Zamboanga City News May 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.

Poor senior citizens to receive pension from DSWD

By Michael Vincent D. Cajulao (PIA9)

ZAMBOANGA CITY – The national government continues to help indigents all over the country, this time, focusing on the senior citizens through the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) social pension program.

DSWD-9 coordinator for social pension, Ms. Evelyn Lingatong, said during the PIA Media Forum that the program is aimed to help indigent senior citizens with their basic needs like food and medication.

Lingatong explained that senior citizens aged 77 years old and above are qualified as beneficiaries of the program.

“We actually adjusted the age requirement from 80 years old to 77 years old. Now, why 77 when senior citizenship starts at 60? It’s for the simple reason that the older we get, the more help that we need,” Lingatong said.

Mr. Uldarico Fabian, Division Chief of Zamboanga City Social Welfare Office added that there are also other factors to determine the inclusion of a person in the list of beneficiaries.

“Before we include potential beneficiaries in our list, first, we really need to determine if they are indeed poor. We will conduct background check, visit their homes and see their situation. This program is intended for the poorest of the poor,” Fabian pointed out.

Fabian also explained that senior citizens who are already receiving pension from any institutions, or those who are receiving monetary support from their loved ones are disqualified to avail of the program.

Beneficiaries of the social pension will be receiving P500.00 per month but the releasing of the pension will be on a quarterly basis, said Ms. Milagrosa Jaligue, head of the City Social Welfare and Development Office Unit 7.

Jaligue explained that they chose to release the pension on a quarterly basis to also help lessen travel cost of the beneficiaries.

“They will only be receiving P500 a month. Transportation cost alone will really take away big part of that money because they will be coming from other barangays. On a quarterly basis, they will be receiving P1,500 and the travel cost will not take away big part of their pension,” she said.

To also address the travel cost of the beneficiaries, DSWD has partnered with the Philippine Postal Corporation (PPC) for the door-to-door delivery of their pension.

“This scheme was introduced just this second quarter with Zamboanga City as the pilot testing area. Out of the 1,561 beneficiaries, 710 were chosen for this testing. By June 3, we expect that 100% of our beneficiaries in the city will receive their pensions thru door-to-door delivery,” Ms. Lingatong stressed.

For this year, DSWD-9 has already identified 17, 296 beneficiaries, with Zamboanga del Norte having the highest number with 6,845; followed by Zamboanga del Sur with 5,412 beneficiaries; Zamboanga Sibugay Province with 3,040 beneficiaries; 1,561 for Zamboanga City, and 438 for Isabela City in Basilan.

Zambo east coast national high school receives P12.9-m school building

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

ZAMBOANGA CITY, May 30 (PNA) -- The city government has unveiled and turned over P12.9 million three-story 12-classroom school building to a national high school east of this city.

The school building project, which Mayor Celso Lobregat led the inauguration Wednesday, was turned over to Mercedes National High School (MNHS) Principal Dr. Laarni Abad through the City Division of Schools.

The MNHS is located 12.7 kms east of this city which caters to secondary students from Barangay Mercedes and from nearby areas.

The turnover of the newly-completed school building project brought to a total of P24.7 million worth of various projects that were implemented at the MNHS by the local government, according to Lobregat.

Lobregat has advised Abad to increase the school’s number of sections in a bid to lower the student-classroom ratio.

Lobregat noted that the MNHS, which has a population of 1,229 students, now has a total of more than 40 classrooms with the completion of the new three-story 12-classroom building.

The MNHS has six new teacher items from the Department of Education (DepEd) aside from having new school building.

Abad, in response to Lobregat’s advice, said she will increase the school’s number of class sections to 29 beginning school year 2013-2014.

Abad said the school’s student-classroom ratio would be a little over 40 students per classroom with 29 class sections.

She expressed her heartfelt gratitude to the city government under the stewardship of Lobregat for giving them new school building.

OCD readies earthquake and tsunami drills in Zambo schools by June

(PNA), LAP/FMS/UTB

ZAMBOANGA CITY, May 29 (PNA) -– The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) is finalizing plans for a series of earthquake and tsunami drills in schools and universities in Zamboanga.

OCD Regional Director Adriano Fuego said his office is now coordinating with school administrators for the sites where the drills will be conducted.

Prior to actual drills, he said men from his office will conduct symposium with students in these schools and orient them on the proper way to behave during emergencies.

After these symposia, the actual date of the drills will not be announced to students so that the agency can properly assess the readiness and system that the students and teachers in these schools will react to the alert.

Zamboanga has been rocked by earthquakes in previous years although not much damage, other than cracked walls and floors has resulted from actual earthquakes.

Earlier, the Philippine Volcanology (Philvolcs) office has confirmed that the city of Zamboanga is susceptible and open to damage from earthquakes and even tsunamis.

Zamboanga City is bounded on the East by the Cotabato Trench and to is Southwest the Sulu Trench.

Philvolcs Regional Director Engr Allan Labayog said that his office cannot be sure when an earthquake or tsunami will hit the city.

Old folks recall that during the last decade of the Spanish occupation of Zamboanga, a tsunami swept over Zamboanga, killing hundreds of people.

In a research paper, Engr. Labayog said this “old folk’s tale” is actually the result of the volcanic explosion of Krakatoa in Indonesia said to be one of the most destructive natural disasters ever recorded in history.

On August 26, 1883, the island volcano of Krakatoa exploded with devastating fury, blowing its underground magma chamber partly empty so that much overlying land and seabed collapsed into it.

The great majority of the island was destroyed as it sank to the ocean floor. The volcanic disturbance triggered a series of tidal waves that swept through the seas in the Asian region reaching as far as India, Labayog said.

The OCD director said the quake and tsunami drill will start the first week of school, the better to train the students on how to react properly to these disasters during their time in school.

In previous months, the OCD also conducted similar drills in the 11 sardine canneries in the west coast of the city.

Jobs fair set in Zamboanga City

(PNA), FFC/TPGJ/UTB

ZAMBOANGA CITY, May 28 (PNA) -– Close to 4,000 vacancies are up for grabs in the one-day jobs fair to be conducted by the Public Employment Service Office (PESO) in this southern port city Wednesday.

Evelyn Las Marias, officer-in-charge of the City Social Welfare and Develop Office (CSWDO), said the jobs fair will be held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the compound of the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) training center along Rizal Street this city.

Las Marias said 3,500 of the total 3,800 job vacancies are for overseas employment while the remaining 300 are for local employment.

More than 30 overseas placement companies and local firms have confirmed participation in the one-day jobs fair, Las Maria said.

She said the jobs fair is open to all job seekers, including fresh graduates, and both skilled and unskilled applicants.

She said the event is a collaborative effort of PESO-CSWDO, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and ABS-CBN-Zamboanga.

The one-day job fair is aimed to provide a venue to match job seekers with potential employers and is part of the city government’s efforts to secure employment opportunities for the Zamboangueños, she added.

PRO-9 holds outreach mission in Zamboanga City

(PNA), FFC/TPGJR/EBP

ZAMBOANGA CITY, May 27 (PNA) -- More than 400 individuals, including children and senior citizens, from two coastal barangays in this southern port city benefited from the medical and dental outreach mission of the Police Regional Office-9 (PRO-9) Sunday.

PRO-9 director Chief Supt. Juanito Vaño said the medical and dental outreach mission was held at the stadium of the government-run Zamboanga State Colleges of Marine Sciences and Technology (ZSCMST) in the coastal barangay of Rio Hondo, east of this city.

Vaño said 150 of the total 429 beneficiaries have availed of dental services, 100 medical checkups, 85 haircut and 94 circumcision.

The beneficiaries are from Barangays Rio Hondo and Mariki.

He said the holding of the free medical and dental outreach mission is part of the PRO-9 program to reach the communities.

“It is our desire to provide free medical services for you to have a better and healthy community,” the police official said.

The PRO-9 medical and dental mission was conducted in cooperation with the PRO-9 Ladies Club headed by his wife, Dra. Arlene, Regional Health Service headed by Supt. Abita Mates and ZSCMST led by president Dra. Milabel Nazario.

ALSONS aiming for fourth of Mindanao’s power supply

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

Alsons Power Holdings Corp aims to double its power generating capacity in Mindanao to corner a fourth of that market by 2016.

In a statement, the power generating arm of the Alcantara Group said it is on track to put up an additional 282 megawatts by 2016 in the region.

Through its subsidiaries, the company has a power generating capacity of 181 megawatts, including a 55-megawatt bunker oil-fired plant in Saranggani, a 100-megawatt bunker oil-fired plant Zamboanga City, and a diesel-fed plant in Iligan City.

The diesel plant is running at a limited production of 26 megawatts after the Alcantara Group recently acquired the facility from the local government.

Alsons Power said additional capacity will come from the diesel plant once its output is ramped up to 98 megawatts by September this year. Additional capacity would come from a 105-megawatt coal plant the company is developing in Saranggani, which is scheduled to operate in 2015; and another 105-megawatt coal plant that will rise in Zamboanga City by 2016.

The company is undertaking site preparation for the Saranggani plant for the facility’s structural framework scheduled to be set up later this year.

The Zamboanga City coal plant is in the last stages of securing regulatory approval for power sales agreement, which is needed for bank financing.

The company likewise aims to start construction of the coal plant before the year ends.

Alsons Power has already secured environmental clearance and the contractors for the two projects.

“The resulting aggregate electrical capacity to be generated by Alsons Power in 2016 will be 463 megawatts — more than one-fourth of the Department of Energy’s projected 2016 Mindanao peak power demand of 1,829 megawatts,” the company said.

Mindanao has been suffering from a power crisis because of insufficient generating capacity. Parts of the region has been experiencing persistent power outages as a result of this.

NGCP warns against scam in Zambo area

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

The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) warns the public of a proliferating systematized scam in Zamboanga area in Mindanao concerning Right-of-Way claims.

Reports reached NGCP that an organized group is contacting land owners who live or have properties along or under the transmission company’s lines and facilities.

The group is allegedly promising the land owners of payment ranging from P50,000 to P300,000 for every tower constructed within their properties.

The group requires land owners to provide a copy of their Certificate of Land Title or Tax Declaration to support their supposed claim from NGCP. In return, the owners are also asked to pledge 40% of their claim as the organization’s commission rate.

NGCP vehemently rejects such unauthorized activities.

“These fraudulent acts are not sanctioned by NGCP and this organization does not have the legal personality to represent NGCP. We would like to warn the public to refrain from transacting with these individuals as they are not connected with NGCP and will only take advantage of your properties,” said NGCP Spokesperson Atty. Cynthia P. Alabanza.

According to NGCP, they conduct Right-of-Way negotiations with land owners whose properties are and will be traversed by transmission lines. Such negotiations are done professionally and no fees or documents will be required from land owners.

NGCP directly deals with the land owners and has not authorized any third party representatives to conduct the negotiations.

NGCP is a privately owned corporation in charge of operating, maintaining, and developing the country’s power grid. NGCP transmits high-voltage electricity through “power superhighways” that include the interconnected system of transmission lines and towers, substations and related assets. NGCP’s regular maintenance activities and expansion projects aim to enhance the reliability and quality of electricity delivered to customers.

Zambo school receives P1.3-M school building project

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

ZAMBOANGA CITY, May 24 (PNA) -– Mayor Celso Lobregat turned over Friday the newly rehabilitated school building with six classrooms worth P1.3 million to the Maria Clara L. Lobregat National High School (MCLLNHS) in Barangay Divisoria, 6.4 kilometers east of this city.

The rehabilitated building, the construction of which was undertaken by Persia Construction firm, brings to a total of more than 80 classrooms at MCLLNHS with its present student population of about 2,700.

In his message, Lobregat recalled that when the school was established in 1997, there was no classroom building on the campus.

At that time, he was congressman and he worked for the construction of initial buildings with more or less 30 classrooms.

“When we took over as mayor of the city, we were able to construct so many buildings with a total of 50 classrooms,” Lobregat said, adding that the city government also constructed a covered court, concrete fence, drainage systems and several other projects amounting to more than P50 million.

This, Lobregat said, proves his administration’s policy, giving education a top priority.

“If we did not have this (MCLLNHS) school, where would its 2,700 students go? They will all crowd at the already over-populated Zamboanga City High School Main in Tetuan,” he said.

Korean bizmen eye investing in Zamboanga City

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

ZAMBOANGA CITY, May 23 (PNA) -– A group of Korean businessmen is eyeing to pour investments in this southern port city.

Mayor Celso Lobregat said Thursday the group has discussed with him possible investment specifically potential options to address the power needs of the city.

The Korean businessmen led by Lee Ik Hwan and Alex Huang on Tuesday paid a courtesy call on him at City Hall.

Lobregat said the group has proposed the construction of a solar power plant as a possible long-term solution to the power shortage in this city.

The more than 150,000 electric consumes in this city experienced eight to nine hours of daily brownouts before the May 13 mid-term polls.

The electric consumers here are again set to experience three to four hours daily rotational blackout after enjoying an uninterrupted power service for the past few days due to the holding of the mid-term elections.

The Korean businessmen have told Lobregat that solar energy is cheap but the initial investment to construct the power plant will involve a considerable amount.

They are scheduled to present tomorrow, Friday, their proposal for the construction of a solar power plant to the Zamboanga City Electric Cooperative (Zamcelco) Board.

Lobregat said he welcomed the Korean businessmen’s interest and the idea of the solar power plant.

However, he said he informed the group that the construction of a 100-megawatt (MW) coal-fired power plant in Barangay Talisayan, 26 kilometers west of this city, is already underway.

He also said that the energy that would be generated from a solar power plant may not be sufficient to provide the power demands of this city, which currently peaks at 80-MW and is expected to increase in succeeding years.

Meanwhile, he said the city government does not discount the possibility of having a solar power plant for renewable energy supply in the future.

NFA to ship 280,000 bags of rice to Zambo City

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

ZAMBOANGA CITY, May 22 (PNA) –- The National Food Authority (NFA) is shipping at least 280,000 bags of imported rice to augment the basic staple food’s stocks of this city and of the three nearby provinces in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

NFA Provincial Manager Gaudencio Nuega said the rice shipment is set to arrive in this city anytime this week.

Nuega said that 80,000 bags of the 280,000 bags of rice of 50 kilos each are intended for the provinces of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, which are part of ARMM.

He said the imported rice, which usually comes from either Thailand or Vietnam, will be sold in the local market at P1,250 per sack and at P27 a kilo.

However, he explained the role of the NFA is only to support, citing the agency only provides 20 percent of the rice supply in the market while the 80 percent by commercial rice traders.

In the case of this city, he said the daily rice consumption of the buying public is pegged at 6,400 bags of 50 kilograms daily.

Meanwhile, Nuega disclosed that the arrival of the rice shipment would increase the rice stocks at the local NFA warehouse to 320,000 bags of rice.

Nuega disclosed that they have an existing rice stock of 120,000 of 50 kilograms each.

DepEd exec reminds no-fee collection during enrollment

By Jimmy Villaflores

It’s barely 15 days left before the opening of classes in public schools.

City Schools Division Superintendent Pedro Melchor Natividad reiterated the Department of Education (DepEd)’s memorandum on no-collection policy during enrolment period in all public schools.

In his own initiated radio program over Tatak-RMN entitled “Edukasyon Now Na” every Friday evening (7 to 8PM), Natividad reminded school officials, including officers of Parent Teacher Association (PTA) to get rid of the traditional practices of charging certain fees from enrollees in the primary level during enrolment time. Officially, classes in all public schools will start on June 3, 2013.

“The DepEd memorandum clearly states that cash donations or fees for extra-curricular activities can be done during the month of August until the end of the school year,” Natividad said.

However, he clarified that said fees should be strictly collected on a voluntary basis which include membership fees for Boys Scouts and Girl Scouts of the Philippines, parent-teacher associations, contributions for anti-tuberculosis fund drives, school publications and student organizations.

DepEd Memo No. 64 series of 2013 further reads; “No fees shall be collected from school children in Kinder to Grade 5 to fourth year high school students shall not pay fees from June to July.”

The ban on the collection of fees from June to July ensures that fees will not be used as a precondition for students/pupils to study in public schools, stated the DepEd memo.

School officials found to have violated this DepEd policy will be charged administratively.

In the event PTA officers will compulsorily collect fees from the enrollees, parents are advised to report the matter to school officials or directly to the Office of the Schools Division Superintendent.

“I already reminded school principals to call the attention of anyone from the PTA if ever fees are made during enrolment period,” Natividad said.


Zambo City unveils P21.4-M rehabilitated city council building

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

ZAMBOANGA CITY, May 20 (PNA) -– The city government on Monday inaugurated the newly rehabilitated and improved Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) building after it was closed for more than a year for repairs.

The inauguration was spearheaded by Mayor Celso Lobregat after the blessing ceremony led by Claretian priest Fr. Maximo Rodriguez at 10:00 a.m.

The inauguration was witnessed by other city officials and personnel of the city council.

The rehabilitation and improvement works cost the city government P21.47 million.

The rehabilitation and improvement works started on January 2, 2012 based on recommendations of the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers (PICE) and a structural engineer.

The repair was mainly due to cracks suspected to be caused by structural flaws.

The repair works included the removal of the roof deck and the construction of a roofing system, repair of certain offices that sustained cracks specifically those at the third floor, construction of sheer walls and other improvements to ensure the building’s structural integrity.

Vice-Mayor Cesar Iturralde said he and the city councilors will again hold office as well as hold regular session in the newly rehabilitated three-storey edifice.

They held regular sessions at the city public library when the City Council building was under repair.

Last May 13, the rehabilitated and improved building was used for the canvassing of the votes and the subsequent proclamation of winners in the local and national elections.

PAZ, ISP join Brigada Eskwela ’13

By Albert F. Arcilla (Peace Advocates Zamboanga)

In support to the Department of Education (DepEd) preparation for the incoming school year, Peace Advocates Zamboanga (PAZ) and the Interreligious Solidarity for Peace (ISP) will participate in the kickoff ceremony of the annual observance of the National Schools Maintenance Week or the “Brigada Eskwela” today, Monday, May 20, 2013.

A motorcade from the Office of DepEd-Division of Zamboanga is set at 6 in the morning today to formally commence the week-long “Brigada Eskwela 2013”. The motorcade will pass through the city’s major street and will proceed to the east and west coast of the city. The Brigada Eskwela will end on May 25.

Brigada Eskwela is a yearly scheduled activity of the Deped where it calls on the different stakeholders to take part in the preparation for the opening of classes by engaging in beautification, repairing and painting of the school surrounding, classrooms and other school equipments such as chairs and tables of the students. The formal opening of classes in public school is on June 3.

PAZ and ISP are both members of the Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and stakeholders of many public secondary schools in the city will join the motorcade and they will visit different public secondary schools to show their solidarity support by helping the school cleaning their surrounding and at the same time to advocates for peace by giving them educational and peace prayer posters. These posters were produced by its partner, the 4th Civil Relation Group-Civil Relation Service (CRG-CRS) from Western Mindanao Command (Wesmincom).

PAZ and ISP are scheduled to visit the 34 public secondary schools during the duration of the five-day’s activity.

Over the years, PAZ and ISP had been partnering many schools in the city where it has given the school administrators and students’ trainings, workshops and orientations on peace education.

It has also signed Memorandum Of Agreement (MOA) with the DepEd Division Office for the implementation in the primary and secondary schools curriculum the Executive Order 570 or the Institutionalization of Peace Education in Basic Education and Teachers Education that values and recognizes the need to tap the active involvement and partnership of civil society organizations in order to create a collaborative working environment in ensuring the foundation of peace and sustainable development.

In the MOA PAZ and ISP will assist the Deped in effectively implementing programs on peace education, peace and governance, peace advocacy and other peace-building efforts at the academe level highlighting the major celebrations of the movement and organization through effective systems of collaboration.

Last year, PAZ and ISP in collaboration with the Task Force Zamboanga (TFZ) had visited different schools located within the city proper including the far-flung schools in the city during the celebration of the Brigada Eskwela.

NCC sets roadshow to boost local competitiveness

(PNA), JBP/TPG/UTB

ZAMBOANGA CITY, May 18 (PNA) -– The National Competitiveness Council (NCC) in coordination with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is conducting NCC Roadshow billed “Boosting Regional/Local Competitiveness through Public Private Partnership” in this southern port city.

The roadshow, which will be held next week (May 23) is part of NCC’s advocacy campaign in the countryside, according to DTI Regional Director Nazrullah Manzur.

Manzur said the activity hopes to initiate a meaningful dialogue with relevant stakeholders to address the challenge of progressing towards improved national competitiveness.

The invited participants to the NCC roadshow include provincial/local chief executives, business chamber heads, industry captains, university/college administrators, Non-Government Organizations (NGOs), national government agencies, and members of the media.

Among the keynote speaker of the activity is former Makati Business Club executive director and now NCC private sector co-chairperson Guillermo Luz.

Luz will talk about the country’s 2013 game plan for competitiveness and the results of the 2013 survey of the business permit and licensing system (BPLS) project.

The NCC was established in 2006 by virtue of Executive Order 571 as a Public-Private Sector Task Force dedicated to developing strategies for the country’s long term competitiveness through policy reforms, project implementation, institution building, and performance monitoring.

The order was amended by E.O. 44 under President Benigno Aquino III to create a more dynamic Public Private Partnership approach aimed at catapulting the country’s competitiveness ranking to the top third by 2016.

TESDA allots P2M for 378 scholars in Zamboanga peninsula

(PNA), JBP/FMS/EBP

ZAMBOANGA CITY, May 17 (PNA) -- The Technical Education Skills and Development Authority (TESDA) has approved the use of P2,371,790 to finance the scholarships of at least 378 students in this city and Isabela in Basilan province.

TESDA Regional Director Lorenzo G. Macapili said the office is already screening prospective scholars who will avail of the program starting this school year or in June.

Macapili said this program called Private Educational Students Financial Assistance(PESFA) will enable high school students or graduates to take up technical courses in any technical education or schools/college in this city.

For the two congressional districts in Zamboanga, the TESDA allocated P1,078,973 for 187 scholars in District 1 and P1,197,042 for 172 scholars for District I.

The TESDA also allocated P95,775 for 19 scholars for Isabela City in Basilan Province.

Each scholar will received an average of about P5,500 each to finance their education in technical courses of their choices.

The amount will be good for this year alone and more funds will be appropriated for the program next year.

Macapli said that there are dozens of short-term technical courses that are assured of immediate employment here and abroad.

DTI reminds contractors to renew accreditation

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

ZAMBOANGA CITY, May 16 (PNA) -– The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has reminded contractors accredited with the Philippines Contractors Accreditation Board (PCAB) to renew their accreditation to avoid delays in processing and penalties imposed on late registrants.

Starting last February 1, the PCAB has been accepting renewal applications for contracting fiscal year (CFY) 2013-2014 under the following schedules: those with licenses ending in 0 to 1, February; those ending in 2 to 3, March; 4 to 5, April; 6 to 7, May, and 8 to 9, June.

DTI Regional Director Nazrullah Manzur on Thursday said that the new applications approved between January to June this year are included among those who are required to renew in June.

Manzur said that renewal applications of late filers shall be segregated from regular filers and will be imposed with corresponding penalties.

Manzur said contractors may contact PCAB through telephone number (02)895-42-58 or email them at pcabphil@yahoo.com for inquiries concerning the renewal of accreditation.

They may also submit and course their PCAB applications through the nearest DTI field office, Manzur said.

Meanwhile, he reminded the applicants to only transact with the Public Assistance Desk and frontline officer of PCAB.

Climaco-Salazar proclaimed Zambo City mayor

By Roel Pareño (philstar.com)

ZAMBOANGA City, Philippines - The city board of canvassers (CBOC) formally proclaimed today House Deputy Speaker for Mindanao Rep. Ma. Isabel Climaco-Salazar as winner in the mayoral race.

Climaco and winners of the top posts, mostly won by the new mayor's partymates, were proclaimed at the Sangguniang Panglunsod.

Proclaimed along with Climaco were incumbent vice mayor Cesar Ituralde, 1st district representative incumbent mayor Celso Lobregat, 2nd district representative councilor and independent Lilia Nuño, and 5 councilors in each district.

Joseph Lim, CBOC chair, said they have partially proclaimed the winners in the council race as the uncanvassed votes may still affect the standing of candidates positioned at the tail end.

Climaco garnered 172,439 votes against her rival and former ally, Erico Fabian, who earlier conceded with only 29,200 votes.

Climaco’s runningmate – Ituralde – got 100,430 votes compared with 66,784 votes of former councilor Luis Climaco, who was the running mate of Fabian.

Mayor Lobregat on the other hand, bested his staunch rival, former priest Crisanto dela Cruz, in the 1st district congressional race garnering 42,826 votes against 32,342 votes of the latter.

Nuño trounced Lobregat’s younger brother –Joemar Lobregat - in the second district congressional contest. Nuño garnered 33,475 votes while Joemar managed 27, 912 votes.

The CBOC is expected to complete the canvassing and proclaim the rest of the winners anytime today.

Climaco wins Zambo City mayoral seat

By Roel Pareño (philstar.com)

ZAMBOANGA City, Philippines - House Deputy Speaker for Mindanao and1st District Rep. Ma. Isabel Climaco-Salazar is expected to be proclaimed anytime as the winner in the mayoralty race in this southern port city after her closest rival publicly conceded defeat.

Rep. Erico Fabian of the 2nd district conceded after early showing of the election results giving Climaco a wide margin of votes.

“I tip my hat to all the winners and congratulate my friend Beng. The people have spoken and we have to respect their decision,” Fabian said.

The Commission on Elections' (Comelec) partial and unofficial result at the city level showed Climaco, running under the Liberal Party (LP), leading the mayoralty race with 85,505 votes or about 83.70 percent of the 108,848 total number of votes cast.

Fabian got only 14,016 votes as of Tuesday 1 p.m.

Climaco’s runningmate in the 1st district, incumbent Mayor Celso Lobregat (Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino), is also leading the congressional race with 21,770 votes or 42.44 percent from the total 57,792 total votes cast, against former priest Crisanto dela Cruz with 17,002 votes or 33.44 percent.

Mayor Lobregat's brother Jomar, who is gunning for the 2nd District's congressional seat, is tailing behind independent candidate Lilia Nuño, who has received 14,175 votes. Jomar has only garnered 12,858 votes.

The other members of local Team Pnoy under Climaco and Lobregat also dominated the local elections.

No untoward incidents in Zamboanga voting

By Roel Pareño (philstar.com)

ZAMBOANGA City, Philippines - Voting in this city went smoothly as voters, including 400 inmates, participate in the May 13 automated elections on Monday.

Except for some defective precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines and delay of its arrival for distribution in some voting centers, electorates swarmed in almost all polling places here without any untoward incidents.

Atty. Francisco Pobe, Comelec regional director, said all ballots which were not counted due to defective automated counting machines were all gathered and sealed for counting in another PCOS machines to avoid any disenfranchisement of ballots.

“So far election turn outs in most areas in the region was high except for some minor hitches, which were addressed immediately,” Pobe said.

At least 423 inmates from the City Reformatory Center, meanwhile, were also able to cast their votes inside the prison facility.

The conduct of voting was held in gathering hall of the prison facility where inmates in batches guarded by the jail security personnel cast their votes conducted by the members of the Board of Election Inspectors.

The ballots of the votes cast by the inmates will be brought to the adjacent polling center, just across, for the counting on the PCOS machines.

Zambo mayor unveils P1.4-M project

(PNA), PDS/TEOFILO P. GARCIA, JR./EBP

ZAMBOANGA CITY, May 12 (PNA) — Mayor Celso Lobregat took time out on Thursday from his political sortie as he led the turnover of P1.4 million project in Barangay Pasonanca, seven kilometers north of this city.

The project that was unveiled is a covered court constructed at the campus of the elementary school in Upper Pasonanca, which joins the growing roster of infrastructure projects completed by the city government under the administration of Lobregat.

Lobregat urged the school and barangay officials of Pasonanca to put the project to good use.

The project is the first of three covered courts to be constructed in selected schools in Pasonanca, according to Barangay Chairman Efigenio.

Julian said the construction of the second covered court is ongoing at the elementary school in Sitio Luyahan, Barangay Pasonanca while the third one located at the main Pasonanca elementary school is set to start construction after Monday’s mid-term elections.

Upper Pasonanca Elementary School principal Annaliza Martin, on behalf of the students, has expressed her gratitude to Lobregat and the city government for the implementation of the project in her school.

Meanwhile, the city government has so far implemented a total of P180 million worth of projects in Barangay Pasonanca.

The projects include the recently inaugurated El Museo de Zamboanga.

Both the science park and barangay health center are currently under construction.

Alsons assures power for May 13 elections

By BJ

Alsons power, the Alcantara Group’s power project development and power generation management business unit, has announced that all three of its operating power facilities in Mindanao will be on full alert and ready to respond to any power-related contingency during the critical period starting 12 am of Sunday, May 12, until 12 am of Tuesday, May 14.

Alsons Power Group Vice President for operations Edgar D. Sevilles has issued a directive to the plant managers of the revamped Mapalad Power Corporation in Iligan city, the 55 megawatt Southern Philippines Power Corporation in Alabel, Sarangani, and the 100 megawatt Western Mindanao Power Corporation in Zamboanga city to ensure that the facilities are able to provide a steady uninterrupted supply of power to the Mindanao grid within the period mentioned.

All leaves of absence of plant personnel have been cancelled and all essential operations personnel will be on duty during this time, Sevilles said.

Sevilles added that Alsons power will initiate procedures to make certain that supply of fuel is adequate and all engines are on “hot” mode and ready to address any contingency related to the power supply within the areas of coverage of the three plants.

The Alsons power plants will be in constant coordination with the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), the National Power Corporation (NPC) and the Department of Energy (DoE), Sevilles added.


PPCRV to put up voters’ assistance desk in Zamboanga City

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

ZAMBOANGA CITY, May 10 (PNA) -– The Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) is establishing assistance desks in each of the polling centers to assist voters on the May 13 election in this southern port city.

PPCRV city chairperson Daren Torres said Friday they are targeting to field 1,500 poll watch volunteers in the different polling precincts in this city.

Torres said the assistance they will provide is by way of helping the voters locate their names and polling precincts to hasten the casting of votes on Monday’s mid-term elections.

It has been observed in previous elections that voters have hard time in locating their names and precincts especially in polling centers where polling precincts were clustered.

The PPCRV volunteers will also provide assistance to persons with disabilities (PWDs) in casting their votes, Torres said.

However, he disclosed that they are still accepting volunteers to be able to deploy the targeted number of 1,500 poll watch volunteers in the entire city.

“At present we have 1,200 volunteers all over the city,” he disclosed adding: “Those who want to become volunteers can register in their respective parishes.”

This city, which comprises of 98 barangays including eight island villages, has 117 polling precincts.

Thirty-seven of the 98 barangays are in the first congressional district with 210,840 registered voters while the second district comprises of 61 barangays with 194,761 or for a total of 405,601 registered voters in the entire city.

Meanwhile, Torres said all the volunteers are scheduled to attend a mass on Sunday for an honest, orderly, and peaceful election on Monday.

850 troops secure Zamboanga City polling centers

(PNA), LAM/TPG/EBP

ZAMBOANGA CITY, May 9 (PNA) -- Police and military authorities have deployed 850 troops to render election security duties in this southern port city, a top police official disclosed Thursday.

Zamboanga City police officer-in-charge Senior Supt. Edwin de Ocampo said the troops have been deployed to the different polling centers starting Wednesday, the first day of the delivery of the Print Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machines.

A total of 279 PCOS machines were delivered Wednesday the delivery of which focused on the far-flung barangays.

The remaining 209 PCOS machines are scheduled to be delivered Thursday in the city-limit and island barangays.

De Ocampo said that 446 of the 850 troops comprise of policemen from his command to include personnel who are undergoing Field Training Exercise (FTX) and schooling at the Philippine Public Safety College (PPSC).

The remaining 404 personnel--141 soldiers and 263 militiamen--was deployed by the military’s Task Force Zamboanga (TFZ), De Ocampo said.

He said that at least seven personnel will be deployed to secure each of the 117 polling centers in this city.

“In some polling centers, the ratio of deployment is four policemen and three soldiers while two policemen and five solider in other areas,” he added.

This city, which comprises of 98 barangays including eight island barangays, is divided into two congressional districts.

District I comprises of 37 barangays while District II with 61 barangays.

Commission on Elections (Comelec) records showed that this city has a total of 405,601 registered voters--210,840 in District I and 194,761 in District II.

Brgy. Lubigan gets P4.1-M brgy hall, P2.6-M covered court

By Jocelyn P. Alvarez (PIA9)

ZAMBOANGA CITY - Far off barangay Lubigan received P4.1-million barangay hall and P2.6-million covered court, as the city government turned-over said projects totalling P6.7million recently.

In a simple turnover ceremony, “residents of Lubigan expressed gratitude to the City Government under the leadership of Mayor Celso Lobregat for continuously initiating projects to help spur development in Barangay Lubigan,” said City Information Officer (IO) Sheila Covarrubias in a press statement.

The lady information officer also informed that the City Engineer’s Office is now preparing plans and estimates for the construction of a health center in the same barangay (Lubigan).

“As Mayor Lobregat turned-over the barangay hall and covered court, he also instructed City Engineer Luis Despalo and personnel from the City Engineer’s Office to prepare the plans and estimates for a health center, for inclusion in the bidding process after the election ban,” she said.

“He likewise ordered City General Service Officer Engr. Rene de la Cruz to immediately install streetlights along the highway fronting the barangay hall,” Covarrubias added.

Located some 40 kilometers east of the city, Lubigan is a recipient of a total of P26.828 million from 2007 to present.

Alcantara Group’s Mapalad ready to deliver 10 MW to Mindanao before election day

(PNA), /TEOFILO P. GARCIA, JR./EBP

The Alcantara Group- controlled Mapalad Power Corporation (MPC) which operates the 98 Mega Watt (98 MW) Iligan Diesel Power Plant (IDPP) is ready to deliver at least 10 Mega Watts (MW) of power as of May 6 , 2013, in time to provide some relief to the power-starved island of Mindanao before the May 13, 2013 elections. MPC began rehabilitation work on the 20-year old diesel plant on March 11, 2013. The plant began operating on a ramp up basis on April 2013 with the objective of reaching full 98 MW capacity by September of 2013. The Alcantara Group is spending P 1.2 billion for the acquisition, rehabilitation, and other expenses for the re-operation of the MPC plant.

The Zamboanga City Electric Cooperative, Inc. (ZAMCELCO) has signed a power sales agreement (PSA) with MPC for 18 MW. The PSA is subject to the approval of the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC). On April 27, 2013, in response to a request by ZAMCELCO and Mayor Celso Lobregat, the ERC has allowed ZAMCELCO to draw power from MPC prior to approval of the PSA.

MPC has already signed off almost 90% of its full capacity via PSAs with the following distribution utilities aside from ZAMCECLO: South Cotabato II Electric Cooperative, Inc. (SOCOTECO II) for 30 MW – (covering General Santos City, the entire Province of Sarangani and 2 municipalities in South Cotabato);); Agusan del Norte Electric Cooperative (ANECO) for 15 MW- (covering Butuan City and other areas of Agusan del Norte); Agusan del Sur Electric Cooperative (ASELCO) for 10 MW - (covering Bayugan City and all 13 municipalities of Agusan del Sur); the Iligan Light and Power, Inc. (ILPI) for 10 MW - (covering the host city of Iligan), and Zamboanga del Sur I Electric Cooperative , Inc. (ZAMSURECO 1) for 5 MW (covering Pagadian City and 24 municipalities in Zamboanga del Sur). Pending approval of these PSA’s by the ERC, these distribution utilities will be able to access electricity from the MPC plant thus significantly reducing the power outages in their respective service areas.

Aside from MPC, the Alcantara Group also controls and operates the 100 MW Western Mindanao Power Corporation (WMPC) plant in Sangali, Zamboanga City, which supplies power to the Mindanao grid thru the National Power Corporation (NPC).

The group is also in the advanced stages of developing the 105 Mega Watt San Ramon Power, Inc. (SRPI) plant in Talisayan, Zamboanga City. The SRPI plant is expected to begin operating in 2016.

MPC has already signed off almost 90% of its full capacity via PSAs with the following distribution utilities aside from ZAMCECLO: South Cotabato II Electric Cooperative, Inc. (SOCOTECO II) for 30 MW – (covering General Santos City, the entire Province of Sarangani and 2 municipalities in South Cotabato);); Agusan del Norte Electric Cooperative (ANECO) for 15 MW- (covering Butuan City and other areas of Agusan del Norte); Agusan del Sur Electric Cooperative (ASELCO) for 10 MW - (covering Bayugan City and all 13 municipalities of Agusan del Sur); the Iligan Light and Power, Inc. (ILPI) for 10 MW - (covering the host city of Iligan), and Zamboanga del Sur I Electric Cooperative , Inc. (ZAMSURECO 1) for 5 MW (covering Pagadian City and 24 municipalities in Zamboanga del Sur). Pending approval of these PSA’s by the ERC, these distribution utilities will be able to access electricity from the MPC plant thus significantly reducing the power outages in their respective service areas.

Aside from MPC, the Alcantara Group also controls and operates the 100 MW Western Mindanao Power Corporation (WMPC) plant in Sangali, Zamboanga City, which supplies power to the Mindanao grid thru the National Power Corporation (NPC).

The group is also in the advanced stages of developing the 105 Mega Watt San Ramon Power, Inc. (SRPI) plant in Talisayan, Zamboanga City. The SRPI plant is expected to begin operating in 2016.

DepEd to conduct ‘Brigada Eskwela’

(PNA), /TEOFILO P. GARCIA, JR./EBP

ZAMBOANGA CITY, May 6 (PNA) -- The Department of Education (DepEd) is conducting a week-long “Brigada Eskwela” in preparation for school year 2013-2014.

"Brigada Eskwela", which is also known as National Schools Maintenance Week, will be held from May 20-25, according to City Division of Schools officer-in-charge Pedro Melchor Natividad.

Natividad said the activity will kick off with a caravan to instill awareness on the importance of "Brigada Eskwela".

Natividad explained that "Brigada Eskwela", which is undertaken yearly, is a school maintenance program that engages all education stakeholders to contribute their time, effort, and resources in ensuring that public school facilities are set in time for its forthcoming opening.

It is an effort of teachers, parents, students, community members, and other organizations to do minor repairs and clean-ups on their schools in preparation for the start of the school year, he added.

Community organizations and other participating partners are also encouraged to adopt a school during the week-long activity under the "Adopt-a-School Program".

With this yearly activity, the children will no longer have to devote time and effort to clean the school surroundings when they report on the first day of classes.

It has been observed that in the previous years the school children have to cut grasses, clean their respective classrooms and the campus before they could begin with the regular classes.

The week-long event began in 2003 as part of DepEd’s Oplan "Balik Eskwela Program" and National Maintenance Week.

Alsons clarifies power allocation for Zambo

By Bob Jaldon

The Alcantara Group of Companies (Alsons) yesterday issued a clarification on the power allocation for Zamboanga city through its Mapalad Power Corporation as contracted by the Zamboanga City Electric Cooperative, Inc. (Zamcelco).

Engr. Archie Donato, plant manager of the San Ramon Power, Inc. (SRPI), said the 18 megawatts contracted by Zamcelco will be delivered on a staggered basis. From May 12-Aug. 31, two megawatts will be fed to the grid. From Sept. 1-14, another four megawatts will be made available. The next allocation will be from Sept. 15-28 for six megawatts, and the last feed will be on Sept. 29 for another six megawatts to make 18 megawatts in all.

Donato said the earliest time the two megawatts could be provided was supposed to have been yesterday, but that depended on the time table Mapalad Power Plant can finish rehabilitating its diesel plant in Iligan city.

With the 18 megawatts fully delivered by the end of September, Zamboanga will still need around 30 megawatts from other power providers to end the blackouts that have drastically crippled business.

The business sector said that even with the 18 megawatts coming from Mapalad, blackouts will still prevail as the demand for electricity inches higher each month because of new businesses.

Based on last month’s computation, the basic Zamcelco rate is now around 7.72 pesos per kilowatt hour. This may go higher with the entry of other power providers. Zamcelco is trying to contract additional sources of power with some private companies. When that happens, such will have to go through the process of a public hearing by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC).

In the case of the Power Supply Agreement (PSA) inked between Zamcelco and Mapalad Power Corporation and San Ramon Power, Inc., the ERC hearing will be held in this city on May 14 and 15, respectively.

Meanwhile, as part of Alsons’ best effort to deliver power to Zamboanga, Donato informed DTZ late yesterday that Mapalad Power Corporation put on line 10 megawatts starting at 10 am yesterday. This means that power outages will be reduced and rotating blackouts minimized.

Zamboanga's 'most wanted' criminal arrested

By Jewel Reyes and Richard Falcatan (ABS-CBN News Zamboanga)

ZAMBOANGA CITY – One of Zamboanga City’s “most wanted criminals” has been arrested by joint forces of the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines in Barangay Sangbay, Hadji Mutamad in Basilan Saturday morning.

Initial reports said a gunfight ensued during the arrest of the suspect, Margani Samla alias “Bin Laden.” No casualties were reported, as of posting.

Samla was wanted by police for allegations of selling drugs and other crimes in Zamboanga City, and considered as one of the “top 10 most wanted criminals” by police.

A reward money of P100,000 was previously offered for his arrest.

City gov’t unveils P6.7-M projects in Zambo east coast barangay

(PNA), PDS/TEOFILO P. GARCIA, JR./EBP

ZAMBOANGA CITY, May 3 (PNA) -- The city government has unveiled P6.7 million worth of infrastructure projects in an east coast barangay aimed to enhance the delivery of basic government services in the area.

The unveiling of the projects in Barangay Lubigan, which was held Thursday, was led by Mayor Celso Lobregat and witnessed by other key local government officials.

The projects include P4.6 million two-storey barangay hall and P2.1 million covered court. The project is in line with the city government’s ongoing development efforts for the barangays.

Lobregat, who is in his last term of office, said the projects are part of the legacy that his administration will be leaving behind.

He hoped that his successor will continue implementing developmental projects in barangays bringing closer the government to the people.

Lobregat is seeking election for congressman in the first district under the Liberal Party-Labang ng Demokratikong Pilipino-Adelante Zamboanga Party (LP-LDP-AZaP) coalition.

Barangay Lubigan located 40 kilometers east of this city is in the second district.

Meanwhile, Lobregat instructed City Engineer Luis Despalo to prepare the plans and estimates as he revealed plans to construct a health center for Barangay Lubigan.

He also ordered City General Services Officer Rene dela Cruz to immediately install four streetlights in the same barangay leading to the hall.

A day-care center is also currently under construction in Barangay Lubigan.

Lubigan Barangay Chairman Muktak Sajili, on behalf of his constituents, has expressed heartfelt gratitude to the city government for the implementation of the developmental projects in his barangay.

Labor leader asks employers to treat employees humanly

By Allen Abastillas

Philippine Integrated Industries Labor Union (PIILU) President Jose “Joe” J. Suan has appealed to businessmen and employers in the region to treat their employees humanly and give them the right salary they deserve.

Suan said he has received information that many employers in the city are not treating their employees well.

He said that many company employees do not have an area for relaxing during lunch break like a dining area wherein they can take their meal or coffee.

Suan was informed that during lunch break, some company employees use the sidewalk to take their meal or merienda sold by sidewalk vendors.

“The worst of all victims are the cashiers of department stores. They stand more than eight hours and working on the cash registers without good setting where they can work relaxingly,” Suan revealed.

He explained that the problem is that employees who are maltreated are not members of a labor group or association and they are afraid to file a case against their erring employer..

Worst is that when the employees file a case against an employer, it will end in amicable settlement, according to Suan.

Suan appealed to the Department of Labor and Employment- 9 to conduct an investigation and ocular inspection on the business establishments in the city so that employers will improve their treatment of employees.

Zamboanga Peninsula workers receive P13 daily wage hike

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

ZAMBOANGA CITY, May 1 (PNA) -– Here's good news for thousands of laborers in the region celebrating Wednesday the 111th Labor Day.

Philippine Integrated Industries Labor Union (PIILU) president Jose Suan announced that a P13 wage increase will take effect “in the middle of the day” of Labor Day.

Suan said the decision to grant wage increase came after the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) conducted a series of consultations although the labor sector did not file a petition for salary hike.

“We have arrived at a very reasonable amount,” said Suan, who is one of the two labor sector representatives in the RTWPB.

Meanwhile, the workers in the non-agricultural sector will now receive a daily wage of P267 while those in the agricultural sector will receive P242 for plantation and agricultural enterprise and P222 for non-plantation and non-agricultural enterprise.

The salary in the Retail Service/Establishment employing not more than 30 workers will be P247 daily and P222 for Cottage/Handicraft.

The RTWPB is composed of the following: Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Regional Director Sisinio Cano, chairman; National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Regional Director Arturo Valerio and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Regional Director Nazrullah Manzur, vice-chairmen; Suan and Rey Anthony Trio, labor sector representatives; and, Edgar Lim and Roberto Valerio, employer sector representatives.

Meanwhile, the Labor Day celebration kicked off with a motorcade participated in by employees coming from private establishments, DOLE and its attached agencies.

The motorcade passed through this city’s main thoroughfares and went straight to the Western Mindanao State University (WMSU) where a Job and Livelihood Fairs opened at the university’s gymnasium.

The theme for this year’s Labor Day celebration is “Manggagawang Pilipino: Handa sa Hamon ng Makabagong Panahon.”

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