Zamboanga City News October 2016

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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.

Lawmaker pushes bill granting the elderly more benefits

By Bong Garcia

ZAMBOANGA City first district Congressman Celso Lobregat, seeing the welfare of the elderly in the city and the country in general, supports the passage of House Bill (HB) 534, which intends to provide additional benefits and privileges to the members of the sector.

The passage of HB 534 will amend Republic Act (RA) 7432 entitled “An Act to maximize the contribution of senior citizens to nation-building, grant benefits and special privileges and for other purposes.”

Lobregat said HB 534 seeks to provide additional benefits to senior citizens by granting discounted payments on court fees, legal services and attorneys’ fees in criminal, civil and administrative cases.

Lobregat cited Article 15, Section of the Constitution which states that “the family has the duty to care for its elderly members but the State may also do so through just programs of social security” as the basis in pushing for the passage of HB 534.

It is further reiterated in Article 8, Section 11 of the Constitution that “there shall be priority for the needs of the underprivileged, sick, elderly, disabled, women, and children.”

Under RA 9994, otherwise known as the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010, a 20 percent discount and exemption from the value added tax (VAT), if applicable, on goods and services from all establishments, are given to senior citizens.

It provides for discounts on the professional fees of attending physicians in all private hospitals, medical facilities, outpatient clinics and home health care services, among others.

Senior citizens are also given government assistance in employment, education, health, social services, housing and foster care. They are also granted social pension, mandatory Philhealth coverage and other social safety nets.

Lobregat said there seems to be something lacking as far as addressing their legal needs in cases wherein they are involved in disputes, subjected to fraud, suffered ill-treatment, and similar cases although RA 9994 and RA 7432 give the senior citizens indispensable benefits to allow them to enjoy their twilight years.

“The elderly deserves to avail of the services of a lawyer of their preference, aside from those offered for free by public attorneys,” Lobregat, a co-author of HB 534 said.

“As the co-author of the bill, giving the highest priority to the elderly to live their lives to the fullest in comfort and worry-free environment is necessary and that’s why I am fully supporting the passage of this bill (HB 534) in congress,” he added.

Mayor convenes water management council

By Bong Garcia

ZAMBOANGA City Mayor Ma. Isabelle Climaco-Salazar has convened the Watershed Management Council (WMC) to tackle issues related to the condition and status of the city’s watershed area.

City Hall Information Officer Belen Sheila Covarrubias said the highlight of the meeting was the review and deliberation on the hydroelectric projects proposed by the Everhydro Corporation in Patalon, Alimpaya, Tagpangin and Ayala rivers and by PhilCarbon in the Manicahan river.

Covarrubias said the president of Everhydro Corporation Oliver Chan and PhilCarbon president and chief executive officer Ruth Yo-Owen presented their respective proposals during the meeting.

She said the other matters during the meeting included the presentation on the Renewable Energy Development: One-stop shop facilitation and monitoring center by representatives from the Mindanao Development Authority.

Salazar convened the WMC as she co-chairs the council with Department of Environment and Natural Resources Regional Director Arleigh Adorable.

The Council coordinates actions to protect and preserve the watershed which is the main source of drinking water of the city.

City readies to implement solid waste management law

By Bong Garcia

THE City Government of Zamboanga is undertaking the necessary preparations for the full implementation of the Solid Waste Management ordinance.

The City Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro) is the department that spearheads the preparation since the beginning of this month of October.

Cenro Supervising Environmental Management Specialists Gerry Pollisco said they had regularly conducted information drives and meetings, particularly with the village officials, who will have greater responsibilities in the implementation of the ordinance establishing the Integrated Solid Waste management of Zamboanga City.

Pollisco said they are meeting with villages, clustered into groups of seven every Tuesday and Friday, to comprehensively explain the provisions of the ordinance and the responsibilities of the village officials.

Pollisco said they are focusing on preparatory activities for full implementation of all provisions, including the P50 collection fee for each household.

He said the details for the collection fee, which is envisioned to be included in a household’s water bill, are also currently being ironed out with a proposed Memorandum of Agreement between the City Government and the Zamboanga City Water District.

Zamboanga City adopts two-step business registration process

(PNA), CVL/TPGJR

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Oct. 28 (PNA) -- The City Licensing Office has simplified the business registration process here to only two steps -- application, and payment and release.

City Licensing Office chief, Benjie Barredo, said the two-step process will be adopted in the forthcoming business registration period.

Barredo said his office will start accepting applications for business registration and renewal as early as December, even though the registration period is usually held from Jan. 1 to 20 every year.

The two-step scheme will reduce processing time to at least two hours for renewal of business permits and at least within the day for new registrants.

Barredo said the application of the two-step process complies with President Rodrigo Duterte’s directive to all government agencies and local government units (LGUs) to reduce the requirements and processing time of all government transactions.

He said that under the new scheme, an interim Zamboanga City Business One-Stop Shop (ZCBOSS) will be established at the Centro Latino Convention Hall where all agencies or offices involved in the issuance of business permits and licenses are set up to receive and process applications.

He said the interim ZCBOSS will operate from Jan. 1 to 20, 2017 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays to Fridays; and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.

Barredo further said the two-step scheme also adheres to the Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) No. 1, series of 2016 by the departments of trade, interior, and information and communications technology, mandating all LGUs to comply with the new set of service standards in processing business permits and licenses.

He said they expect to renew more than 9,000 business permits and issue at least 2,000 new permits.

Surprise inspection of weighing scales conducted in Zamboanga

By Jewel Reyes (ABS-CBN News)

ZAMBOANGA - A surprise inspection of weighing scales in different public markets in Zamboanga City was conducted by different government agencies on Wednesday, as part of the Consumers' Month Celebration.

"The inspection aims to apprehend erring businessmen and vendors who have weighing scales that could either be defective or not functioning well for purposes of tricking a consumer when buying their products," consumers' group leader Rudy Iglesias said.

At least 2 weighing scales in the meat section of the Zamboanga City old public market were found defective and were immediately confiscated by personnel from the Office of the City Treasurer, Department of Trade and Industry, National Food Authority, Department of Tourism, Department of Science and Technology, as well as other organic members of the Task Force Timbangan.

Weighing scales that passed the inspection were issued a trade sticker indicating that theirs' are of honest transaction.

The Task Force is expected to meet to consolidate the total number of defective weighing scales that have been confiscated from different public markets.

Underweighing is only one among the top three complaints received by the government from consumers, DTI-Zamboanga City Consumers' Affairs Division official Omar Abubakar said.

Defective electronic gadgets and appliances, and 'the no-return no-exchange policy' are the two other common complaints from consumers, he said.

ERC approval sought for SMC unit-Zamcelco power deal

By Victor V. Saulon

SAN MIGUEL Consolidated Power Corp. (SMCPC) and an electric cooperative in Zamboanga City are seeking regulatory approval to enter into a power supply contract with the completion of the San Miguel Corp. unit’s coal-fired power plant in Mindanao. In their joint application, the two entities asked the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) to approve the supply of 35 megawatts (MW) for 10 years from the San Miguel plant to Zamboanga City Electric Cooperative Inc. (Zamcelco), which holds the franchise to operate light and power services in the southern city.

“The PSC with SMCPC was made to ensure the continuous supply of power to [Zamcelco] and due to the former’s competitive pricing structure and other favorable terms of its contract, which will redound to the benefit of the latter and its end-consumers in terms of reliable and affordable power supply,” the ERC application read.

SMCPC is building a two-unit circulating fluidized bed coal-fired thermal power plant each with a capacity of 150 MW in Barangay Culaman in Malita, Davao del Sur. The plant started commercial operations in the first quarter of 2016. SMCPC and Zamcelco forged their power supply contract (PSC) on March 14, 2016.

The estimated cost of project is P24.824 billion, for which SMCPC’s parent firm SMC Global Power Holdings Corp. advanced $300 million to allow the start of the construction. The plant was initially financed through 100% equity since the funding was shouldered by the parent firm without interest payments. To further finance the project, SMCPC looks at a debt-to-equity ratio of 70% to 30%.

The parties said the contract was forged partly because the extension of power supply from the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. (PSALM) starting 2016 was uncertain given the privatization of its plants. They said the supply from PSALM had been decreasing significantly over the past few years. They added the supply from the government agency, which manages Mindanao’s main power source, was assumed at 16.56 MW for 2016 and 2025 because of the expected sale of certain plants.

The generation rate after the SMCPC contract is placed at P8.25 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) including value-added tax for the second half of the year. By 2025, the last year of the contract’s effective date, the rate is placed at P9.5988 per kWh.

PCSO gives P4.1M to Zamboanga City Gov’t

By Bong Garcia

THE Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) has turned over P4.1 million in check to the Zamboanga City Government representing the six month five percent share from the proceeds of local PCSO operations.

PCSO-Zamboanga Head Raul Regondola handed over the check on Monday, October 24, to Zamboanga City Mayor Ma. Isabelle Climaco-Salazar at city hall.

Regondola said the amount represents the five percent share of the local government unit from the proceeds of PCSO operations in Zamboanga City for the period from January to June 2016.

Regondola said the City Government stands to receive more than P8 million from PCSO annually.

Salazar is authorized to disburse or spend the amount for charity purposes like medical assistance and medicines to indigent residents of this city.

POPCOM awards Best Films produced by ZamPen youth

(POPCOM9 PR/ALT)

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Oct. 24 --- The Commission on Population recently sponsored the Adolescent Health and Youth Development (AHYD) Film Festival, an independent film festival that focuses on the relationships among population, health and environment (PHE) and the role of young people in making sure that this PHE integration will sustain regional development and mitigate climate change.

It can be recalled that POPCOM introduced independent filmmaking to Grades 9, 10 and 11 students from public and private schools in the region through a filmmaking workshop conducted last July 22 in Zamboanga City.

Out of the 30 schools who participated in the workshop, only six (6) entries were submitted for final judging.

Adjudged as Best Film was “Amira,” the entry submitted by Basilan National High School, Isabela City. “Amira” tells of a high school lass who tried to make both ends meet by studying and at the same time picking up recycled bottles in school to help augment the family income. The short film ended in tragedy as Amira, the main character, died in a vehicular accident while picking up recycled bottles. The ending moved the viewers to tears.

“Dagok” won as the 2nd Best Film, an entry from Zamboanga National High School West in Zamboanga City. It is a story of a high school female student named Helen, whose grades and performances in school went berserk when she discovered her boyfriend’s extra affair with another guy, after engaging in pre-marital sex. Helen got hooked up on drugs and other substance, including drinking but managed to change her lifestyle after an attempt to end her life. “Dagok” ended with Helen marrying her high school admirer.

Talon-talon National High School’s “Ang Pangarap ni Ahmed,” bagged the 3rd place, which tells about a high school lad who dropped out from school, got hooked on drugs after the death of his best friend and the transfer of his girlfriend to another school.

The film ended when Ahmed was reunited with his long lost girlfriend, now a teacher and planned for their future.

The awarding ceremony was held recently at Badjao Hall, Garden Orchid Hotel, this city. The top three winners received cash prizes and citations for their entries. The cast of “Amira” received P 12,000.00, “Dagok” received P9,000.00 and “Ang Pangarap ni Ahmed” received P 6,000.

“Amira” will be the region’s entry to the National Finals scheduled in November this year where bigger cash prizes and individual prizes are at stake. The entire cast of “Amira” to include the writer, director, main actor and main actress, together with their coach will have the chance to fly to Manila to attend the National Screening and Awarding.

This year’s AHYD filmfest revolved around the theme “Kabataan, Kalusugan, Kalikasan: Magkakaugnay” with a minimum running time of 15 minutes and maximum of 20 minutes including credits and disclaimer.

Film director/producer Charlie Villanueva, and Dominic Sanchez of the Philippine Information Agency acted as members of the Board of Judges together with Mr. Ralph Ruivivar, Assistant Regional Director-Designate of POPCOM 9.

Zamboanga City gov’t readies for All Soul, Saints Day

By Bong Garcia

THE Zamboanga City Hall convened Monday, October 17, the police, military, and other stakeholders to thresh out all issues and concerns that may be encountered during the observance of All Saints’ and All Souls’ Days on November 1 and 2, respectively.

Dubbed yearly as “Oplan Kaluluwa,” the operation plan covers security measures and traffic rerouting schemes to be implemented in all public and private cemeteries.

Zamboanga City Administrator Angelique Go presided the meeting where police station commanders presented their security and traffic rerouting plans while representatives of different parishes and villages likewise aired recommendations.

Go said Zamboanga City Mayor Ma. Isabelle Climaco-Salazar is set to issue two executive orders—one directing the implementation of a temporary traffic re-routing scheme on all roads leading to public and private cemeteries and the other, promulgating rules and regulations for strict compliance on November 1 and November 2.

The effectivity of the proposed executive orders will start 12 noon of October 31 until 5 p.m. of November 2 considering that October 31 is a holiday and people are expected to start flocking to burial sites.

‘Peace artists’ challenge youth to fight for peace through art

By Dominic I. Sanchez (ALT/DIS/PIA9-Zamboanga City)

ZAMBOANGA CITY (PIA) – Peace artists from two of the premiere universities in the country challenged the youth to become advocates of peace through practicing art effectively during a peace-art seminar held in the city recently.

“Art is a very powerful tool of expression. Use it effectively and you can sway society to work for peace,” said Professor Arvin Villalon, a peace artist and professor of psychology at the University of the Philippines – Baguio.

Villalon said that there are many types of art to include music, theatre, and even the multimedia. “As long as you have something to express, you could do it in art.”

He commented that art is one of the factors widely responsible for the EDSA revolution. “There were plenty of artists who used their creativity and dedication for a common purpose,” he said.

Villalon added that sending a message through art can be very powerful. “With ordinary words, we only make the audience know about what’s happening. With art, we make them feel.”

“It is really an effective platform to promote peace,” he stressed.

Meanwhile, Professor Pepito Sumayan of Mindanao State University - Marawi challenged the youth not to waste time and be part of the crusade for peace. “Every kid has a great potential in art, they have to use this potential and develop them.”

“The real artist mirrors what is happening in his or her community. The real artist advocates rights and all that is good. If you do this in your own little way, you have become a deeper, more powerful artist,” Sumayan said.

LTO-9 to start issuing driver’s license with 5-year validity Nov. 14

(PNA), LAP/TPGJR/R.G. ANTONET A. GO

ZAMBOANGA CITY (PNA) -– The Land Transportation Office (LTO) will issue driver’s license with five-year validity starting on November 14 here in Region 9.

“Less hassle ito (five-year validity) on the part of the (driver’s license) applicants,” local LTO licensing center head Nurhuda Omar-Nurulla told the Philippines News Agency.

Nurulla said the validity will remain at three years period for those who will apply or who are scheduled to renew their driver’s license before November 14.

Nurulla said the application fee for driver’s license with five-year validity is PhP820.26, and PhP585.26 for three years.

The driver’s license renewal fees are: PhP417.63, three years validity; and PhP652.63, five years validity.

The requirement for driver’s license application are: student permit; written and actual driving tests; payment of fees; and medical certificate.

Meanwhile, Nurulla disclosed that only temporary driver’s license will be issued to new applicants since they still don’t have the plastic laminated license due to some problems with the card supplier.

Nurulla said the unresolved problem has caused a backlog of 12,000 driver’s license cards, new and renewal, since February 3, this year here in the region.

111-year-old Zamboanga City Hall to undergo rehabilitation

(PNA), CVL/TPGJR/R.G. ANTONET A. GO

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Oct. 20 (PNA) -- Preparations are underway for the rehabilitation of the 111-year-old Zamboanga City Hall building here that serves as the seat of local governance.

City disaster risk reduction and management (CDRRM) officer, Dr. Elmeir Jade Apolinario, told the Philippines News Agency (PNA) that the rehabilitation aims to preserve City Hall and make it disaster-resilient.

Apolinario said part of the rehabilitation is to ensure the stability of the building and improve its facilities, including by installing fire sprinklers.

“The instruction of the mayor is to make City Hall disaster-resilient, both natural and human-induced disasters,” he said.

The last time City Hall, which was built from 1905 to 1907, had undergone rehabilitation was in 2004.

The repair of City Hall will be overseen by the city engineer’s office and the city planning and development coordinator aside from the CDRRMO, based on the instruction of Mayor Ma. Isabelle Climaco-Salazar.

The City Hall, which was built by the United States, has served as the seat of the governments of the then Moro Province from 1903 to 1913; Mindanao and Sulu from 1914 to 1920; Zamboanga Province from 1921 to 1945; and Zamboanga City since 1957.

Zamboanga City to sign sisterhood agreement with Chinese city

By Roel Pareño (philstar.com)

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines -- Zamboanga City will sign a sisterhood agreement with Guigang City in the Guangxi Autonomous Region in China next week.

Mayor Ma. Isabelle Climaco-Salazar said the signing will be done when the delegation of Chinese officials visits next Tuesday.

She said the signing of the twinning agreement will finalize a letter of intent that she and Guigang City officials led by Mayor Li Xinyuan signed in Nanning, China in September 2015 during the 12th China-ASEAN Expo.

The agreement is meant to foster exchanges and cooperation between the two cities in terms of economy, trade, science and technology, culture, education, sports and health.

President Rodrigo Duterte is in China this week on an official state visit. He has openly said that he wants warmer relations between the Philippines and China, as well as Russia.

TESDA to incorporate training on language, culture in its program

(PNA), PGL/TPGJR

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Oct. 18 (PNA) -- The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) is incorporating in its program the conduct of training on language and culture of other countries.

TESDA Director-General Guiling Mamondiong on Tuesday said the training is aimed to ensure the protection of Filipinos working abroad.

Mamondiong said some of the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) encountered problems with their employers since they cannot understand each other due to language barrier.

Mamondiong said some women OFWs were sexually molested because they were unaware of the culture of the country they are working.

“It is important you know the culture of the country you are going (to work),” Mamondiong said.

“Communication is very important to understand each other,” he added.

He said they will coordinate with the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) and the recruitment agencies for the conduct of training on language and culture to departing Filipino workers.

“This time we should give importance to the training on language and culture which was not given attention previously,” he said.

Meanwhile, he said they are providing assistance to OFWs repatriated from Saudi Arabia by upgrading their skills through conduct of training.

He said the training is to enable them to be employed abroad again or locally.

Mamondiong and other top TESDA officials arrived in this city as they attended the Regional Consultation on Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and Development Agenda.

Zambo City PhP3.1-B 2017 budget up for approval

(PNA),LAP/TPGJR/R.G. ANTONET A. GO

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Oct. 17 (PNA) -– The City Council is set to approve the proposed PhP3.1-billion budget for 2017, which is higher by PhP300 million than the PhP2.8 billion of 2016.

Councilor Rommel Agan, chairman of the City Council’s committee on appropriations, said the biggest share of the 2017 budget, which is 44 percent, will go to social services that include security, health and education (SHE).

SHE is the main thrust of the administration of Mayor Ma. Isabelle Climaco-Salazar.

Agan told the Philippines News Agency that following social services is general public services with 38 percent share and economic services, 18 percent.

For security, Agan said that PhP133.2 million was allotted for peace and order programs; disaster risk reduction management programs, PhP154.6 million; and security services, PhP29.2 million.

He said that the health, the allocation are as follows: for medicine purchase, PhP33.3 million; medical assistance, PhP5.3 million; construction and improvement of hospitals and health centers, PhP38.5 million; city health office, PhP145.7 million; and city-management Crispino Paragas Memorial Hospital, P14 million.

For education, the budget include the following: construction, rehabilitation, and improvement of school buildings, PhP156 million; PhP10 million, construction of covered courts for high schools; PhP38 million, construction, rehabilitation and improvement of multipurpose buildings for national high schools; PhP5.4 million, Ayala Technical Vocational School; and, PhP5.4 million, Vitali Technical Vocational School.

Agan said his committee had already completed the conduct of the budget hearings and the 2017 budget scheduled to be submitted for approval of the City Council.

Zamboanga City works to stop 'cocolisap' infestation

By Roel Pareño (philstar.com)

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines -- The Zamboanga City Agriculture Office is working round the clock to arrest the spread of coconut scale insects (CSI) locally known as ‘cocolisap’ that are affecting at least 12 villages in the city.

City Agriculturist Diosdado Palacad said his office is working with the Philippine Coconut Authority to control and wipe out the cocolisap before they can spread further.

Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel ‘Manny’ Piñol earlier warned that the infestation of the cocolisap in this city could devastate the coconut industry in Mindanao unless addressed immediately.

Palacad said the DA and PCA have activated their City Crop Protection Quick Response Team, which has been monitoring the spread of the insects.

He said that at least 650 coconut trees from the 12 barangays in this city have already been damaged by the scale insects.

Although the infestation has not yet reached an alarming level, various pest management control measures are already being done to prevent cocolisap from spreading further.

He said rapid treatment of the infected coconut trees is also being conducted.

Authorities suspect the ‘cocolisap’ came from Basilan, where close to three million of seven million coconut trees in the province have been infested.

Lawmaker seeks conversion of state college to university

By Bong Garcia

A HOUSE Bill has been filed seeking to convert the government-owned Zamboanga City State Polytechnic College (ZCSPC) into university level.

House Bill (HB) 3929, authored by First District Celso Lobregat, was referred to the education committee of the House of Representative after it was approved on first reading.

Lobregat said the ZCSPC, once HB 3929 is approved into a law, will be known as the Zamboanga Peninsula Polytechnic Station University (ZPPSU).

He urged the ZCSPC officials to comply with all the needed requirements since he has done the first step as part of the legislative process.

ZCSPC President Nora Ponce thanked Lobregat for taking the first step in realizing the dream of their school to become a university.

Ponce said the school, as a university, will serve as a gateway in nurturing a wider scope of giving better tertiary education to the young generations not only of this city but also of the entire region.

The ZPPSU, once HB 3929 in enacted into a law, will be the second government-owned university based in Zamboanga City.

The first is the Western Mindanao State University (WMSU).

The ZPPSU will become the fourth university in this city to include the two private-owned universities. The two private universities are the Universidad de Zamboanga (UZ) and the Ateneo de Zamboanga University (ADZU).

Ponce said that Lobregat is not only the father of ZCSPC, but an instrument in bringing more progress to their school.

The ZCSPC was founded as a small workshop classroom of the Zamboanga Central School in July 1905.

In 1937, it became Zamboanga City Trade School, which offered a secondary school curriculum by virtue of Commonwealth Act 39.

It became in 1959 a national school under the name Zamboanga School of Arts and Trades (ZSAT) by virtue of Republic Act (RA) 2300.

Three years later, RA 3286 authorized the school to offer a degree program: a four-year teacher education curriculum leading to the degree of Bachelor of Science in Industrial Education with majors in fields of specialization.

In 1992, ZSAT was converted into Zamboanga City Polytechnic College under the supervision of the Commission on Higher Education.

On July 20, 2001, the ZCPC became a state college and it was renamed to Zamboanga City State Polytechnic College pursuant to RA 9142 authored by Lobregat.

Zamboanga eyed as hub for halal exports

By Richmond Mercurio (The Philippine Star)

MANILA, Philippines - The government is set to develop a 100-hectare area in Zamboanga into a manufacturing base for export-quality halal products in line with its goal of making the country the halal industrial hub of the region.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), together with the local government units of Zamboanga City and the Zamboanga Economic Zone, broke ground recently for the development of the Asian Halal Center.

The Asian Halal Center is a 100-hectare estate expected to be home for the production and processing of halal goods for the Muslim region.

The facility aims to be the center of halal industries in the Philippines and in the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN growth area region.

“Mindanao is positioned to be the manufacturing base for export-quality halal products in the country. With Asian Halal Center, we expect to attract more locators and enhance our country’s position as the halal industrial hub in the region,” DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez said.

The DTI said the center expects to have about 14 locators that would lease the center’s facilities.

It is initially targeting small and medium scale locators that will cater to the estimated $2.6 trillion global halal market.

“The growing halal market worldwide is a potential sector especially for our micro and small entrepreneurs. In the Philippines alone, we have an estimated population of 9.62

million Filipino Muslim. We need to urge them to seize this opportunity and tap the growing sector,” DTI Undersecretary Nora Terrado said.

Halal is used in relation to food and other consumer goods that have undergone certification as permissible for consumption and use by Muslims.

DTI, as the lead agency of the Philippine Halal Board, plans to increase the awareness of the availability, quality, and integrity of the halal products in the country.

After the signing of RA 10817 or the Halal Export Development and Promotion Act last May 2016, the agency is taking the lead in convening dialogues and initiatives in promoting the said sector.

The Philippine Halal Board, with Lopez as the chairman, was convened last Sept. 19.

The board is composed of members from nine government agencies including the Departments of Agriculture, Health, Science and Technology, Tourism, Foreign Affairs, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Mindanao Development Authority, the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos, and two Filipino Muslim professionals who have yet to be appointed by the President.

Health office searches for ideal drug rehab center in Zamboanga City

(PNA), LAP/TPGJR

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Oct. 13 (PNA) -– First district Rep. Celso Lobregat has lauded the security forces for their efforts in sustaining the tranquil celebration of the feast of Our Lady of the Pillar (Fiesta Pilar), the most revered saint of this city on Wednesday.

Lobregat said the Zamboangueños appreciated the joint efforts of the police and military as well as the force multipliers that resulted in a peaceful celebration of the Fiesta Pilar.

Lobregat said indeed there is a positive outcome when all local stakeholders consolidate efforts and cooperate with each other especially in dealing with the prevailing volatile peace and order condition.

“There is no amount of lawlessness that can overcome unity in prayer, efforts and aided with vigilance and cooperation of everybody. I commend all the men in uniform and the stakeholders for safeguarding the feast of Nuestra Señora La Virgen del Pilar,” Lobregat said.

He also thanked the archdiocese headed by Archbishop Romulo Dela Cruz for sustaining the solemnity of the Fiesta Pilar celebration.

Devotees of Our Lady of the Pillar flocked together in the grand procession and Pontifical Mass at the shrine despite the drizzle.

Lobregat appealed to the Zamboangeños to sustain the vigilance and cooperation all throughout the year to help protect this city those against lawless elements.

Negosyo Centers open to all, including drug surrenderees - DTI

By Dominic I. Sanchez (ALT/DIS/PIA9-Zamboanga City)

ZAMBOANGA CITY (PIA) – Former drug dependents who have given up their life on drugs can avail of entrepreneurship packages from the government, in the effort to keep them away from illegal vices.

According to Rolando Acuña, provincial director of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) here, Negosyo Centers are available to anyone who wishes to learn about starting up their own business, including and especially the drug surrenderees.

“The services of the Negosyo Centers are more than enough to cater to their livelihood needs,” Acuña told media on Wednesday’s (October 5) Kapihan na Garden Orchid Hotel.

“The Negosyo Centers touch the core needs of the would-be entrepreneur, the enabling environment, productivity efficiency, capability and knowledge needs on how to run a business, marketing, and others,” he said.

However, according to DTI Regional Director Sitti Amina Jain, the drug surrenderees “have to enter social value formation first.” For this matter, the DTI will have to coordinate with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), to “make sure that they are ready for the assistance.”

Asked if the DTI has already a list of former drug dependents who availed of such program, Acuña explained that they do not have this list, since the participant profile of the Negosyo Center does not indicate whether the person is a former drug dependent or otherwise. “We do not have the numbers, but it is possible that some may have already availed.”

The DTI Negosyo Center is a one-stop shop for budding and existing entrepreneurs who want to avail of trainings to help ensure success in micro small and medium enterprises.

The intensified anti-illegal drugs campaign of the Duterte administration has netted hundreds of thousands of surrenderees all over the country, and government agencies have been setting up programs to address their socio-economic needs.

Thousands join 'Wow Sardinas' in Zamboanga

By Bong Garcia

THOUSANDS of people swarmed to the renowned R.T. Lim Boulevard on Sunday, October 9 for the Wow Sardinas, a sardine-eating spectacle highlighting Day 9 of the 2016 Zamboanga Hermosa Festival despite the unstable weather condition.

At least eight canning factories joined in the event opening at some 25,000 cans of sardines for the boodle fight held in neatly arranged makeshift tables in a kilometer stretch of R.T. Lim Boulevard known as the Cawa-Cawa Boulevard.

The Wow Sardinas, now on its 10th year, is one of the mainstays in the Hermosa Festival and is intended to highlight the city’s recognition as the Philippines’ sardines capital.

Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar, some members of the City Council and other officials including out of town as well as foreign visitors led the sardine eating event.

The event was made possible through the support of the Century Tuna, Aquatic Corporation, Gold Star, Permex, Universal, Mega and ZCENL companies.

It was also participated by Robina Foods and Nature’s Spring.

Thousands of people coming from different sectors turned up for the big event including students, employees, professionals, military and police men and other groups.

Illuminated floats paraded the city streets in a competition dubbed Parade of Lights on Sunday evening.

The competition, open to any person, group, organization, institution or company, showcased six floats designed after Zamboanga’s iconic landmarks, symbols, products, stories and legends.

All entries, accompanied by dancers and props, made its way from Mayor Ledesma Street to Paseo del Mar where the lighted floats were put on display for public viewing.

The participants of the competition included Permex Producer and Exporter Corporation (King Cup), KCC Mall de Zamboanga, 2Go, Cignal, San Roque barangay and Dynapharm.

The grand prize winner received P75,000, the second placer, P50,000, third placer, P30,000, fourth placer, P20,000 and fifth placer, P10,000.


DOTr allocates PHP200-M to rehabilitate, expand Zambo airport facilities

(PNA), BNB/TPGJR/R.G. ANTONET A. GO

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Oct. 10 (PNA) -- The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has allocated PHP200 million funds to rehabilitate and expand the facilities at the Zamboanga International Airport (ZIA).

DOTr Undersecretary Roberto Lim made this announcement as he led on Monday the inspection of the ZIA facilities.

Lim said that PHP40 million of the PHP200 million allocation will be used for the asphalt overlay project, which will be implemented this year, to improve the airport runway.

Lim said the remaining allocation of PHP160 million is earmarked for the expansion and rehabilitation of the passenger terminal building to include its facilities.

He said they will replace the cargo conveyors with new ones, install of two new X-ray scanners, and construct a cargo building.

He said the expansion and rehabilitation of ZIA is in line with the current program of the DOTr to improve the airport services in the entire country.

The other officials who joined Lim in the inspection of ZIA on Monday included the following: Captain Manuel Antonio Tamayo, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) deputy director-general; DOTr Engineer Eduardo Manglili; CAAP Area Manager Mohammad Naga Rascal; and, first district Rep. Celso Lobregat.

The inspection was requested by Lobregat to check on the present state of the facilities of ZIA.

Colorful vinta regatta draws thousands to Zamboanga City

By Roel Pareño (philstar.com)

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines -- The sea gypsy Sama-Badjao people’s traditional colorful vinta sails drew thousands of spectators to the seafront boulevard of this city on Sunday.

The regatta, a tradition in the city and part of the Fiesta Pilar, was participated in by more than 200 entries, mostly from the Sama-Badjao tribe.

Mayor Ma. Isabelle Climaco-Salazar said the regatta continues to fascinate tourists and residents annually due to the colorful vinta sails.

“The bursting colorful sails have its own story to tell, a story of unity and diversity of the people in this historical southern port city being one of the last frontiers of the country in the southern region,” Salazar said.

The Sama-Badjao have been using their vintas to venture from island to island.

One of the foreign tourists said it was his first time to see the actual flying colors of the sails on top of the vintas.

“The sail vinta looks like those bigger yachts with sails,” according to a European tourist who asked not to be named.

Security at the venue was tight as thousands of spectators gathered for the race. The city has been on alert against potential attacks by the Abu Sayyaf, which is the subject of intensified military operations in Sulu province.

The spectators were later treated to the longest sardine boodle fight, which stretched almost a kilometer along the seafront boulevard.

The city is home to sardine factories and canneries and is known as the Philippines’ sardine capital.

Thailand rice shipments arrive in Zamboanga

By Bong Garcia (BG/Sunnex)

AN OFFICIAL of the National Food Authority (NFA) announced that 344,000 bags of Thailand rice of 50 kilograms each are arriving this month in Zamboanga City.

NFA Provincial Manager Nieves Toca said 164,000 of the 344,000 bags of rice already arrived in two shipments.

Toca said that 44,000 of the 164,000 bags of rice arrived on Saturday, October 1, and the 120,000 on Tuesday, October 4.

The shipment of the remaining 180,000 bags is expected to arrive between the periods from October 15 to 20.

Toca said the rice shipments are intended for Zamboanga Peninsula, including Zamboanga City, as well as for the provinces of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.

He said they have at present a total of 55,000 bags of rice stored at the NFA warehouse in the village of San Roque, Zamboanga City.

They have two kinds of rice variety. The first one is the 15 percent broken sold at P32 per kilogram and second, the 25 percent broken variety sold at P27 per kilogram.

SOFT Movement distributes items, supplies to soldiers in Zamboanga City

(PNA), LAP/TPGJR/R.G. ANTONET A. GO

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Oct. 7 (PNA) -– The Support Our Filipino Troops Movement-Cebu (SOFT Movement) on Friday turned over personal items and supplies to the troops of the Joint Task Force Zamboanga (JTFZ) in Camp Enrile in this city.

Aside from personal items, they also turned over to the JTFZ sacks of rice, canned goods, water containers, combat boots and others. Miata Manglapus, SOFT-Cebu volunteer, told the Philippines News Agency that the personal goods and supplies were gathered through the collective efforts of the members of the movement.

Manglapus said the donation of the items and supplies is a way of expressing gratitude to the brave soldiers “for doing your duty” in protecting the country.

“Your family is very proud of you and the civilian sector,” Manglapus said.

One of the recipients of the donations, Sgt. Roderico Santo, said, “Gusto kong magpasalamat sa mga donors. Mahalaga ito sa amin mga sundalo ang pinakita nilang tulong (I would like to thank the donors. Their help is important to us soldiers).” Santo said the distribution of the items and supplies by civilian sector groups like the SOFT-Cebu, will motivate them to be diligent in their duty.

Col. Juvymax Uy, JTFZ commander, urged the soldiers to carry on their mandated tasks, citing the civilians support them.

“Your (SOFT Movement) action as Filipinos is a great appreciation of your support to your armed forces. To the soldiers go on and fight…perform to the highest level of our mandated duty, our citizens have not forgotten us,” Uy said.

He assured that the supplies will also be shared to the Joint Task Force Basilan and Joint Task Force Sulu.

SOFT Movement is a non-profit organization that provides opportunity to the community members to express their appreciation and also offer support to the soldiers.

The movement’s vision is to foster unity and rekindle nationalism among Filipinos through showing care towards the men and women in the battlefields.

Its mission is to boost the morale and well-being of the soldiers by providing comfort, resources and possibly education to them and their families both while they are deployed in harm’s way and after their return.

Zambo Hermosa Festival Jobs Fair set Friday

By Bong Garcia/Sunnex

HUNDREDS of job vacancies are up for grabs in the 2016 Hermosa Festival’s jobs fair in Zamboanga City.

City Social Welfare and Development Officer Socorro Rojas said the jobs fair will be conducted Friday, October 7, at the Red Cross Training Center in Pettit Barracks, Zamboanga City.

Rojas, who also heads the Public Employment Service Office (Peso), said 20 local and 10 overseas placement agencies are expected to join the fair.

Fresh graduates, skilled workers or National Centificate-2 graduates can apply for the different positions that will be offered during the Jobs Fair, Rojas said.

The event is part of the City Government’s employment program aimed to help the residents uplift their living standards.

The Job Fair is in coordination with the Department of Labor and Employment, Technical Educations and Skills Development Authority, Philippine Overseas Employment Agency and other concerned agencies of government.

Oct. 12 declared non-working holiday in Zamboanga City

By Bong Garcia (BG/Sunnex)

ZAMBOANGA City Mayor Ma. Isabelle Climac-Salazar announced October 12, the feast day of Nuestra Señora de la Virgen del Pilar, is declared a non-working holiday in Zamboanga City.

Salazar said the declaration of holiday is by virtue of Republic Act (RA) 7350, which was authored by the late lone district representative Maria Clara Lobregat in 1992.

Salazar said RA 7350 declares October 12 of every year a special non-working holiday to allow the residents and visitors to fittingly commemorate the feast day of Nuestra Senora La Virgen del Pilar, the revered patron saint of Zamboanga City.

The fiesta celebration, dubbed as Zamboanga Hermosa Festival, is a celebration of the city’s glorious past, rich heritage, diverse cultures and above all, a demonstration of the Zamboangueños’ devotion to the La Virgen del Pilar.

The festival started October 1 with the Inter-Barangay Bandoreal Competition, Smoke Out Zamboanga-Grilled Food Fiesta, and Grand Midnight Sale.

The annual festivity, featuring a variety of activities, leads up to October 12, which will be devoted to religious activities.

Badjaos start normal lives in new houses in Zambo

By Julie Alipala (Inquirer Mindanao, Philippine Daily Inquirer)

ZAMBOANGA CITY—Couple Nonie and Annang Jaji wept as they were handed the key to their new house on stilts at Valle Vista Subdivision in Kasanyangan village here on Wednesday.

They were among thousands of families displaced when the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) members went into rampage here from Sept. 9-28, 2013.

The couple had been staying at the Masepla Transitory Site in Mampang village with their seven children for more than three years before they were given a new house.

“This is happiness, we can start living normally like everyone and this place is nearer to where our children go to school,” Annang said in the Samah Badjao dialect, which her husband, Nonie, translated in Filipino.

The Jajis are among 487 families who were given new houses on stilts on Wednesday.

The house they got, like the other units, has one large room, a bathroom and a kitchen area made of wood and metal sheets.

Maria Socorro Rojas, the city social welfare officer, said over 4,000 families have yet to move into their new houses in different relocation sites here.

Mayor Maria Isabelle Salazar said only 32 percent of the more than 6,300 permanent housing units have so far been turned over to the city government for occupation.

Salazar said Wednesday’s turnover was the first for Samah and Badjao families and is considered to be the largest, in terms of the number of houses that were given.

The remaining 1,100 units are still to be distributed.

Both Salazar and engineer Al Kwarizmi Indanan, the director of the National Housing Authority here, admitted that there had been a delay in the turnover of the houses to recipient families.

Indanan said part of the delay was caused by the Local Water Utilities Administration, which has not completed building sanitation facilities in the new communities.

Another reason, he said, is the scarcity of supply for acacia mangium, the wood recommended for the houses.

Salazar is hoping that by 2017, all 4,000 families who are still homeless would already be able to move into their new houses.

This, she said, would lead to the closure of all transitory sites here.

“We still believe that this can be realized if we all sit down together and review the steps to be done to address the gaps right now in the rehabilitation (process),” Salazar said.

BFAR rescues Olive Ridley turtle off Zambo City

(PNA), LAP/TPGJR/R.G. ANTONET A. GO

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Oct. 3 (PNA) –- Personnel of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) on Monday rescued an Olive Ridley turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) off this city.

Atty. Benjan Ilahan, fishery management regulatory enforcement division chief of the BFAR regional office, said the turtle was rescued by the personnel of the agency’s patrol boat in the vicinity of Barangay Tumalutap, this city.

Ilahan said the male turtle, which has chest injury, measures 56 centimeter (cm.) in length 58 cm. in width and weigh 15 kilograms. Ilahan said the rescued turtle was placed under the care of the Office of the City Veterinarian (OCVet).

“Medyo matamlay yung turtle at plano naming dalhin sa Sta. Cruz Island matapos alisan ng hangin yung katawan niya para maka dive siya (turtle),” he said.

He said that the Olive Ridley turtle is one of the endangered species.

The Olive Ridley sea turtle, also known as the Pacific ridley sea turtle, is a medium-sized species of sea turtle found in warm and tropical waters.

PNP deploys 1,555 policemen to secure 2016 Zamboanga Hermosa Festival

(PNA), RMA/TPGJR /SSC

ZAMBOANGA CITY (PNA) -- The Philippine National Police (PNP) have deployed 1,555 policemen to ensure a peaceful celebration of the 2016 Zamboanga Hermosa Festival that reeled off Saturday.

The local government has lined up several activities for the Zamboanga Hermosa Festival, the highlight of which is the feast of Our Lady of the Pillar, the most revered saint of this city, on Oct. 12.

The activities that marked the start of the festival included the agricultural fair locally known as Cosechas de Zamboanga; lechon parade; parade of colors, music and dance known as Bandoreal; grilled food fiesta dubbed as Smoke Out Zamboanga; and, Grand Midnight Sale.

Newly-promoted Senior Supt. Luisito Magnaye, city police director, disclosed that he designated personnel to secure the venues of all the activities.

Magnaye said his office was complemented by the military’s Task Force Zamboanga and the Police Regional Office-9 (PRO-9), which serves as the “outer” security force.

Magnaye said normal police functions such as conducts of checkpoints, patrols, and counter-strikes would not be hampered despite the focus on the Hermosa festival security.

He disclosed the security measures they adopted were to prevent the spill over of violence since focus military operations continued against the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) brigands in Basilan and Sulu provinces.

He urged the residents to report to them the presence of people acting suspiciously in their respective barangays to ensure the peaceful Zamboanga Hermosa Festival celebration.

The other activities of the festival include the following: Regatta de Zamboanga; Parade of Lights; Street Party; Dance Sport competition; Zamboanga Peninsula Trade Exposition; Wow Sadrinas Grand Boodle Fight; and, others.

Agri. fair, lechon parade mark the start of the 2016 Zamboanga Hermosa Festival

(PNA), CVL/TPGJR

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Oct. 1 (PNA) –- The 2016 Zamboanga Hermosa Festival was off to a grand start Saturday with the agricultural fair and a lechon parade at the historical Plaza Pershing downtown.

City agriculturist Diosdado Palacat said the agricultural fair, locally known as Cosechas de Zamboanga (Zamboanga’s harvest), gives the farmers’ groups in this city’s six agricultural districts a chance to showcase their products.

Palacat said most of the farm produce on display are high-breed crops that are sold at affordable prices.

Farmers were encouraged to plant high-breed vegetables and corn because of their high yield and larger size, compared to native ones, he said.

With the high yield, Palacat said the income of the farmers have also increased, citing that a hectare of high-breed corn produces 150 to 200 sacks of 50 kg. each.

Dr. Mario Arriola, city veterinarian, said nine roasted pig business operators participated in the lechon parade, to show that this city sells the cheapest roasted pig compared to other areas in the country.

Arriola said the parade promotes camaraderie among stakeholders in the roasted pig business.

This year’s lechon parade was the first to be conducted in this city.

The Cosechas de Zamboanga and lechon parade were followed by the parade of colors, the “bandoreal” music and dance street parade and smoke out Zamboanga grilled food fiesta.

The Zamboanga Hermosa festival is highlighted by the feast day on Oct. 12 of Our Lady of the Pillar (Fiesta Pilar), the most revered saint of this city.

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