Zamboanga City News January 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.

Big ticket projects lined up for Zamboanga port

By Teofilo Garcia, Jr (PNA)

ZAMBOANGA CITY -- The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has lined up 17 priority projects worth PhP1.2 billion for the local port under the agency’s Proposed Engineering Projects 2018.

This was revealed by District 1 Rep. Celso Lobregat, citing DOTr Sec. Arthur Tugade was inclined to materialize the implementation of the proposed infrastructure projects.

These projects included the PhP256 million widening of the T-Pier with Roll-on, Roll-off (RORO) ramp with complete solar lighting facilities; PhP461 million widening of Marginal Wharf complete with street lights; and, PhP80 million construction of RORO ramp at the Container Freight Station (CFS) area.

Other PPA projects, which were evaluated, included the Construction of T-Head Pier and Backup Area (Paniran Area) worth PhP90.2 million. Lobregat, who chairs the House Committee on Public Works and Highways, said that the lined up projects were among the big ticket projects of President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration for this city.

“I am thanking the President and Sec. Tugade for these projects. The residents will be happy once these priority projects worth P1.2 billion will be implemented,” he said, adding it would spur progress and development in this city.

Meanwhile, the implementation of the PhP227.3 million Zamboanga Port Expansion is now 25.29 percent complete.

The expansion of the port is towards the R.T. Lim Boulevard area locally known as the “Cawa-Cawa” Boulevard.

The construction of the PhP480.6 million Rail Mounted Gantry Crane has been completed on November 3, 2017.

The Gantry Crane is a port crane use to load and unload container vans from vessel.

City gov’t to draft transport route plan

By Bong Garcia (SunStar Philippines)

THE City Government of Zamboanga will soon craft its own Local Public Transport Route Plan (LPTRP) to comply with the order of the Department of Transportation (DoTr).

City Administrator Marie Angelique Go spearheaded a meeting with stakeholders Tuesday afternoon and discussed the formulation of a comprehensive public transport route plan for the city.

Go said the move is also in line with the Salazar administration’s bid to formulate a transportation scheme that will address the worsening traffic woes of the city.

Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar said the city-formulated LPTRP, duly approved by the City Council and approved by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), shall be a requirement for the issuance of public utility vehicle (PUV) franchises.

Salazar is expected to constitute a team that shall formulate the transportation route plan.

Zamboanga City holds film festival competition

By Bong Garcia

THE 2018 Zamboanga Film Festival (ZFF) once again opens its doors for aspiring Zamboangueño film makers to showcase their creativity and talent.

Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar said the film festival will be held in line with the celebration of the 81st Dia de la Ciudad de Zamboanga (Charter Day of Zamboanga City).

Salazar said the competition, which is slated from February 19 to 24, will be open to all professional or student film-makers and animators.

The competition will showcase original film creations that will fall under two categories--the Live Action Film Category and the Animated Film Category.

To qualify for the festival, all submitted films must have been completed no earlier than January 1, 2016. There is no premiere requirement, and films may have distribution.

Additionally, no age restriction will be imposed but entrants under 18 years of age must have their parents’ consent.

Salazar said the deadline for submission of entries will be on February 9.

Zamboanga builds climate-change resilient school buildings

By Teofilo Garcia, Jr (PNA)

ZAMBOANGA CITY -- The city government has adopted a new design for the construction of school buildings that are resilient to climate-change.

Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar said the City Engineer’s Office is currently supervising the construction of 21 climate change-resilient school buildings amounting to P322.80 million in different barangays.

Salazar said rainwater collectors were incorporated in the new design for impounding of rainwater, which can be of help during the dry season.

Salazar said the roofs, doors and windows were designed to allow the passage of air and will provide a more conducive learning space to schoolchildren.

She said the construction of the climate change-resilient school buildings are set to be completed on or before the opening of classes for school year 2018-2019.

She said PhP40.13 million has been allocated to buy 45,158 chairs that will be used by the schoolchildren who will occupy the new school buildings.

Meanwhile, she said 94 of this city’s 98 barangays have already established daycare centers.

She said there are 333 Child Development Centers (CDC), formerly known as daycare centers, all over the city.

Napocor to energize 5 island villages in Zamboanga

By Teofilo Garcia, Jr (PNA)

ZAMBOANGA CITY — Five island barangays here, including the tourist destination Greater Sta. Cruz Island, will soon be energized by the National Power Corporation (Napocor) through the Small Power Utilities Group (SPUG).

First district Rep. Celso Lobregat made this announcement on Monday, citing Lawyer Rogel Teves, Napocor Vice President for Power Engineering Service, informed him that the Napocor has already awarded the project to the winning bidder.

The five island barangays to be energized are Tictabon, Manalipa, Tumalutap, Pangapuyan, and the Greater Sta. Cruz island, which falls under the political jurisdiction of Barangay Sta. Barbara.

The contract to energize the five islands is worth PhP41.6 million to be completed within 270 calendar days. The implementation of the project will commence on the first quarter of this year.

Modular Diesel Generators will be installed by Napocor to provide electricity to the five island barangays.

“I am glad that the long wait is over. Our constituents living in those five island barangays can soon enjoy the services of electricity,” Lobregat said.

Lobregat is pushing the implementation of the energization project as a member for the majority of the House Committee on Energy.

P32-M school building project unveiled in Zamboanga

By Teofilo Garcia, Jr (PNA)

ZAMBOANGA CITY -- Preparations are underway to seek funds from the national government for the construction of additional school building for the Zamboanga City National High School (ZCNHS)-West.

First District Representative Celso Lobregat made the announcement as he and Department of Education (DepEd) officials on Friday led the inauguration of the PhP32 million four-storey 20-classroom building at the ZCNHS-West.

Lobregat said the funding he would seek from the national government was to finance the construction of a another building that would consist of four-storey eight-classroom edifice.

He said the building to be constructed would replace the old one-storey building of the ZCNHS-West.

“I am also making a representation to ask funds from the national government for the construction of another four-storey eight-classroom building, which will replace the existing one-storey building. We will demolish the old one and replace it with parallel building with the existing four-storey 20-classroom (building) now in place,” he said.

Another building consisting of four-storey 24-classroom is under construction and is set to be completed within this quarter. It is located just beside the four-storey 20-classroom building inaugurated Friday.

The ZCNHS-West, which has a student population of 7,273, will no longer hold classes on shifting schedules since they now have 68 classrooms.

ZCNHS-West Principal Pilar Gregorio, on behalf of the teachers and students, thanked Lobregat for giving attention to their request for additional school building.

“Congressman Lobregat is very true to his advocacy in giving priority projects to education, we are grateful for this gift he gave us because this is the solution to the congestion problem in our school,” Gregorio said.

Lobregat said he gave priority to education since it was the solution to minimize if not eradicate poverty.

“My responsibility is to create an environment, to make it easier for the teacher to teach and for students to learn,” he said.

Dr. Felix Romy Triambulo, city schools division superintendent, joined Lobregat in the inauguration of the four-storey 20-classroon school building.

The activity was witnessed by the faculty members, students and barangay officials of Baliwasan, where the ZCNHS-West was located.

'BOSS' extended in Zamboanga

By R. G. Antonet Go (PNA)

ZAMBOANGA CITY -- The city government has extended for 11 days the operation of the Business One Stop Shop (BOSS) to accommodate more business registrations and renewals of licenses.

Cesar Raz, assistant city administrator for operations, on Saturday said the BOSS, which was supposed to end its operation Saturday, January 20, would remain operational until the end of this month.

The extension of BOSS operation is backed by a resolution approved on Tuesday by the City Council during its maiden session for this year.

The BOSS is located at the Centro Latino Hall of the Paseo del Mar. It houses all the offices and agencies involve in the processing and issuance of business license.

But the BOSS will only be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Monday to Friday unlike its previous schedule of 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Friday and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays.

He said, since it opened last January 3, BOSS had processed 4,800 business licenses.

He admitted that the processing and renewal of business license this year takes time due to the strict implementation of requirements by the regulatory board.

The board is consist of the agencies involved in the issuance of documentary requirements such as the land use and fire inspection certificate.

Last year, the one-stop-shop has processed some 10,000 renewals of business permits.

Sta. Cruz Island gets 63,000 visitors in 2017

By Jocelyn Alvarez (EDT/JPA/PIA9)

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Jan. 19 (PIA) -- Tourist arrivals to the city’s superstar beach - Sta Cruz Island, reached a total close to 63,000 visitors in 2017.

These visits mark a 61% increase from the 38,916 visitors in 2016, and the highest recorded visits in the island since 2012, reported Mayor Beng Climaco in her recent State of the City Address.

Climaco said the island “also experienced an influx of visitors during the “Fiesta na Isla,” an activity spearheaded by the Protected Area Management Unit (PAMU) of the City Mayor’s Office with 11,000 guests in a span of 8 days.

Famed for its swath of pink coralline sand; lovely hues which are form from powdered red organ pipe corals mixed with white sand; velvety beach line and astonishing turquoise clear water, Sta Cruz Island joins the few pink sand beaches in the planet as National Geographic lists it as one of the 21 best beaches in the world. CNN travel also recognized the pristine island as one of the country’s best islands and beaches in 2016.

Visits to the island is regulated, with 500 visitors allowed per day to keep the environment healthy putting into consideration its protected landscape and seascape.

“Our tourism potentials thriving in a rich historical and cultural backdrop prove that Zamboanga and its tourism is the next big thing as long as we make sure that our City is safe to welcome visitors,” Climaco said.

She said tourist influx in the city continuously increase with almost half a million visitors recorded in 2017.

Tourism-potential areas like the Eleven Islands in the east coast, is one tourist attraction that the local government is looking into, and the development of the site is one of its flagship projects in 2018.

P2.81-M health facility unveiled in Zamboanga

By Bong Garcia

ZAMBOANGA City Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar formally unveiled and turned over on Thursday the newly-constructed health center in the village of Divisoria kicking off this city’s unrelenting thrust on health for 2018.

Costing P2.81 million, the health wellness center is the first of numerous health infrastructures and programs that will be unveiled this year, as the city seeks to strengthen the delivery of health services to the village folks.

For 2018, the city has allocated a huge budget for health programs including health facilities to ensure the well-being of residents in the villages.

Salazar has called on health and village officials of Divisoria to make all services accessible to the people, as she vowed to continue exerting best efforts to provide the needs of the constituents.

Zamboanga City mayor banners resiliency in Soca

By Bong Garcia

BUILDING a resilient Zamboanga City and “celebrating our many firsts” bannered Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco’s State of the City Address (Soca) at the maiden session of the Zamboanga City Council on Tuesday.

Climaco highlighted the city, which was considered as the “4th Resilient city in the Philippines” by the National Competitiveness Council during her administration.

“Resiliency is our ability to recover from natural and man-made disasters or crises,” Salazar said, adding that Zamboanga has also received the “Gawad Kalasag” National Awards for Excellence in Disaster Risk Reduction Management and Humanitarian Assistance.

The “Gawad Kalasag” award recognizes this city’s significant initiatives in disaster risk reduction and management

The mayor said the City Government’s investments in disaster risk reduction through systematic efforts are aimed at reducing this city’s exposure to hazards, minimizing the vulnerability of the people and property, and improving preparedness and early warning for crises.

Salazar vowed that as Zamboanga City continues to urbanize and its economy continues to outpace that of most cities in the country, her administration in partnership with the private sector will seriously continue to invest in disaster risk reduction for resilience.

PRO-Zamboanga Peninsula celebrates 24th PNP Ethics Day

By Bong Garcia (SunStar Philippines)

THE men and women of the Police Regional Office (PRO)-Zamboanga Peninsula have been encouraged to internalize and put into action the theme of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Ethics Day.

The call was made by Civil Service Commission (CSC) OIC-Regional Director Alvin Araneta, who graced the 24th PNP Ethics Days as the guest of honor and speaker at the PRO-Zamboanga Peninsula headquarters.

The 24th PNP Ethics Days is anchored on the theme “Serbisyong Tapat at Makatotohanan para sa Pagbabago ng Bayan.”

Araneta urged the PRO-Zamboanga Peninsula personnel to religiously adhere to the ethical doctrine of the organization and put emphasis on the true meaning of public service.

He said as a public servant, they should exercise their solemn duty to give the people the best possible service and serve the people with utmost dedication with honesty and loyalty.

The PNP Ethics Day is an annual celebration to constantly remind and reinforce the adherence of PNP personnel on the ethical doctrine which contains the moral values, discipline, professional and morally upright policemen.

Chief Superintendent Billy Bletran, PRO-Zamboanga Peninsula director, led the celebration here in the region of the 24th PNP Ethics Day, which coincided with Monday’s flag-raising ceremony at Camp Romeo Abendan.

City resumes campaign on solid waste management law

By Bong Garcia (SunStar Philippines)

LOCAL authorities will resume apprehension of violators of the solid waste management ordinance this month.

This, as the Office of the City Environment and Natural Resources (OCENR) has concluded the conduct of information drive concerning the ordinance for businesses in the central business district and villages.

Rodrigo Pagotaisidro, Public Service Officer of the Office of the City Environment and Natural Resources (OCENR), said they will intensify efforts, in coordination with police and enforcers as well as partners and stakeholders, to go after violators of the ordinance.

“We already completed the information drive in business establishments in the central business district. I think by this time, by January 2018, we can already move on as to who will be violating this ordinance and we can already issue out citation tickets,” Pagotaisidro said.

He reported that some 58 apprehensions have been made since the full implementation of the ordinance last year.

He said apprehensions stopped towards the New Year period and the first week of January, thus, the campaign will start anew this month.

New Customs Chief warns smugglers, erring employees

By Roland Ramos (eMedia News)

The newly appointed Customs Chief issued a stern warning to “smugglers” and Customs employees in the region to severe their “relationships” now or face the consequences.

Commissioner Isidro Lapena who visited Zamboanga City on Tuesday for the turn over of the confiscated P125 million worth of smuggled rice, issued the said warning following the premise that Zamboanga Peninsula has the highest incidence of smuggling, particularly rice.

Lapena, in his speech, vowed to “catch up with them, and we will be dealing with them strongly.” He then asked the violators to “cut the ties now”. “Wala tayong sasantohin kahit those from the government”, he added.

The statement of Commissioner Lapena was a seeming admission of customs employees being involved in the alleged smuggling in the region, where it is rampant based on BOC records.

Lapena said, “information gathering of individuals or group of individuals allegedly involved in smuggling is on going. The renewed or upgraded Memorandum of Agreement with Philippine Coast Guard flexes BOC’s muscle to combat the problem of smuggling in the region, he further claimed.

Customs has in their pipeline the purchase of watercrafts to help in their campaign against smuggling.

They are accordingly intensifying their drive on smuggling as this undermine the legitimate businesses in the country, thus the government “have to protect the legitimate businesses,” he said. "This will give a level playing field for the legitimate businesses and boost the country's economy," he added.

"The violators of the law must face the consequences of the law," he said

Police Chief: Hotels should check baggages of guests

By Kikay Dongallo

The City Police Director is asking the owners of hotels, pension houses, inns and other similar business establishments to check the baggages of their clients when checking-in.

Zamboanga City Police Office (ZCPO) Director, PSSupt. Vincent Neri Ignacio said, there is a need to intensify the inspection of the baggages of their clients when checking-in to avoid any illegal items from being brought inside their business establishment.

"As much as possible, they also should ask any government issued ID from their clients to clear their identity,"Ignacio said during a press conference on Tuesday.

Ignacio already directed his men to double their security measures, especially in hotels and similar establishments, especially since as Valentines day is fast approaching and these places are flocked by couples.

Recall, an alleged bomber-for-hire was alleged in a pension in Zamboanga City last Monday.

Keep areas clean, biz operators told

By Jasmine Mohammadsali

Business establishments were reminded to keep their respective areas clean in line with the solid waste management program implemented by the Office of City Environment and Natural Resources (OCENR).

Public Services Officer Rodrigo Pagotaisidro of OCENR Rodrigo Pagotaisidro said businesses must maintain the cleanliness of areas that is within a 5-meter radius of their establishment in line with the provisions of Ordinance 2016-176, otherwise known as the Solid Waste Management Ordinance.

During the press briefing on Monday, January 8 at City Hall, Pagotaisidro reported that the OCENR visited 2,426 business establishments in the central business district to remind and emphasize the roles and responsibilities of the business sector in the implementation of the City’s solid waste management program.

Aside from maintaining cleanliness, businesses should also provide garbage bins and receptacles, and coordinate with their barangay on the garbage collection schedule to avoid open dumping, he added.

As part of their continued efforts to disseminate information and encourage involvement of all stakeholders, the OCENR will be working with barangays Tetuan, Calarian, and Sinunuc to pilot the solid waste management program for business establishments.

This, he said, will involve close monitoring of the businesses in the aforementioned barangays and their compliance to the solid waste management program, particularly on the maintenance of cleanliness, properly addressing health and sanitation issues, and the availability of bins and receptacles in front of the establishments.

Other pilot programs for the components of the solid waste management will also be conducted in barangay Sto. Niño for a no-garbage bin initiative to encourage residents to keep to the collection schedule and to dispose garbage straight to the collection trucks, and barangay Kasanyangan for the joint house-to-house campaign with the OCENR.

Meanwhile, Pagotaisidro said the local government is grateful to the barangays for taking up the call to implement and manage the solid waste management program in their areas.

“There is now a monthly monitoring meeting involving barangay officers. Every 3rd Thursday of the month, todo barangay officials will convene to assess the implementation of the City Ordinance in their respective areas,” he said.

Regular barangay clean-ups have also been scheduled every last Saturday of the month.

Tulungatung flood control project inaugurated

By Dexter Yap (PR)

House of Representatives, Committee on Public Works and Highways Chairman, Congressman Celso Lobregat together with DPWH officials recently inaugurated the newly constructed flood control project in Barangay Tulungatung.

Lobregat said that the flood control project located along the stretch of the Tulungatung-Ayala river is worth P19.2 million, with 570 linear meters in lenght.

The said project, according to Lobregat, is the ultimate solution to the frequent flooding in Tulungatung, which is also complemented by a similar project along the Ayala river.

"Everytime heavy rain pours in the west coast, these two barangays are frequent flood victims, that is why we are introducing permanent solution to mitigate their problem," Lobregat said.

For his part, Tulungatung Barangay kagawad Michael Musa, who represented their barangay officials during the project turn-over, said that the residents of their village is very thankful to Lobregat and the DPWH for considering their request in obtaining the flood control, which they said is very necessary to protect their community from being submerged again by flooding.

Zamboanga City firemen to undergo weekly training

By Bong Garcia (SunStar Philippines)

THE Zamboanga City Fire District (ZCFD) personnel will undergo fire suppression training every week in a bid to keep them abreast of the firefighting operations and protocol.

Superintendent Jhufel Brañanola, newly-installed city fire marshal, said the weekly fire drills will be held every Wednesday starting next week.

Brañanola said the fire drills will ensure that all ZCFD personnel are in their respective post during their duty.

He said it is also to ensure that no fire personnel will be involved in illegal and unscrupulous activities.

He said that during his stint as district fire marshal he will establish, with the help of the city government, additional fire stations in the villages to immediately address fire incidents.

TFZ gets 10 motorcycles from City Government

By Sheila Covarrubias

Task Force Zamboanga (TFZ) on Monday received from the local government 10 units of XRM motorcycles for security patrols in the outskirts of the city.

Mayor Beng Climaco together with Councilor Josephine Pareja, chair of the Council committee on Peace and Order personally turned over the motorcycle units to TFZ personnel led by Col. Leonel Nicolas during the flag raising ceremony in front of City Hall Monday morning.

Climaco said the vehicles form part of the city’s relentless commitment to security, as she urged TFZ personnel to continue their best efforts in keeping peace in Zamboanga in partnership with the City Police.

She asked the military to intensify security and come up with long term plans in close coordination with the police. She assured her all out support to the security sector for the safety and protection of the residents and the city.

The 10 motorcycle units cost the city government some P895,000 (at P89,500 per unit). The funding forms part of the 2017 allocation for peace and order.

For his part, Col. Nicolas accepted the motorcycles with gratitude stressing it will help boost security. “Rest assured we will do our best efforts to keep Zamboanga safe and secure,” Nicolas added.

The City Government has allocated over P800 million for security in the last four years in line with its priority thrust on security.

DOST installs EWD in Zambo Peninsula

By Remus Ong

The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) have installed over a hundred early warning devices (EWD) in Zamboanga Peninsula.

DOST 9 Public Information Officer, Thelma Emata disclosed that the modern gadgets include automated weather station, rain gauge and water level monitoring station worth millions of pesos.

“These modern early warning gadgets we installed in several places in Zamboanga Peninsula will give us the time to assess whether to already call the people in one particular place to evacuate to safer ground or not,” Emata said.

In Zamboanga City, many of these equipment have been installed in various rivers and have been used to measure the level of the water in the river during incessant rains.

The DOST official asked the local government units to protect these equipment from thieves such as putting the gadgets in safe enclosures.

“There is a need for the LGUs to secure these equipment because in Sirawai, one of these gadgets have been stolen by unscrupulous individuals,” Emata revealed.

She said the DOST is continuing to modernize its equipment and have been installing these in many cities and provinces in Zamboanga Peninsula.

5 national high schools to rise in Zamboanga

By R. G. Antonet Go (PNA)

ZAMBOANGA CITY -- Five national high schools are scheduled to be constructed within the first semester of this year in the second congressional district of this city.

Second District Rep. Manuel Jose Dalipe on Wednesday said the House bills seeking for the construction five new national high schools have already been approved on first reading.

Dalipe said the House bills, which he authored, have been referred to the House Committee on Education chair by Rep. Dulce Ann Hofer for appropriate action.

Hofer is the representative of the second district of Zamboanga Sibugay.

Dalipe said the five national high schools will be constructed in the barangays of Mampang, Tugbungan, Guiwan, Putik, and Lunzuran.

He said each of the new schools will initially have a three-storey nine-classroom building worth some PhP14.3 million.

He said the new schools, once completed, will decongest the Zamboanga City High School (ZCHS)-main in Barangay Tetuan.

He said it will also lessen the expenses of the parents in sending their children to school.

Celso, DENR intensifies forest protection

By Dexter Yap

Congressman Celso Lobregat together with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has intensified forest protection measures in the hinterlands of Zamboanga City forming part of his effort to preserve the green environment.

It was the prime objective of the solon and DENR to preserve our remaining forest and watershed as well.

The barangays of Limpapa, Labuan, Patalon, La Paz, Pamucutan, Baluno, Pasonanca, and Dulian-Upper Pasonanca were pinpointed by the DENR to be the recipients of this endeavor wherein the Forest Protection Officers are to be deployed.

Together with La Paz Barangay Chairwoman Ancelita Dalingay, Lobregat visited the headquarters of the FPO’s in Camp Susana in order to have a personal knowledge about the deployment, enforcement and patrols being conducted by them since the time they were hired as FPO’s last November of 2017.

During his one-on- one interview with the FPO’s of La Paz mountains, Lobregat was elated over the strict implementation of environmental laws being enforced by the group as well as their forest preservation and the ongoing re-greening program.

Congressman Lobregat said that these FPO’s will be tasked to conduct monitoring and help in preserving the forestlands and the watershed especially in patrolling the buffer zones where reports on alleged illegal logging are being done.

“Ta mira yo this year we will not be talking only about forest protection but including national greening program and other relevant tasks like producing seedlings, capacity building and others, because we have seen the importance of this project,” Lobregat said.

Recalled that Congressman Lobregat and DENR officials last year called on the barangay chairmen of concerned barangays located along the forestlands, watershed and mangrove areas to orient them about such program.

Zamboanga disaster council allots P3-M aid

By Bong Garcia (SunStar Philippines)

THE Zamboanga City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC), through a resolution, has allocated an initial amount of P3 million as financial aid to nearby towns and cities hardest hit by recent typhoons.

Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar, who chairs the CDRRMC, said the resolution was approved in a meeting on December 28, 2017, at City Hall. The resolution will have to be concurred by the City Council.

Several areas in Zamboanga Peninsula and Mindanao had been hardly hit by Tropical Storm "Vinta" as well as Tropical Depression "Urduja" that recently hit the country.

Salazar said that initially, the areas to be assisted are the Zamboanga del Norte towns of Siocon, Sibuco, Sirawai, Salug, and Gutalac; Tambulig, Zamboanga del Sur; which were hit by Vinta and the areas of Biliran and Cagayan de Oro City which were devastated by Urduja last December.

Salazar said the CDRRMC also commended responders and agencies that helped in the rescue operations in the Vitali area during the onslaught of Vinta where 763 families with 3,850 individuals were displaced.

The storm claimed the life of one-year-old Ramcel Manalopilar in Sibulao an adjacent village of Vitali.

Salazar said they also discussed during the meeting pre-disaster assessment based on a checklist provided in the Disaster Manual for local government units.

Meanwhile, Salazar has turned over satellite phones to the Zamboanga City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (ZCDRRMO) through Dr. Elmeir Apolinario as part of the city's disaster preparedness and response program.

The satellite phones were donated by Smart telecommunications to Salazar two months ago.

Zamboanga City opens Business One Stop Shop

By Bong Garcia (SunStar Philippines)

THE Business One Stop Shop (BOSS) aimed to simplify procedure in acquiring business permits, has started operations on Wednesday, January 3, until January 20 to serve local businessmen.

City Permits and Licensing Division (CPLD) Chief Benjie Barredo said the operating hours of BOSS is from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Mondays through Fridays, and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.

The BOSS is located at the Centro Latino Hall of the Paseo del Mar in the village of Zone IV.

Under the BOSS system, all agencies involved in business registration and renewal process will be housed in one place for the convenience and comfort of business operators.

These agencies are the City Treasurer’s Office, City Planning and Development Coordinator’s Office, City Engineer’s Office, City Health Office, City Veterinarian Office, City Administrator’s Office, Office of the City Environment and Natural Resources, City Agriculturist Office, City Tourism office, Bureau of Fire Protection and the CPLD.

Barredo said the system, aimed to provide a single location and a simplified and customer friendly transaction will utilize three steps: application, payment and release.

He said it is based on the business permit and licensing system (BPLS) reforms standards to streamline business registration and renewal process based on certain criterions.

The system commenced in January 2017 through the technical support from the United States Agency for International Development-Strengthening Urban Resilience for Growth with Equity project.

The implementation of BOSS resulted to the increase in revenues and issuance of new business permits.

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