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'Cong' Beng slams opposition anew M

AYOR BENG Climaco has slammed the opposition anew and told allies of former lawmaker Celso Lobregat and Congressman Mannix Dalipe not to play politics with the lives of the Zamboanguenos, especially this time of the pandemic.

Read Story on page 2

Zambo under Beng, way better than Lobregat administration ZAMBOANGA CITY’s economy remains vibrant the past nine years under the ad-

ministration of Mayor Beng Climaco, now on her third and last term, as compared

to the previous administration of Celso Lobregat.

Continue on page 3

ZCWD begins work in downtown area Like a caring daughter, Mayor Beng Climaco, who is running for congresswoman in District 1, assists an elderly woman during the distribution of cash aid to senior citizens. (Bong Serondo)

Book features Climaco, 15 other women leaders MULTI-AWARDED Mayor Beng Climaco is among Continue on page 5

Mayor Beng Climaco joins the ZCWD officials in the ground breaking ceremony of the Mainline Replacement Program in downtown Zamboanga. (Bong Serondo)

US, NICA train surveillance center personnel

A photo from the book “Compelled by Duty, Conscripted by Destiny: Portraits of 16 Asian Women at the Frontline of Democratic Struggle” by John Joseph S. Coronel and produced by the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats, shows Zamboanga City Mayor Beng Climaco and other women leaders.

Zamboanga Peninsula

THE ZAMBOANGA City Water District is set to start its Mainline Replacement Continue on page 7

THE U.S. Joint Special Operations Task Force and the Philippines’ National

Intelligence Coordinating Agency conducted a training for the personnel of

the Zamboanga City Surveillance and Continue on page 7

Covid-19 cases now low

ZAMBOANGA CITY’s Covid-19 cases continue to decline with health au-

Basilan

thorities noting lesser infections by the day.

The number of active

Sulu

Covid-19 cases is expected to fall further to single Continue on page 3

Tawi-tawi

2

The Zamboanga Post

March 21-27, 2022

'Cong' Beng slams opposition anew

From page 1 “When majority of the members of the City Council resolutely removed vital appropriations (for) Largo Vida, it pains us to see senior citizens pleading for the revival of this program which could have benefited them, their low income families, and their disadvantaged communities especially at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Let us not play politics with people’s lives,” said Climaco, who is running for congresswoman in District 1.

The mayor said the Largo Vida was trashed by councilors allied with Lobregat and Dalipe after they collectively agreed to reject the pro-poor program.

Climaco identified the opposition councilors as Monsi dela Cruz, who is now deceased; John Dalipe, BG Guingona, Mike Alavar, Litlit Macrohon, Khymer Olaso, Lilibeth Nuño, Cary John Pioc, VP Elago and Jerry Perez.

Dela Cruz and the

younger Dalipe ran under Climaco’s political party, but eventually broke off ties after winning the 2019 polls and aligned themselves with Lobregat’s Team Colorao only to split again with the group and joined his elder brother’s Team Dalipe.

Families of senior citizens and those who benefitted from the Largo Vida vowed to campaign and vote for Team Climaco to ensure that the pro-poor program continues.

“As we continue to take care of the elderly, the Largo Vida program as an LGUlead strategy aims to bring our health services closer to our senior citizens. Through the LGU funds allotted for this program, it minimizes the economic burden and reduces out-of-pocket expenditures of the senior citizens.

Also, this is an add-on support of the LGU to the supplies given by DOH as part of the contingency action of the city government to ensure no stock-out and continuous

provision of maintenance medications,” she explained.

Climaco said the program - her brainchild and the first in Zamboanga - served and distributed medications to almost 17,000 senior citizens in 74 out of the 98 barangays. “With the maintenance medications already provided for by the LGU, it provided financial relief to our senior citizens from having to set aside funds for buying their maintenance medications. A senior citizen can save up to P2,500 a month being a beneficiary of the Largo Vida program,” she said.

She said aside from the support to the senior citizens, the Largo Vida program also gave job opportunities to more than 360 people working as “lifeliners” who painstakingly distributed medicines daily to senior citizens.

The Largo Vida has now become a big political issue as senior citizens and the vulnerable sectors in the community who largely

Fire victims thank Mayor Beng

Mayor Beng Climaco distributes relief goods to victims of a recent fire in Barangay Zone 3. (Bong Serondo) VICTIMS OF recent fire expressed their appreciation and thanked Mayor Beng Climaco for personally looking at their dire situation in Barangay Zone 3.

Climaco, accompanied

by Councilor Pinpin Pareja led social workers in distributing food packs, hygiene kits, and water and cooking utensils, among others to the families left homeless by the fire.

Over two dozen people were displaced by the fire, according to the mayor, who spent time with the victims and even joined them in prayers.

Climaco said she was

also touched by what she saw – a table with bananas and anchovies cooked by a mother, who was also a fire victim, so others like her and those who helped them, can eat.

She said a seven-year old boy also came to her and asked when he can go back to school as the Department of Education limited face-toface classes due to the health crisis.

Despite the sad scene in the area, the mayor said she was surprised when neighbors started milling around her and requesting if they can take videos with her and upload them on the popular video social networking ser-

vice TikTok. “I spent time listening to the fire victims. Aside from assisting, it is very important to listen. Then a most unusual request came - ta pidi con migo man TikTok ya? Ta admiti yo, I don’t really do TikTok. But the request of neighbors with Garnette turning on her cell phone, ya baila kame Paro Paro G, lo mismo el maga nana que victima de incendios que ya reza amo ya baila. For that moment, I saw smiles on the faces of the fire victims. Ya realiza yo, bien importante oi y responde la necesidad de otros maski por medio de baile,” she said.

(Zamboanga Post)

benefit from it, recalled the “great loss” of their benefits after opposition councilors “killed” the program.

Senior citizens and the poor could have received more benefits had not the opposition councilors trashed the Largo Vida program. Beneficiaries of the Largo Vida blamed opposition councilors for trashing the assistance intended for senior citizens and the disadvantaged sectors of the community.

The opposition councilors removed the Largo Vida program’s vital funding in the P4.38 billion 2021 Executive Budget which the mayor intended to expand to over 60,000 beneficiaries this year.

Zamboanga City also pioneered the cash assistance for senior citizens and people with disabilities (PWDs) even without the impetus of a national law by creating a local legislation to make it happen, according to Climaco, adding that her administration has worked to enhance the access on employment for PWDs. “For people with disabilities, they continue to receive financial assistance amounting to P1,000 to augment their basic and urgent neces-

sities. The objectives of this unique and inclusive senior citizens and PWDs’ friendly program aim to provide duty of care for its elderly and PWD members through programs of social security; honoring our senior citizens and PWDs for their great contribution to the city; and augment their resources to meet their immediate health and economic needs and giving them the freedom to decide and manage the assistance and the opportunity to enjoy their privileges,” she said.

Climaco said a total of 30,880 senior citizens benefitted through this program.

“We also established a grievance redress mechanism, monitoring and compliance both for senior citizens and PWDs to ensure that our policies and programs are observed even by private entities. These unique modalities can be modelled, replicated and shared as best practice to other LGUs in the entire country,” she said.

The mayor said with the social services sector continuously getting the largest bulk of the annual budget of the local government the past 8 years, it clearly reflects her administration’s commitment to deliver her promise

to serve the people.

Social protection has been a consistent priority of the local government which, given the limited fiscal space, have reprioritized the budget to focus on preserving lives and livelihoods while facilitating economic recovery especially in this unprecedented time of the Covid-19 pandemic, according to Climaco.

Zamboanga’s economic growth has translated to real and tangible benefits most especially for the poor and vulnerable sectors of the society. “From 2014 to 2021, we have allocated more than P11.9 billion for the social services sector which includes the S.H.E. (Security, Health and Education) programs or an equivalent of 105% increase in allocation. Under the social services program of the CSWDO alone, we have allocated a total of P1.84 billion or an increase of 813.86% compared to the Lobregat administration’s nine year term combined,” the mayor said.

Climaco also thanked the people for continuing to rally behind her administration and for supporting her many pro-poor programs.

(Zamboanga Post)

3

The Zamboanga Post

March 21-27, 2022

Zambo under Beng, way better than Lobregat administration

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Covid-19 cases now low Continued from page 1 digit as the local government continues its mass vaccination campaign in an effort to inoculate all eligible residents.

But Mayor Beng Climaco reminded residents not to be complacent and always follow the public health protocols – the wearing of face masks in crowded places and frequent washing of hands with soap and water, or sanitizers.

“We are doing everything we can to defeat the Covid-19 as we carefully open up our city to the new normal. Don’t be complacent as the virus continues to mutate,” she told the Zamboanga Post by phone when asked about the local government’s effort in the fight against the deadly respiratory disease

which had killed over 1,200 people here since the pandemic began two years ago.

Climaco said the Covid-19 is still considered a pandemic and residents must do everything to protect themselves from the virus as there have been numerous reports of reinfection among those who recovered from the disease, especially people with comorbidities.

Doctor Mike Ryan, of the World Health Organization, also said controlling the pandemic requires strong control programs to reduce the infections, the suffering and deaths.

“I think we need to be careful here in terms of the word endemic. Yes, endemic means in a sense that the virus is present and transmitting at lower lev-

els. Usually, with the form of seasonal, transmission or increases that are seasonal or outbreaks on top of an endemic situation. That's very classic for many infectious diseases. Remember, endemic HIV and endemic tuberculosis and endemic malaria, kill millions of people on this planet,” Ryan said.

“So just changing from pandemic to endemic is just changing the label. That doesn't change the challenge we face. We need sustained control on this virus. We need sustained protection of our most vulnerable. We need strong Health Systems to deal with those infections we can prevent and we need to be able to continue to do that with the levels of infection we experience,” he added. (Zamboanga Post)

Continued from page 1 Climaco, who is running for congresswoman in District 1 in the May polls, said Zamboanga has grown and expanded – by almost every measure, adding the city is a better, stronger place than it was before.

The mayor even recalled a Facebook post by Kiko Miranda in 2013 after she won the elections. In his post, Kiko wrote this: “To Mayor-elect Beng Climaco, in your hands now rests a rotting city (as how I would see it). This city has been rotting in its own backyard for a long time.

They say that when a child is sick, the best medicine for any illness is a mother’s touch. Your image of a caring mother to Zamboanguenos gained you the trust of the public. May your mother’s touch be powerful. So powerful that it will revive La Bella Zamboanga and restore hope to Zamboanguenos who have lost it over the years.”

Kiko also challenged Climaco to prove that she is not a puppet of anybody. “I also challenge you to prove to us that rumors of you being a puppet to politicians currently seated in their respective seats of power are not true; that you have your own mind and will to run the city based on your own set of principles and conscience and not of others.”

The prolific writer, born Marco Alfino V. Miranda, is a Zamboangueño theatre artist and Director of the Ateneo de Zamboanga University Center for Culture and the Arts.

Climaco has proven herself to be a true leader for all Zamboangueños - Christians, Muslims and Lumad and she was not a puppet of anybody, but a hard working civil servant of the people.

“Reflecting on this as I leave City Hall, ustedes querido compueblanos de Zamboanga will be the judge on how our City has grown and expanded – by almost every measure, Zamboanga is a better, stronger place than it was before when we started,” the mayor said, citing the exponential growth of the economy under her administration.

“Our economy has grown exponentially from 8,397 registered businesses in 2013 (when she won as mayor) to more than 12,000 businesses in 2021 and we are projecting more growth this year and the years to come,” she said.

Climaco also the improved peace and order situation and the volume of infrastructure projects she has accomplished - compared to the past Lobregat administration – attracted not only investors, but the attention of the national

government and the many awards Zamboanga reaped.

“With all our development work, the infrastructure projects we have poured in and our enhanced peace and order situation – we have seen an influx of businesses and investors coming into the City for the last nine years creating an unprecedented increase of jobs and livelihood opportunities for our people. Mucho trabaho por causa que manada maga negocio el ya abri aqui na de atun Ciudad.”

“Zamboanguenos now enjoy a wide range of options from local, national and international brands.

Even amidst the pandemic, we have seen an avalanche of new restaurants, coffee shops, retail stores and other establishments sprouting up all over the City,” the mayor said.

Climaco said it was during her administration that KCC Mall de Zamboanga opened and so is the City Mall de Zamboanga and another one is forthcoming. The first SM branch in Zamboanga Peninsula also opened under her administration and is now serving not only the locals, but even the neighboring provinces in the Zamboanga Peninsula and Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi provinces.

She added that another SM mall will soon rise in Zamboanga, including the Filinvest Condominium, the first high rise residential project in the region.

“For five consecutive years, we were a finalist in the Most Business Friendly LGU Award by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation Inc. with our Business One Stop Shop as our flagship program for a faster and more efficient business registration and renewal process including electronic payments of taxes,” Climaco said.

“Our economic enterprises under the City Administrator’s Office also helped increase our collections over the years. From 2013 to 2020, the Main Public Market recorded a revenue of P176.3 million; Santa Cruz Market at P131.7 million and the City Abattoir at P64.8 million,” the mayor said, adding the Zamboanga Integrated Bus Terminal also recorded a revenue of P77.1 million since its operations in 2015,” she added.

Climaco said with all of the funds the local government collected, she made sure to return it back to the people in the form of projects, programs, activities and welfare services.

She said tens of thousands of residents, mostly

from poor families, and the vulnerable sectors, including the elderly and those affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, have largely benefited from various projects and projects. “As a matter of fact, The Manila Times recognized Zamboanga City in its Model City Awards as a Social Welfare Awardee, highlighting our programs that cover children, the youth, working population including our senior citizens and persons with disabilities,” the mayor said.

Aside from the award, Climaco said The Manila Times also recognized the local government as an Education Hub Awardee in the Model City Awards.

“This is an integral part of our formidable legacy on education. The Manila Times recognized us in the Model City Awards as an Education Hub Awardee,” she said, citing the P1.5 billion in education initiatives as part of her priority the past 9 years.

The mayor was referring to the oldest extant English-language newspaper in the country which was founded in 1898.

She said under her administration, the education expenses for various infra projects and other support programs even surpassed that of the previous nineyear administration of Lobregat.

“Como antes un maestra, grande tambien fondo el ya dale kita na educacion. We have invested a total of P1.5 billion in education which is 89.84% higher compared to the previous administration’s 9-year term,” the mayor said.

The multi-awarded Climaco said the education budget built at least 62 climate resilient buildings and rehabilitated and improved 23 more school buildings.

She said infrastructure projects are continuing to further boost the education program of her administration which will benefit the children whom she referred to as future leaders of Zamboanga.

“We are also constructing a P79.9 million worth of college building for the Colegio de la Ciudad de Zamboanga – our new local city college which is our baby project under our administration,” she said.

In addition to school buildings and infrastructure, the mayor said the local government also placed a premium in the development of educational materials for students of all grade levels, including key resources aimed at the preservation and promotion of the Chavacano language. (Zamboanga Post)

4

The Zamboanga Post

March 21-27, 2022

Zamboanga Pictures in the News Local government of Zamboanga City at work. This is where your taxes go.

Photos by : Bong Serondo, Giana Andrion and Christine Lim.

March 21-27, 2022

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Zamboanga Pictures in the News

Book features Climaco, 15 other women leaders Continued from page 1 16 women leaders featured in the book titled “Compelled by Duty, Conscripted

by Destiny: Portraits of 16 Asian Women at the Frontline of Democratic Struggle” by John Joseph S. Coronel and produced by the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD).

Climaco was prominently featured along with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-Wen, former Vice President Annette Lu, and Bi-Khim Hsaio, MP, of DPP; former Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri; Vice-President Leni Robredo, Senator Leila de Lima; the late Deputy Speaker Dina Abad; Senior Minister Aung San Suu Kyi of Myanmar; former Women Minister Mu Sochua and Saumura Tioulong of the National Rescue Party of Cambodia; former Mongolian Environment Minister Oyun Sanjaasuren of the Civil Will-Green Par-

ty; Jayanthi Devi Balaguru, of Malaysian People’s Movement Party; Dr. Rachada Dhnadirek of the Democrat Party of Thailand; Legislator Emily Lau of the Democratic Party of Hong Kong; and Renho Murata, MP, of the Democrat Party of Japan.

The author branded the 16 leaders as “exemplary Asian women who epitomize grace under pressure and calm amid calamity.”

Climaco was recognized for her leadership, diligence, and courage under fire during the September 2013 siege of Zamboanga by Moro National Liberation Front rebels under Nur Misuari; and for overcoming social biases and prejudices as a woman in politics.

“In their stories, these laudable women overcome incredible barriers, not just in the form of political persecution committed by tyrants in authoritarian and semi-authoritarian regimes, but also in

the form of social and cultural biases and prejudices that prevail among the general population, said Abhisit Vejjajiva, Chairman of the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats.

The author said: “Painting the portraits of the 16 Asian Women in the frontline of democratic struggle using as my brush, the power of the pen, is an honor and privilege -as well as an obligation. The lessons in life that they imparted are etched in my memory.”

Siege The book discussed in detail how Climaco handled the siege which lasted over three weeks and displaced over 200,000 people. The street battles and house-to-house combat between security and rebel forces killed and wounded nearly 500 people.

“Her multifarious and multifaceted talents in politics, governance, management, psychology, education, military and religion were literally put to test during the crisis. And she proved to be the right mayor at a time when things in the city went wrong,” the author wrote.

The book also showed Climaco’s strong leadership and how she overcame all the political challenges to emerge as one of the best in the South.

“Being female is quite challenging in the field of politics. Cultural and religious mind-sets would prefer a male who is viewed to be endowed with strength and power genetically. Society is biased against women leaders who view us as weak and emotional. But this in itself is what is enigmatically fascinating about this stereotypical myth.

Once women excel in the field of public service, we break the barriers that imprison society’s norms and limitless possibilities happen. I always

say never ever underestimate the strength of a woman,” she said.

An advocate for women and children’s rights, Climaco said she was inspired by her grandmother, who was a principal author of the Magna Carta of Women (Republic Act 9710) (National Democratic Institute). “My grandmother, Isabel, who was a suffragist and a strong advocate of Filipino women’s rights, was also a teacher,” she said.

But a major influence in Climaco’s life is her uncle, Cesar Climaco, who was mayor of Zamboanga for 11 beginning in the 1950s. He attained national prominence during martial law as one of the fiercest and most fearless critics of Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos until he was assassinated in 1984, one of the many martyrs of the Liberal Party during the dark days of the conjugal dictatorship.

In the book, Maguindanao Representative, Sandra Sema, said Climaco’s leadership style has a “woman’s touch. She’s very sweet but she’s strong, diligent and systematic. It’s like how you would plan for your household. She identifies right away what is needed the most.”

Before being elected mayor in the May 2013 elections where she received the highest mandate in the city’s history, Climaco was a two-term city councilor from 1998 to 2004 after which she was immediately elected as Vice Mayor.

From being a local legislator and head of the city council, she became the city’s representative in Congress for two consecutive terms (2007 to 2013). During her second term in the House of Representatives, she became one of the six deputy speakers, overcoming the barriers of age

and gender - she was both the youngest and the only woman who held that post during the 15th Congress.

She finished her secondary education in the United States and became a novice in a Catholic convent. She was an educator and guidance counselor with a Master’s degree in Family Ministry and Counseling from Ateneo de Manila University, the country’s leading Jesuit learning institution.

She holds the rank of Lieutenant Colonel as a reservist in the army. She is married to former military general Trifonio Salazar.

Best mayor Climaco was also chosen as among “Top 5 World’s Best Mayors” by the prestigious City Mayors Foundation. She was was named along with Valeria Mancinelli, Mayor of Ancona, Italy who is the Winner of the 2018 World Mayor Prize; Ros Jones, Mayor of Doncaster, UK; Nathalie Appéré, Mayor of Rennes, France; and Charlotte Britz, Mayor of Saarbrücken, Germany.

In its award to Climaco, the City Mayors Foundation heavily cited the local mayor for her commitment to offer Zamboanga harmony, security and prosperity. “During her first term in office, Climaco made it her priority for the victims of the attack to receive justice and compensation. She has also been determined to

heal any divisions between the city’s Christian and Muslim communities.

The Inter-Religious Dialogue Council, she convened, has been successful in promoting peace. In a city, which was often perceived as violent, there have been no bombings or kidnapping incidents since 2016.

In 2017, Mayor Climaco’s administration won the award for the most improved local government,” said the philanthropic international research think tank dedicated to local government.

Outstanding Climaco, who is running for congresswoman in District 1 in the May polls, was also recognized as the “Most Outstanding Mayor” by the Federation of Local Councils of Women in the Philippines in 2017. These awards and rankings were based on indicators and measurements such as economic dynamism, government efficiency, infrastructure and resiliency. These recognitions are feats never before achieved by any administration.

The City Mayors Foundation said the award is given every two years to mayors who have made outstanding contributions to their communities and have developed a vision for urban living and working that is relevant to towns and cities across the world. (Zamboanga Post)

6

The Zamboanga Post

March 21-27, 2022

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ZCWD begins work in downtown area Continued from page 1 Program in the downtown area after officials and Mayor Beng Climaco led the ground breaking ceremony signalling the start of the project.

The project, costing about P19 million, is part of the P80 million assistance donated this year by the Climaco administration to the ZCWD to help it rehabilitate the decades-old pipe line and cut water losses due to leaks.

The Mainline Replacement Program covers the stretch of streets of N. S. Valderosa, Nuñez and Tomas Claudio Street.

The P80 million check was handed over by Climaco to ZCWD General Manager Leonardo Rey Vasquez and Board of Director James Makasiar.

“Thank you to the LGU for this grant of P80 million. This will really be a great help in the reduction of the NRW of the Zamboanga City Water District,” said Vasquez, referring to the non-revenue water loss.

Makasiar also thanked the local government and the City Council for approving the grant.

“We thanked the City Government of Zamboanga through the City Mayor, and the City Council of Zamboanga for the grant. This funds will be used primarily for the non-revenue water reduction in the Poblacion, in the City Proper. The Management and the Board have already agreed that we will fast track the rehabilitation and hopefully we can see immediate results. So thank you so much,” he said.

NRW is basically produced, cleaned water which is lost somewhere in the water distribution system, never reaching its final destination. The reasons for water losses are many, ranging from leakages, pipe bursts, and poor water management to illegal connections. It can also come from commercial losses caused by the under-registration of customer meters, data handling errors, illegal connections and theft.

Another cause of NRW is unbilled authorized consump-

Villamero’s Enterprises For all your newspaper publications or subscription to The Zamboanga Post and The Mindanao Examiner Regional Newspaper, please call or text Villamero’s Enterprises at these numbers (062) 955-8677 and 0917-1223496. Located at Campaner Street, Zamboanga City and serving Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.

Mayor Beng Climaco joins the ZCWD officials in the ground breaking ceremony of the Mainline Replacement Program in downtown Zamboanga. (Bong Serondo) tion, which includes water used by utilities for operational purposes, water used for fire fighting, and water provided for free to certain consumer groups.

Water rates Last year, the ZCWD raised its water rates despite pleas from residents and local government officials against it, especially at this time of the Covid-19 pandemic where many people and the economy are suffering.

Climaco, who strongly opposed the water rate increase, demanded ZCWD to open its book of financial records to truly find out if there is really a need to increase the water rates amid the economic difficulties of the people due to the health crisis.

But the ZCWD refused to make its financial books public. Since two years ago, ZCWD executives have wanted to raise water rates allegedly to improve its utility services and raise salaries of employees. But residents have long complained of inefficient services and yearly water rationing, and wasted water from broken or leaking pipes in different barangay that largely contributed to the NRW. Due to the poor services of the ZCWD and its insistence to increase water rates, members of the City Council previously called on Vasquez to resign. But the embattled Vasquez, who has been with ZCWD for many years now, said only the ZCWD Board of Directors can compel him to resign.

The ZCWD last year hiked

its minimum water rate of P210 or P25.00 water rate adjustment from P185 minimum charge.

According to the ZCWD, the P25 rate adjustments represent only 13% of its proposed adjustment of P278 it filed with the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) in May 2020.

It said the increase in water rates is needed for it to be able to start and slowly implement water security programs intended to address the growing needs of the expanding populace. The LWUA approved the P25 rate adjustment in October 2020.

Climaco previously released some P29.36 million in subsidies to help consumers pay their water and electric bills.

The P500 one-time cash subsidy to water concessionaires was credited to the account of all bonafide water concessionaires upon payment of their bill.

In rejecting the increase in water rates, Climaco said the ZCWD has to first improve utility services and ensure clean supply of potable water to residents, among other woes locals have raised against the ZCWD which is a government-owned and controlled corporation (GOCC) which receives from the government subsidies and program funds.

Subsidies cover the dayto-day operations of the GOCCs when revenues are insufficient, while program funds are given to profitable GOCCs to pay for a specific program or project.

(Zamboanga Post)

Smuggled cigarettes seized

Police photos show the seized smuggled cigarettes in Barangay Divisoria.

LOCAL AUTHORITIES seized some P1.3 million worth of smuggled cigarettes at a checkpoint in Barangay Divisoria following a tip-off from an informant that a truck was transporting the contraband.

City Police Chief Col. Alexander Lorenzo reported the confiscation of 109 boxes of cigarettes seized recently by members of the Police Station 5, the 1st Zamboanga

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City Mobile Force Company, 74th Infantry Battalion and the Bureau of Customs.

He said the operation was mounted after authorities received information about the shipment of smuggled cigarettes disguised as fish products. The driver and his two passengers failed to present any customs papers or legal documents of their cargo.

Police did not release the names of the trio nor the identity of the owner of the cargo which was turned over to the Bureau of Customs.

Climaco lauded the confiscation of the contraband and commended all those involved in the operation. She also ordered authorities to intensify the anti-smuggling campaign in Zamboanga.

(Zamboanga Post)

Duterte appoints Recodo man as new council member PRESIDENT DUTERTE has appointed Benyasir Asdali as a member of the Zamboanga City Council replacing Crisanto dela Cruz who died from a heart attack in April last year.

Asdali, a member of the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas, took his oath at City Hall with Mayor Beng Climaco presiding over the formal ceremony witnessed by his family and Director Ginagene Uy, of the Department of the Interior and Local Government; and some politicians.

Climaco thanked the president for appointing Asdali, a native of Barangay Re-

Government photo shows newly-appointed City Councilor Benyasir Asdali with Mayor Beng Climaco. codo. “We thank President Rodrigo Duterte and Senator Bong Go for the appointment (of Asdali) as he replaces the late City Councilor Crisanto

Dela Cruz whom we also remember and recognize for his valuable years in public service,” the mayor said. (Zamboanga Post)

US, NICA train surveillance center personnel Continued from page 1 Security Coordinating Office to help them enhance their skills as operators.

A statement from City Hall said the U.S. Joint Special Operations Task Force and the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency headed

by Deputy Regional Director Bonifacio Plugo trained the SSCO personnel on Behavioural Analysis, Intelligence among others.

City Hall did not release the names of the American trainers, but posted their photos on the government’s social media page.

Christopher Mandi, head of the SSCO, thanked the U.S. Joint Special Operations Task Force and the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency for the training, saying they are now better equipped.

Just last month, Mayor Beng Climaco commended the personnel manning the SSCO for helping authorities monitor the security situation after inspecting the command center to ensure that the system is operational and functional as part of the city’s security preparedness program.

She said the SSCO has over the years demonstrated its capabilities in the police investigation and resolution of various crimes here, adding it is steadfast in its commitment to provide investigators with material information that ultimately led to resolution of numerous incidents, apprehension of crime suspects, and recovery of stolen properties, among others, including monitoring of traffic situation.

The modern SSCO con-

A photo released by the Zamboanga City Surveillance and Security Coordinating Office shows the personnel manning the command center and their trainers. tributed in solving and preventing crimes and coordination with the police and military. The SSCO is Climaco’s brainchild as security remains one of her top priority programs. Former Zamboanga Peninsula Regional Police Director, Brigadier General Jesus Cambay, Jr. who visited the SSCO in 2020, was impressed by its operation.

Cambay was briefed on the SSCO’s accomplishments since its establishment in May 2019 and maintained 24/7 operations amid the Covid-19 pandemic to keep Zamboanga safe and secured.

A simulation exercise was also held during Cambay’s visit to show to the official the SSCO’s capabilities to monitor, coordinate and respond during emergencies or incidents. Cambay commended the SSCO for its contributions to the local police force which was awarded as “Best City Police Office” in the country in 2020.

The peace and order situation in Zamboanga has tremendously improved, especially in the current administration of Climaco where she supported police and military authorities and other law enforcement agencies, including at the barangay level.

Climaco said the installation of high-quality, high-definition security cameras in different areas in Zamboanga was a big factor in maintaining peace and order, and also the logistical support the local government provided the police and military.

She said the SSCO - the first in Western Mindanao and second in the southern Philippines after Davao City - has a huge impact on the peace and order situation, adding because of the state-of-the-art command center, the SSCO continues to monitor different strategic locations here - day and night - where security cameras are installed.

Climaco said the local government installed over 100 security cameras as part of the Security and Surveillance Equipment and System Project to ensure public safety.

The system, she added, uses Huawei’s intelligent video and data analytics solution. The SSCO - operated by over a dozen personnel complements the local emergency telephone hotline 911.

It was only during Climaco’s time that all these security programs were implemented for the benefit of the residents. (Zamboanga Post)

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Govt. aid continues to flow

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EARLY 8,500 Zamboangueños from various sectors have benefited from the local government’s social amelioration program in the past week as Mayor Beng Climaco, now on her third and last term, continues to help the poor and those most affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

About 4,000 members of ers also received financial as- one way her administration is the so-called LGBTQ commu- sistance from the mayor in giving back to the people the nity received their cash assis- separate programs held at the revenues and taxes the local tance in separate programs Yubenco Mall in Barangay Tet- government is getting. “Serviheld at the KCC Mall de Zam- uan, according to the mayor, cio con amor y compassion,” boanga. Climaco led the dis- adding more than 2,000 peo- she said in describing the eftribution of the aid and told ple with disabilities and those forts of her administration in the beneficiaries to spend from the disadvantaged sec- prioritizing welfare services for their money well. tors, including security guards all those who needed it most.

She said financial assis“Na tiempo de pandemia and workers from various comta continua el ayuda para aliv- mercial establishments, also tance is intended to alleviate iar la vida del sector vulnera- received the local government the plight of the poor amid the assistance. challenges during this crisis. ble,” she said.

Climaco said the aid is just (Zamboanga Post) Over 2,350 tricycle driv-

Mayor thanks ‘TESDA Man’

Mayor Beng Climaco with Senator Joel Villanueva during his recent visit to Zamboanga City. (Bong Serondo) SENATOR JOEL Villanueva has thanked Mayor Beng Climaco for her warm welcome during his visit here.

The mayor, who also served as Deputy Speaker for Mindanao when she was congresswoman, personally welcomed Villanueva and also thanked the solon for his strong support to the various programs of the local government.

Climaco said Villanueva, who was then head of the Tech-

nical Education and Skills Development Authority, provided her with scholarship programs for District 1 during her time in Congress.

She said Villanueva also authored the law granting scholarships for medical students and the realization of the medical schools for the Ateneo de Zamboanga University and the Western Mindanao State University which has produced doctors and now working at City Health

Office.

Since 2020, Climaco said Villanueva also provided P16 million through the TUPAD or “Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers,” a project of the Department of Labor and Employment in coordination with the local government, which aims at helping the beneficiaries earn a living.

It is a community-based package of assistance that provides emergency employment for displaced workers, underemployed and seasonal workers, for a minimum period of 10 days, but not exceeding 30 days, depending on the nature of work.

“Thank you so much Senator TESDA Man Joel Villanueva for all his assistance to us.

We support sis advocacy in education livelihood, health and work,” Climaco said. (Zamboanga Post)

Sunday Reflection OPINION by Mayor Beng Climaco THE WORDS of God, the Father, orders us to listen to Jesus! Last week, I had to attend weddings and could not write my Sunday Reflection since the nuptial Eucharist and reception entail presence.

We are called to LISTEN to JESUS. Na vida ta pregunta yo COSA GAHA EL MENSAJE DEL DIOS? Na pandemia? Na enfermedad de cancer y covid? Na politica? Na ataque del Russia na Ukraine? El subida precios del gasolina? Alto precio de comida?

Hasta el venidero eleccion quien el mejor queda Presidente? Vice y Senador hasta Alcalde y Consejales? Bien mucho question que debe refliji para oi con el mensaje de Dios!

Del Sabado, Marzo 12, el Iglesia ta celebra 400 años de Canonizacion de San Ignacio de Loyola, Saint Francis Xavier, Saint Philip Neri, San Isidro Labrador y Santa Teresa de Jesus. Na vida de estos Santos ya oi sila con el llamada de Dios. Con grande amor ya ofrece di ila vida siguendo con Hesus.

Del ayer tambien ya anda kame di Consejal Pinpin Pareja y Selina Espiritusanto junto con el CSWDO y na ZONE 3 Barangay para

atende con el maga victima de incendios. Acabar distribuhi maga galamiton y cajon de asistencia, ya reza kame donde una nana ya hace el rezo na Bisaya kay miembro sila del un organisacion na MCIC. Ya anda kame mira el quema, upud el caza y bien negro gayot de carbon.

Na un meza tiene saging y ginamus, un victima de quema ya cusi y ofrece con aquellos ta asisti kanila. Bien grande el bondad di ila corazon maski victima ya de incendios, ya cusi pa gayot saging y ginamus para comparti. Ya mira yo un Sari-Sari store y ya compre toothpaste y shampoo para maga vecinos. Despues un bata hombre 7 years old ya pregunta con migo si bira ya sila na escuela? Maski victima de incendios grande pa el deseo del maga bata para estudia.

I spent time LISTENING to the fire victims. Aside from assisting, it is very important to listen. Then a most unusual request came: ta pidi con migo man TIKTOK YA? Ta admiti yo, I don’t really do TikTok. But the request of neighbors with Garnette turning on her phone ya baila kame Paro Paro G, lo mismo el nana victima de quema que ya reza amo ya baila! For that moment I saw smiles on the faces of the fire

Zamboanga Peninsula

Basilan

Tricycle drivers thank Mayor Beng Climaco for the cash assistance they received under the Local Social Amelioration Program. Zamboanga's tricycle drivers and operators say they continue to support the Climaco administration and praise the mayor for prioritizing their welfare. (Bong Serondo)

DOTr Asec Vingson visits Zambo TRANSPORTATION ASSISTANT Secretary Vice Admiral Narciso Vingson Jr. called on Mayor Beng Climaco during a recent visit here.

Vingson was accompanied

by Coast Guard District Southwestern Mindanao Commandant Commodore Luisito Sibayan and other personnel. They also held a meeting at City Hall.

Climaco thanked the Department of Transportation (DOTr) under Secretary Arthur Tugade and President Rodrigo Duterte for many infrastructure projects in Zamboanga City under the government’s flagship Build, Build, Build program.

“The City is starting to reap economic, employment, and tourism opportunities with upgraded and improved airport and seaport facilities which were unveiled in December 2021 by President Duterte and Transportation Secretary Art Tugade,” the mayor said.

Climaco was referring to Duterte’s inauguration of several DOTr projects here. The mayor personally welcomed the president and thanked him for all infrastructure projects the national government poured not only in Zamboanga, but other parts of the Western Mindanao region.

Mayor Beng Climaco poses with the group of Secretary DOTr Assistant Secretary Vice Admiral Narciso Vingson Jr. who was recently in Zamboanga City. (Bong Serondo) The mayor, the current chairperson of the Regional Development Council and Regional Peace and Order Council, also asked Duterte to retain or add more security forces in Zamboanga following the 2013 siege by Moro National Liberation Front members loyal to Nur Misuari.

The siege lasted several weeks and displaced nearly 300,000 people.

Climaco, who is running for congresswoman in District 1, nearly broke down at the end of her speech while praising Duterte’s leadership and thanking him for all his support to Zamboanga under her administration.

Tugade said with the completed works, the Port of Zamboanga can now accommodate 3,500 passengers at any given time

victims. Ya realiza yo, bien importante oi y responde la necesidad de otros maski por medio de baile.

March 8 was International Women’s Day and Christian Olasiman and the Events Team together with GAD Focal Point showed resilience and persevered in faith in God and our Blessed Mother Mary. After two years in Covid, we had the “Runvolution” to honor Women and Human Rights in a form of physical outdoor run and

Sulu

and even surpass the passenger capacity of the Port of Cagayan de Oro City in northern Mindanao. “Development projects at the port include the establishment of an inclusive prayer room, food court, and elevators,” he said.

Duterte also unveiled a marker during Tugade's presentation.

Tugade said the Port of Zamboanga developments are envisioned not only to enhance and address maritime mobility and connectivity in the province and nearby areas but to serve as a catalyst for socio-economic, tourism, and livelihood opportunities in the entire Mindanao region. (Mindanao Examiner, Zamboanga Post)

dance. As a woman in politics, my dancing is a form of self- expression as pointed out by Mr. Angel Basco with his wisdom and years in government. I reminded the participants not to allow bullies to put us down. We must rise above the challenges and express ourselves creatively because this is our Women’s Rights, our Human Rights! Con Dios todo Gloria y La Virgen Maria! Gracias con todo ya queda parte del RunVolution! (MBC)

Tawi-tawi