was sponsored by the Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF) or Pag-IBIG Fund.

Pag-IBIG regional information officer Corazon Mamauag said the activity, dubbed “I do, I do. Araw ng Pag-IBIG,” was held at the newly-inaugurated Centro Latino of the Paseo del Mar.

Among those who stood as the mass wedding’s major sponsors are Pag-IBIG regional head Cesar Bazan and Mayor Celso Lobregat, according to Mamauag.

She said the holding of the mass wedding by the agency is the brainchild of Pag-IBIG Chief Executive Officer Lawyer Darlene Marie Berberabe.

The activity, held annually, is designed to afford unmarried couples the opportunity to legitimize their marriage, she said.

The Pag-IBIG fund has provided the newly-wed couples free meals, wedding rings, gifts and giveaways.

Raffles of "kabuhayan" package worth P25,000 and house and lot package (acquired asset of Pag-IBIG Fund) worth P400,000 were also held after the mass wedding.

Malacañang declares Feb. 26 special non-working day in Zambo City

(PNA), PDS/TEOFILO P. GARCIA/ABB

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Feb. 13 (PNA) -- Malacañang has declared February 26, 2013, as a special (non-working) day in Zamboanga City in line with this city’s observance of the "76th Dia de Zamboanga" or Charter Day anniversary.

The declaration is contained in Proclamation 544 issued last February 6 and signed by Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. by authority of the President.

The issuance is based on a request made by Mayor Celso Lobregat to allow residents of this city to fittingly observe the "Dia de Zamboanga" which marks the day when the first set of city officials led by then Mayor Nicasio Valderoza was installed into office.

“It is but fitting and proper that the people of the City of Zamboanga be given full opportunity to celebrate and participate in the occasion with appropriate ceremonies,” Proclamation 544 stated.

The city government has lined up various activities to celebrate the "Dia de Zamboanga" which will be keynoted by Aurora Rep. Juan Edgardo Angara.

The Dia de Zamboanga celebration kicked off February 9 with the commemoration of Dia di Senador Roseller T. Lim in honor of the first and only Zamboangueño senator.

Tourism Stakeholders Summit concluded in Zamboanga City

By Alma L. Tingcang (FPG/ALT/DOT9/PIA9)

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Feb. 12 -- Sixty-two private sector representatives from hotels, restaurants, travel agencies and schools attended the Tourism Stakeholders Summit on February 6, at Garden Orchid Hotel to work hand-in-hand with the Department of Tourism (DOT) and other government agencies to fulfil the tourism plans of Zamboanga Peninsula region.

“Tourism is everybody’s business”, said Ms. Mary June Bugante, Regional Director of DOT-9, who talked on current tourism trends that served as useful information for the stakeholders to improve the quality of their services.

DOT’s 2011-2016 National Tourism Development Plan (NTDP) was introduced by Ms. Marilou Silorio, Senior Tourism Operations Officer of DOT-R9, which emphasized DOT’s vision to make the Philippines a ‘must experience and more fun destination in Asia’. She also discussed current tourism issues and concerns of the city and posed possible solutions, proposing partnerships with the private sector.

Ms. Mary Ann Montemayor, Vice President for Mindanao Tourism Congress, who was the guest speaker of the summit said that “Zamboanga is important since it is a vital and integral part of tourism in Mindanao”. She inspired the stakeholders to play a vital role in the tourism goals of DOT.

Accompanying Ms. Montemayor were DOT Region XI Director Art Boncato, Mr. Jason Magnaye, Davao City’s Tourism Officer, and Ms. Jean Banggayon, Co-Chair of DUAW Davao Foundation, who joined her to invite local stakeholders to the Meetings, Incentive Travel, Conventions, Exhibitions and Events Conference (MICECOn) 2013 on March 6-10 at SMX Convention Center, Davao City.

RD Art Boncato also shared the background of DOT’s “It’s More Fun in the Philippines” campaign that was launched online through social media sites with the goal to promote the Philippines as a premier tourist destination in Asia. He stressed that it is the role of tourism stakeholders to market and elevate the positive side of the country.

Stakeholder participants also voiced out their concerns regarding tourism development in the region. DOT-R9 will be conducting more projects in the coming months that will address concerns discussed and further promote and develop Zamboanga Peninsula as a premier tourist destination.

Bangko Sentral adopts "Clean Note Policy" in Zamboanga

(PNA), LAM/PTR/FMS/ABB

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Feb. 11 (PNA) –- The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is calling on the public to exchange their old, torn or overused peso bills for new ones as part of the bank's "Clean Note Policy" this year.

BSP Regional Manager Melodino Patinio said the public can exchange their old notes in any of the 57 banks in the city or at their regional office at Pettit Barracks near Fort Pilar and Paseo del Mar.

The Clean Note Policy aims to remove old notes from circulation.

He said the BSP is collecting all these old notes from the local banks, exchanging them for new and crisp ones for public use.

Old and torn peso notes will not leave a "good impression" on tourists visiting the city, he added.

He said the public should not wait for establishments to refuse torn, old, and disfigured notes but should exchange these for new notes.

"Besides, the replacement of these old notes is free of charge," the bank official said.


Zambo Chamber hails ERC final deal between Zamcelco, TMI

(Daily Zamboanga Times)

The Zamboanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation, Inc. (ZCCIFI), together with the Industrial Group of Zamboanga Inc. (IGZI), Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) and other business organizations have again successfully helped through intervention in lowering the cost impact of electricity bill for

Zamboanga City’s consumers after the Energy Regulatory Board (ERC) directed and ordered last November 26, 2012 the Therma Marine, Inc. (TMI) and Zamcelco to come up with a scheme for the refund of the difference between the final and the provisionally approved rates starting from the implementation of the provisional authority until the effectivity of the final rates approved.

To recall, ERC gave Zamcelco a provisional authority to charge and collect from the consumers for the 18MW which the cooperative started buying from the TMI. In the provisional authority, the applied rate was based on the power sales agreement (PSA) which was quite high.

In this ERC decision, the balance or difference from the provisional authority rate and the final ERC approved rate has to be returned to the consumers, of which Zamcelco must come up with a method or scheme on how to pay the consumers back since what was collected was excessive.

The decision on ERC Case# 2012-039 RC in the matter of the application for the approval of the energy supply agreement between Zamcelco and TMI was finally approved with modification. Subject to the following conditions:

1. Applicable Rates: 2. The insurance cost under the Fixed Charged Formula shall be the difference between the actual insurance cost per year and the insurance cost included in the FOM. It shall be allocated accordingly to both the ESA and ASPA cases. 3. The Start-Up Fee shall not be allowed to be recovered and the cost applicable thereto is recoverable through the Fuel Cost Fee and O & M Fee.

The TMI is also directed to show as a separate item in its bill to Zamcelco the marketing fee, penalty on late payment, routing and security deposit and the costs, fees and other charges for inventory purposes.

Island up for bid in Zamboanga

(PNA), GHG/FMS/ABB

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Feb. 9 (PNA) -- Development of an island, best known for its pink sands and coral reefs and which remained untapped and undeveloped, is up for bid, the Zamboanga Engineer's Office has announced.

"Documents for the bidding of projects for the Santa Cruz Island to be developed as a tourist attraction are almost complete," City Engineer Luis Despalo said.

"Phase I of the project to be bidded out before the end of the month will cost some P16 million and work must start before the election ban on construction of local funded projects takes effect on March 29," Despalo said.

The project included the construction of picnic huts, site development and structures like stalls or stores for concessionaires.

The island is inhabited by about a hundred sea gypsies called Badjaos and is located just about four nautical miles from the city mainland or 20 minutes ride by motorized banca from the local port.

Normally, tourists and peddlers who frequent the island in the morning return to the mainland in the afternoon because there are no accommodation facilities where they could stay.

City government gets Seal of Good Housekeeping

By Sheila Covarrubias

The City Government has been awarded anew with the Seal of Good Housekeeping in the round 2 competition for calendar year 2011 with a corresponding prize of P3 million.

Mayor Celso Lobregat along with Vice Mayor Cesar Iturralde, Councilor Abdurahman Nuño and City Planning and Development Coordinator Engr. Rodrigo Sicat received the check from the Department of Interior and Local Government headed by Regional Director Paizal Abutazil, City Director Mohammad Arakama and Jun Cillo after the signing of a memorandum of agreement during fitting ceremonies held in City Hall yesterday afternoon.

Last year, the City also received a cash prize of P2 million after passing the Seal of Good Housekeeping-Round 1 for CY 2011, initiated by the late DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo that covers governance areas of development planning, sound financial management, transparency and accountability and valuing performance monitoring.

The P2M then was used to purchase 60 computer units that were distributed to 12 elementary and secondary schools during ceremonies graced by the late Sec. Robredo on June 5, 2012 in City Hall.

Director Abutazil said the P3 million is taken from the Performance Challenge Fund (PCF), a flagship program of the DILG that serves as a facility to help stimulate LGUs that put premium on transparency and accountability and to enable them to avail of financial support to jumpstart the sustained local socio-economic development initiatives, supportive of national government goals and priorities.

“It is an incentive fund for eligible LGUs to support in the implementation of high impact capital investment projects in the annual investment plan,” Director Abutazil stressed.

Lobregat expressed elation that the City is once again a recipient of the seal of good housekeeping testifying its support to the advocacy on transparency and accountability specifically on the city’s finances.

Zambo eyes new growth centers outside city proper

By Felino M. Santos (PNA), LAP/FMS/EBP

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Feb. 7 (PNA) -- The city government will spend an undisclosed millions of pesos to establish so called “growth centers” in the east and west coasts of the city to ease traffic flow along narrow roads in the city proper and provide centers for development and progress.

Zamboanga used to be the center of governance during the Spanish and American regimes and the early Commonwealth period, but has not progressed as fast as other cities like Davao and Cagayan, one time districts in Mindanao during the early period of the regions.

The city of Zamboanga is about 1,483.3849 square kilometers in size with a population of over 800,000 extrapolated from the August 2007 census figure of 774,407 persons. It is at the Southwestern tip of the Zamboanga peninsula facing the provinces of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi in the so-called Sulu Archipelago just 14 nautical miles away.

City Planning Officer Engr. Rodrigo Sicat said the city is hindered from expanding at its center because it is “close to the mountainous region in the peninsula.”

The city’s watershed area starts at about 10 kilometers from City hall in the barangay of Pasonanca. This prevents the city from expanding from its center toward the inner portion of its territory.

Flat lands or rice fields of old Zamboanga have been converted into residential areas. Commercial and industrial areas crowding the city into narrow roads were laid out during the old horse-drawn carriage or “calesa” days.

In the proposed program of expansion, Sicat said the city will need to open at least two access roads and develop already progressive barangays into growth centers for the city.

In the planning board is the development of Ayala and Labuan barangays in the west coast of the city.

Ayala and nearby barangays, some 20 kilometers from city hall is home to 11 sardines canneries, private ports and wharves. It is also adjacent to the San Ramon Penitentiary and Penal (agricultural) Farm as well as the nearby Zamboanga City Special Economic Zone and Free Port.

The San Ramon Power Corporation has broken grounds last Sunday, February 3 for a 100-megawatt coal fired power plant that will provide for the city’s current consumption of 83 megawatts and more.

Work on the power plants that will need over a thousand workers is expected to be completed by the year 2016.

Sicat said Ayala will serve as an industrial center while Labuan that is near the border with Zamboanga del Norte will serve as the center for agricultural trading availing of farm products in the area.

Aside from educational facilities like high schools, emergency hospitals, police stations, spacious barangay halls and multi purpose buildings, city government offices also send technicians and support personnel to attend to the needs of the barangays are already located in these two barangays.

In the East Coast of the city along the highway to Zamboanga Sibugay and other parts of the Zamboanga Peninsula and on to mainland Mindanao, the identified areas for growth center development are Sangali, Curuan and Vitali.

In addition to facilities already available in Ayala and Labuan, these three barangays have their unique characteristics and facilities for development as growth centers.

Sangali, some 30 kilometers west of the city proper is home to the first Fishing Port in Mindanao. It is also home to the 100-megawatt bunker oil fired Western Mindanao Power Plant.

Power from the Mindanao Power Grid is diverted from the Zamboanga City Electric Cooperative (Zamcelco) branch office in Sangali to the 18 different feeders in the city proper.

Curuan and Vitali barangays and nearby areas are also predominantly agricultural and could serve as the agricultural centers for Eastern Zamboanga.

The City Planning officer admitted that the two-lane road of the city proper is becoming congested and there is need to construct other access roads.

The city is already connected to other parts of Mindanao with a multi-million peso four to six-lane highways but these are not enough to handle traffic in the city proper.

ZCMS doctors attend seminar on kidnapping

By R.G. A A. Go

Members of the Zamboanga City Medical Society (ZCMS) were briefed regarding the kidnapping problem last Monday afternoon at the conference room of the City Health.

ZCMS President, Dr. John Hernani Anacan said during an interview that the seminar on kidnapping was done for the information and safety of the hundreds of doctors.

He added that “There is some fighting in Jolo, Sulu because of the release of the two kidnapped victims there’s a lot of casualties and there’s information that they will get doctors to treat their patients.”

The seminar tackled on “What to do if they find suspicious persons?”, “Proper coordination with the police and military” and other topics. The seminar was given by Police Supt. Jose Bayani Gucela and the military.

When asked about the safety of the doctors assigned at the far flung areas, Anacan replied: “Doctors were already instructed and they will coordinate with the Task Force Zamboanga or police detachment in order to note their presence.”

He explained that there are doctors assigned in far flung barangays to conduct health information drive and medical missions.

This is one of the information drive of the ZCMS for their members. There are 600 ZCMS member doctors in the entire Zamboanga Peninsula Region.

ZamPen overseas workers benefit P27M from OWWA9

By Gay Iris TS. Tangcalagan (GTT/DOLE9/PIA9/alt)

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Feb 5 (PIA) - - In its year-ender report, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration of Region 9 (OWWA-9), said it released P27,799,267.85 for the implementation of programs and services to OFW families and members in Region 9.

Beneficiaries from the cities of Zamboanga , Isabela, Basilan, Dipolog and the province of Zamboanga Sibugay availed of various programs and services offered by OWWA which include reintegration, death and burial benefit, skills employment scholarship, OFWs dependents scholarship, Balik Pinay, Balik Hanapbuhay, Education Development Scholarship Program, and the National Reintegration Center for OFWs.

OWWA – 9 also facilitated relief assistance intended for OFWs working in Syria during the time when the said country has experienced conflict.

Furthermore, sea-based members have also availed scholarship grants in short–term upgrading courses under the Seafarer’s Upgrading Program.

OWWA Regional Director Hassan Gabra Jumdain extended his gratitude to OWWA Administrator Carmelita Dimzon; Labor Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis- Baldoz to the DOLE- Regional Coordinating Committee; and OWWA Board of Trustees and its Executive Management for the untiring support given to the agency.

OWWA, an attached agency of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) aids in the promotion of interest of the Overseas Filipino Workers by providing assistance to its member OFWs.

Meanwhile, OFWs are encouraged to become OWWA members to avail of the same benefits. For more information, one can visit the OWWA-9 regional office with its new office address at 3rd Floor, Goodwill Center, Canelar, Zamboanga City.

Smuggled fuel intercepted in Zambo City

(PNA), HBC/TPG/ABB

ZAMBOANGA CITY — Combined government forces have intercepted and seized close to a million pesos worth of smuggled diesel fuel at a shipyard in this southern port city, a police official disclosed Saturday.

Police Station 9 commander Chief Insp. Edilberto Alvarez said the smuggled fuel was intercepted around 1:35 p.m. Thursday at a privately-owned shipyard in Barangay Recodo, west of this city.

Alvarez said the shipment of the smuggled fuel was uncovered after an informant tipped off the coast guard personnel based at a detachment in Barangay Cawit, west of this city.

The coast guard personnel immediately coordinated with police, Bureau of Customs (BoC) and Navy and conducted the joint operations, Alvarez said.

The smuggled diesel fuel consisting of 100 drums were intercepted aboard a wooden-hulled passenger-cargo ferry, M/L Princess Rohana, that has just arrived from Taganak, Turtle Islands municipality, Tawi-Tawi, he said.

However, he said that M/L Princess Rohana’s skipper, Edmund Dela Cruz, abandoned the ship and escaped upon sensing the arrival of the lawmen.

He said the ship is registered in Mapun, Tawi-Tawi and owned by Ammiri Asgali.

The volume of the confiscated fuel is estimated to be around 20,000 liters with an estimate market value of P883,600 at P44.18 a liter, he said.

The vessel and its cargo were turned over to the custody of the BoC, he added.

Zambo City bids out 92 infra projects

(PNA), GHG/TEOFILO P. GARCIA/PJN

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Feb. 2 (PNA) -- The city government’s Bid and Awards Committee (BAC) opened for bidding 92 infrastructure projects for implementation this year.

BAC Chairman Dr. Mario Arriola said the projects include several roads and buildings as well as other types of infrastructures worth millions or could reach billions of pesos.

One of the buildings to be constructed is the headquarters of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC) and the development of a P50 million eco-tourism park at the Great Sta. Cruz Island, Arriola said.

The city government has allocated an initial funding of P20 million to jump start the implementation of the eco-tourism park project.

Last week, Mayor Celso Lobregat spearheaded the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the P28.1 million building that would house the CDRRMC headquarters in Pettit Barrack area.

Arriola said local and out of town contractors were positively responding to the city government’s invitation to participate in the bidding.

City vet calls on public to practice responsible pet ownership

(PNA), LAP/TEOFILO P. GARCIA/ABB

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Feb. 1 (PNA) –- City Veterinarian Dr. Mario Arriola on Friday advised the public to practice responsible pet ownership to avoid getting into trouble.

Arriola’s advice came after an incident wherein a nine-year-old girl was killed by a Belgian Malinois in this southern port city.

The girl, who was a fourth grade pupil, was on her way home from school together with three other children when a Belgian Malinois attacked and killed her on Monday in Barangay Pasonanca, this city.

“They must feed their pets well, secure their pets properly and to regularly take them to a veterinarian for checkup,” Arriola said.

“They have to make sure that their dogs are tied very well if they bring them in public places or outside their residence,” he added.

The Belgian Malinois that attacked the girl was tied to a steel post but it managed to get loose after the collar snapped.

Arriola said although the Belgian Malinois is classified as working dog, it depends on how it was trained or for what purpose.

Meanwhile, Arriola also advised those who have Belgian Malinois dogs to be watchful with their pets citing the incident that indicates this breed of dog can be violent.

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