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November 1-7, 2021
‘Power Grab/The Art of Credit Grabbing’
Z
AMBOANGA CITY - The Facebook page “Youth volunteers for Mayor Celso Lobregat” has questioned Congressman Mannix Dalipe’s role in the energization of the Pangapuyan Island where the lawmaker appears to have claimed credit for the project. Dalipe, in his Oc- de Pangapuyan.” Electritober 9 Facebook post, fication of Pangapuyan wrote the following: Island | October 09, 2021. “Tiene ya kuryente el Isla Continue on page 2
Photos from the Facebook pages of ‘Youth volunteers for Mayor Celso Lobregat’ and Congressman Mannix Dalipe.
More Covid frontliners hired THE LOCAL government said it hired additional Covid-19 frontliners to further augment the cur-
rent workforce and boost efforts to cut the transmission rate of the deadly Continue on page 7
Beng asks for more Covid vaccines, medicines for Zamboangueños
A photo released by the Zamboanga City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office shows its personnel inspecting documents of the liquid oxygen the local government purchased from Taiyo Nippon Sanso Philippines Incorporated in Misamis Oriental province where it has a plant in Tagoloan town.
CHIEF COVID frontliner Mayor Beng Climaco has Continue on page 3
Mayor Beng Climaco has asked the government for more Covid-19 vaccines and critical care supplies, among others during a virtual meeting with the NIAFT-MEID.
Zambo gets fresh supply of medical oxygen Mayor wants lower pump prices, MAYOR BENG Climaco said the local government has purchased a fresh supply of medical grade oxygen in an effort to help government
and private hospitals cope with the shortage of oxygen in Zamboanga City due to the spike in Covid-19 cases. Climaco said a tank
Zamboanga Peninsula
container with some 13,357 cubic meters of liquid oxygen has arrived and said another shipment is forthcoming. The Continue on page 3
Basilan
OPEC slashes oil output ZAMBOANGA MAYOR Beng Climaco has asked the Department of Energy
(DoE) to look into the high prices of fuel here following the series of price
Sulu
adjustments in recent weeks. Continue on page 7
Tawi-tawi
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The Zamboanga Post
November 1-7, 2021
BISTADO ‘Power Grab/The Art of Credit Grabbing’
Continued from page 1 We make things happen. Team DALIPE - Team Performance.” And he continued to thank officials of the National Power Corporation for the project and said: “Thank you Secretary Al Cusi, NPC President and CEO Donie Marcos, NPC SPUG VP Larry Sabellina, National Power Corporation Mindanao Operations Manager Engr. Yahcob Darayan, Engr. Conrad Isahac, Engr. Omar Antocan, Engr. Richard Brique.” But the Youth volunteers for Mayor Celso Lobregat, which was previously marked as “paid by Celso Lobregat” reacted to Dalipe’s social media post and wrote this on October 24: “BISTADO: Power Grab/The Art of Credit Grabbing. Posted in Cong. Mannix Dalipe-Page Oct. 9, 2021: Energization of Pangapuyan Island. “We make things happen.” Team DALIPE - Team Performance.” And it continued to say that “as early as January 22, 2018 then Congressman Celso Lobregat announced the start of this project. And on February 15, 2019, in an NPC/ SPUG Forum, it was reported that the status of Pangapuyan Energization was 59.95% completed.” It added: “It was already happening LONG BEFORE you claim. We make things happen,” referring to the Pangapuyan project.
The Youth volunteers for Mayor Celso Lobregat also included in its post a news article entitled “Napocor to energize 5 island villages in Zamboanga” which appeared January 22, 2018 on the website of the state-run Philippine News Agency. The article reads: “Five island barangays here, including the tourist destination Greater Sta. Cruz Island will soon be energized by the National Power Corporation (Napocor) through the Small Power Utilities Group (SPUG). First district Rep. Celso Lobregat made this announcement on Monday, citing Lawyer Rogel Teves, Napocor Vice President for Power Engineering Service, informed (sic) him that the Napocor has already awarded the project to the winning bidder. The five island barangays to be energized are Tictabon, Manalipa, Tumalutap, Pangapuyan, and the Greater Sta. Cruz island, which falls under the political jurisdiction of Barangay Sta. Barbara. The contract to energize the five islands is worth PhP41.6 million to be completed within 270 calendar days. The implementation of the project will commence on the (sic) first quarter of this year. Modular diesel generators will be installed by Napocor to provide electricity to the five island barangays. “I am glad that the long wait is
Photos from the Youth Volunteers for Mayor Celso Lobregat show the former lawmaker discussing the Pangapuyan Island project in February 2019.
over. Our constituents living in those five island barangays can soon enjoy the services of electricity,” Lobregat said. Lobregat is pushing the implementation of the energization project as a member for (sic) the majority of the House Committee on Energy.” One Netizen, Jasmin Cabrezos, who was following the post of the Youth volunteers for Mayor Celso Lobregat, tried to defend Dalipe and said: “Do some research before posting, Pangapuyan is under District 2 which is under the Congressional district of Cong. Mannix.” But it was promptly answered by the sponsored page of “Celso L. Lobregat” and it was presumed that the veteran politician penned the following reply: “Jason Lim, as the Vice Chairman of the House Committee of Appropriations defending the Department of Energy and its related Offices and Agencies, we pushed for, prioritized, and intervened for the energization of our island barangays and sitios in far flung mainland barangays whether in District 1 or District 2. Please verify with Napacor or even ask Cong. Lilia Nuño about these. She would ask (for) my assistance on many projects and I would gladly intervene for the good and progress of our City. I would also report this in my yearly Congressional report. I can provide you (with) copies if you like.” Cabrezos said she would like to have a copy of Lobregat’s Congressional report. Another Netizen, Gio Perez, reacted to the reply of “Celso L. Lobregat” and wrote this message: “Celso L. Lobregat Sir, your reply is just a motherhood statement. You carry the burden to prove your statement and we need detailed information to convince us that it is ONLY YOU who pushed for (it). What are these (sic) detailed information? Whom did you talked (sic) with in NAPOCOR? Your congressional funds from 2016-2019, and most importantly a justification on how can a 1st District congressman allocate funding for projects in another District (2)? It is not enough to say that…us should verify with such agencies, it is you who has the burden. Please provide us (with) a copy of your congressional report.” The Napocor said Pangapuyan is the first of the five island-barangays in
Zamboanga that the government-owned and controlled corporation has energized. The 10kw diesel power plant in Pangapuyan is also the first in Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi provinces where NPC serves as distribution utility. The facility was formally switched on October 9 and will benefit hundreds of islanders, mostly fishermen and seaweed farmers who lauded Napocor for the project. The inauguration of the power plant was led by Yahcob Darayan, Napocor’s Department Manager for Small Power Utilities Group - Mindanao Operations. Among those who witnessed the inauguration were Conrad Isahac, NPC’s Division Manager for Western Mindanao Operations; and Arnel Rodriguez, Omar Antocan of the NPC’s Power Engineering Services, including Richard Brique, the power plant’s head; and Barangay Captain Khadafy Jailani. Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said the Pangapuyan diesel plant is an “Energy Project of National Significance for Commercial Phase” and in consonance with the policy thrusts and specific goals of the Philippine Energy Plan of the Department of Energy. The island-barangays of Tumalutap are also expected to have its own 40kw
Photos from Congressman Mannix Dalipe's Facebook page show the inauguration of the power project on Pangapuyan Island. diesel power plant; Great Santa Cruz Island with 10kw diesel power plant and Tictabon Island with 90kw diesel power plant – all under the proponent of the NPC. It was not the first time that Dalipe allegedly claimed government projects as his or his initiatives, in Barangay Tetuan, huge
tarpaulins of the lawmaker can be seen on the fence of the Tetuan Central School at Estrada Street where the government had a road asphalt project. A photo of Dalipe was also on the tarpaulin saying “this is where your taxes go” as if it was his congressional project. (Zamboanga Post)
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The Zamboanga Post
November 1-7, 2021
Beng asks for more Covid vaccines, medicines for Zamboangueños
Zambo gets fresh supply of medical oxygen
Continued from page 1 asked the Department of Health (DOH) and the National Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (NIATF-MEID) for additional Covid-19 vaccines and critical care supplies, among others as the City Government continues to battle the spread of the deadly respiratory virus in Zamboanga City. The surge in Covid-19 cases has pushed the local healthcare system to the verge of collapse with private and government hospitals overflowing with patients and medical frontliners overworked. The spike in infections also resulted in the shortage of medical oxygen and antibiotic medicines. Climaco, who was among local chief executives invited to the virtual meeting organized by the NIATF-MEID and the National Vaccination Operations Center, aired her concerns, especially in the supply of Covid-19 vaccines. She said the continuous and steady supply of vaccines will enable not only the city, but other parts of the Zamboanga Peninsula region to accelerate vaccination rollout and ensure added protection for the people against the disease. “I have so much faith in our vaccination teams and they can accomplish and administer 5,000 to 7,000 doses daily,” she said, but there is not enough supply to sustain the mass vaccination program. Equality Carlito Galvez, who is in-charge of the government’s vaccine procurement program, has previously said that there are enough supply of the med-
icines, but Zamboanga City only gets little compared to Davao City, Davao region and even Cebu and the National Capital Region which incidentally are all vote-rich areas. Many local government executives are also complaining about the unequal distribution of Covid-19 vaccines and private companies and corporations, including business groups and chambers of commerce have long wanted to purchase their own vaccines directly from the manufacturers, but the government has rejected this. Climaco also said that there is a dire need for the DOH and the Department of Interior and Local Government to hire and deploy more contact tracers and medical frontliners such as additional doctors and nurses to Zamboanga City and to extend their contracts longer. Covid is here to stay The mayor said Covid-19 may never go away after citing a report by World Health Organization (WHO) emergencies director Dr. Mike Ryan who warned against trying to predict when the virus would disappear. She also quoted Ryan as saying that “even if a vaccine is found, controlling the virus will require a massive effort.” WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus also said that a vaccine will be a vital tool in the global fight against Covid-19, but it won’t end the pandemic on its own and there is no guarantee scientists will find one. He said world leaders and the public must learn to manage the virus and make permanent adjustments to their daily lives to bring
the virus down to low levels and “at the same time, we will not, we cannot go back to the way things were.” Just last month, over 45,000 doses of Covid-19 vaccine from the British-Swedish multinational pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca were delivered to Zamboanga City and officials said some 36,42o additional doses are also expected to arrive soon. The delivery of the vaccine was part of a $2 million (or roughly P100 million) deal Climaco signed with AstraZeneca early this year. The initial P200 million for the purchase of the vaccines are included in the P4.38-billion 2021 Executive Budget of the local government, according to Climaco, who is also a member of the Committee on Vaccine Availment of the League of Cities of the Philippines. Zamboanga is one of the first cities that entered into a multilateral agreement for the purchase of vaccines through the League of Cities. The shipment was the second since July this year after AstraZeneca delivered some 11,800 doses of Covid-19 vaccines purchased by the Climaco administration. The latest delivery of 4,580 vials or 45,800 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines will benefit local residents. Climaco said the local government’s vaccination program targets to cover almost 700,000 residents or 70% of the projected 2021 population of 992,423 inhabitants. She said more than 412,000 doses of vaccines have been administered in Zamboanga with or about 25% of the targeted population now fully vaccinated. (Zamboanga Post)
More Covid frontliners hired A photo released by the Zamboanga City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office shows its personnel inspecting documents of the liquid oxygen the local government purchased from Taiyo Nippon Sanso Philippines Incorporated in Misamis Oriental province where it has a plant in Tagoloan town. Continued from page 1 oxygen was procured by the local government from Taiyo Nippon Sanso Philippines, Incorporated in Misamis Oriental province where it has a plant in Tagoloan town. She said the purchase of the oxygen was facilitated by the Department of Health and the national government’s Inter-Agency Task Force for the Manage-
ment of Infectious Diseases. The oxygen shipment is equivalent to 2,300 cylinders of 50 pounds each. Oxygen weighs 0.001429 gram per cubic centimeter or 1.429 kilogram per cubic meter. Climaco said the oxygen will be distributed to the Zamboanga City Medical Center (ZCMC) and private hospitals as well, including at the Covid-19
isolation facility in Barangay Pasonanca. The ZCMC alone uses at least 350 cylinders of oxygen for its Covid-19 wards. In September, the local government also purchased one tank container of liquid oxygen from Cebu province and distributed it to hospitals. Zamboanga City now has nearly 2,500 active Covid-19 cases. (Zamboanga Post)
Continued from page 1 Covid-19 respiratory disease in Zamboanga City. The City Human Resource Management Office hired a total of 259 workers and 220 of them are contact tracers, 32 are nurses, and four medical technologists and three medical officers. They will be deployed in various barangays and Covid-19 facilities after undergoing intensive briefing by the City Health Office.
Mayor Beng Climaco said the USAID ReachHealth Project has also hired three personnel - two molecular laboratory technologists and an IT consultant, and will be deployed to the San Roque Molecular Laboratory. A personnel from the City Health Office, Joy Mangila, has briefed and oriented the trio on their respective roles at the laboratory. Climaco said the hiring of additional staff by the USAID ReachHealth Project is aimed at helping the local government augment the manpower of the molecular laboratory. She praised the USAID for its continuing support to the local government. She said the local government is now processing documents required by the Department of Health for the operation of the molecular facility soon. (Zamboanga Post)
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The Zamboanga Post
November 1-7, 2021
Zamboanga Pictures in the News Local government of Zamboanga City at work. This is where your taxes go.
November 1-7, 2021
The Zamboanga Post
5
Zamboanga Pictures in the News Photos by : Bong Serondo, ZCDRRMO, USAID, SM City Mindpro, Christine Lim, and CMO-PIO .
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The Zamboanga Post
November 1-7, 2021
Across : 1. Possesses 4. Do the wrong thing 7. Musician ___ John 12. Museum offering 13. Director Spike ___ 14. Showed again 15. Boston ___ Party 16. Escapade 18. Sign up 20. Perches 21. South ___ (state) 22. Seesaw 25. Flask sips 27. Bank (on) 28. Peculiar 31. Desist 34. Get by 35. Nays 37. Tablet 39. Writer ___ Christie 42. Get lost! (2 wds.) 46. Double 47. “The ___ Strikes Back” 48. Act of leaving 51. Racket 52. Knowing 53. Misdeed 54. Curvy letter 55. Fender nicks 56. Cereal grain 57. Pronoun Down : 1. Detested 2. Sports venue 3. Stem 4. Rubber band 5. Bureaucratic delay (2 wds.) 6. Clergy mem. 7. ___ Banks of baseball 8. Mailbox item 9. Board member 10. Rowing device 11. Compass point (abbr.) 17. Superlative ending 19. Electrified atom 23. Forest animal 24. Kind of bread 26. Sucker 28. Stop ___ dime (2 wds.)
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November 1-7, 2021
Mayor wants lower pump prices, OPEC slashes oil output Continued from page 1 Climaco said DoE Secretary Alfonso Cusi responded to her call and told her that “we will look into this mayor.” The mayor said she also sought the help of Rodolfo Joselito Bautista, the Cabinet Officer for Regional Development and Security for Region 9; and Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles in light of the exorbitant fuel prices here now at over P67 per liter. She said Bautista promised to bring the matter to the attention of the Cabinet and find a solution to the problem affecting the business sector and drivers of utility vehicles, especially this time of the health crisis. Amend law Cusi, in a statement, said the DoE is now asking Congress to amend the Oil Deregulation Law to provide a framework for the government to intervene and address sudden, prolonged oil price spikes, including the unbundling of the cost of petroleum retail products to determine their true and passed-on costs. In a letter addressed to the Committee on Energy Chairmen Senator Sherwin Gatchalian and Representative Juan Miguel Arroyo, Cusi said the DoE mentioned several reasons on the prolonged oil price spike due to a continuing rise in world market prices resulting from the sudden global increase in demand and an unanticipated lack of supply. He said the demand, which is estimated at 103.22 million barrels a day, is attributed to the following: (1) the surge of economic activities due to the containment of Covid-19 as a result of measures adopted and implemented worldwide (i.e. mass vaccination, control of the Delta and other variants, Europe's "no-lockdown" policy, and China's economic boost). This led to a sudden demand in energy utilization, including the demand on oil products in the transportation sector like gasoline and
diesel; (2) the stocking of petroleum products' inventories as winter approaches to cover demand from October this year to March of next year, with stocking expected until February 2021; (3) slowed production due to the current global direction of sourcing energy from low-carbon emitting sources. This has limited the optimum level of production, causing the halt and event withdrawal of investments in the development and expansion of the fossil fuel industry; (4) International sanctions to oil-producing countries like Iran and Venezuela that stopped the drilling of oil companies and the buying of oil products from these countries; (5) Hurricane Ida a category 4 storm that hit the US gulf coast on August 29 had caused an estimated loss of US crude oil production by as much as 30 million barrels. Before the pandemic, the latest recorded total worldwide supply is, more or less, 104 barrels a day. To cope-up with the supply, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) committed to increase the production and supply of crude oil by 400,000 barrels per day. Cusi said the Philippines utilizes the equivalent of 425,000 barrels per day, which is around 0.4% of the world supply. “The DOE has also met with the oil industry stakeholders to ensure supply while the problem persists, and asked if discounts could be extended to the public, especially to the public transport sector. Supply was assured and some companies (e.g. Jetti, Seaoil, Shell, Phoenix, Unioil) agreed to extend discounts to the public transport industry on top of existing discounts currently given like vaccination and loyalty incentives,” Cusi’s statement said. Aside from the DoE’s
immediate response, a Whole-of-Government Approach and medium and long-term policy directions were also taken in consideration of this matter. The DOE required the unbundling of the cost of retail products to determine their true and passed-on cost. The DOE maintains that the unbundling of oil prices would result in greater market transparency by establishing the trends in the prices of oil and finished petroleum products. This, in turn, would help ensure a level playing field within the oil industry, while upholding the best interests of consumers. OPEC Pump prices have gone up, not only in the Philippines but around the world and even US President Joe Biden has blamed the current high oil prices on OPEC withholding supply. The Associated Press also reported that oil prices jumped after OPEC and allied oil producing countries stayed with their gradual approach to restoring output slashed during the pandemic, agreeing to add only 400,000 barrels per day in November. The decision by the Vienna-based oil cartel along with non-members including Russia tracks with its established schedule of adding back that amount of oil every month until deep cuts made in 2020 to support prices during the depth of the pandemic recession are restored next year. The situation has changed since then as the global economy recovers. The decision comes amid stronger demand for oil products like gasoline and jet fuel, as driving and flying pick up around the globe due to the easing of restrictions aimed at containing the pandemic. On top of that, unusually high prices for natural gas are pushing some electricity producers in Asia to switch from natural gas to oil-based products, helping support prices. (Zamboanga Post)
SUPPORT PEACE IN MINDANAO HEALTH
Tamang Diet para makaiwas sa Diabetes Ni Dr. Willie T. Ong
A
lam n’yo ba na ang diabetes ay napakasama at nakamamatay? Kaya kung kayo ay may diabetes, piliting makontrol ito. Magagawa natin ito sa pamamagitan ng wastong pagkain. Heto ang mga tips na dapat tandaan. 1. Walang “mild” sa diabetes. Kung ikaw ay may diabetes, ibig sabihin ay 50% ng mga selula sa pancreas (beta cells na gumagawa ng insulin) ay posibleng nasira na. Dahil dito, tumataas ang iyong asukal sa dugo ng lampas sa normal na 105 mg/dl. 2. Umiwas sa matatamis at matataba. Ayon kay Dr. Augusto Litonjua, tinaguriang Ama ng Diabetes Medicine sa Pilipinas, hindi
naman lahat ng pagkain ay pinagbabawal sa diabetes. Bawasan lang ang matatamis at ma-kolesterol na pagkain. 3. Tumanggi sa Ice Tea, Soft Drinks at Capuccino. Mag-tubig na lang. Alam n’yo ba na ang pag-inom ng isang basong Ice Tea bawat araw ay nakapagdaragdag sa inyong timbang ng 1 libra bawat linggo? Ang 1 basong soft drinks naman ay may 7 kutsaritang asukal. Grabe ang tamis! Kaibigan, tubig lang talaga ang tunay na Zero calories. 4. Mansanas at peras ang pang-diyeta na prutas. Akala ng marami ay “all you can eat” ang mga prutas. Mali! Matamis at nakatataba ang mga prutas tulad ng mangga, pineapple, ubas, abukado at lychees. Hinay-hinay lang.
Kung gusto mo ng mangga, isang pisngi lang ay sapat na sa isang kainan. Pagdating sa ubas, 6 na piraso lang ang limit mo. Ang mga prutas na puwedeng kainin ay ang mansanas, peras at saging. Ngunit, huwag ubusin ang isang piling! 5. Puwede ang 1 rice at 1 ulam. May mga pasyenteng hindi na kumakain ng kanin. Hindi po ito maganda. Sa katagalan ay hihina kayo at mawawalan ng sigla. Kailan din ng katawan natin ang carbohydrates para sa balanseng diyeta. Ang solusyon ay ang paglimita sa dami ng pagkain. Isang platitong ulam o gulay, na may 1 cup rice ay OK na, di ba? Good luck po sa pag-kontrol ng inyong diabetes.
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The Zamboanga Post
November 1-7, 2021
November 1-7, 2021
The Zamboanga Post
9
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November 1-7, 2021
More aids for fire victims
T
HE LOCAL government thanked the Department of Social Welfare and Development and other government agencies for distributing financial aid and relief goods, among other assistance to fire victims in Barangay Recodo. Mayor Beng Climaco also thority, and the Department of Labor suporta y asistencia na maga familia joined social workers from the lo- and Employment. afectao na calamidad aqui na ciudad cal government in aiding some 480 Climaco praised DSWD’s ef- de Zamboanga,” the mayor said. victims of last month’s fire. Among forts and lauded Assistant SecreIt was the second wave of the agencies that participated in tary Jade Jamolod, who was also government assistance to fire victhe humanitarian mission were the in the mission. The distribution of tims in the past weeks. Technical Education and Skills De- aid was held at the covered court of Climaco and social workers velopment Authority, Department neighboring Barangay Cawit. also led the distribution of kitchen of Trade and Industry, Department “Miles de gracias con este maga kits, water containers, rice and other of Health, National Housing Au- agencia y con Asec Jamolod por el goods to the fire victims last month.
Sunday Reflection OPINION
by Mayor Beng Climaco
“SON OF David, have pity on me.” This was the plea of blind Bartimaeus, who gave up his cloak to be able to catch the attention of Jesus. And Fr. Francis Alvarez, S.J., took note of this detail. For the blind beggar, the cloak contains coins and perhaps food that he collected from the people. And also Fr. Karel San Juan, S.J., mentions the need of patient waiting, in humility, begging God’s mercy to ask for healing, and the gift of seeing. “Take courage; get up, Jesus is calling you.” With deep faith, Bartimaeus rushes to Jesus. The past week, I was filled with anxiety over the high cases of Covid-19, those who are sick and those who died. It was Monday, my husband’s Birthday. Despite the afternoon sunlight, I went to sit on the steps in the garden with Sonah, the last of my 3 fur girls. TP had a new kid, our Quinto, a gift from a dear friend. My anxiety was eating away my confidence, helpless and hopeless. Then came the call for help on delayed arrival of oxygen supply which was ordered from Singapore, stuck for 5 days in Davao. I prayed to God to help me seek the right person’s help like Bartimaeus, I took my chance and asked Sec. Dominguez to help intervene as this is very urgent, since patients needed oxygen, and hospitals full and ZCMC in full capacity. Yet, we still had patients in need of high flow oxygen. With Bryant Labastida of the DOH One Hospital Command providing pertinent copies of documents.
By sunset, I spoke to the official in Davao who agreed to send the oxygen supplies. God heard our desperate prayer from the bottom of my fearful heart. The issue of high gasoline prices has been an added problem to Zamboanga City. I asked myself what needs to be done. Creating a chat group, Ma’am Apple Go and Myl recommended writing to the Mindanao Development Authority, but it was the Department of Energy that needed to act on this matter. With faith in God, I sought courage to respond to the needs of our people. I realized I had Sec. Al Cusi’s number and sought his intervention. An SOS amidst our pandemic surge. I also communicated with other Secretaries and got the immediate response of Sec. Bautista who is in charge of Region 9. By Friday, Sec. Cusi referred me to a Director who will analyse our problem and call for a dialogue. With the surge in Zamboanga, the NIATF called a meeting of Governors and Mayors with the Health and Security Officials of all Regions on ramping-up vaccination. It took 4 hours and we ended past 6 p.m. Cabinet Secretaries and Undersecretaries expressed support for the people, including our beloved Zamboanga City. Jesus said to him in reply, “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man replied to him, “Master, I want to see.” Jesus told him: “Go your way, your faith has saved you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed him on the way. What do we want Jesus to do for us? In a world afflicted with this pandemic that has caused infections and lockdowns, loss of jobs, loss of lives, we pray for healing. May we see with the eyes of Jesus. As pointed by Fr. Louis Catalan S.J., may we see with Discreta caritas- discerning love. As taught by Tiffany To in our Camino Nuevo CLC PRAYER MEETING. What would lead us to greater love? Let our love for God direct us to respond as he did. God taught me to take courage in my difficulty, to get up and follow His call! Like Bartimaeus may we see and follow Jesus with love. (MBC)
Zamboanga Peninsula
Basilan
DSWD Assistant Secretary Jade Jamolod and Mayor Beng Climaco lead the distribution of cash aid and relief goods to some 480 families affected by last month's fire in Barangay Recodo. (Bong Serondo) Rep. Jawo Jimenez and Councilors Pinpin Pareja and El King Omaga also joined the distribution together with DSWD-9 personnel led by Fatima Caminan, and City Social Welfare and Development Office staff led by Socorro Rojas. The DSWD also provided modular tents at the evacuation center. Those who received the aid thanked
Climaco and the DSWD. Climaco said the local government and other government agencies are collaborating to help and assist the displaced families. She also thanked those who responded and continue to help the fire victims. “I tasked the CSWDO to fast track assessment and validation of affected families for the
release of needed financial assistance and directed the Housing and Land Management Division to start tagging those who need assistance,” she said. The recent fire destroyed at least 300 houses, according to the local government, but it did not say what triggered the blaze. (Zamboanga Post)
New stalls for florists
Mayor Beng Climaco and Boyet Apelo, of the Zamboanga Flower Vendors Association, lead the inauguration of the permanent stalls for florists at the Santa Cruz Commercial Complex. (Bong Serondo) FLOWER VENDORS thanked the local government for the new stalls that Mayor Beng Climaco inaugurated recently at the Santa Cruz Commercial Market. Climaco said the permanent stalls are part of her administration’s support to small businesses, especially this time of the Covid-19 pandemic. The beneficiaries of the project are also members of the Zamboanga Flower Vendors Association which sells fresh
Sulu
flowers for all occasions. “Neuvo puesto para los venteros de flores. This (project) is to show our continuous support to business enterprises greatly affected by the pandemic. Muchisimas gracias con el maga agencia que ya hace posible este proyecto como el Oficina del Ingeniero de la Ciudad, Oficina del Administrador de la Ciudad, y lo mismo con el los funcionarios y miembros de la Asociacion de Vendedores de Flores de Zam-
boanga. Continua kita trabaja junto para el bien del todo,” the mayor said. The inauguration of the stalls were also joined by Rep. Jawo Jimenez and Councilors Pinpin Pareja, El King Omaga and Kim Elago, among others. Boyet Apelo, who heads the Zamboanga Flower Vendors Association, praised Climaco for her unwavering support to small businesses. (Zamboanga Post)
Tawi-tawi