Zamboanga City News February 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.

GAD readies for Women’s month celebration

By Bong Garcia (SunStar Philippines)

THE Local Council for Women, together with the Zamboanga City Gender and Development (GAD) office, is finalizing their activities for the celebration of Women’s Month.

The GAD office said in a statement that the Dia de las Mujeres march will kick off the local observance at 6:30 a.m. on March 8 with a parade from Mayor Ledesma Street to the Centro Latino of Paseo del Mar.

It said the parade will be followed by a program. Various exhibitors have also confirmed their participation to the 2018 Women’s Fair, also at Centro Latino.

The hike is LCW’s annual fund-raising activity the proceeds of which would be turned over to their chosen recipients.

Among this year’s beneficiaries will be the Mindanao Breast Cancer Support and Empowerment Association and the Center for Mendicants.

Interested women are encouraged to avail of the free breast examination services and to examine the various displays for possible livelihood opportunities.

Dia de las Mujeres set March 8

By Claudine Uniana (PR)

The Local Council for Women, together with the Zamboanga City Gender and Development office, met last Wednesday to finalize their activities for the celebration of Women’s Month in Zamboanga City.

The Dia de las Mujeres march will kick off the local observance at 06:30 in the morning on March 08. Participants will assemble at the Ledesma St. to walk towards Centro Latino at Paseo del Mar for a short program.

The hike is LCW’s annual fundraising activity the proceeds of which would be turned over to their chosen recipients. Among this year’s beneficiaries will be the Mindanao Breast Cancer Support and Empowerment Association and the Center for Mendicants.

Various exhibitors have also confirmed their participation to the 2018 Women’s Fair, also at Centro Latino. Interested women are encouraged to avail of the free breast examination services and to examine the various displays for possible livelihood opportunities.

The theme for this year’s celebration is “We Make Change Work for Women.”

P360M allocated for flood-control project

By Bong Garcia (SunStar Philippines)

THE Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has allocated P360 million for the implementation this year of a flood-control project in Zamboanga City.

First district Representative Celso Lobregat, chairperson of the House committee on public works and highways, said the project will include the installation of a pumping station to resolve the flooding in the urban core and central district of the city.

This, he said, is needed as the lowest portion of the city proper gets flood every time there is heavy downpour, as the water rush and accumulate at the junction of Pilar Street and Veterans Avenue.

The severity of the flooding in the city proper depends on the tide.

Lobregat said the drafting of a master plan for the flood mitigation project is ongoing.

He said the master plan includes the purchase of a property along Pilar street to house the pumping station.

The project is part of the Build, Build, Build program of President Rodrigo Duterte, said Lobregat.

Zambo dad pushes scholarship program for teachers

By R. G. Antonet Go (PNA)

ZAMBOANGA CITY -- A local legislator is pushing for the allocation of PHP4 million scholarship funds for public school teachers who wanted to pursue higher studies, such as masteral and doctorate degrees.

Councilor Rodolfo Lim told the Philippine News Agency that among those who could avail of the scholarship program are qualified public school teachers who do not have the financial capability.

Lim said the scholarship program, once implemented, will initially benefit 30 teachers--10 each in the elementary, secondary, and collegiate levels.

Lim said each scholar-teacher will receive a lump sum grant of PHP20,000 per school year for tuition and book allowance and other needs at PHP10,000 per semester for two years.

He said the scholars should pursue higher studies in government universities. In return, they will serve the city government for two years per year of scholarship.

He said the PHP4 million initial funding will come from this city’s general funds. The scholarship program is also aimed to uplift the knowledge and capability of public school teachers.

Lim, in pushing for the program, has authored an ordinance mandating that the scholarship for public teachers will form part of the regular programs of the local government.

The proposed ordinance hurdled first reading during the City Council’s regular session on Tuesday and was referred to the education committee for appropriate action.

Rotary Metro Zamboanga donates narcotics sniffing dog to city jail

By Remus Ong

Rotary Metro Zamboanga donated a jack russel sniffing dog to the Zamboanga City Jail. The 6- month narcotics sniffing dog worth P250,000 is already trained when it was acquired by the donors.

According to Lydia Lubaton, president of Rotary Metro Zamboanga, both (BJMP and Rotary Metro initiated this project knowing that most of the current inmates in the city jail are drug user.

With the entry of the said sniffing dog, it will help the BJMP clean the premises of illegal drugs, Lubaton said

On the part of the BJMP, no less than the BJMP Director Deogracias Tapayan is elated upon receiving the narcotics dog.

He said that this serves as a great help to his personnel here in ZCRC to get rid of illegal drugs adding that this is the first time in Region 9 that a sniffing dog was donated to them by a private and civic group.

Meanwhile, City Jail Warden Chief Insp. Nathaniel Aljas said that the dog will be stationed at the gate to check the cargoes of visitor who are visiting the inmates. It will also be used in the greyhound inside the jail in coordination with the PDEA.

The maintenance of the said narcotics dog will be shouldered by the jail management as it will already be included in their daily budget.

The said dog will have a rank and a name as Jail Officer Vincent. (Remus Ong)

Navy holds basic military training to new SCAA members

By Teofilo Garcia, Jr (PNA/Press Release)

ZAMBOANGA CITY – The Naval Forces Western Mindanao through the 1st Western Mindanao SCAA Squadron (1st WMSS) convened a Special CAFGU Active Auxiliary (SCAA) Basic Military Training (BMT) CY-2018 for newly-recruited SCAA members on Wednesday in this city.

The opening ceremony was attended by Rear Adm. Rene Medina, Commander of Naval Forces Western Mindanao (NAVFORWEM) commander, as the guest speaker with the Deputy Commander for Marine Operations, Col. Hernanie Songano and Commander of 1st Western Mindanao SCAA Squadron, Lt. Col. Noel R Precioso.

Composed of 196 individuals from different fishing companies of SOPHIL, BMT Class 2018 will undergo 10 days training to learn the basic military doctrine and policies.

It is to equip them with knowledge and skills essential in the performance of their role as the Navy's partner in maintaining peace and stability in waters surrounding Western Mindanao.

Prior to the said training of new members of SCAA, NAVFORWEM conducted refresher training for other SCAA members last January 23 to 27 January. This was initiated to continuously improve their capabilities and individual abilities to counteract attempt of piracy and seajacking.

Under the direct control of NAVFORWEM, SCAA plays a significant role in accomplishing the command's mission.

By putting eyes and ears on different ships and through cooperation of fishing companies in the SCAA program, NAVFORWEM captured Omar Amping, the fourth most wanted person in Zamboanga City, together with five others believed to be Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) members on 20 November 2017 off the vicinity of Bolod Island, Tonquil, Sulu.

Knowing that this program helps the Navy perform its mandate in Western Mindanao not only in operational but also in administrative, NAVFORWEM convened this BMT Class 2018.

"Initial military training is an intensive resident programme normally lasting several weeks or months, which aims to teach the new recruits or applicants the social norms and essential tasks of the armed forces. The main purpose of this training is not to impose fear nor is it there for you to be battered into purple mesh. But it is to break your old self and mold you into a better person, a person with values and principles, a person with hope and vision," Medina said.

Through this effort, NAVFORWEM aims to completely eradicate or at least lessen the number of seajacking and other lawless acts in the region. It is in order to provide a safe sea for commerce, trade and peaceful living.

Zambo reiterates firm stand on BBL

By Vic Larato & Jemuel E. Mojica

Zamboangueños from all walks of life led by Mayor Beng Climaco, Vice Mayor Cesar Iturralde and members of the City Council together with Congressman Celso Lobregat and Congressman Mannix Dalipe literally stood up united yesterday and declared in one voice their firm, consistent and unequivocal stand against any move to include Zamboanga City in the proposed Bangsamoro autonomous region that will be established under the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).

No less than Senate President Koko Pimentel and Senator Migs Zubiri, chairman of the Subcommittee on BBL, repeatedly assured the thousands of Zamboangueños that Zamboanga City or part thereof including its municipal waters will not be included in the Bangsamoro Government.

At the public hearing, Climaco read the city's position paper, detailing point by point the BBL provisions that are legally and constitutionally disadvantageous to Zamboanga City

Also present were Senators Cynthia Villar, Riza Hontiveros, Sherwin Gatchalian, Sonny Angara and JV Estrada together with Presidential Peace Adviser Jesus Dureza and the entire Bangsamoro Transition Commission headed by MILF First Vice Chair Gadzali Jaafar.

In his statement, Jaafar considered his visit to the City his first and historic since 1965. We came for peace and peace we offer you,” Jaafar told the assembly with special mention to Mayor Climaco and Rep. Celso Lobregat during the almost 3-hour Senate hearing on the BBL held at the Zamboanga City State Polytechnic College in Baliwasan.

For his part, Zubiri assured Zamboanguenos in this wise: “Don’t worry, don’t panic. Zamboanga City is not and never will be included.”

It can be recalled that ever since the City of Zamboanga has clearly stood firm against any inclusion to the political entity of the proposed expanded Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) in the past .

And with the proposed expansion of the ARMM under the proposed BBL, Climaco, Lobregat and Dalipe have again sounded the stand of the Zamboangueños against any inclusion to the BBL stressing that ever since Zamboanga City has always opted not to be part of the BBL even with the previous Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

The three top city officials, however, said that the people of Zamboanga support the peace process and the proposed BBL but they only want to make it certain that Zamboanga City shall never be part of the Autonomous Region.

Thousands of Zambo studes benefit from anti-cancer vaccination

By R. G. Antonet Go (PNA)

ZAMBOANGA CITY -- The City Health Office is set to complete this month its vaccination program on the prevention of cervical cancer among female students in this city.

Dr. Dulce Amor Dagalea-Miravite, OIC city health officer, on Thursday told the Philippine News Agency that there were 8,440 Grade 4 female students who were beneficiaries of the vaccination program.

Most of the beneficiary-students are enrolled in public schools and at the Puericulture Elementary School.

Miravite said the beneficiaries of the program received two doses of Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine.

She said they already received the first dose in August 2017 and the second dose would be given anytime this month to complete the vaccination program.

She said they initiated the HPV vaccination program on females students since cervical cancer was one of the common cancer which affects women.

TESDA Reg’l Training Center to conduct night classes

By Jocelyn Alvarez (ALT/JPA-PIAR9)

ZAMBOANGA CITY (PIA) -- Night classes will soon be made available at the Regional Training Center (RTC) of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) in San Roque, this city, said RTC Center Administrator Geronimo A. Bandico.

“This night class is beneficial to students with busy schedules, like those who work full time,” Bandico said. He said that their night class is intended to accommodate students who need a more flexible schedule.

Bandico noted that the program is also an advantage to government employees who have been wanting to enroll but are tied up with the Civil Service required 8 working hours.

He said the RTC intends to offer three initial courses for the evening class: Automotive Servicing; Computer System Servicing and Shielded Metal Welding. “But I am thinking of including Bread and Pastry Production in the evening class,” he added.

A minimum of 20 and a maximum of 25 students only will be allowed per course as TESDA –RTC puts weight on the quality rather than the quantity of graduates it produces out of its training program.

Courses for this night class are offered for free under their Unified Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Program Registration and Accreditation System (UTPRAS).

“We offer free training for our January to June 2018 Class, but in our July to December class, we will be giving our students not only free training, but free tool kits and P60.00 daily allowance as well,” Bandico said.

An initial Two Million Peso (P2M) fund was already downloaded to RTC for the implementation of the evening class. “We are still expecting and awaiting the P16M fund promised to us for this program,” he informed.

Evening class starts at 5:30 and ends at 8:30.

Zambo pushes conversion of Voc-Techs into college

By R. G. Antonet Go (PNA)

ZAMBOANGA CITY -- The City Council is pushing for the conversion of the two Technical Vocational (Voc-Tech) schools into a city government-owned college.

To be converted into a college are the Ayala and Vitali Technical Vocation Schools which will be named Colegio De La Ciudad de Zamboanga.

Councilor Elbert Atilano Sr. on Monday told the Philippine News Agency that the conversion of the two vocational schools is aimed to bring tertiary education closer to residents in the far-flung areas.

The Ayala Vocational Technical School is located in Barangay Ayala which is 16 kilometers west of the city, while Vitali Vocational Technical School is in Barangay Vitali 73 kilometers east of City Hall.

Atilano said the curriculum of the Colegio De La Ciudad de Zamboanga will be focused on industrial education.

“This is relevant to use especially Zamboanga City is considered as an industrial city,” Atilano said citing this city is the home to the nine of the 12 canning factories in the country.

He said the city government-run college, once in place, should be equipped with complete and modern equipment in support to the local government unit’s thrust on education.

“This school will be an option for those students who cannot afford to go to private universities and colleges,” he said.

“We (the city) had been providing assistance to the education sector but the focus is on basic education. We don’t have support for the tertiary, which is the reason why there are several students who cannot pursue college after graduating in high school,” he added.

Atilano, who is pushing for the creation of the Colegio De La Ciudad de Zamboanga, has authored an ordinance seeking the creation of the city government-owned college.

The ordinance has been referred to the City Council’s Committee on Education after it hurdled the first reading last week.

Philrice to open satellite station in Zamboanga

By Bong Garcia (SunStar Philippines)

THE Philippine Rice Research Institute (Philrice) is setting up a P5.98-million satellite station here in Zamboanga City.

City Agriculturist Diosdado Palacat said the station will be constructed at the compound of the Western Mindanao State University (WMSU) at Sitio San Ramon in the village of Talisayan.

Palacat said the establishment of the Philrice satellite station is to ensure the availability of new varieties of palay for local farmers.

The construction of the project is expected to be completed in five months.

Philrice is an attached agency of the Department of Agriculture (DA) engaged in the development of high-yielding and cost-reducing technologies for farmers.

Palacat represented Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar during the laying of the time capsule ceremony on January 31.

The event was also attended by Philrice officials led by Acting Executive Director Sailila Abdullah, WMSU officials and faculty and staff of the College of Agriculture.

BBL consultation in Zambo set Feb 9

By Dexter Yap (PR)

Congressman Celso Lobregat manifested to the Senate the strong position of Zamboanga City to the ongoing efforts of the present administration to finalize a new version of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).

In an interview with RMN Zamboanga, Lobregat said that he went to the Senate last week to personally make a follow-up on his bills with various committee chairmen, when Senate President Koko Pimentel requested him to have a luncheon meeting and discuss good governance for Mindanao, as well as the status of the BBL consolidation in congress, wherein Lobregat is one of the sub-committee members.

During the meeting, Lobregat suggested that instead of only consulting the provinces of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi on the BBL issue, Senator Migz Zubiri, Committee Chairman on the BBL issue and Senate President Pimentel should also include Zamboanga City in the said consultations considering that the city is adjacent to the ARMM provinces, and that the senate must know that Zamboanga City is strongly opposing the inclusion of any of its barangays or territory in the proposed BBL.

"I suggested to senator Zubiri that Zamboanga City should also be consulted when they come here in Western Mindanao region. We must be heard and we will have to reiterate our position against the inclusion of our city to any form of autonomy," Lobregat stressed.

The solon said that Zubiri's committee agreed to his request and that Zamboanga City will now be part of the scheduled itinerary this week for the conduct of a BLL public consultation.

Lobregat said that he also told Zubiri to coordinate with the local government for the preparations and the availability of Centro Latino to be the venue of the said consultation, but accordingly, it is not available on the said schedule. So Lobregat called Dr. Nelson Cabral of the Zamboanga City State Polytechnic College (ZCSPC) requesting to use the schools gymnasium as venue for the said activity.

Lobregat confirmed that the senate BBL commitee will conduct consultations on February 8 in Jolo and Tawi-Tawi.

And on February 9 in Basilan and Zamboanga.

"Let me reiterate that I am for peace. I am not anti-peace. But let's have a BBL that is fair, just and in accordance with the legalities bounded in our present laws. I will be here standing firm in defense of our city 'till the very end," Lobregat said.

Lobregat is urging Zamboangueños to stand united and to once again let their voices be heared by the senators that the city is for peace, but against its inclusion in any form of BBL territories, and that the BBL should be in accordance with the Philippine Constitution.

ZCWD intends to put up water treatment plant in east coast

By Elinor Fernandez

The Zamboanga City Water District (ZCWD) is currently studying the possibility of putting up a water treatment plant in the east coast.

ZCWD general manager Leonardo Vasquez disclosed that the population of the city is continuously growing and thus there is a need for the establishment of a treatment plant, similar to the Prime Water, in the west coast.

He said the ZCWD is now making a feasibility study of the various barangays that have adequate and better source of the water that could supply all the communities in the east coast.

“We are looking at the water source in the barangays of Bungiao and Manicahan if it can sustain the demand of potable water for several years,” Vasquez said.

Meanwhile, the ZCWD general manager disclosed that they are also planning to invite other interested investors to invest in the said project.

Vasquez said that every year the population of the city is growing and the water demand is also growing based from list of applications their office receive everyday.

City gov’t receives P2.4-M good governance incentive

By Bong Garcia

THE Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has awarded P2.4 million to Zamboanga City as an incentive for its achievement in the 2017 Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG).

Jun Cillo of the DILG city office handed over the P2.4-million check to Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar in a simple turnover rites on Wednesday afternoon at the Office of the City Mayor.

Salazar said the amount is an incentive for the City Government for achieving the 2017 SGLG, which was formally conferred to this city in November last year in Manila.

The SGLG is given to local government units (LGUs) that raised the bar of excellence in local governance.

Salazar said Zamboanga City passed all the parameters of the core components namely financial administration, social protection and disaster preparedness, business friendliness and competitiveness and peace and environmental management.

Zamboanga was the only city in Western Mindanao that made it to the list of awardees.

Zamboanga archers harvest 10 medals

By Bong Garcia (SunStar Philippines)

THE Zamboanga City delegation to the 2018 Philippine Archery Cup, Leg 1 (Mindanao Leg) held in Koronadal City from January 26 to 28 harvested a total of 10 medals in different categories.

The medals consisted of four gold, two silver, and four bronze medals.

Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar has conveyed her congratulations and words of gratitude to the delegation for their efforts in bringing honor and fame to Zamboanga City.

The winners include Cadet boys - John Ross De Sosa, one bronze and one gold medals; Cub boys - Dion Cedrick Marquez, one bronze medal and Maubrick Khian Astuto, one bronze medal; Bare bow - Steve De Sosa, two golds medals, Dominik Aaron Bibon, one bronze and one silver medals; and Compound bow - Jefferson Sienes with one gold medal.

Meanwhile, Dr. Cecil Atilano, City Sports Division chief, said incentives for winners in the recently concluded Zamboanga Peninsula Regional Athletic Association Meet 2017 are now ready for distribution at the City Treasurer's Office.

Atilano said the concerned athletes are required to bring any valid identification card and look for Merlie Veniales at the City Treasurer's Office anytime during office hours to claim their incentives.

February 26 a holiday in Zamboanga City

By Bong Garcia (SunStar Philippines)

THE Office of the President has declared February 26 as a special non-working day in Zamboanga City in celebration of the 81st Charter Anniversary or Dia de la Ciudad de Zamboanga.

The order was pursuant to Proclamation 412, which was issued and signed by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea by the authority of President Rodrigo Duterte last January 23.

The declaration is intended to provide the residents of the city the "full opportunity to celebrate and participate in the occasion with appropriate ceremonies."

The City Government, through the Special Events Team, has lined up various activities to celebrate the Charter anniversary, which marks the installation of the first set of appointed city officials led by Mayor Nicasio Valderosa on February 26, 1937.

A month-long celebration will commemorate the historic event of the installation of Zamboanga City's first set of officials.

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