Zamboanga City News March 2013

From Philippines
Jump to navigation Jump to search
→ → Go back HOME to Zamboanga: the Portal to the Philippines.

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z
Create Name's page

Regions | Philippine Provinces | Philippine Cities | Municipalities | Barangays | High School Reunions

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.

Peaceful Holy Week in Zambo — police

By Dan Toribio Jr.

The observance of the Holy Week in Zamboanga City was generally peaceful, according to the police.

City Police Director Sr. Supt. Edwin De Ocampo yesterday disclosed that as early as the first day of the Holy Week, he personally led the deployment of his men in different areas including the 14 stations of the cross in Abong-Abong, the Monte Santo in Lumayang and the different catholic churches.

The Holy Week security plan was formulated by the police, military, city government and other agencies weeks before the observance of the Lenten Season.

As a result of the security measures, police record showed that there had been no untoward incident up to the last hour of Good Friday.

Despite the positive result, De Ocampo disclosed that they will still secure all churches up to the last mass today, Easter Sunday.

The police chief also thanked the public for their cooperation in obeying all the laws, rules and regulations..

Aside from the police, the Task Force Zamboanga and barangay officials and their tanods in the different barangays played a special role in helping the police enforce the laws in every church.

The different barangay councils in the 98 barangays have utilized their manpower like the tanods and the Barangay Intelligence Network (BIN) during the masses and the processions on Good Friday.

DSWD Zambo Peninsula releases 4Ps grants before election ban

(PNA), LAM/TPG/PJN

ZAMBOANGA CITY, March 30 (PNA) -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) already released in advance the grants to the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries here in Zamboanga Peninsula.

Narabelle Bue, DSWD Zamboanga Peninsula information officer, said the advance release to the beneficiariesis in compliance with the memorandum from the central office to give the grants early in pursuant to the election ban.

Bue said the election ban will be from March 29 to May 13 and “during that period there will be no giving of Pantawid grants.”

Bue said they have released the grants to the beneficiaries starting last week and “the last day of distribution was last Wednesday.

The release of grants for the 4P’s beneficiaries is being given by the DSWD every two months and the release of the grants will resume in June, she said.

There are 280,000 4Ps beneficiaries in the region, 38,000 of them from Zamboanga City.

The beneficiaries receive more or less P1,000 a month through Automated Teller Machines (ATMs), or over the counter collection in the nearest Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) branch depending on the number of their children below 14 years old.

The grant will be for health and medical services as well as for the education of each school-age children.

277 Pinoy ‘refugees’ arrive from Sabah in Zamboanga

(ABS-CBN)

ZAMBOANGA CITY: Bringing only a single plastic baggage since his departure from his prison cell in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, 22-year-old Al Hadain walked barefoot, descending from the commercial ferry from Sandakan on Thursday.

It was raining hard and the pavements were wet. But Hadain did not have slippers with him.

He says the Malaysian authorities who arrested him in Kota Kinabalu did return his belongings when they were transported away from their prison cell.

It was his fault, he says, because he did not have anything with him, save a malong kept inside the only baggage he carried and the clothes he wore.

He says some of his companions were not given even slippers before they boarded the ferry to Zamboanga City.

He also says that while he was inside the cell detained for working without legal documents, there was an alleged epidemic and caused a cell mate to die.

Hadain’s stories were among those that greeted officials from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Office.

Jamila Arasid, Center Head for the Center for Displaced Persons in Barangay Mampang, Zamboanga City promised that the center will provide shelter, food, clothes and even slippers for at least 277 undocumented Filipinos from Sabah.

Arasid also says they were expecting an even bigger number of 353.

But due to the limited capacity of the commercial ferry, more than 50 other repatriates were left in Sandakan awaiting transport early next week.

The DSWD has been spearheading taking care temporarily the needs of Filipino deportees arriving, since the clashes erupted between the Royal Security Force and the Malaysian authorities early February in Sabah.

But other than undocumented Filipinos, officials from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) also found out that some were bona fide overseas Filipino workers but failed to get necessary workers permit who also went with the group.

Angeles Engalla, OIC for Region 9 says they are ready to assist Filipinos, who would want to go back to Sabah and reclaim their jobs.

Aside from the 277 evacuees, at least 9 others from Sabah arrived in Zamboanga City from Sulu.

DILG waits for Zamboanga’s Barangay Budgets

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

ZAMBOANGA CITY, March 28 (PNA) -- The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) has called on officials of the city’s 98 barangays to submit their approved barangay budgets for the current year.

DILG Provincial Director Mohamad Taha Arakama has been issuing this call to barangays officials who failed to submit their budgets by the end of last year.

He said barangay officials will have a 90-day grace period or from January to end of this month to prepare their budgets.

Some barangay officials have complained to the DILG that they have not received their salaries in the absence of an approved budget for the current year.

The barangay budgets will have to be reviewed by the city budget officer who will see to it that expenses incurred last year will be properly liquidated with receipt and other documents.

Arakama said that failure to submit their budgets for the current year means that they will have to use their budgets for 2012 which could mean that there could be no salary increases for barangay officials or employees.

No project can be financed with local funds because while there may be funds for projects, these are projects that were implemented last year.

The funds for projects for 2012 will be in the 2013 projects but no new projects can substitute for projects already undertaken.

The DILG will hold the barangay chairman and the barangay treasurer to prepare the budget.

He declined to identify the barangays with no approved operating budget for the current year.

Zambo City observes Earth Hour

By Jocelyn P. Alvarez (PIA9)

ZAMBOANGA CITY - The city joined the rest of the world in the recent observance of Earth Hour, a worldwide movement to reduce the impact of global warming.

More than a hundred participants, mostly city hall employees, gathered at the Zamboanga City Electric Cooperative (Zamcelco) covered court for the Earth Hour observance which was marked by a ceremonial switch-off of lights at 8:30 in the evening.

Sheila Covarrubias, Public Information Officer (PIO), said “Mayor Celso Lobregat issued Executive Order 499-2013 expressing the city government’s support and commitment to the observance of the said event, which is a call to action for energy efficiency, conservation and to address climate change.”

“At exactly 8:30pm, lights were turned off, sending a strong message that something can be done to minimize the impact of global warming,” Covarrubias said. During the one hour “switch off,” employees of the City Environment and Natural Resources (OCENR) performed a fire dance to entertain the participants.

The lady PIO said the city has been supportive and has been joining the observance for the past 6 years now.

Covarrubias informed that the “Earth Hour has been spearheaded by the Department of Energy (DOE) and Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) in collaboration with the Green Army and the SWITCH Movement.”

City government unveils P2.6-M health facilities

By Bong Garcia

TWO west coast villages have received P2.6-million health facilities from the City Government, which are aimed to strengthen the delivery of health services in far-flung areas in Zamboanga City.

The recipients of the projects are the villages of Pamucutan and Sinubong located 23 kilometers and 26 kilometers west of this city, respectively.

Mayor Celso Lobregat, who led the unveiling of the two health facilities on Sunday, said the implementation of the projects are in line with the City Government’s commitment to make health services accessible in all 98 villages in the city.

First to be unveiled and inaugurated was the P498,000 health center in Sitio Anuling, Pamucutan, which was followed by the P2.2 million health facility in Sinubong.

The health center was the second of such facility to be constructed in Barangay Pamucutan, said City Health Officer Dr. Rodelin Agbulos.

Agbulos explained that some villages like Pamucutan have more than one health center due to population size.

Pamucutan village chief Romeo Serna said the construction of the second health center in his village is a big help for his constituents.

Serna said those staying in Sitio Anuling will no longer have to spent fare in going to the health center since another health facility is found right in their own community.

Serna presented to Lobregat a Plaque of Appreciation in recognition to the latter’s leadership and contribution to Pamucutan.

The health facility in Sinubong is equipped with consultation, immunization, pre-natal, labor and delivery rooms which can provide birthing services to pregnant mothers in the village, said Agbulos.

Sinubong village chief Rolando Soler thanked Lobregat for the many projects the present administration has given to his village.

Soler said the health facility will certainly boost the delivery of services in the area.

Zamcelco seeks ERC nod for more power purchase

By Philip Abuy

All is set for tomorrow’s (March 26) filing by Zamboanga City Electric Cooperative, Incorporated (Zamcelco) of application with the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) to enter into contracts with independent power producers to purchase additional electricity to meet the city’s power requirement and to eliminate the 6 to 8-hour daily brownouts, which have been crippling the local economy and pestering local residents for a month now.

The filing of said application comes after Zamcelco shall have published in three local newspapers about the proposed plan to buy around 20 to 30-megawatt power supply from different IPPs, to include the projected increase in electricity rate, in case such purchases materialize.

In last Friday’s conference on power situation in Zamboanga City which was called by Mayor Celso Lobregat, both Zamcelco officials led by its president, Elbert ‘Bong’ Atilano Sr, and San Ramon Power Inc. (SRPI) headed by its plant manager, Engr. Archie Donato, confirmed, that they were in the process of reconciling the proposed power rates per kilowatt-hour, once all contracts to procure additional 20 to 30 megawatts were perfected.

These Zamcelco and SRPI officials met jointly last Friday night to finalize said reconciled proposed new rates, which is tentatively projected at P9 per kilowatt-hour. While Lobregat was insistent on that day for Zamcelco and SRPI to meet Friday evening to finalize all things, and publish these rates last Saturday, March 23, Donato however said, “there are many parties involved in this project, and most of them are based in Singapore,, thus, his reluctance in doing what the city’s chief executive was insisting on.

Donato was referring to the officials and representatives of Southern Philippines Power Corporation (SPPC) in Sarangani Province, and Western Mindanao Power Corporation (WMPC) in barangay Sangali this city, all sister companies of SRPI, to which Zamcelco were to contract for 5 and 10 megawatts, respectively.

Another unused 5 megawatts would be bought from HOLCIM Cement Corporation, based in Iligan City.

For his part, Atilano expressed optimism that after filing, ERC would likely render its favorable decision on said application, in a matter of 15 days period, and it will be this time, that they (Zamcelco), would request from ERC, provisional authority, to implement these contracts in haste

“Therefore, if things go on smoothly, favorable power situation in Zamboanga City, might come in either last week of April or 1st week of May”, the Zamcelco president predicted.

ZC reaffirms advocacy on anti-global warming

By Sheila Covarrubias

Zamboanga City last night reaffirmed its support to Earth Hour, a worldwide movement to reduce the impact of global warming.

Spearheaded by the City Government, the observance of Earth Hour, simultaneous in all countries in the globe, was marked by the ceremonial switch-off of lights at 8:30pm. The switch-off however, followed the blackout schedule imposed by the Zamboanga City Electric Cooperative due to power curtailment.

Mayor Celso Lobregat issued Executive Order 499-2013 expressing the city government’s support and commitment to the observance of the global event, which is a call to action for energy efficiency, conservation and to address climate change.

The city is joining the observance for the 6th straight year. Earth hour is spearheaded by the Department of Energy (DOE) and Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) in collaboration with the Green Army and the SWITCH Movement.

At exactly 8:30 last night, cities and towns across the world turned off lights for an hour to send a powerful message that it is possible to take action on global warming.

The activity last night held at the Zamcelco multi-purpose covered court in Putik, started with the welcome message from Zamcelco acting manager Sherwin Mañada followed by the countdown led by Mayor Lobregat.

Rev. Fr. Adriano Ruiz Jr., Hadji Amilpasa Bandaying and Pastor Edwin Siva Jr. led the ecumenical prayer. Marilyn Francisco of PENRO-DENR-9 led the signing of “One Little Candle” while OCENR staff took charge of entertainment numbers until 9:30pm when power was restored.

The program was capped by a message from Mayor Lobregat and the signing of the pledge of commitment led by the mayor and followed by the participants. Zamcelco Board of Director Vic Liozo Jr. was the master of ceremony.

Zambo mining firm joins cleaning of Mialim River

(PNA), PDS/TPG/PR-ANTONIO M. MANAYTAY/GODY DINAPO/PJN

ZAMBOANGA CITY, March 23 (PNA) -- Miners took their time to partly clean Mialim River in Barangay Vitali, some 74-kilometer east of this city, to mark the World Water Day on Friday.

At least 70 employees of Atro Mining-Vitali, Inc.(AMVI) participated in the river clean-up on Thursday by collecting debris, bottles and plastics and other wastes to declog the river.

AMVI resident officer-in-charge Engr. Reinnier John S. Sunico said in an interview that the river clean-up activity is “part of the company’s commitment for sustainable development by taking care of the environment.”

“This is our way of expressing our concern for the environment by going out to participate in the celebration,” he said.

The day-long clean-up collected 789 kilograms of garbage from Mialim river.

World Water Day is held annually on March 22 to generate public attention on the importance of freshwater and advocating for the sustainable management of freshwater resources.

The Vitali celebration was a joint undertaking of AMVI, Barangay council of Vitali, and the regional office of the Environmental Management Bureau-9 (EMB-9).

AMVI president Elson S. Ogario in a statement said the company has tirelessly carry on its commitment to socially responsible mining.

AMVI regularly submits water samples to EMB-9 and the regional office of the Department of Science and Technology-9 (DOST-9) taken from the different rivers and streams in Vitali area for analysis.

River clean-up is a regular company activity throughout the year.

Monte Santo fast becoming alternative place for Holy Week’s Via Crucis in Zambo City

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

ZAMBOANGA CITY, March 22 (PNA) -– Although little is known about the place, Monte Santo located in Barangay Lumayang is fast becoming an alternative place for Catholic faithful to go and do the Via Crucis (Way of the Cross) during Holy Week in this city.

Unlike the Stations of the Cross at the Climaco Freedom Park in Mount Abong-Abong, Barangay Pasonanca, eight kilometers north of this city, Monte Santo was developed by Arsenio Nuevo, an announcer of the Catholic Media Network’s (CMN) radio station dxVP-Radyo Verdadero.

Monte Santo sits on a parcel of land with rolling terrain owned by Nuevo, who also loves to farm, while the Climaco Freedom Park is a city government project built during the administration of the late Mayor Cesar Climaco in the early ‘80s.

At first, Nuevo said his intention was to build a place of worship during the Holy Week for the family, friends and the residents of Barangay Lumayang, an uphill village 12.8 kilometers east of this city.

“So I placed a big wooden cross on top of a hill, built Christ the King Altar, and grottos for Our Lady of Fatima and Our Lady of Lourdes,” Nuevo recalled adding: “It was something like five to six years ago.”

Since then, a mass is being held once a week in the place although Barangay Lumayang has its own chapel and religious activities like the reading of the “passion” (Pabasa) held during the observance of the Holy Week.

Three years later, Nuevo said second district Rep. Erico Basilio Fabian, who visited Monte Santo during Holy Week, encouraged him to build the Stations of the Cross and promised to help him on the project.

“Actually, it was Erbie (Fabian’s nickname) who helped me to develop the place,” he said citing he contacted his sculptor-friend, Charlie Ibañez, from Barangay Bunguiao “when he asked me if I know of anyone who knows to carve saints for the Stations of the Cross.”

He recalled that there were only about 120 Catholic faithful who visited Monte Santo during the Holy Week when the Stations of the Cross were completed.

A year later, when Councilor Rommel Agan visited Monte Santo, Nuevo requested the official to facilitate a funding request to Sarangani Rep. Emmanuel Paquiao for the construction of concrete pathway steps from one station to the other.

Agan, who is a lawyer-accountant by profession, is Paquiao’s tax lawyer.

“The people are really having a hard time in fulfilling their religious obligations during the Holy Week especially if it rains since it is very slippery to walk from one station to the other,” Nuevo said.

Paquiao, through his lawyer, shouldered the construction of the concrete pathway steps, which were undertaken by the village folks, according to Nuevo.

Since then, the number of Catholic faithful doing the Via Crucis at Monte Santo during Holy Week grew to thousands and most of them are from this city’s east coast barangays.

They no longer need to spend money for fares to go to the Stations of the Cross at the Climaco Freedom Park for the Via Crucis.

“We no longer have to spent so much for our fares since we can just walk going to Monte Santo for the way of the cross,” Ronniel, a farmer, who stays in nearby Barangay Lumbangan said.

Lumayang Barangay Chairman Frederick Atilano said they expect some 8,000 to 10,000 Catholics “to climb to Monte Santo” starting on Monday until Good Friday.

At this early, Atilano has already met with Police Station 5 commander Supt. Haywien Salvado for the Holy Week security at Monte Santo.

“We expect a large number of Catholic faithful to climb to Monte Santo by Maundy Thursday,” Atilano said citing several of them are expected to camp overnight and return home Friday after the mass for Jesus Christ’s seven last words.

In the evening of Maundy Thursday, Atilano said there will also be film viewing on the passion and death of Jesus Christ.

“We are making all the necessary preparations since Monte Santo is fast becoming the alternative place for Via Crucis by Catholic faithful during Holy Week,” he added.

Zambo hospital's P245-M upgrade as cancer treatment facility starts this year

(PNA), JBP/FMS/EBP

ZAMBOANGA CITY, March 21 (PNA) -- The modernization of Zamboanga City Medical Center (ZCMC), formerly Zamboanga General Hospital, will start this year with a P245-million fund from the Department of Health.

Dr. Romeo Ong, chief of hospital, said ZCMC has been identified as one of the medical facilities in the country that will be upgraded as a “cancer treatment facility” this year.

The upgrading will include the purchase and installation of multimillion peso modern cancer treatment equipment.

It will also include the construction of a 4-storey out-patient building to serve as administration building of the hospital.

The amount will be used to repair most of the old facilities and buildings in the complex.

Established way back in 1918 during the American occupation as the Zamboanga General Hospital, it was the premier government hospital in Mindanao in the early 1990s.

Today, it still serves patients from all over the Zamboanga Peninsula and the Sulu Archipelago comprising Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi Tawi.

The ZCMC attends to an average of 440 confined patients and admits about 40 patients a day as similar number is discharged on daily basis.

Ong said the hospital also treats about 320 outpatients per day while an average of 100 patients are attended to at the emergency room.

The modernization of the facility will mean that a bigger number of patients from the city and the region will be served.

Other than the ZCMC, there are now seven big hospitals in the city: the Zamboanga Doctors Hospital, the Western Mindanao Medical Center, the Brents Hospital, the ZAEC Community Hospital, Puericulture Lying in Hospital, a Children’s Hospital and the Ciudad Medical Hospital.

Outside a 10-kilometer radius from City Hall, the City government maintains at least five emergency hospitals in communities which first serve as initial reception and emergency centers before seriously ill or wounded patients are bought to the ZCMC.

Ong said patients in these government-operated hospitals and even from private hospitals end up at the ZCMC because it also has modern facilities and is subsidized by the government.


Zamcelco gets go-signal to buy more power supply RATES TO GO 100% UP

By Philip Abuy

Electric consumers of Zamboanga City have formally put their faith on the hands of Zamboanga City Electric Cooperative, (Zamcelco) officials to employ whatever means to solve the pestering brownout problem, despite knowing that power rates would go up to almost double than that of the current one.

This happened in yesterday’s public consultation, which was called upon by Zamcelco to get the electric consumers’ views as to the coop’s plan of entering into several contracts with independent power producers, to acquire the needed power supply and totally eliminate the 6 to 8-hour daily brownouts starting next month. Out of the almost 200 attendees, representing multi-sectoral groups, including city officials, only Councilor Cesar ‘Jawo’ Jimenez Jr., opposed the idea for Zamcelco to contract power supply from IPPs.

When asked why, Jimenez said Zamcelco might put the electric consumers into a trap, in terms of paying high cost of electricity and never able to get away with it, even until after the power crisis is over.

“I doubt if power rates will ever go down again, once they (Zamcelco officials) sign contracts with these profit-oriented power producers,” Jimenez explained. However, Zamcelco President Elbert “Bong” Atilano Sr. assured all member-consumers present that, “if power rates will start to go up beginning April, it would in the same manner, gradually go down by September, when Mapalad Power Corporation’s 18-megawatt starts coming in”.

Atilano sought the consumers’ permission during said public consultation for Zamcelco to purchase the unused 5-megawatt from Iligan City based-HOLCIM Cement Corporation, another 5-megawatt from Southern Philippines Power Corporation in Sarangani Province, and an additional 20 more megawatt from other power sources. “These diesel-fed power supply contracts when perfected, would surely fill-in PSALM and TMI’s 30-megawatt deficiency, and would thus, bring electricity to city residents 24 hours a day,” the board president said.

Atilano, however, reiterated his caution for consumers to bear with the expected power rate increase, which would likely go up to P9 per kilowatt-hour, a particular reminder , which is close to 100 per cent among those present in the public consultation, confidently, yielded to.

“Now that we already have the “green light” from our consumers, we will start working on all papers beginning tomorrow, that is, to ask from the Department of Energy (DOE) and Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), to grant us the necessary provisional authority, to start entering into contracts with the suppliers,” Atilano said. Among those present during the consultation, were Mayor Celso Lobregat, his brother, 2nd district congressional aspirant Jomar Lobregat, Councilor Ahman Nuno, other Zamcelco board officials and department managers, SRPI officials, and some administration’s council aspirants from both districts.

DOT sets tour operations, tour packaging seminar in Zambo

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

ZAMBOANGA CITY, March 19 (PNA) -– The Department of Tourism (DOT) is conducting a two-day Tour Operations and Tour Packaging Seminar in this southern port city.

DOT Regional Director Mary June Bugante said the seminar aims to train and refresh travel and tour agencies on operations and on effective customer services when catering to tourists who come and visit this city and the region.

Bugante said the demands of package tours are increasing with the growing international and domestic tourism traffic.

The seminar will be held from Thursday until Friday at the Garden Orchid Hotel in this city with Great Sights Travel and Tours Corporation Managing Director Paul So as the guest speaker.

Bugante said that interested individuals who plan to put up a travel agency are welcome to join the two-day seminar for free.

Only 35 slots are available on a first come, first served basis and they can call the DOT regional office through telephones numbers (062)993-00-30 and (062)955-24-77 for slot reservations, according to Bugante.

Red Cross readies Summer Safety Institute in Zamboanga

(PNA), HBC/PTR/FMS/EBP

ZAMBOANGA CITY, March 18 (PNA) -- The Philippine Red Cross will host a 40-day Summer Safety Institute for youngsters, students and out-of-school youths from April 1 to May 10 at the PRC compound at Pettit Barracks.

PRC Zamboanga City Chapter Administrator Victor Liozo, Jr. said that this institute will equip the participants for skills in coping with calamities in their communities or will qualify them to join the PRC as volunteers.

"They can assist the PRC and, if they like, they could volunteer for the PRC," Liozo said.

The participants will be taught lessons on International Humanitarian Law, Basic Disaster Management, HIV-AIDS Awareness, Community and Health Nursing, and Red Cross Ambulance Management.

They will also be taught lifesaving skills as: First Aid, Basic Life Support Course or Instructor Course, Basic Fire Fighting, Rope Rescue, Basic Water Safety, Land Navigation and Trekking, Discover Scuba Diving and Survival Challenge Camp.

Liozo said the trainers of the participants for the mentioned training are highly qualified trainers coming from the Red Cross.

Some of the activities will be done outdoors while the lectures will be done inside the PRC Youth Hostel fronting Lantaka Hotel.

Participants who will complete the Summer Safety Institute will be given their respective certificates.

The PRC is an organization recognized worldwide anchored on its seven fundamental principles which are humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality.

The training is under the safety services aspect or one of the six major Red Cross services which includes blood program, Red Cross Youth, community health and nursing services, disaster management services, and social services.

Liozo said registration for the institute is still going on.

Comelec, cops tear down campaign posters at Zamboanga Plaza

(Philippines News Agency)

ZAMBOANGA CITY - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) and the local police force joined hands Friday and tore down election campaign posters in the heart of the city proper at Plaza Pershing.

Election Officer Jesus Alvin Lim said that local candidate-counterparts of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) were already alerted as early as Tuesday that Plaza Pershing is no longer a common display area for campaign materials.

UNA local lawyer Kim Elago who was on the site as policemen and Comelec employees tore down tarpaulins at the plaza,argued that Plaza Pershing used to be a common poster area in previous elections and has been listed as such last month.

But Lim said he the plaza was deleted from the list because the city is already awash with campaign posters and pictures of national candidates running for senator.

Power crisis not only in Zambo, but Mindanao-wide — DOE, MinDA

By Vic Larato

The power crisis is not only crippling Zamboanga City but is affecting the entire Mindanao due to diminishing power supply and increasing demand, according to the Department of Energy and the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA).

This power outlook was presented during the Zamboanga Power Forum initiated by the city government yesterday afternoon at Paseo del Mar’s Centro Latino with no less than Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla and Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) Secretary Luwalhati Antonino as resource persons together with Mayor Celso Lobregat.

Sec. Antonino said Mindanao is currently facing a serious power shortage brought about by a confluence of various reasons but basically due to the continuing economic growth. “Magandang balita pero merong problema. We are fast growing but we have no parallel increase in power supply,” she stressed.

According to her, the power crisis requires long-term, not short-term, solutions. “We have the solutions but not easy and we urge each other’s help. All of us must swallow the pill,” she said, adding that the common objective now is to increase the power supply, especially for Zamboanga City.

“It is very important that everyone should be aware that we are part of the solution. Energy conservation is everyone’s responsibility,” she said.

For his part, Sec. Petilla said the present power crisis was seen six years ago. “Our capacity to supply power is going down but the demand is going up. “What is needed now is quick solution and the quickest is about 4-8 weeks to go on diesel or bunker fuel but it is very expensive to operate and maintain,” he explained.

“When it comes to power there is no short-term solution. It is always long-term,” Petilla said. He added that the thrust of the Department of Energy right now is really to plan out energy as a whole.

“We are not only talking about power for the next administration not even for this administration. Power is a long-term problem. It requires long-term solution. Kung mag brownout nagyon hindi ibig sabihim bukas mayron na tayong solusyon,” he said. “The problems that we have now were actually evident six years ago.”

He said some of the solutions that will be put in place may appear to be not needed now, but they’re actually to be not needed in the future. And if we don’t consider now we will still have problems in the future.

“To set up a hydro plant would take more than five years with about 159 permits to comply with. Coal-fired plant will also take time. All these possible solutions are long-term,“ Petilla said.

Rotary Club marks 65th anniversary

By (Press Release)

The Rotary Club of Zamboanga City (RCZC), the first Rotary Club in Western Mindanao, will commemorate its 65th anniversary with a recognition night on March 16, 2013.

The anniversary celebration will be held at Centro Latino in Paseo de Mar, this city. It will be a reunion gathering of all the Rotarians from this city and around the region.

This year’s celebration of Rotary Club of Zamboanga City is guided by the theme ““One Rotary Family”. RCZC will honor all the Rotarians with a formal night of appreciation mixed with entertainment and galore.

Tagged as the Mother Club, RCZC has spawned 6 Rotary Clubs in Zamboanga City and one club each in Basilan, Tawi-Tawi, Sibugay, and Dipolog.

It has forged a sisterhood agreement with other Rotary Clubs, among them are the Rotary Club of Forbes Park, Rotary Club of Paseo de Roxas Makati, and the Rotary Club of Sinjo Japan. RCZC as a civic organization has received accolades and multi-awards from the city government and other institutions for its unselfish community programs and projects.

Mayor Celso Lobregat with be the inspirational guest speaker with Congresswoman Ma. Isabel Salazar and Congressman Erbie Fabian of District 1 and 2, respectively, as special guests.

All set for power forum

By R.G. A A. Go

Mayor says speakers will explain blackouts not only in Zambo

All is set for the Zamboanga City Power Forum on March 15 at Centro Latino, at Paseo del Mar as Mayor Celso Lobregat expects the speakers to explain that blackouts is not only happening in Zamboanga City.

The Power Forum is in collaboration with the Mindanao Development Authority, Department of Energy, and the City Government of Zamboanga.

During the forum, the current overview of the Mindanao Power Situation will be presented, the government’s efforts to address the power crisis, and to seek solutions to the current power shortage and blackouts in Zamboanga City.

The different stakeholders are expected to attend the Power Summit such the Department of Energy, National Grid Corporation of the Philippines, National Electrification Authority, and the Energy Regulatory Commission to explain the current power situation and possibly come up with solutions.

MinDa Secretary Luwalhati Antonino and Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla are expected to join the forum.

Mayor Celso Lobregat said, “DOE and Minda, and all other agencies of government that has to do with power will be coming here to Zamboanga City for them to be able to explain to the people of Zamboanga that this is a Mindanao-wide problem not only in Zamboanga City."

The reason for the blackouts is the lack of power supply coming from the power sources such as the hydroelectric plants and thermal plants which means that the water from Lake Lanao is no longer giving enough water to the hydro plants to produce the power needed.

Zamboanga City has been experiencing up to eight hours blackout per day and owners of business establishments and residents of the city are clamoring for solutions to end the power crisis.

PRO-9 reactivates ‘Oplan Bantay Lakbay’

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

ZAMBOANGA CITY, March 13 (PNA) –- The Police Regional Office in Zamboanga Peninsula (PRO-9) has reactivated “Operations Plan (Oplan) Bantay Lakbay” to ensure the safe and secured travel of motorists and commuters to their destinations as classes for school year 2013 is about to end.

The reactivation of “Oplan Bantay Lakbay” is also aimed to provide security to various activities like the Holy Week observance, town fiestas, family out-door vacation and Flores de Mayo as these activities are expected to draw visitors and tourists who are possible targets of lawless elements.

PRO-9 director Chief Supt. Juanito Vaño said they might place the police force on full alert status, as the situation demands, to secure all vital installations and public places that vulnerable to criminal and terror attacks.

“ Whether there is a threat or not, the police is not taking any chances, and thus prepared and committed to provide security and safety to the public during the Lenten Season and summer vacation,” Vaño said.

Vaño advised the public to plan ahead before they travel and make sure that their houses are secured while they are away.

He warned them to exercise extra precaution while on travel.

He said they have also reactivated the Police Assistance Centers located in strategic areas to serve as emergency quick-reaction unit.


==PRO-9 reactivates ‘Oplan Bantay Lakbay’

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

ZAMBOANGA CITY, March 13 (PNA) –- The Police Regional Office in Zamboanga Peninsula (PRO-9) has reactivated “Operations Plan (Oplan) Bantay Lakbay” to ensure the safe and secured travel of

Zambo water firm builds booster station to improve service

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

ZAMBOANGA CITY, March 12 (PNA) -- Thousands of consumers in three barangays in this city’s east coast will soon have regular water supply with the completion of the P14.4 million booster station in Sitio Morning Breeze, Barangay Talon-Talon by the Zamboanga City Water District (ZCWD).

The consumers that would benefit from the project are those in barangays Mampang and Arena Blanco aside from Talon-Talon.

The booster station will be inaugurated and will be in operation on March 18.

“Because of this new booster station, the three barangays will now have water for 24 hours seven days a week,” said Dolores Galvan, ZCWD information officer.

For the past several years, the ZCWD consumers in the three barangays have to wake up at dawn to fill up their containers in order to have water for cooking, laundry and bath the next day due to lack of supply during day-time.

President Aquino urged to declare emergency power crisis in Mindanao

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

ZAMBOANGA CITY, March 11 (PNA) -- The local business group is calling on President Benigno Simeon Aquino III to declare emergency crisis amid the worsening power situation in Mindanao.

Zamboanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation, Inc (ZCCIFI) President Pedro Rufo Soliven said President Aquino is empowered to declare emergency crisis situation under Section 71 of the Republic Act 9136 otherwise known as the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) of 2001.

Soliven said that Section 71 of EPIRA provides that “upon the determination by the President of the Philippines of an imminent shortage of the supply of electricity, Congress may authorize, through a joint resolution, the establishment of additional generating capacity under such terms and conditions as it may approve.”

“We Mindanaoans deserve extra ordinary solution and attention, and Section 71 provides that power to the President to solve the power crisis,” Soliven said citing Mindanao is in a desperate power crisis situation.

“By invoking Section 71, red tape can be cut and the lengthy procedure in starting a new power project, which normally takes around two years to process, can be shortened,” Soliven added.

He said the average demand growth of 4.28 percent here in Mindanao is due to rapid growth and urbanization as well as its industrialization.

He cited that the present dependable generating capacity to include that of the Independent Power Producers (IPPs) is only 1,616 megawatts with 1,038 MW generated by the Agus and Pulangui hydropower stations.

However, he noted the Department of Energy (DoE) protocol requires a reserve margin of at least 21 percent of the peak demand.

There is a shortfall of 112 MW since the total generation capacity should be 1,728 MW and the present dependable generating capacity is only 1,616 MW, he said.

He added that Mindanao power outlook is bleak, with a very low power reserve due to limited base load power generating plants. New ones will not come on stream until 2016.

Soliven as Chairman of Task Force ILP (Interruptible Load Program) also reiterated his call to the Zamboanga City Electric Cooperative (Zamcelco) management to fast track the implementation of the ILP.

Soliven said that 15 industrial and big load commercial establishments have enrolled in the ILP scheme as part of their corporate social responsibility.

At least 8 MW can be generated for Zamcelco to distribute to member consumers badly needing the power.

“This can mitigate brownouts by at least three hours daily. The ILP scheme is an immediate mitigating measure for Zamcelco to undertake with a sense of urgency,” he said.

The power demand of Zamboanga City for this month is 79.821-MW and the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation (PSALM) and the Therma Marine, Inc. (TMI) could only provide a combined power of 54-MW bringing the shortage to over 24-MW translating to at least 7-8 hours blackout daily in this city.


Zambo LTO says new standard plates ready by August

(PNA), FMS/ABB

ZAMBOANGA CITY, March 10 (PNA) –- The Land Transportation Office (LTO) in the Zamboanga Peninsula will be ready to distribute new standardized registration plates for all motor vehicles along with other parts of the country by August this year.

LTO Regional Director Atty Aminola Abaton said that although announced for January and later for July, the implementation of this policy may begin only by August or even later this year.

Although the proposal is already there, the mechanics for its implementation are still being finalized.

These standard plates will provide uniformity from morotcycles to four , six or eight wheeler motor vehicles.

These new plates will also solve the problem of identifying stolen vehicles, colorum vehicles and the like to include those using the so-called “commemorative plate & vanity plate”.

Abaton said that public consultations are being conducted in almost all 16 regions in the country since the targeted schedule for implementation is for this year.

The new plates will have only one design for the entire the country except that it will indicate as to what region that said motor vehicle was registered.

Abaton disclosed that the new plate designed to replace plates issued from 1981 to the present will be totally be different and can not be replaced since the bolt used to screw down the plate to the vehicles will be exclusive to the LTO.

Each plate will costs about P 150 for single motorcycle and P 450 bigger and heavier motor vehicles, Abaton said.

He said the new plate standardization program is not aimed at raising revenue for the government since this will be subsidized by the government.

“It is not geared towards raising revenue collections, “ Abaton said .

There is also a need to draft the implement rules and regulations (IRR) for this policy and publication before these can be implemented.

Summit on Mindanao power crisis set next week

(PNA), JBP/TPG/ABB

ZAMBOANGA CITY, March 9 (PNA) -- Mayor Celso Lobregat is organizing a summit to address the power crisis now besetting Mindanao.

Lobregat said the power summit will be held next week with the support of the National Electrification Administration (NEA) and Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA).

Among those who will be invited to attend the power summit are officials from the Department of Energy (DoE), Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), National Grid Power Corporation (NGPC), electric cooperatives, NEA, and all other power stakeholders.

“I think it is best that all agencies of government that have to do with power will come to Zamboanga and brief all the sectors about the situation and possibly come up with recommendations and solutions on a temporary, short term, medium-term or longer basis,” Lobregat said.

He explained the power crisis is not only affecting Zamboanga City but the entire Mindanao as well and “how it affects each area may be different due to distribution situation in each and every locality.”

Zamboanga City Electric Cooperative (Zamcelco) officer-in-charge Sherwin Mañada said reduced water level in Lake Lanao has caused the power curtailment in Mindanao, now pegged at 170 megawatts (MW).

In Zamboanga City, for the month of March alone, the power demand is 79,821 MW and Zamcelco’s contracted supply with the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation (PSALM) is 44,342 and 18 MW with Therma Marine Incorporated (TMI) translating power deficiency to 17 MW.

However, due to the decreasing water level in Lake Lanao, PSALM can only provide 36 MW bringing the shortage to over 24 MW translating to at least 7-8 hours blackout in this city.

“Kulang ang supply at kulang ang available plants at yung mga planta that we have are de-rated na ang capacity and in the case of hydro plants, they are encountering problems with water which is the main supply of energy,” Mañada said stressing that the next option is for the implementation of the Interruptible Load Program (ILP).

ILP encourages people or companies with embedded power generators to run their generators when there is power shortage with the incentive of getting reimbursements for the fuel used.

Lobregat tackled the power situation in the wake of the Mindanao-wide power crisis in a meeting Friday with Zamcelco officials and other power stakeholders in City Hall.

Lobregat was prompted to call the meeting after being informed that the power supply shortage will result to 7-8 hours brownout in this city daily.

The meeting was a prelude to the power summit the mayor is organizing.

Zambo multi-sector groups join ‘Marcha de las Mujeres’

(PNA), JBP/TPG/ABB

ZAMBOANGA CITY, March 8 (PNA) -- Multi-sectoral groups have converged early Friday at the City Hall grounds for the Marcha de las Mujerez, a fund-raising activity intended to help support the needs of marginalized women in this southern port city.

From the City Hall grounds, the participants marched the streets to the Joaquin F. Enriquez Memorial Sports Complex (JFEMSC), where a program was held.

Mayor Celso Lobregat along with House Deputy Speaker for Mindanao and first district Representative Ma. Isabelle Climaco-Salazar spearheaded the celebration with television and radio host Cory Quirino as the guest speaker.

Themed “Kababaihan: Gabay sa Pagtahak sa Tuwid na Daan,” the Marcha de las Mujeres is aimed to raise funds to help support the needs of women in the correctional facility.

The event coincides with the observance of World Women’s Day.

In previous years, the Marcha de las Mujeres also succeeded in addressing the needs of marginalized women in this city.

It is a project of the Gender and Development (GAD) which also initiates various other activities to help promote the welfare and protection of the women sector in this city.

Not only women groups but male groups and representatives of various agencies and sectors also participated in the Marcha de las Mujeres Friday.

Nuno lauds creation of human milk bank

By R.G. Antonet Go

District 2 Councilor Lilia Nuño, Chairman of the Committee on Health and Sanitation in the City Council lauds the establishment last month of a Human Milk Bank Inside Zamboanga City Medical Center (ZCMC).

Nuño said in an interview, “It’s long overdue. Supposed to be last October we already had our milk bank. I’m happy because the milk bank is already operational at ZCMC.”

The lady councilor appealed, “We are asking those women who have excess milk to donate to the milk bank and this will be given to the babies who need it most.”

ZCMC Human Milk Bank is catering to the needs of babies who need breast milk whose mothers are not capable of providing.

The milk from the ZCMC Milk Bank came from healthy lactating mothers from the ZCMC Ward 1.

The milk goes to the sick babies in the ZCMC Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

The milk is first being extracted from the mother through breast pump then it goes to a process called pasteurization and stored inside the freezer. The pasteurized milk can be stored for six to 12 months.

The funding for the pasteurizer, freezers, and the breast pumps came from the Unicef and costs millions of pesos.

In time, the program will be spread and also brought out to the whole community and healthy babies.

For interested healthy lactating mothers who want to donate their breast milk, they just have to undergo screening at ZCMC, pass an interview and fill up some forms. The mothers must have no history of kidney or other tissue transplant, smoking, drinking, and tattoo.

Breastfeeding babies is very important from six months to two years old because the nutrients from the breast milk are specially intended for babies unlike commercial milk which most of the time comes from cow’s milk.

Breastfeeding will boost the baby’s immune system. It will strengthen the mother and child bond, and it will address the economic problem since there will be no more need to buy commercial milk.

The city according to the lady councilor already created several measures to promote breastfeeding such as the putting up of lactation stations so mothers can breastfeed even in public places, peer education for information dissemination, and the opening of the Milk Bank at ZCMC.

1st Zamboanga City Ecotourism Awareness Summit held

By Michael Vincent D. Cajulao (PIA9)

ZAMBOANGA CITY – “It’s high time that we know of the natural wonder that is Zamboanga City,” Councilor Rogelio “Jerky” Valesco stressed to over 200 participants of the 1st Zamboanga City Ecotourism Awareness Summit held last week in the newly inaugurated P30 million Centro Latino Multi-Purpose Center, inside Paseo del Mar this city.

The summit, which was held in partnership with the Department of Tourism (DOT)-IX headed by Regional Director Mary June Bugante and the Department of Environment Natural Resources (DENR)-IX headed by Regional Executive Director Arleigh Adorable, aimed to inform and update the different sector representatives of the potential ecotourism areas in the city and the efforts being undertaken by concerned agencies to promote, and at the same time, protect the areas for a balanced and sustainable tourism in the city.

Councilor Valesco, City Council Committee Chair for Tourism, said efforts to develop the city as one of the premier ecotourism destinations in the country started with the development of Sta. Cruz Islands, known for its “pink” sands. He said all these were made possible with the city government’s strong partnership with DOT and DENR in the protection of the islands. Last year, the care of Sta. Cruz Islands was turned over by DOT to the city government for its development.

RED Arleigh Adorable said the development of Sta. Cruz was carefully studied to adhere to existing Philippine laws on ecotourism and environmental protection. DENR has also identified the 17, 414 hectare-Pasonanca Natural Park, and caves as ecotourism spots in the city.

“The Pasonanca Natural Park is home to beautiful flora and fauna, some of which are endemic to the area like the “Zamboanga Bulbul”, and there are still more that are yet to be identified. We also have various caves within the city, some of which with historical value,” Adorable said.

He added that of the 257 caves found in Zamboanga Peninsula, 149 are found in Zamboanga City.

DOT-IX chief Mary June Bugante, on the other hand, talked on potential community-based tourism activities as tool for poverty reduction and improving the overall economy of the city. She also presented some challenges the city may face if the tourism flourishes and how to counter the unwanted, yet unavoidable effects of development in the said areas.

Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-Zamboanga City Provincial Director Engr. Rolando Acuña also talked on the importance of the “One Town, One Product” (OTOP) strategy and the role of the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in realizing the program and contribute to economic growth. He also informed the participants of the programs and assistance of DTI for the SMEs.

Summit participants were also taught how to effectively promote the city through media, with Mr. Charlie Villanueva, Executive Producer and Director of VEZ TV, a local cable channel here, as resource speaker.

Zamboanga City retains regional athletic meet title

(PNA), LAP/TPG/CHARNYL S. ALBARRACIN/EBP

PAGADIAN, Zamboanga del Sur, March 5 (PNA) -- The City of Zamboanga has captured the championship title of this year’s recently-concluded Zamboanga Peninsula Regional Athletic Association (ZPRAA) meet.

Zamboanga City finished with an accumulated total points of 609.50, retaining its championship title for many years now.

This year’s ZPRAA meet was held in this city from February 26 until Saturday, March 2.

The other participating athletic delegations were ranked as follows: Zamboanga del Sur, 1st runner-up with 563 points; Zamboanga del Norte, 2nd runner-up with 526.84 points; Dipolog City, 3rd runner-up with 350.50 points; Zamboanga Sibugay, 4th runner-up with 294 points; Isabela City, 5th runner-up with 193.34 points; Pagadian City, 6th runner-up with 156.50 points; and, Dapitan, 7th runner-up with 50.34 points.

The five-day athletic competitions were attended by more or less 5,000 athletes, coaches, trainors and other athletic officials.

The sports events were participated in by school divisions coming from the cities of Dapitan, Dipolog, Isabela, Pagadian and Zamboanga and the provinces of Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga Sibugay and Zamboanga del Sur.

Paolo Benigno Aquino, cousin of President Benigno Aquino III and one of the Liberal Party (LP) senatorial candidates, was the guest of honor and speaker of the ZPRAA meet, which was anchored on the theme, “Re-engineering Sports: Making Good Citizens, Building Better Communities.”

Meanwhile, Zamboanga del Sur Governor Antonio Cerilles thanked the Department of Education (Deped) for giving this province the privilege to host this year’s ZPRAA Meet.

Cerilles said the provincial government has implemented the Youth Development Program, an advocacy against drugs through sports.

“We support our young people. We want our people to be good and worthy citizens, and would like to drive away drugs not only in Zamboanga del Sur but in the whole Zamboanga Peninsula region,” Cerilles added.

Police set to impose strict citywide gunban

By Eugene A. Lasprilla

The Zamboanga City Police Office (ZCPO) together with the Firearms Explosive and Security Agencies and Guards Section (FESAGS) is set to serve search warrants to various residences of delinquent professional firearms holders.

City police director Sr. Supt. Edwin de Ocampo yesterday announced that his office will impose rigid citywide campaign on the Omnibus Election Code particularly, the gun ban implementation.

De Ocampo said that the information drive period has already finished and all unrenewed firearms owners were given ample time to take the necessary step to prevent any predicament in the future.

He advised the delinquent professional firearms holders who failed to renew their licenses for their handgun/s must surrender their pistol or caliber temporarily to any nearest police station in their barangay.

The local police chief clarified that they will apply search warrants for these persons in possession of unlicensed pistols or calibers followed by appropriate case to be filed in court.

De Ocampo disclosed that for this first quarter of 2013, they have confiscated 11 firearms in violation of the Omnibus Election Act, stating that 4 handguns in January; 6 in February and a 9mm Caliber Pistol last Friday, March 1.

He added that most of their confiscations are in checkpoints or chock points and during the operation of the anti-illegal drugs.

2 more wanted men arrested

By Dan Toribio Jr.

Two more wanted persons were arrested in separate operations at Brillantes St. and Mampang last Friday.

Arrested were Randy Bella y Del Carmen of Patalon and Rogelio Alvarez y Bartolome of Mampang.

Both were nabbed by men of the Detective Management Unit led by Insp. Albert Alfaro under the supervision of City Police Director Sr. Supt. Edwin De Ocampo.

Bella was arrested at Brillantes St. around 10:30 a.m. on the strength of a warrant for acts of lasciviousness with case number 27210.

The warrant issued by Judge Peter Eisma of the Regional Trial Court Branch 15. The court recommended abail bond of P80,000 for his temporary liberty.

Alvarez was nabbed in Mampang around 5 p.m. on the strength of a warrant for attempted homicide with case number 7730 dated August 8 1985. A bail bond of P6,000 recommended for his temporary freedom.

Celso cites significance of biotech at BIOTA gab

By Vic Larato

Mayor Celso Lobregat yesterday cited the significance of biotechnology in a world of fast-changing and fast-evolving technology, stressing that the science of life nowadays is faced with multi-faceted challenges that human beings have to content with in order to survive.

“In a nutshell, what we were yesterday, what we are today and what we will become tomorrow will depend to a large extent on how we live and adapt to biotechnology,” Lobregat stressed in his message during the opening program of the 11th BIOTA Regional Convention and Scientific Sessions yesterday morning at the Celebrity Hall of Grand Astoria Hotel.

He said the three-day event comes at the time when the Department of Education is bent on implementing the K-12 Strategy in the basic education system. “At the same time, you come altogether to keep yourselves updated on the latest trends about the science of biology or the science of life.”

The participants, mostly biology teachers from different schools in the region, will undergo many activities aimed at harnessing their knowledge and skills in transformative education, research outsourcing and biosafety.

“More often than not, the biotechnology which we thought can make our lives easy is the very same biotechnology that could make our lives miserable if we do not take the necessary safety nets- thus, biosafety comes to fore,” Lobregat said.

He also did not fail to point out that his administration had implemented and completed P1.3-billion worth of education related projects over the last six years alone, among which is the ongoing construction of a P22-million Science Park at Jardin Maria Clara in Pasonanca.

“If you have science interactive exhibits, you are most welcome to display them at the Science Park (once it is completed) very soon,” the mayor said to a rousing applause from the participants.

Also present during the program were Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Regional Director Dr. Emmylou B. Yanga, Western Mindanao State University (WMSU) President Dr. Milabel Enriquez-Ho, WMSU College of Science and Mathematics Dean Dr. Marilou Elago, who is also the convention chair, Biology Teachers Association of the Philippines (BIOTA) National President Dr. Jessamyn Marie Yazon, Councilors Myra Paz Valderrosa-Abubakar and Rudy Lim.

Zambo City launches ‘Primeriza’ health care program

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

ZAMBOANGA CITY, March 1 (PNA) –- The city government has launched a health care program for pregnant and lactating mothers in this southern port city.

The program, dubbed as “Primeriza,” is aimed at reducing maternal mortality rate in compliance with the United National Millennium Development Goal by 2015.

City Health Officer Dr. Rodelin Agbulos said the program will focus on prenatal care and nutrition of pregnant and lactating mothers.

“We are going to give series of lectures and information dissemination to Primeriza patients. We will give free vitamins, free immunization and free ultrasound at least once for the entire pregnancy,” Agbulos explained.

Primeriza is a chabacano word that refers to first pregnancy.

Agbulos said the program will also target the involvement of the fathers or husbands, believing that the success of a woman’s pregnancy depends to a large extent on the involvement and concern of the father or husband.

He said the program will be pilot-tested in the city’s three districts in the east coast, west coast and central part of this city.

After two months, he said the implementation of the program implementation will be assessed and if successful it will be implemented in this city’s 98 barangays.

The Primeriza program was launched by Agbulos together with Mayor Celso Lobregat during the breastfeeding and buntis assembly Thursday in this southern port city.

The assembly was attended by more than 300 breastfeeding and pregnant mothers from the different barangays, Agbulos said.

Retrieved from "https://zamboanga.com/z/index.php?title=Zamboanga_City_News_March_2013&oldid=622275"