Zamboanga City News June 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.

==Absence of dorm, main problem of Zambo Regional Science HS

By Antonio P. Rimando (Correspondent)

ZAMBOANGA CITY—The Zamboanga Regional Science High School (ZRSHS), which serves the entire Western Mindanao (WM), also called the Zamboanga Peninsula, became two decades old in June, but unlike its counterparts elsewhere in the country, it still has no school dormitory for its out-of-town students.

ZRSHS Principal Melanie Minez said the special institution was established by Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS) Order 69, Series of 1993 on a 1.5-hectare lot at Barangay San Roque here, then the seat of the regional government of WM. It was later ordered transferred to Pagadian City in Zamboanga del Sur by President Fidel V. Ramos during his term.

Minez, a science specialist, said ZRSHS offers a curriculum highly enriched in science, mathematics and english in addition to the new standard requirements of the basic education curriculum.

The ZRSHS, just like any of the other 15 Department of Education administered science secondary schools, primarily seeks to develop responsible and morally upright Science-oriented leaders through a relevant and globally competitive science and mathematics education program.

Minez said being a “regional” secondary learning center, the ZRSHS is mandated to accommodate all qualified public and private elementary school graduates from the school divisions of Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay, Pagadian City, Dipolog City, Zamboanga City, Dapitan City and Isabela City (Basilan) who passed its annual entrance examination.

But Minez said that owing to the longtime absence of a school dormitory, most, of not virtually all, students studying at the ZRSHS are residents of Zamboanga City.

“Of the special school’s about 400 enrollees last school year, over 90 percent or 360 students are residents of this highly urbanized metropolis, Minez said, adding that enrollment data for the new school year are still being tabulated.

She admitted the institution’s inequitable student accommodation since it negates the primary purpose of its name “regional” which calls for the admittance of all entrance-test student-qualifiers from all the schools divisions in WM.

Minez said competitive exam qualifiers from other WM provinces and cities, mostly belonging to middle-income and poor families, could not afford to study at the ZRSHS because they have no money to pay for their board and lodging in private houses in Zamboanga. Minez learned from her fellow RSHS principals that they were able to put up their respective school dormitories through the financial aid of their supportive local government units (LGUs) utilizing the latter’s Local School Board budget as authorized by Republic Act 5447 or the Special Education Fund.

She claimed to have approached and appealed to some LGU authorities for financial help in constructing a student dormitory for ZRSHS to attract all student entrance test passers throughout WM.

“But I’m still waiting and hoping for their fund support,” Minez said.

BFP screens 82 recruits for Zamboanga Peninsula

(PNA), HBC/TPG/FMS/JSD

ZAMBOANGA CITY, June 29 (PNA) -– The Bureau of Fire Protection is now subjecting 82 pre-screened applicants for employment as firemen in the Zamboanga Peninsula to further tests before their final selection for training into the agency.

BFP Regional Director Senior Supt. Carlito Oceña said these 82 applicants came from the different provinces and cities in the region.

The bureau will come out with their final list of 68 recruits by the first week of next month.

Those selected will be sent to the BFP’s Fire National Training Institute in Laguna where they will undergo a four-month basic fire officers course.

They will be commissioned into the BFP with the basic rank of Fire Officer I upon graduation from the FNTI.

Oceña said they will be assigned to the various provinces, preferably from where they came from, to fill up slots left vacant by fire officers who have been promoted to higher ranks.

Oceña said the training for these recruits will equip them with basic fire fighting skills as well as life saving procedure.

Firemen must also learned how to save lives like rescuing people trapped in burning house or building aside from knowing how to put off fire, he said.

City agriculturist eyes rice fields expansion in Zamboanga

(PNA), FFC/TPGJR/FMS/EBP

ZAMBOANGA CITY, June 28 (PNA) -- The City Agriculturists Office (CAO) will assist farmers expand existing rice fields in the barangays of Manicahan, Curuan and Vitali to make up space for rice lands in the city proper whose areas are being reduced by urban expansion in this city.

City Agriculturists Diosdado Palacat said that rice field areas within the five-kilometer radius from city hall has fast developed into housing subdivisions and commercial and industrial areas.

Palacat is coordinating with the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) and the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) to stem the tide of conversion of irrigated rice lands into housing, commercial and industrial uses.

Palacat said this city’s rice fields can produce only about 30 percent of the staple food requirement of the city’s over 800,000 population and that the bigger volume of rice comes from neighboring provinces of Zamboanga Sibugay, Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga del Norte.

The residents of this city consume about 6,000 bags of rice a day and because of the low local production most of the rice they buy comes from out-of-town suppliers, Palacat said.

Until about six decades ago, when the population of the city was just over 131,000 people, rice fields abound in the barangays of Sta. Maria, Tetuan, Tugbungan, all within the five-kilometer radius from city hall.

These areas are now teeming with houses and commercial establishments, Palacat noted.

He said there are still flat lands towards the west coast of this city up to the boundary in Barangay Limpapa with Zamboanga del Norte.

Palacat’s office has identified the barangays of Manicahan, Curuan and Vitali, 20.10, 50, and 83.9 kilometers east of this city, respectively, as possible rice expansion zones of this city.

These three barangays and adjacent areas have big rivers that can be tapped for irrigation to provide water to rice fields.

Palacat said the barangays of Manicahan and Curuan are now with irrigation systems tapping water from the Manicahan River and Curuan River, respectively.

Palacat said the rice fields in Vitali are irrigated by crude systems in the absence of projects supposed to be provided by NIA.

He said there are thousands of hectares of potential rice lands in these three barangays that farmers can expand, plant and harvest.

At the same time, Palacat said he favored the recent move of the Department of Agriculture (DA) to suspend the grant of seeds to farmers and instead provide them with farm equipment.

“We now have enough seeds and what we need are equipment like farm tractors,” he said.

Zamboanga identifies 13 century-old, seven heritage trees

By Nonoy E. Lacson

ZAMBOANGA CITY – The city government has issued an executive order identifying 13 century-old and seven heritage trees here as symbols of the city’s good environment stewardship.

The EO, issued by Mayor Celso Lobregat, follows Ordinance No. 341 dated December 11, 2008 that stipulates century-old and heritage trees as ecologically, historically or culturally valuable.

The 13 century-old trees are all Acacia rain trees (Samanea saman), with the oldest one being 145 years old.

Lobregat said the declaration of the old trees will generate participatory and active consciousness among the people to take care, preserve and maintain the trees in their natural state including other life forms that live within or dependent on said trees for their survival.

As called for under the edict, all century-old and heritage trees shall be strapped with a metal plate with information about the tree (scientific and local), date of declaration, approximate age, registry number and location.

The Office of the City Environment and Natural Resources is mandated to maintain and preserve all declared trees in coordination with the concerned barangays where the trees are located.

Record from the OCENR showed that since the program started in 2009, the city government had already declared a total of 54 century-old trees and 44 heritage trees. Today’s declaration bring the total to 118 century/heritage trees.

A special technical committee chaired by OCENR spearheads the identification, evaluation of the trees and recommend for declaration (as century and heritage) based on their ecological, historical and cultural values.

DENR eyes cleanup of 20 rivers in Zambo City

(PNA), JBP/TPG/FMS/EBP

ZAMBOANGA CITY, June 26 (PNA) -- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources through the Environment Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) will spearhead the cleaning of at least 20 rivers on Saturday in this city.

EMB Regional Director Sixto Tolentino said the river cleanup is part of the Adopt an Estero program of the DENR that will be undertaken nationwide this weekend.

Tolentino said they will coordinate with officials in most of this city’s 98 barangays with rivers for the clean-up drive.

Other environment-related agencies, including schools, police and the military will participate in the cleanup to unclog rivers, Tolentino said.

He said emphasis will be on big rivers, particularly in the city proper but attention will also be focused on rivulets that gets flooded and stuck with garbage during rains.

He said that last year several companies and establishments adopted 10 rivers for the cleanup undertaking.

The number of rivers have been increased to 20, mostly crossing the highways towards the east and west coasts shorelines in this city toward to the sea.

Zambo City opens Science Park for kids and old folks alike

By Felino M. Santos [(PNA), DSP/TPGJR/FMS/UTB]

ZAMBOANGA CITY, June 25 (PNA) -– The city government on Monday opened to the public its P22 million Science Park at the Jardin de Maria Clara complex in Barangay Pasonanca, 5.18 kilometers north of this city.

The park will be open to the public with an entrance fee of P50 each for adults and P40 for a child.

The facility will enable visitors to experience discoveries in science, according to City Mayor Celso Lobregat, in whose mother’s name the complex was named.

The park contains 56 science exhibits initially provided by the Philippine Foundation for Science and Technology (PFST) that include a magic faucet, anti-gravity mirror, Bernouli Blower, Van de Graff Generator, Musical tunnel and many more.

PFST Board Secretary Atty. Ernesto Albano said the foundation actually has a total of 150 units for exhibition and that the remaining 94 units will be installed in the park in the next few weeks after spaces or basic structures for these units are constructed.

Albano said the 56 initial exhibits will be enough to entertain adults and the young who will drop at the Science Park at anytime of the day during the week.

Albano said the foundation is doing its best to spread the gospel of Science throughout the country by way of the exhibits.

Meanwhile, Universidad de Zamboanga Science Club Adviser Ruben Angeles said the exhibits will encourage the public to explore the magic of science.

Angeles anticipates that the Science Park will be crowded by the curious individuals in the days to come.

Angeles expects science clubs in the various schools to encourage students to visit the park.

He also expects the science proficiency of students in this city to increase considering that students here used to get low grades in Science Achievement tests conducted by the Department of Education (DepEd) nationwide.

Prearranged group visits to the park will entitle each visitor to a discount in entrance fee to only P20 per head.

Lobregat said the opening of the Science Park Monday is considered only as a “soft opening” as the formal opening of the site with more exhibits will be held on July 2.

OCD prepares for rainy season

By Jocelyn P. Alvarez (PIA9)

ZAMBOANGA CITY - The Office of Civil Defense (OCD)-IX bared its regional preparation for the rainy season during the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (RDRRMC)-IX meeting held at one of the local hotels here recently.

Jose Eric Castillo of OCD reported that recent observations and climate model forecast indicate that El Niño Southern Oscillation conditions are likely to continue starting May up to August of this year.

“The onset of the rainy season is expected on the last week of May to early June,” he said.

He said PAGASA advisory states that rainfall distribution for May is expected to be near to above normal in most parts of the country.

“Slightly cooler surface air temperatures are expected in many parts of the country. Predicted ranges of temperature for the month will be 22°C to 36°C over the lowlands of Luzon, 16°C to 26°C over the mountainous areas of Luzon, 23°C to 35°C for Visayas, 23°C to 35°C over the lowlands of Mindanao and 19°C to 32°C over the mountainous areas of Mindanao,” he reported.

“This is the reason why the RDRRMC needs to have a contingency plan for the rainy season just so we be prepared for any eventualities,” he said.

Castillo also the ongoing preparations conducted by the OCD. One of the continuing preparations of OCD is the conduct of inventory of non-food items (NFIs).

Castillo said OCD had started its inventory of NFIs since May 3, “just so we know what are the readily available NFIs in the event of any disaster during the rainy season,” he said.

He also disclosed that the OCD is now also conducting inventory of available resources (human and material) to assess who and what are the available resources that may be used or tapped during disaster- whether human-induced hazards or natural.

OCD is also active in the ongoing conduct of Evacuation Drill on Flood, Lightning, and Landslide. OCD is yet to implement other activities in preparation for the rainy season. These include the 3-day Training on Post Disaster Need Analysis (PDNA); Inventory of Safe Haven/Evacuation Centers; Activation of Task Force Avenida or Brigada Kontra-Baha to Conduct Clean-up drive Operations on Rivers and Coastal Areas; MOA signing with reservists (PN-NRCWM, 6th ARCEN-PAF, PA-RCDG9, PCG-CGSWM Auxiliary) and the conduct of Rescue Olympics.

The RDRRMC IX meeting was conducted to discuss the draft Regional DRRM Plan, 2013 National Disaster Consciousness Month observance and Gawad KALASAG and the organization of an All-Hazard Incident Management Team.

The RDRRMC meeting was attended by more than 30 member-agencies.

Plate number change to affect 226,502 vehicles in Zampen

LAM/TPG/FMSANTOS/PJN

The Plate Standardization Program of the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) through the Land Transportation Office (LTO) will result to the change of numbered plates for the some 226,500 motor vehicles so far registered here in Zamboanga Peninsula.

LTO-9 Director Aminola Abaton said that all existing numbered plates attached to motor vehicles including in motorcycles will be changed for new ones under the Plate Standardization Program.

Abaton said the project was already bid out to the contractor and the implementation of the change of numbered plates will be in place before the end of this year.

The implementation of the Plate Standardization Program was supposed to start in January of this year along with the implementation of the Helmet Law.

However, this did not materialized because of the delay in the bidding out of the fabrication of the plates.

Abaton said this delay is just temporary because the law is already enacted and the DOTC is set to implement it.

He explained that the new plates will be of the same sizes and design for all motor vehicles.

The numbering of the plates will also protect motor vehicles from being easily disposed of if stolen.

The plates are well designed that replacing the plates of stolen vehicles will be next to impossible because of patented screws that can be removed only by LTO special wrenches, which in the first place will be the one to install the plates in the units.

Abaton said that record of the Anti-Carnapping Units of the Philippine National Police (PNP) showed that at least 84 motor vehicles have already been stolen since the start of the year.

Abaton said the new numbered plates will facilitate the identification of stolen vehicles because of its centralized numbering system in the agency.

Zamboanga City unveils P13.10-M projects

(PNA), LAM/TPG-PR/PJN

ZAMBOANGA CITY, June 22 (PNA) -- Mayor Celso Lobregat has led the inauguration and turnover ceremonies Friday of P13.10 million worth of infrastructure projects in the barangays of Cabaluay and Licomo, 17 and 85.4 kilometers east of this city, respectively.

The projects inaugurated and turned over in Barangay Licomo include the following: 66-linear meter road project with box culvert and riprap worth P999,000; and streetlight facilities composed of 20 street posts with two control boxes, P986,396.

The projects were turned over to Licomo barangay officials headed by Eduardo Caloyloy, the village chairman.

Lobregat said the implementation of the projects in Barangay Licomo is proof of local government support regardless of location, population and people’s cultural beliefs.

Caloyloy thanked Lobregat and the city government declaring that the road project and the street lighting facilities will have a big impact on their community where most of his constituents are engaged in farming activities.

Lobregat was accompanied by Vice-Mayor Cesar Iturralde, Councilor Vincent Paul Elago and Councilor-elect Charlie Mariano.

From Licomo, Lobregat and party proceeded to Cabaluay and unveiled two road projects -- a 1,062-linear meter road with line canal and two cross drains and 382.40-linear meter slope protection worth P9.67 million; and the 345-linear meter road connecting Cabaluay to Cacao worth P2.45 million.

Cabaluay Barangay Chairman Maco Apolinario gratefully accepted the responsibility of taking care of the projects as it will benefit all the residents of the barangay.

Lobregat also led the inspection of another ongoing road project from Cabaluay to Cacao with one cross drain and line canal with a stretch of 270 linear meters worth P2.46 million. The project is 40 percent complete.

Lobregat vowed that more projects will be unveiled and turned over in the days to come before he relinquishes his post and assumes as the District I Representative in the House of Congress.

DENR identifies 7 NGP planting sites in Zambo City

(PNA), FFC/TPGJR/UTB

ZAMBOANGA CITY, June 21 (PNA) -– The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has identified seven planting areas for this year in this city as it is making the necessary preparations for tree planting activities here in line with the government’s National Greening Program (NGP).

Ben Acana, head of DENR’s Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO)-West, said the so far seven identified planting areas are in the barangays of Labuan, La Paz, Pamucutan, Patalon, and Sinubong and Mampang and Tictabon Island for mangroves.

Acana said the target of his office for this year is to plant trees in 2,366 hectares and mangroves in 429 hectares or for a total of 2,795 hectares.

He said the farmers who will participate in the program will be paid P2,500 per hectare for the planting site preparation.

They will be paid P3,000 per hectare for the first and second years of planting and P1,000 per hectare on the third year, Acana said.

The planting activity will start next month, he added.

He said the species of trees to be planted included rubber, hard wood trees, bamboo, rattan, cacao and coffee, he said.

President Benigno S. Aquino III issued Executive Order No. 26 ordering and declaring the implementation of NGP as a government priority.

The program shall plant 1.5 billion trees covering about 1.5 million hectares by 2016.


No smoking ordinance in Zambo takes effect in September

(PNA), PDS/TPGJR/FELINO M. SANTOS/UTB

ZAMBOANGA CITY, June 20 (PNA) –- The smoking ban in public places,transportation and government offices will be enforced in this southern port city starting in September.

This, as Mayor Celso Lobregat has signed on Monday the city ordinance enacted last June 6 by the city council.

The ordinance will take effect within 90 days or three months. It will be published this week in a local newspaper.

Councilor Myra Paz Abubakar, who authored the ordinance, said the local police are ready to implement the ordinance by September although it does not ban smoking, per se, because that is already prohibited under Republic Act No. 9211 otherwise known as the “Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003.”

R.A. No. 9211 regulates the packing, use, sale, distribution and advertisement of tobacco products, to include cigarettes and cigars.

The newly approved ordinance prohibits smoking in public places in the city to include churches and places of religious worship, medical and dental clinics, hospitals, schools, government offices and other public places.

Smoking is also prohibited in public utility vehicles like passenger jeepneys, motorized tricycles, passenger vans and buses.

Business establishments are also mandated to post “No Smoking” signs in their places and they should provide for a smoking designated area where smokers may puff away on their cigarettes.

Abubakar said it will take time to implement the ordinance as this will call for an intensive information campaign to break the habits of smoking just anywhere in town.

Smokers will be penalized with a P500 fine and one day of community service for the first offense, a fine of 1,000 and two days community service for the second office.

Third time offenders will be fined P2,000 and three days community work while fourth and subsequent offenses will carry a fine of P5,000 per added offense.

Establishments that will violate the ordinance will be fined as follows: first offense, P1,000; second offense, P2,000; thirds offense, P3,000; and, fourth offense P5,000 and/or cancellation of business permits.

Nutrition champions to convene in Zamboanga City

(ALT/DOST9/PIA9)

ZAMBOANGA CITY, June 19 -- The Department of Science and Technology Regional Office IX together with the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI) will host a media forum for Nutrition Communication Network (NutriComNet) on June 20 at Marcian Garden Hotel, this city.

Information officers, health and nutrition specialists of various government agencies, and faculty members of state colleges and universities involved in food, nutrition and health promotion, to include media practitioners will gather to share and relate experiences in promoting food and nutrition information in the Zamboanga Peninsula region.

In a press statement, DOST-FNRI said the forum will be conducted in 5 major cities in the country including Zamboanga City in partnership with San Miguel Purefoods Company (SMPC) to tackle important issues such as protein-energy, micro deficiencies and meat safety, and how to fight malnutrition with accurate data, correct information and innovative technologies.

This year’s forum promises to be both informative and exciting considering the relevant issues to be addressed as it aims to provide local media practitioners and information officers with the recent food and nutrition trends in the country. Presentations will include the nutrition situation such as protein energy malnutrition (PEM) and micronutrient deficiencies, consequences of PEM and micronutrient deficiencies, Philippine food fortification program and meat safety.

NutriComNet is a network of provincial and regional media practitioners as well as information officers of various agencies and institutions involved in food, nutrition and health promotion established to create a favorable interactive promotion program between the FNRI-DOST and the local media in the region.

DOST’s partnership with various media, both in government and private entities will greatly help in sustaining combined efforts in fighting malnutrition in the country.

Zambo City commemorates Dr. Jose Rizal's 152nd birth anniversary

(PNA), LAP/TPGJR/PR/UTB

ZAMBOANGA CITY, June 18 (PNA) -- The city government in cooperation with the Order of the Knights of Rizal-Zamboanga City Chapter will spearhead the commemoration of the 152nd birth anniversary of Dr. Jose Rizal in fitting rites Wednesday in this southern port city.

The commemorative activity will be held at the Plaza Rizal in front of City Hall.

Themed “Rizalism: The Epitome of the Filipino Youth and Good Governance,” this city’s commemoration will kick-off with the flag raising ceremony to be followed by a floral offering at the foot of the Rizal monument.

A brief program will follow after the floral offering.

Mayor Celso Lobregat and House Speaker Ma. Isabelle Climaco-Salazar will spearhead the celebration along with Domingo Falcasantos, Knights of Rizal area commander for Western Mindanao.

Officials and representatives from national offices, military commands, city officials and department heads, school heads and barangay officials are expected to actively take part in the significant event.

Born on June 19, 1861, José Protacio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda became the most prominent Filipino nationalist for advocating reforms through peaceful means rather than by violent revolution in the Philippines during the Spanish colonial era.

Historical records revealed that in 1891, when Rizal published a sequel to his first book, he became the leading spokesman of the Philippine reform movement and later the leader of the Propaganda Movement.

In 1892, Rizal founded a nonviolent-reform society in Manila, and was deported.

He remained in exile for four years and in 1896 he was tried for sedition and publicly executed.

President Benigno Simeon Aquino, III has declared June 19 as a special non-working day in the province of Laguna in celebration of Rizal’s 152nd birth anniversary.

DOST-FNRI to hold media forum on nutrition in Zamboanga

(PNA), JBP/TPG/FMS/EBP

ZAMBOANGA CITY, June 17 (PNA) -- The regional office of the Department of Science and Technology and the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI) will conduct a one-day Media Forum for Nutrition Communication Network (NUTRICOMNET) here in Zamboanga Peninsula.

DOST Regional Information Officer Thelma Diego said the 2013 NUTRICOMNET-IX Media Forum will be held on Thursday, June 20, at the Marcian Garden Hotel in this city.

FNRI is partnering with San Miguel Purefoods Company, Inc. (SMPC) to tackle important issues such as protein-energy, micro deficiencies and meat safety, and to fight malnutrition with accurate data, correct information, and innovative technologies in five major cities in the country, one of which is this city.

Diego said this year’s forum promises to be both informative and exciting considering the relevant issues to be addressed as it aims to provide local media practitioners and information officers with data and information on the recent food and nutrition trends in the country.

Presentations in the forum include the nutrition situation: protein energy malnutrition (PEM) and micronutrient deficiencies, consequences of PEM and micronutrient deficiencies, Philippine food fortification program and meat safety.

Information officers, health and nutrition specialists of various government agencies, and faculty members of state colleges and universities involved in food, nutrition and health promotion and media practitioners will gather to share and relate experiences in promoting food and nutrition information in the region.

The coordination of DOST with the various media both in government and private entities, being partners in food and nutrition promotion, will greatly help in sustaining combined efforts in fighting malnutrition in the country, Diego said.

NUTRICOMNET is a network of provincial and regional media practitioners as well as information officers of various agencies and institutions involved in food, nutrition and health promotion.

It was established to create a favorable interactive promotion program between the FNRI-DOST and the media in the region.

It is also aimed to provide and update the public about the latest news on nutrition in the country.

Comelec resumes voters’ registration in Zambo City by July

(PNA), PDS/TPG/FMS/PJN

ZAMBOANGA CITY, June 16 (PNA) -- The Commission on Elections(Comelec) will resume the registration of voters for the October 2013 barangay elections nationwide by July.

It will be just less than four months away when the elections will be held, in the absence of any law suspending or resetting the barangay polls.

District II Election Officer Joseph Ian Tria said the registration would begin as soon as registration forms arrive from Manila.

Tria said they were also still waiting for the guidelines in the conduct of the barangay polls but the registration of new voters would be a routine activity of the agency.

Tria said that residents who have reached voting age should register to be able to vote in the elections in the barangay polls.

This city, which comprises of two congressional districts with 98 barangays, has a total of 405,601 registered voters as of the May 13 mid-term elections.

There are 37 barangays with 210,840 registered voters in the first district and 61 with 194,761 registered voters in the second district.

PAG-ASA to install water gauges in Zambo rivers to monitor floods

(PNA), LAM/TPGJR/FMS/PJN

ZAMBOANGA CITY, June 15 (PNA) -- The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical and Services Administration (PAGASA) will install Automated Water Level Staff Gauges, initially, in at least four big rivers in this city to ensure the early detection of floods without need for people to personally check on the water level of these rivers.

PAGASA Regional Chief Maribel Enriquez explained these sensitive and on-line water gauges will automatically inform PAG-ASA monitors at its main station near the local airport about the stages of water increase in these waterways.

Enriquez said these water gauges are equipped with sensors that will alert monitors at the regional centers about the particular water levels in these barangays.

Enriquez identified the four rivers to be installed with Automated Water Level Staff Gauges as those in the barangays of Vitali, Tumaga, Pasonanca and Ayala.

The Tumaga and Pasonanca Rivers are actually lengths of the same river that flows from this city’s watershed passing through the barangays of Pasonanca, Sta Maria, Tumaga, Tetuan and on to Tugbungan towards the sea.

These five populous barangays, which are within the seven-kilometer radius from the city proper, regularly flood when it rains in the watershed and the river overflow its banks and spread to low-lying areas in these communities including the city proper.

On the other hand, Vitali River located some 75 kilometers east of the city proper flows through that populous barangay and nearby barangays towards the sea.

Vitali River river regularly overflows and flood the community including the school grounds of the Vitali Central School and Vitali National High School.

The barangay of Vitali is a major stop-over point for buses and cargo trucks plying routes from this city to other key cities in the Zamboanga Peninsula and Mindanao.

The river in Barangay Ayala located 17 kilometers west of the city flows through that community and flood other coastal barangays, which are home to industrial and canneries.

These Automated Water Level Staff Gauges cost about P150,000 each and can provide three level of alert; First flood alert, a get ready alert, and finally an evacuation alert at level three.

Enriquez said monitors at PAG-ASA are on line with these water level gauges even if they are kilometers away from the main station.

PAG-ASA can then alert the barangays that will be affected by the floods to act accordingly, being advised of an incoming flood, to get ready for any evacuation and to leave the vicinity of the river banks immediately.

“In this manner we can save lives and property,” Enriquez said.

These gauges are part of project NOAH of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and approved by its Advanced Science and Technology Institute.

Zamboanga City’s hero dog Kabang earns house, job for her master

(PNA), LAP/TPGJR/FELINO M. SANTOS/UTB

ZAMBOANGA CITY, June 13 (PNA) -– Zamboanga’s hero dog Kabang is not only making waves among dog lovers in this city, country and abroad. She has done more than that.

Kabang was hailed as a hero after saving two children--the daughter and niece of her master, Rudy Bunggal--from being ran over by a motorcycle along Mayor Vitaliano Agan Avenue, about a kilometer ride from City Hall. The accident cut up the dog's snout and upper jaw up to less than an inch from her eyes.

But since then, Kabang has literally gone places, beyond any dream of a dog or yet, pet owner.

And she has also brought benefits not only for herself but also to her master and family she lives within their roadside makeshift home.

In this city, dogs are usually ran over by motor vehicles and regularly smashed to pulp in the city’s narrow roads.

Thousands of stray dogs in this city have also and are still being rounded up by implementers of a city ordinance against dogs of their kind and brought to the city pound.

Luckily for Kabang, she did not suffer the fate of her fellow canines in this city.

Now that all is well, it is said that some veterinarians suggested that “she be put to sleep,”. Her master Bunggal, however, refused to have Kabang killed, and her story went around the world.

For want of a better story for that one day in December 2012, someone wrote about Kabang's accident. The story was picked up by the television networks in this city and eventually Kabang’s story went viral.

Suddenly, there were dog lovers who eagerly talked about repairing the injury to her face. A fund raising drive was started and eventually, the dog was sent to a hospital in California in the United States.

Veterinarians in California could not reconstruct her snout and upper jaw but were able to treat the wound well. She was also treated for cancer in the seven months she was abroad.

Last week, news spread that her handlers were taking Kabang home to this city.

At the Zamboanga International Airport Sunday, people came to meet the hero dog.

Last Monday, Kabang and her pup Junior was brought on a motorcade through this city’s streets.

At home in their makeshift hut along Agan Avenue afterward, her story continued.

On Tuesday, City Mayor Celso Lobregat brought Kabang and her master to the government’s resettlement site in Barangay Tulungatung, 17 kilometers west of the city.

There, the mayor found a still unoccupied house and offered it to Bunggal where he can take care of his family, Junior and Kabang. The mayor paid for the P10,000 downpayment and first installment payment for the house and lot.

Earlier, the mayor also signed Executive Order Number CL-503-2013 naming Kabang as an ambassador of "dogwill".

Likewise, a job offer was made to Bunggal.

Kabang's story may well be a chapter of a fairytale in Doggieland.

OWWA-9 to celebrate Migrant Workers Day on June 15

By Mary Jane R. Amarado (FPG/MJRA/OWWA9/PIA9/ALT)

ZAMBOANGA CITY – The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) in Region 9 will celebrate the Migrant Workers Day on June 15 at the Marcian Garden Convention Center this city, starting 12:00 to 6:00 p.m.

With the theme, “Migranteng Pilipino: Tayo ay Magkasama sa Pag-abot sa Pangarap Mo,” a Jobs Fair will be conducted in coordination with the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) Regional Extension Unit-9 (REU-9) and the Association of the Zamboanga City Recruitment Agencies (AZCRA).

Hassan Gabra T. Jumdain, OWWA-9 Regional Director said that the event is open to all as the celebration will highlight the jobs fair, awarding of best OFW Family Circles in Region 9, launching of OWWA’s MTV “Abot Kamay” and raffle prizes. This is in recognition of the valuable contribution of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) to our country.

This year marks the 18th annual observance of the Filipino Migrants’ day, also known as “Araw ng Pasasalamat” as a way of celebrating the signing into law of Republic Act 8042 or the Migrant Workers Act of 1995.

“This is a big opportunity as we remain to be of service not only to OFWs but to the entire residents here in Zamboanga City,” Director Jumdain added.

Zambo Medical Center inaugurates Human Milk Bank

(PNA), LAP/FMS/UTB

ZAMBOANGA CITY, June 10 (PNA) -- The Zamboanga City Medical Center (ZCMC) on Monday inaugurated its multimillion peso Human Milk Bank funded by the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund or UNICEF within the complex of the former Zamboanga General Hospital in this city.

ZCMC Chief of Hospital Dr. Romeo Ong said the milk bank will now be the recipients of donation of milk from nursing mothers and human milk extraction centers for use by children or infants in needed of natural human milk.

Ong said that the bank located at the second floor of Building No. 21 will be the venue where human milk, from nursing mothers or newly delivered mothers with abundant milk in their breasts, can be collected and preserved.

He said the bank aims to reduce childhood mortality and provide optional nutrition to the Filipino newborns.

The main beneficiaries of this human milk bank are “preterm babies and neonates with Necrotizing enterocolitis, immuno deficiency diseases, feeding intolerance , allergies and inborn errors of metabolism.

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a medical condition primarily seen in premature infants, where portions of the bowel undergo necrosis (tissue death). It is the second most common cause of morbidity in premature infants and requires intensive care over an extended period.

He said human breast milk provides infants “compelling nutritional immunoprotective, neurodevelopmental, psychological, social and environmental benefits.”

Human milk is also rich in nutrients and non-nutritional bioactive components that cannot be replicated by artificial formula so that in infants who do not have access to their own mother’s milk, donor milk can be lifesaving.

Dr. Ong clarified that donor mothers must be able to meet the following requirements:

- in good general health and able to breastfeed,

- currently nursing a baby less than one year old,

- willing to have a blood test to rule out certain diseases, and

- not using medication or herbal supplements (except progestin, birth control pills or injections, synthroid, thyrozin, insulin, pre-natal vitamins, iron or calcium)

Those disqualified to donate milk include; prohibited drug users, alcoholics, smokers, positive for HIV 1 & 2, and those exposed to recent diagnostic, therapeutic & environmental radiation.

The ZCMC will adopt accepted procedures to be observed before milk collection, milk expression, after expression, and storage which must be deep-frozen.

He said donated milk will be provided free to premature babies and sick infants more so if their mothers cannot breastfeed them at all, for health and other reasons.

At present, the ZCMC center has on storage six liters of breast milk collected from the different barangay milk collection centers by the Department of Health (DOH), the City Health Office (CHO) and other sectors in the past few weeks.

Dr. Jamella Marbella, nutrition coordinator of the CHO said many lactating mothers with enough milk can donate excess milk in barangay health centers in the city, observing proper protocols for donation and later storage at the ZCMC.

Kabang’s master seeks help to keep hero dog’s life comfortable in Zamboanga City

By Julie S. Alipala (Inquirer Mindanao)

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – It will be a bittersweet homecoming for Kabang, the female dog that lost its upper snout while saving two girls from being hit by a motorcycle.

The dog, which was brought to the United States for medical treatment of its open facial wounds eight months ago, will arrive here at 5:30 p.m. Sunday via a commercial plane.

“(I still have to) check if it’s OK for her to walk to the arrival area. If it’s OK, I will put Kabang on a leash then bring her for a brief walk to the arrival area,” Dr. Anton Lim, the dog’s veterinarian, told the Philippine Daily Inquirer through a text message.

Owners Rodolfo “Rudy” Bunggal, his estranged wife Christina and their daughter, 12-year old Dina, are expected to be at the airport to welcome Kabang.

But Rudy said it would be hard for him to support Kabang now that the dog has experienced a “rich lifestyle” while being treated in the US.

“I hope there are other people with kind heart who will donate dog food,” he said.

Christina, who has since left Rudy for alleged physical abuse, said she would still visit Kabang if the dog was placed under the custody of her husband.

Rudy said he was very grateful for those who helped Kabang get medical treatment. He also admitted that many have expressed their intention to adopt the dog.

“But I said no. A lady from the United States even called me expressing her interest to adopt Kabang. I told them Kabang will stay with us and I entrusted everything to Dr. Lim for the dog’s care and medication. Lim has helped us a lot,” he said.

Lim told the Inquirer that they were considering the living conditions of the Bunggals.

“We are looking at ways on how best to help them so that they can take better care of Kabang or make it easier for them to take care of her,” he said.

Lim said they were conferring with the Bunggals about Kabang’s welfare.

Dr. Mario Arriola, the city veterinarian, said Kabang would meet her owners upon arrival at the airport, but “she will stay for a while with Lim.”

A motorcade, which is part of the city government-initiated Hero’s Welcome, will be held Monday morning.

Arriola said after the motorcade, Kabang would have a “meat and grit” event with other pet owners at the Parque de Santa Maria (Santa Maria Park) here.

ICT, BPO have great potentials in Zamboanga, says consultant

By R.G. Antonet Go

Zamboanga ICT Council Consultant, Nicholas Luff sees great potential for the Information Communication Technology (ICT) and Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) industries in Zamboanga City.

Luff said, “I see such great potential here. I think, it’s only a question of time. You demonstrate these potentials to the Philippines and the world.” He said one of the strengths of the city is the chavacano dialect which is similar to Spanish.

However, he also identified some of the problems that may hinder the fast growth of the said industries here. He said peace and order, security, unstable power supply, and internet connection issues should be properly addressed.

He said, “I think there are many other things we should start now to be able to develop ultimately the types of call center that are stereo typical and large in scale. In the ICT council of Zamboanga, we decided we should start climbing that ladder together, look at ideal strategies, deal with issues, and compliment strengths that exist in Zamboanga City.”

According to Luff, there are so many different business opportunities and so much infrastructure that should be developed in the city, and it should begin today.

He said, “Cebu, Davao, Manila, and Bacolod, all we need to do is look at how they did it. Just try to replicate those success stories.”

The aim of the council is to transform Zamboanga City into one of the leading centers for ICT and BPO development in the Philippines.

Zambo Football Ass'n beats other powerhouse teams

(PNA), HBC/TEOFILO P. GARCIA, JR./UTB

ZAMBOANGA CITY, June 7 (PNA) – The Zamboanga Football Association defeated other powerhouse football teams from top universities in the country in the recently concluded Chris Monfort Memorial Cup held at the grounds of Ateneo de Manila University.

Aside from the national title, the Zamboanga Football delegation also emerged third place winner in the Dipolog Centennial Football Festival under the women’s category and also third place winner in the Master’s category.

As this developed, Mayor Celso Lobregat expressed elation Friday over ZAFA’s overpowering performance in the Chris Monfort Memorial Cup and good showing in the regional competition, stressing that the Zamboanga football delegation once again puts this city in the map of sports.

A top football player during his high school and college days, Lobregat said football is fast becoming a favourite sport of the young generation and that more programs to promote the sport should be encouraged.

Dr. Justin Paber, ZAFA Secretary General has thanked Lobregat and the city government for constantly supporting the football aficionados here in Zamboanga City.

“We hope to bring home more trophies this year and we hope that the city government will continue to support us,” Paber said.

Paber, accompanied by former ZAFA president City Assessor Erwin Bernardo, spearheaded the ZAFA delegation in a courtesy call on Lobregat at City Hall Friday.

The team presented to the mayor the trophies and medals that the group hauled during the competitions.

Paber affirmed that young kids in this city are turning to football in view of the popularity of the Philippine team “Azkals.”

He hoped that local football enthusiasts would further hone their talents can also become a part of the Philippine national team in the future.

Meanwhile, the Chris Monfort Memorial Cup is a yearly competition organized by ADMU to perpetuate the memory of the legendary football player and coach Chris Monfort, who helped steer the Ateneo de Manila to a UAAP championship in 1996 and in the international arena with the Gothia Cup in Sweden and Finland.

Monfort likewise represented the Philippines in the 1998 World Cup in France.

Zambo peninsula new minimum wage rate begins June 10

(PNA), PDS/FMS/UTB

ZAMBOANGA CITY, June 6 (PNA) -– Workers in the private sector in the Zamboanga Peninsula Region will begin receiving their increase wage rates of P13 pesos per day starting June 10.

The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB-IX) headed by Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Sisinio B. Cano as chairman has declared the increase in Regional Wage Order No. 18, after a series of consultation with the labor sector, employees and employers in the region.

The RTWBP chairman assisted by National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Regional Director Teresita Socorro Ramos, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-9 Director Nazrullah Manzur conducted the series of consultation since late last year.

Edgar Lim and Roberto Valerio, members of the Employers’ Representatives; and Jose Suan and Rey Anthony Trio, members of the labor sector, also helped come up with the rate of the increase.

Republic Act No. 6727, otherwise known as the Wage Rationalization Act of 1989 empowers RTWPB to determine and fix minimum wage rates applicable in the regions.

Wage orders are subject to existing guidelines issued by the National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC).

Cano said their decision on the amount of increase was done after evaluating the region’s socio-economic and labor market indicators, poverty incidence, the purchasing power of the peso, as well as the problematic power situation prevailing in the region.

The P13.00 per day raise will be for all industries and categories in the entire Zamboanga Peninsula. This will include workers in non-agricultural enterprises which includes private hospitals, educational institutions, security agencies, janitorial and retail/service.

Employees working in establishments with more than 30 workers will now receive P280 from the old rate of P267 per day.

Workers in the agricultural sector to include includes rubber-based plantations will have a take home daily pay of P255 and P235 for plantation agricultural enterprise and non-plantation agricultural enterprise respectively.

The wage order also sates that retail/service establishments employing not more than 30 workers receiving P247/day will now get P260 a day.

On the other hand, workers in the cottage/handicraft industry will now receive P235 per day from the previous rate of P222 per day.

The wage order applies to all the minimum wage earners in the private sector in the region, regardless of their position, designation or status and irrespective of the method by which their wages are paid.

This wage order does not cover household or domestic helpers, family drivers and workers in barangay enterprises.

DOT pushes for accreditation of tourism-related businesses for access to gov’t programs

By Michael Vincent D. Cajulao (ALT/MVC/PIA9-ZBST)

ZAMBOANGA CITY, June 5 (PIA) -- The regional office of the Department of Tourism (DOT) is working for the accreditation of tourism-related establishments so the latter can avail themselves of government programs.

Accreditation with the DOT brings with it perks like being included in DOT programs and promotional materials, DOT Regional Director Mary June Bugante said during an interview with local media here.

Bugante, however, said they have yet to convince most establishments in the region for accreditation as most are not keen on this program.

“Most of them don’t see any reason to be accredited because they are doing well whether they are accredited or not”, she said. Bugante, however, said the government is intensifying its drive to encourage businesses or establishments to be accredited with DOT.

She said accommodation businesses like hotels, travel inns, including travel tour operators, should be accredited. Restaurants and other food business have the option not to apply for accreditation.

DOT records reveal that there are at least 200 tourism-related businesses in Zamboanga Peninsula, with around 100 based in Zamboanga City. The agency aims to accredit at least 30 percent of these.

DOST to install 12,000 OL traps in Zambo peninsula schools vs dengue

(PNA), JBP/TPG/UTB

ZAMBOANGA CITY, June 4 (PNA) -– The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) will install 12,000 Ovicidal/Larvicidal (OL) traps in schools to help prevent occurrence of dengue cases here in the region.

DOST Regional Director Brenda Nazareth-Manzano said the OL traps will be placed in elementary and secondary schools and “the target is cover 100 percent of all government elementary and high schools.”

Thousands of elementary and secondary school students have returned to schools as classes for school year 2013-2014 opened Monday.

Department of Health’s (DOH) Regional Epidemiology Surveillance Unit (RESU) head Dr. Norvie Jalani on Tuesday disclosed that there were a total of 2,716 dengue cases registered from January until May 25 in the region this year.

Manzano said the use of the OL traps is the intervention of DOST’s Industrial Technology Development Institute (ITDI) against dengue

The OL trap comprises of three components and these are: a black cup, fiberboard, and organic pellets.

The OL trap is easy to use, according to Manzano.

"First is fill the cup water, then pour a sachet of organic pellet and place the stick, which is made of fiberboard, into the solution with the rough surface facing up," Manzano said.

The OL trap can be placed indoors or outdoors in low-lying areas and let it stand for six to seven days, Manzano said.

After the seventh day, Manzano said gently brush off into the solution the mosquito egg stuck on the stick by using used toothbrush and then dispose all the liquid content of the cup on dry ground and repeat the same procedure.

She said the scent of the organic pellet solution attracts female mosquitoes into the OL trap where they lay eggs on the fiberboard stick, which is made of Lawanit, and on the solution itself.

The eggs and the wrigglers die once they get exposed to the solution thereby preventing the next generation of mosquitoes from reaching adulthood, she added.

Manzano is optimistic that the installation of OL traps in the different schools will help bring down the cases of dengue here in the region.

Zambo sets Internet Café Watch near schools

(PNA), HBC/FMS/UTB

ZAMBOANGA CITY, June 3 (PNA) -– The City Government will field men from the City Administrator’s Office and the police precinct stationed at city hall to check on Internet Cafes operating near schools.

Classes in the city’s public 171 elementary schools and 34 government high schools and some private schools opened Monday and the city government is determined to implement rules on the operations of these cafes.

Internet cafes proliferate in the city proper near schools and even in rural areas where Internet Lines are available.

City Administrator Antonio Orendain Jr. said Internet Cafes must be located outside a 50 meter radius from any school.

This 50-meter distance from school also applies to privately operated schools.

Internet cafes are also banned from allowing students or minors into their premises before 5:00 in the afternoon.

All Internet Cafes are also required to secure business permits from City Hall regardless the number of computer units they have in their establishments.

Orendain said previous checks made on Internet Cafes showed numerous violations and that owners have been instructed to correct their defects in time before the opening of schools.

Students uses Internet Cafes to research on their lessons but some students uses these cafes to surf on pornographic sites.

PAGASA to put up P110-M radar station in Zambo

(LS)

The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) will install a Doppler Radar C-Band station at the Western Mindanao Command military complex in this city within the year.

PAGASA Zamboanga chief Maribel Enriquez said the facility costing about P110 million will come in two phases; construction of the structure and the purchase of the equipment before the end of the year.

She said her office has already bid out the construction of the Doppler building at P24.4 million and the contractor is just waiting for the release of the money for the project by the Department of Public works and Highways (DPWH).

The cost of the radar equipment itself will vary, depending on the manufacturer which will supply and install the equipment.

This Doppler Radar C-Band Station will provide accurate weather forecast and conditions in the Zamboanga peninsula and the Mindanao area because the region is bounded by seas: the Sulu Sea, the Mindanao Sea and the Moro Gulf and further down south the Celebes Sea.

She said the estimate cost of P110 million for the radar is based on stations already put up in other parts of the country.

The Doppler Radar C-Band station will be the third to be established in Mindanao.

The two other PAGASA radar stations are located in Cotabato and Surigao.

All the other regions in Luzon and the Visayas are now provided with their own Doppler Radar Stations comprising a network of 15 radars stations nationwide.

She said all weather radars send out radio waves from an antenna. Pictures of objects in the air, such as raindrops, snow crystals, hailstones or even insects are reflected back to the antenna.

All weather radars, including Doppler, electronically convert the reflected radio waves into pictures showing the location and intensity of weather condition in real time.

“The Doppler radar is expected to help the government to effectively predict the direction, impact and intensity of weather disturbances, including typhoons, approaching the country which will make us better prepared,” she said.

The proposed radar station will be located inside the Western Mindanao Military Command (Wesmincom) and will be helpful to the military in planning military operations, disaster prevention and mitigation in Mindanao through real time weather conditions.

Enriquez said the station will house only the technicians and the equipment while the main PAGASA office will remain at the vicinity of the Zamboanga International Airport.

PHIVOLCS, JICA to install intensity meter in Zambo

(PNA), HBC/TEOFILO P. GARCIA, JR/JSD

ZAMBOANGA CITY, June 1 (PNA) -– The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, in partnership with Japan International Cooperation Agency, is installing an intensity meter in this southern port city, a PHIVOLCS official announced.

PHIVOLCS-Zamboanga City officer-in-charge Allan Labayog said intensity meter will be installed on June 5 at the local PHIVOLCS office in Barangay Sta. Maria, this city.

The intensity meter, which came from Japan, will be installed by a team of PHIVOLCS personnel from the central office, Labayog said.

The equipment is a box-like structure equipped with a small monitor capable of calculating the intensity of the earthquake and transmitting on real-time the data into the PHIVOLCS database for an accurate description and measurement of the tremor’s intensity, Labayog said.

“This (equipment) will help us for a faster issuance of landslide and tsunami alerts to save lives in the event that earthquake will strike,” he said.

The intensity meter will be connected on line, which means data can be transmitted via the internet to the PHIVOLCS central office, he said.

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