The Zamboanga Post (May 9-15, 2022)

Climaco is cover photo of League Magazine THE LEAGUE Magazine has featured Zamboanga City Mayor Beng Climaco on the front page of its latest issue and cited her many achievements throughout her nine years as local chief executive.

Climaco was the first Zamboangueña politician featured in the cover of League Magazine, the first publication dedicated to local governance. It chronicles the bold efforts undertaken by local governments in the country. The magazine’s past cover stories included Manila Mayor Isko Moreno and Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto.

“Her efforts to highlight the inclusion of human security as a pillar of national resilience, has real-

ly made a big difference,” said League Magazine editor Godfrey Dancel.

Dancel said their April-May edition features Climaco’s story and her accomplishments the past three terms and how she transformed Zamboanga City to what it is now – “an economic giant with improved peace and order situation and a government that is inclusive for all.”

In August 2019 following her landslide and historical victory over veteran politician Celso Lobregat, Esquire Magazine also featured the multi-awarded Climaco and how she “beat the odds with resilience and diversity and pushed for inclusivity in government.

“We used to be party mates and I strongly supported (Celso in the past) but such is politics. Everything will work according to God’s plan,” Climaco told Esquire.

Climaco had served as vice mayor during Lobregat’s term as mayor, and in 2013, Lobregat asked Climaco to run for mayor, since he was running for Congress. But in 2016, Lobregat wanted to return as city mayor, however, Climaco decided - with the Zamboangueño people behind her - to run a second term and the third.

Continue on page 5 Picked from the wild, in the highlands of North Cotabato and Bukidnon.

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May 9-15, 2022

Beng thanks Zamboangueños ‘But Mayor condemns black propaganda!’

M

AYOR BENG Climaco has thanked the Zamboangueño people for supporting her throughout her nine years in public office, saying the peace and progress the city achieved is unprecedented and not comparable to any past administrations.

Climaco also took a who are allies of former Rep. Mannix Dalipe swipe at the opposition mayor Celso Lobregat and Continue on page 2

Dengue deaths now at 12 Mayor Beng Climaco

Zamboanga now peaceful, progressive ZAMBOANGA HAS grown and expanded by almost every measure and is a better, stronger

place than it was before; and the local economy remains vibrant the past nine years under the

administration of Mayor Beng Climaco.

Even Assistant National Continue on page 3

A worker sprays chemical to kill mosquitoes. (Jose Carlo Rubio)

‘Bakuna Bus’ deployed IN EFFORT to vaccinate more people in Zamboanga Continue on page 7

Meta PH and Connected Women Champion Digital Inclusion in Latest Women-Led Forum HOW FAR women lagged in the digital economy during the pandemic has

been well-documented.

Apart from tech jobs being stereotypically male-dom-

Zamboanga Peninsula

Mayor Beng Climaco and City Health Officer Dr. Dulce Amor Miravite inspect the Bakuna Bus of the Philippine Red Cross. They were accompanied by Zamboanga Red Cross head Josephine Fernandez and Project Bakuna head Mylene Baidiango. (Eugene Elnar)

inated, there are also issues of inaccessibility Continue on page 3

Basilan

AT LEAST 12 people have died from dengue fever and nearly 1,500 cases recorded since early this year in Zamboanga City.

The local government declared an outbreak of dengue fever last month Continue on page 5

Sulu

Tawi-tawi

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The Zamboanga Post

May 9-15, 2022

Beng thanks Zamboangueños

‘But Mayor condemns black propaganda!’

Continued from page 1 whom she accused of spreading lies and disinformation, especially in the purchase of welfare goods at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Cuanto inocente individual ya el ya queda víctima del de ila maga mentiras, maga embusterias que ya hace sila calayat para na de ila interes personal,” the mayor said in a Facebook post.

“While my political opponents result in verbal attacks against me and emotionally abuse me by name calling and spreading disinformation, I refuse to be a victim and I will speak up for the truth because you all deserve better in this campaign than dirty politics and fake news,” she added.

Climaco’s supporters have also condemned the continued black propaganda and the spread of fake news against the popular mayor. They blamed Climaco’s political foes for spreading black propaganda in social media and during their political campaign in different barangays where they renewed vicious political and personal attacks.

Zamboangueños condemned the black propaganda after Climaco lambasted those behind the spread of the fake news.

“El verdad libra canaton todo...it is no surprise that other camps are back again in their usual ways of perpetrating black propaganda and disinformation against us which they have done too in the past.

We are again witnessing an avalanche of malicious claims and baseless accusations that aims to sow distrust among our people and annihilate the truth.

We say, enough! Our people deserve the truth and they deserve better,” she said.

Black propaganda Climaco branded as black propaganda all issues raised by her opponents against her – the controversial flyover issue and the rice purchased by the local government for Zamboangueños affected

by the pandemic two years ago.

The overpass project of the Department of Public Works and Highways had been halted since 2019 after DPWH failed to comply with the local government requirements, among them the widening of roads, to ensure the project will not cause heavy traffic.

Climaco said with respect to the allegations of overpriced rice, the local government only followed the laws. The mayor said the characterization of the expenditure would be determined by the “circumstances of time and place, behavioral and ecological factors, as well as political, social and economic conditions.” In other words, she said, the expenditure would be judged on varied factors to include its legality, regularity, necessity, reasonableness, and moderation. “Este el verdad y claro que el gobierno local nohay viola ley na este maga proceso,” Climaco said.

Procurement law followed In June 2020, the Bids and Awards Committee or BAC flatly rejected allegations - made by opposition councilors, and Lobregat and Dalipe - of overpricing in the purchase of some 250,000 bags of rice intended for each household in all 98 villages here affected by the pandemic.

Erwin Bernardo, the BAC chairman, said the acquisition of rice went through negotiated procurement under emergency cases, particularly in the instance, “when time is of the essence arising from natural or man-made calamities.”

The BAC approved the purchase of rice at P1,300 per 25 kilo-bag after the supplier, 5MJ Marketing, submitted all legal documents required by laws.

Bernardo explained that in order to determine whether the supplier is technically, legally and financially capable to address the emergency, BAC required 5MJ Marketing to submit the following documents – the PhilGeps (Philippine

Government Electronic Procurement System) Platinum Certificate, Omnibus Sworn Statement, Latest Income Tax Returns and Business Permit.

He said aside from the submission of the documents, it is very important that the supplier has an excellent track record with the procuring entity. “It is equally important to use the contents of the PhilGEPS electronic registry of suppliers to determine the eligibility of a supplier relative to its past transactions with other entities of the government,” he told The Zamboanga Post newspaper, adding, “the procurement of rice was done within the bounds of the procurement law and the price is reasonable based on the prevailing market price.”

Bernardo said the procurement of rice went through the process and it was done within the bounds of the procurement law and the price is reasonable based on the prevailing market price.

“It cannot be denied that we are in a state of worldwide calamity. Hence, this alternative mode of procurement was resorted to instead of the usual competitive bidding because it relates to time element as the primordial reason,” he said.

He further explained that the procedure is, upon receipt of the purchase request together with supporting documents to include the approved budget for the contract from the end-user which is the City Social Welfare and Development Officer, the BAC may directly negotiate with a supplier with technical, legal and financial capability to deliver the goods.

And upon confirmation and ascertainment of such capability to address the emergency, the head of the procuring entity, upon recommendation of the BAC, shall immediately award the contract to the supplier.

He said while rice is sold by retailers and traders at lower price, the Procurement Law (RA 9184)

Mayor Beng Climaco during a meeting with the Darul Ifta headed by Grand Mufti Abdulbaki Abubakar. mandates that local government units only transact with “technically, legally and financially” eligible suppliers, that is, compliant with requirements set by law.

“Inasmuch as we want to buy directly from traders and retailers, requirements of the law (RA 9184) preclude us from doing so. The amount of P1,300 per sack was indicated in the purchase request and the approved budget for the contract before it reached the BAC. And upon receipt of the purchase request, the BAC made its own calculation based on the prevailing market price. During the market survey, the price ranged from P1,120 to as high as P1,250.”

“Allowing the 10% mark-up under COA rules, the allowable price per sack would be around P1,232 to P1,375. The 10% mark-up is intended for handling costs, labor costs, other overhead expenses incurred by the supplier and his allowable profits,” Bernardo said.

He said the BAC cannot settle with the lowest amount only because, considering the instability of supply and abnormal demand in the market, the supply for the lowest priced premium rice may not suffice the demand of the City Government which is 250,000 sacks.

Hence, the ceiling price was pegged at P1,300 so that the supplier can still go for other rice brands of higher price without going beyond the ceiling price.

Bernardo clarified that the price of rice is variable and can easily change depending largely on the law of supply and demand amid the pandemic. “We are in a state of extraordinary times and not normal times where time is of the essence in the procurement process. The City Government cannot purchase it directly from the retailers or wholesalers, as some would tend to believe, because of the volume of the transaction nor can it split the contract since it is prohibited by law. It needs the services of the supplier who will buy it from retailers and traders and deliver it and collect (it) later from the (local) government,” he said.

He also cited that COA allows 10% mark-up on normal or ordinary times and considering the different factors affecting price and supply in the market such as higher labor cost due to scarcity of laborers, doubling of cost of transportation of goods, disruption of normal supply in the market since even ordinary buyers hoarded for their own supply, “the City Government complied

with the 10% allowable mark-up during this pandemic to religiously comply with laws and rules.

Had the City Government not provided the allowable higher maximum price per sack, we would not be able to procure the needed 250,000 sacks and be able to distribute the same to the people of Zamboanga City, because the supply for the lowest price is not sufficient.”

Bernardo said the few reported cases of spoiled rice were immediately replaced by the supplier. “As admitted by the supplier, rice spoilage may not be easily detected in big volumes of rice. The immediate replacement of spoiled or low quality rice signifies the City Government's commitment in assuring that the supplier fully complies with its obligations,” he said.

Climaco’s foe have used the rice issue in attacking her despite the transparency and strict processes imposed by the local government in the procurement of welfare goods and other necessities in the middle of the health crisis. The mayor urged her political enemies to move on if they cannot help in unified efforts to fight the pandemic, heal the sick and feed the hungry. (Zamboanga Post)

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The Zamboanga Post

May 9-15, 2022

Meta PH and Connected Women Champion Digital Inclusion in Latest Women-Led Forum

Mayor Beng Climaco with other participants to the virtual meeting "Connected Women and Meta PH’s SheMeansBusiness."

Zamboanga now peaceful, progressive Continued from page 1 Statistician Vivian Ilarina said while all regions in the country reverted to economic growth last year, only Zamboanga Peninsula, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Northern Mindanao and Soccsksargen had exceeded their gross regional domestic product, saying only the four regions returned to pre-Covid pandemic levels.

Climaco recalled a Facebook post by Kiko Miranda in 2013 after she defeated veteran politician Celso Lobregat and won the mayoral election. 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 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.

True leader Climaco said she has proven herself to be a leader for all Zamboangueños - Christians, Muslims and indigenous 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 said she also improved the city’s 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

throughout her terms.

“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.

Investors 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. The mayor said Filinvest has been Zamboanga’s solid partner in success since it launched Villa San Ignacio, the first private, master-planned community with complete amenities in Barangay Tumaga, and Futura Homes Zamboanga.

In all of these developments, Filinvest said the Climaco administration showed support by helping Filinvest realize its vision of building the Filipino dream in the city, where Zamboangeños can pursue a healthy and green lifestyle. Filinvest vows to continue to be part of Zamboanga City’s progress.

Sound management “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.

Projects 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, The Manila Times, 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 whole nine-year 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 nine-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)

Continued from page 1 and a lack of technological literacy.

However, determined organizations, such as social impact startup Connected Women, TESDA, and the Department of Trade and Industry, among many others continue to campaign for more opportunities for Filipina women. In fact, Connected Women and Meta PH’s SheMeansBusiness, a resource hub dedicated to assisting entrepreneurial women, recently celebrated a six-year-old partnership.

These concerted efforts have yielded terrific results. Program keynote speaker Rafaelita Aldaba said that the Philippines ranked 17th out of 156 countries that have narrowed the digital gender divide. Aldaba, who is the DTI Undersecretary for Innovation and Competitiveness, said: “The Philippines has closed 80% of the economic participation and opportunity gender gap, with women outnumbering men in senior and leadership roles as well as in professional and technical professions.” However, she added that Filipinas are still behind in terms of advanced access, such as skills, entrepreneurship opportunities, and leadership positions.

Aldaba believes that the divide begins from an earlier level. Young women feel more inclined to join non-science disciplines like law or social science. “Even in ASEAN countries where data on STEM graduates show a high proportion of females, there appears to be a drop off after graduation. They don’t continue into related employment,” she explained.

But the prospects do not end there.

Tech doesn’t discriminate based on gender or age. With the many limitations of the pandemic, women became resourceful, figuring out personal ways to enter the digital economy.

Cheryl Fajardo, a mother of three and trained physical therapist, admitted that things were already challenging even before the digital economy. Oftentimes, women must choose between family and career. “When you don’t work for two years, it’s hard to go back and apply to a traditional working environment,” she added.

The pandemic turned out to be a blessing for her professionally. She learned about online data annotation. She took courses and she was part of the third Elevate AIDA batch, Connected Women’s program for training women in artificial intelligence data annotation. Currently, she is a data-labeling project implementation lead for the organization.

Some opportunities are less conspicuous. In 2019, Roanne Carreon and her partner began Facebook and YouTube accounts to increase LGBTQIA++ awareness. However, when the lockdowns revealed that not all domestic arrangements were safe, they set out to create an encouraging digital venue for members of the LGBTQIA++. Queer Safe Spaces became a haven for people to become their authentic selves.

In the beginning, members with a psychology background would offer advice to help support those undergoing mental health issues regarding their gender identity.

However, the Meta Accelerator Program helped the 15,000-strong Queer Safe Spaces become recognized as a non-profit organization. Currently, it offers subsidized mental health services as well as business training for queer-run SMEs. “I realized that every woman from every sector and industry has something to learn from their fellow women. And, therefore, every woman always has something to contribute,” Carreon said.

“Also, as a woman from one of the most marginalized groups—the LGBTQ+—I feel more visible, included, and empowered. Thank you for this opportunity, and I look forward to more events such as this that celebrate and highlight the diversified roles of women as an integral part of social progress.”

For entrepreneur Eunice Joy Gambalan, the path wasn’t as clear-cut. She grew House of J, a digital fashion and styling business during the pandemic. What began as a store for custom clothing became a diverse enterprise when she started accumulating trinkets, souvenirs, and more items from other sellers who were knocked down by the pandemic.

She bridged the gap between local artisans and consumers.

Gambalan’s advice? “Pursue your passion. Embrace your purpose. Pray for direction.” When she began House of J, she raised eyebrows because “fashion, fashion lang yan.

It’s not a necessity.” At the peak of COVID-19, the fashion industry grew by 20%.

“If I may add, allow me to thank Connected Women and Meta PH for investing in the hands that rock the cradle. Through their combined efforts, these hands get an opportunity to truly become the hands that rule the world,” Gambalan shared. “An empowered woman can better nurture the leaders of tomorrow, male or female.”

“Huwag tayong matakot. Napapag-aralan. Maraming mga ahensya ang gobyerno, mga NGOs na maari kayong tulungan at maaari kayong i-guide. All you have to do is be open-minded,” reminded Sandra Montano, Philippine Commission on Women Chairperson.

TESDA, for example, has several initiatives, including the TESDA Online Program (TOP), which offers free online courses, which include ICT and agenda and development modules. The TESDA Flexible Learning Delivery Mode offers face-to-face, online, blended, and distance learning, ideal for stay-at-home mothers who aren’t often in charge of their schedules.

According to Angie Gonzales, TESDA Women Center Chief, the TESDA Women Center has become a resource for training online instructors and hosts the Connected Women’s Elevate AIDA project. In March 2022, the agency and Coca-Cola Philippines also launched the iStar Program, an upgraded, digital version of the Sari-Sari Store Training and Access Resources (STAR) Program, which provides entrepreneurial skills training for Filipino women.

“TESDA’s commitment and initiatives

to increase women’s participation in Non-Traditional sectors and promote gender equality and social inclusion in Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) have been consistently strengthened over the years,” said Gonzales. “As we continue to celebrate women empowerment, we all agree that our work is far from finished. Now that we are transitioning to the ‘new and now normal’, TESDA, through the TESDA Women’s Center will continue to support Connected Women and META PH to promote digital literacy, advocate, and train women in ICT-related programs. Let us all keep on working towards a better future for women and girls.”

The Department of Information and Communications Technology has also been actively promoting women’s roles in the digital economy. It has a stream of workshops for digital literacy and training. Recently, it held a webinar entitled “Women and Innovation, a Way Forward for Women’s Economic Empowerment,” which featured home-based Filipino mothers who manage to run households and attend freelance digital professions.

“Women have been an integral part of emerging technologies as these continuously evolve as mature economies,” says DICT Director Emmy Lou Delfin, adding that women helped develop cryptocurrencies and the blockchain and are pioneers in transportation and cybersecurity, among others.

“Looking back, all of these seemed impossible. But what we know now is that men’s success in venturing and developing profitable initiatives in the digital economy only proves that women are just as capable as men in industries known to be dominated by men,” Delfin encouraged.

Upskilling and learning about digital computing technologies is no longer a nice to have. It’s become a crucial component in the internet economy not only financially, but also socially.

Zamboanga Mayor Beng Climaco believes the city’s digital inclusive initiatives, which include Connected Women’s Elevate AIDA, have been instrumental in giving Zamboanga women renewed hope, “a digital lifeline to navigate the new normal.”

In 2020, Zamboanga was named in DICT’s list of 25 Digital Cities 2025. Under Climaco, it has created the groundwork to become a digital hub, developing avenues for information technology, business process management, and digital inclusion.

“Digital literacy is the first step towards unlocking the potential of women to be digitally enabled and digitally empowered,” she added. “I believe women should be at the forefront of the resiliency agenda because after all, it is women who serve as the core of resilience at home and the community.”

Resilience. That’s only one of the words to describe women in the last two years.

There’s also grit, determination, and resourcefulness. All these, coupled with digital empowerment, will define the future for Filipino women everywhere. (Sasha Lim Uy Mariposa – Connected Women)

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The Zamboanga Post

May 9-15, 2022

Zamboanga Pictures in the News Photos by Bong Serondo, Eugene Elnar, Andrei Bantoto, Giana Andrion, and LYDO-CSWDO

May 9-15, 2022

The Zamboanga Post Exclusive

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Climaco is cover photo of League Magazine Continued from page 1 The 2019 general elections brought the two political clans into direct opposition against each other: Lobregat’s grandfather, Pablo, was former Mayor of Zamboanga and a representative to the first Philip-

pine Assembly. His mother, Maria Clara, was Zamboanga's first female mayor who was also congresswoman of Zamboanga. Throughout Maria Clara’s long political career, she had lost only once, in 1984, when she ran for the Batasang Pambansa

and was defeated by Climaco’s uncle, Cesar, one of the most visible, and loudly heard, opponents of the Marcos dictatorship.

Climaco said Zamboanga now has a thriving economy: Shopping malls sprawl across the city. Upscale

restaurants have opened up shop. New capital coming outside investors is flowing into the city. Some say this is unprecedented, considering that, in the past, business expansion in Zamboanga was controlled significantly

by Chinese businessmen residing in the area.

“There are more business opportunities in the city of Zamboanga now, and we have improved the business climate,” she said.

Notorious for its peace and order problems in the past, Climaco said the city has recorded zero bombings and zero kidnappings since 2016.

This city is home to people of several faiths and ethnicities: The Bisaya live cheek-to-jowl with the Chavacanos, and members of the Tausug, Yakan, Sama

and indigenous peoples, including the Subanen.

All of these peoples’ rich cultures and traditions are woven into the substance and fabric of Zamboanga City. It is a center of trade and is the commercial hub of the three island provinces of Basilan, Sulu and Ta-

wi-Tawi.

In this regard, Climaco said inclusivity is the key to governing her constituents who are culturally and ethnically diverse people.

Good, open communication is key. (Zamboanga Post, League Magazine, Esquire Magazine)

Mayor Beng Climaco in the Esquire Magazine photo by Nasser Fernando Hadjula and story by prolific writer Amir Mawallil, now a member of Bangsamoro Parliament.

Dengue deaths now at 12

The cover photo of League Magazine is Zamboanga Mayor Beng Climaco, the first local politician ever featured in the League, a magazine publication dedicated to local governance. It chronicles the bold efforts undertaken by local government units in the country.

Continued from page 1 and Zamboanga had two dengue outbreaks in the past decade.

Dengue is transmitted through a bite of dengue-infected Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes. These mosquitoes can lay eggs in any space or container that holds clear and stagnant water like a bottle cap, dish dryer, plant axil, gutter, trash can, old rubber tire.

They usually bite between 2 hours after sunrise and 2 hours before sunset and can be found inside and outside the house. Dengue symptoms typically begin 3 to 14 days after infection and these may include a high

fever, headache, vomiting, muscle and joint pains, and a characteristic skin rash.

Mayor Beng Climaco, who regularly goes around different barangays, especially in areas where there are huge numbers of dengue cases, ordered a massive cleanliness drive to control the spread of the disease.

Climaco ordered barangay officials to help in the campaign against dengue and lead residents in the cleanliness drive by destroying breeding grounds of mosquitoes. She also urged for public cooperation and community involvement in the campaign against the spread of the deadly dengue virus. “We have to keep our

surroundings clean at all times and destroy breeding places of mosquitoes, such as discarded containers, tires and broken (flower) pots,” the mayor said.

The City Health Office said dengue cases continue to soar and has urged residents to destroy breeding places of mosquitoes and to keep their surroundings clean.

The barangays with high dengue cases are Tetuan, San Roque, Santa Maria, Mercedes, Putik, Pasonanca, Tumaga, Calarian, Divisoria, Boalan, Culianan, Guiwan, San Jose Gusu, Tugbungan, and Cabatangan. (Jasmine Mohammadsali, Zamboanga Post)

USAID to put up office in Zamboanga

A photo released by the U.S. Embassy shows (from left) USAID Philippines Mission Director Ryan Washburn and U.S. Embassy in the Philippines Chargé d’Affaires ad interim Heather Variava join Finance Assistant Secretary Paola Alvarez, Philippine Climate Change Commission Commissioner Albert dela Cruz, and Catholic Relief Services Country Representative Karen Janes Ungar at the formal launch of the P750-million ($15 million) Climate Resilient Cities project.

THE U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Climate Resilient Cities Project is putting up an office in Zamboanga City, according to City Human Resource Management Officer Apple Go.

Go said the project seeks to improve resilience by strengthening the capacities of cities to adapt to, mitigate and manage the impacts of climate change. She said former Assistant City En-

vironment and Natural Resources Officer Engr.

Ed Bisquera is the project team leader for Zamboanga.

The project was formally launched in March in the Philippines, one of

the world’s most disaster-prone countries. Initially announced during the Indo-Pacific Business Forum in October 2021, the five-year, P750-million ($15 million) project will help cities adapt to, mitigate, and endure the impacts of climate change by increasing their access to climate financing and tools to build resilience.

Through this project, the U.S. government will support local governments and other stakeholders to better understand, use, and disseminate climate information to local communities.

“Climate change is impacting people, communities, and nations all around the world. We believe that responding to the climate crisis is a shared mission between the U.S. and Philippine governments. We look forward to our collabora-

tion with key stakeholders to ensure that resilience is built into the fabric of cities in the Philippines,” said U.S. Embassy in the Philippines Chargé d’Affaires ad interim Heather Variava.

The project will also help cities and nongovernment organizations access climate financing to increase community resilience and contribute to communities’ economic and social development, as well as support natural climate solutions that increase cities’ resilience to climate change impacts.

The Philippines has committed to a projected greenhouse gas emission reduction and avoidance of 75% from 2020 to 2030 for the agriculture, wastes, industry, transport, and energy sectors.

Working with USAID in the implementation of the project is Catholic

Relief Services, together with its consortium partners the University of the Philippines Resilience Institute, Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation, Conservation International, and Rocky Mountain Institute.

The project supports the Philippine government’s National Climate Change Action Plan, Nationally Determined Contributions, and National Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management Roadmap, and advances the U.S. government’s goal of tackling the climate crisis around the world.

Climate Resilient Cities will also receive support from the government of the Republic of Korea, through the Korea International Cooperation Agency, as part of a joint partnership between the U.S. and Korean governments. (Zamboanga Post)

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The Zamboanga Post

May 9-15, 2022

Across : 1. Command to Fido 4. ___ Cruces 7. Finnish bath 12. WSW’s opposite 13. Outback bird 14. Metal suit 15. Summer cooler 16. Block off 18. Singer ___ Ronstadt 20. Snaky fishes 21. Goodbye, in Tokyo 23. Famed boxer 26. Butterfly catcher 27. Storage area 30. Nearly 33. Verb forms 34. Pointed beard 35. Hole in ___ 36. Not in 37. Mexican music type 42. Klutz’s exclamation 44. Comic ___ DeGeneres 45. Surgical procedure 49. House annex 50. Tier 51. Winter mo.

52. Pub offering 53. Attire 54. Before, in poems 55. Decay Answer to last week’s crossword: Down : 1. Embossed emblems 2. Calcutta’s country 3. Very small 4. Beirut native 5. Physicians’ gp.

6. More confident 7. Travel by water 8. Circle parts 9. Actress ___ Thurman 10. Indicate agreement 11. “We ___ Family” 17. Nuclear ___ 19. “___ disturb” (2 wds.)

22. Try 23. Mule’s father 24. Director Spike ___ 25. That thing’s 28. Indulgence

29. Shaquille ___ 30. In the past 31. Yankee ___ Gehrig 32. Bathroom rug 38. Stage whisper 39. Cloudless 40. Greeting word 41. Narrow channel 42. Mineral deposits 43. Boat paddles 45. ___ Glory 46. Golf norm 47. Needle feature 48. Above, poetically

Weekly Sudoku:

MAF Trading Zamboanga 062-9555360 / 0917-7103642

Answer to last week:

Maritess Fernandez Publisher/Executive Producer Al Jacinto Editor-in-Chief

FOR SALE Memorial Lawn Lots P300,000 / P80,000

Good for two. Golden Haven Boalan in Zamboanga. Near main gate about 20 meters, beside, pathwalk, near a tree.

Prime location, Phase 1, Section 1 and Section 17.

Please Call 0915-3976197

Reynold Toribio Graphics/Video Editor

MANILA No. 18 Purok 4B Madelo Street, Lower Bicutan, Taguig City, 1632 chardee.mindanaoexaminer@gmail.com (0916) 9558559, (0915) 0070927, (0947) 2652969 Richard C. Ebona CEBU CITY G/F Dreamfield bldg, Sanciangko Street, Kamagayan (0923) 1670009 Rodil P. Ybañez DAVAO CITY Door 2, 402 Nidea Street, Barrio Obrero, Davao City, Philippines (087) 9851560 / (0932) 4323301 / (0997) 3172021 Marilou Cablinda NORTH COTABATO KIDAPAWAN CITY Paolo De Jesus (0927) 4757936 BARMMͳCENTRAL MINDANAO COTABATO CITY 5-A Pansacala Street (RH10) Cotabato City, 9600 Mark Navales (0916) 6885389 PAGADIAN CITY Kismet Cable TV, Aquino cor. Cabrera st., Gatas District, Pagadian City, Zamboanga Del Sur (0910) 7348600 Richard Suarez ZAMBOANGA PENINSULA BASILAN, SULU, TAWIͳTAWI ΈBARMMΉ 3/F, JLC Building, Don Alfaro Street, Tetuan Zamboanga City (062) 9555360 (0915) 3976197 / (0935) 6123587 Maritess Fernandez

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The Zamboanga Post

May 9-15, 2022

‘Bakuna Bus’ deployed

Mayor Beng Climaco and City Health Officer Dr. Dulce Amor Miravite pose with Philippine Red Cross staff led by Josephine Fernandez and Project Bakuna head Mylene Baidiango. (Eugene Elnar)

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.

FOR SALE Kampilan 21 ” (P13,000)

Made from 5160 High Carbon Steel and Kamagong handle and scabbard.

For table and wall display, or as self-defense weapon.

Zamboanga City 0915-3976197

OPINION

Sunday Reflection

by Mayor Beng Climaco

JESUS ASKED them, “Children, have you caught anything to eat?” They answered Him, “No.” So Jesus said to them: “Cast the net over the right side of the boat and you will find something.” So they cast it, and were not able to pull it in because of the number of fish. So the disciple, whom Jesus loved, said to Peter, “It is the Lord.”

The Gospel teaches us to be totally reliant on Jesus. The disciples whose profession was fishing went back to their livelihood after the death of Jesus. They thought that they could still rely on their instinct to fish. However, there was no catch. Upon the instruction of Jesus, they listened to him and had their nets full!

Duc in Altum! Lord may we cast our

nets, with all our hopes in faith entrusting our life to you. The disciples did not recognize Jesus immediately but later discovered it was HIM. At times too, we will not easily recognize Jesus but if we allow ourselves time to pray, discern and let Jesus lead us we can indeed follow HIM. The assurance of Peter in loving Jesus is narrated three times: DO YOU LOVE ME? “FEED MY LAMBS, TEND MY SHEEP AND FEED MY LAMBS!” Lord we may fail to follow you at times, thank you so much for the opportunity to assure you of our love. We may have our faults, flaws, and failures but you are full of mercy. JESUS tells us: “FOLLOW ME!” (MBC)

Continued from page 1 against the deadly Covid-19 respiratory disease, Mayor Beng Climaco said the City Health Office and the Philippine Red Cross launched the “Bakuna Bus” project.

Climaco said the joint project will run for two weeks and she thanked the PRC for helping the local government in its mass vaccination program. The mayor and City Health Officer Dr. Dulce Amor Miravite together with Zamboanga Red Cross head Josephine Fernandez and Project Bakuna head Mylene Baidiango launched the project, also dubbed “Health on Wheels.”

“The Mobile Bakuna bus from Red Cross stands ready to support Zamboanga City to vaccinate Zamboangueños,” Fernandez said.

Climaco, head of the local Covid-19 task force, said the local government has opened more vaccination sites to make it easier for residents to access the medicines.

She said vaccinators also go house-to-house to be able to inoculate more people, especially in farflung areas, adding the City Health Office also launched drive-thru vaccination sites.

“We continue the vaccination rollout for all unvaccinated, as well as those partially vaccinated, and at the same time pursuing booster shots for the priority groups,” she said.

More people are now flocking to various vaccination sites across Zamboanga due to the massive local government information campaign on Covid-19 and the efficacy of the vaccines against the disease, especially now that there have been various variants and sub-lineages.

She also renewed calls for residents in remote villages to go to the nearest health centers and get vaccinated to protect them from the virus.

Last March, the Duterte administration congratulated the Zamboanga government for being Number 1 in the country in the implementation of the national vaccination program dubbed “Bayanihan Bakunahan” and the Safety Seal certification, including the digital vaccine certificate.

Zamboanga City was hailed 1st placer for the “2nd Doses Accomplishment” category, followed

by Agusan del Sur and Taguig City while under

the “A2 Doses” category, Ilocos Norte was the top-performing province followed by Ilocos Sur and Pampanga. Nueva Ecija was 1st placer for the “Total Doses Administered” category followed by Cavite and Bulacan.

The winners for best performing local governments in support of the Bayanihan Bakunahan were determined by the Department of Health and categorized according to the percentage of accomplishments for 2nd doses, A2 doses, and total doses administered.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government said Duterte congratulated the winning local governments and the chief executives for their able leadership amid the health crisis, and for being invaluable partners of the national government in executing important programs that contributed to the improved Covid-19 status of the country.

“Salute to all the re-

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The Zamboanga Post

May 9-15, 2022

May 9-15, 2022

The Zamboanga Post

9

Founded July 2019

ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT, PLEASE CALL (062) 9555360 or (0915) 3976197

P10

May 9-15, 2022

Housing units for fire victims T

HE LOCAL government of Zamboanga is set to hand over 138 housing units to victims of a huge fire in Barangay Labuan after Mayor Beng Climaco inspected the project.

The housing units were or also inaugurated some promised by President Ro- P175-million worth of infradrigo Duterte following his structure projects under the visit here in July 2018. The Zamboanga City Roadmap to first phase of the project was Recovery and Reconstruction completed by the National (Z3R) Program in Barangays Housing Authority with the Kasanyangan and Mariki.

The Department of second phase still going on and will benefit 273 families Public Works and Highways affected by the conflagra- (DPWH) turned over three projects to the City Governtion.

Climaco thanked Dute- ment on September 28.

The projects were the rte for the joint housing project at the Sea Breeze Valle Vista Subdivision’s acSubdivision. The Climaco cess road amounting to administration paid for the P29,457,505.79 in Baran36,062 square meters lot gay Kasanyangan whose where the housing project is contractor was RD Interilocated. or Junior Construction; the Late last year, the may- Paniran-Kasanyangan ac-

Mayor Beng Climaco inspects the housing project in Barangay Labuan. (Giana Andrion) cess road also at Valle Vista Subdivision, amounting

to P89,999,620.32, and the boardwalk in Barangay Mariki worth P55,910,901.21 built

by Vic Lao Construction; and the energization project also

in Barangay Mariki undertaken by the Zamboanga City Electric Cooperative.

Beneficiaries of the Z3R Program thanked Climaco for

aggressively pursuing the projects despite the health crisis due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

(Zamboanga Post)

Organic Kopi Luwak or Civet coffee isn’t really pricey KIDAPAWAN CITY Coffee lovers in the Philippines may now enjoy the best and the most expensive coffee in the world Kopi Luwak - but not as pricey as every connoisseurs think.

Kopi Luwak is a coffee that consists of partially digested coffee cherries, which have been eaten and defecated by the Asian palm civet. The cherries are fermented as they pass through a civet’s intestines, and after being defecated with other fecal matter, they are collected.

In Manila, a kilogram of Civet coffee sells for as high as P15,000 and over $500 dollars abroad.

But Kopi Luwak can now be enjoyed by every coffee lovers for as low as P150 for a 16 oz. cup that comes with a drip bag, ground organic Civet coffee beans, two packets of brown sugar and a stirrer in a beautiful Kraft paper bag – thanks to the Mindanao Civet Coffee seller in Zamboanga City.

The new market player in the coffee business, although small, is now offering affordable organic Kopi Luwak – sourced and picked by farmers from the highlands of Mindanao, cleaned and dried and roasted to perfection to give coffee lovers that distinct aroma of Civet coffee ber-

Zamboanga Peninsula

Basilan

Sulu

ries – chocolaty and nutty and smooth bodied brewed drink.

Mindanao Civet Coffee, which started as a home reseller of coffee beans, now offers organic Kopi Luwak in 250 grams ground Civet coffee and 250 grams Civet coffee beans – all medium roasted to perfection.

Kopi Luwak is also available now in 3rd Cup Café at LM Metro Hotel in Zamboanga City, and resellers in Luzon, Cebu and other

parts of Mindanao. The Mindanao Civet Coffee is a favorite among travellers and tourists and coffee connoisseurs. And for those who wanted the perfect gift for all occasions, Kopi Luwak is the best choice.

And those who are interested to resell or perhaps enjoy a daily hot cup or cold brew of Kopi Luwak may call the Mindanao Civet Coffee at this mobile number 0915-3976197. (AJC)

Tawi-Tawi