The Zamboanga Post (May 30-June 5, 2022)

BBM-Sara proclaimed

President Bongbong Marcos and Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio. (PNA)

FERDINAND MARCOS JR. was proclaimed the next president of the Philippines by a joint session of Congress following a landslide election triumph 36 years after his dictator father was ousted in a pro-democracy uprising.

The Senate and House of Representatives

also declared that his separately elected vice presidential running mate, Sara Duterte, had won by a wide margin. She is the daughter of outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte, whose turbulent sixyear term ends on June 30.

They will lead a nation battered by Covid-19

lockdowns, crushing poverty, gaping inequality, Muslim and communist insurgencies, crime and political divisions further inflamed by the May 9 election.

With his 92-yearold mother, Imelda Marcos, his wife, Continue on page 2 Picked from the wild, in the highlands of North Cotabato and Bukidnon.

Available in 250g packs - roasted whole beans or fine ground. Cup to Go (16 oz.) also available and comes with 2 packets of brown sugar, one plastic stirrer, one drip bag and 12g of Civet coffee powder. Wholesaler, Retailer, Reseller are welcome.

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Beng continues to reap awards M

AYOR BENG Climaco continues to reap awards from the Duterte administration with the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Department of Health citing the City Government’s exemplary performance in various national programs.

The DILG cited Cli- plementing and sustain- Drug Rehabilitation maco for exemplarily im- ing the Community-Based Continue on page 2

A City Government photo shows Mayor Beng Climaco receiving the award from the DILG for for exemplarily implementing and sustaining the Community -Based Drug Rehabilitation Program and Aftercare Program.

DILG begins assessments of local governments

Mayor thanks U.S. government OUTGOING MAYOR Beng Climaco has thanked Washington for its many

projects and programs for Zamboanga in partnership with the local government.

Climaco said the continuous Continue on page 3

AirAsia Philippines eyes Tawi-Tawi route, cargo operations in Zambo LOW-COST airline AirAsia Philippines said it is now holding talks with Tawi-Tawi officials for the opening of a new route as it continues to expand operations in southern Philippines.

“Tawi-Tawi is a beautiful province and the people of Tawi-Tawi are asking us to open a route,” said Captain Steve Dailisan, a spokesman for AirAsia, adding the Tawi-Tawi-Zamboanga-Manila route will further boost the economy not only of the province, but also Zamboanga City.

Aside from Tawi-Tawi, Dailisan Continue on page 3

Zamboanga Peninsula

Basilan

Mayor Beng Climaco speaks during the DILG regional assessment for the awarding of the 2020 Seal of Good Local Governance. (Eugene Elnat) THE DEPARTMENT of the Interior and Local Government began its

Regional Assessment for the awarding of the 2020 Seal of Good Local Gover-

nance (SGLG).

Zamboanga City Continue on page 2

2nd booster shot for senior citizens and frontline health workers only CHIEF COVID frontliner Mayor Beng Climaco has urged senior citizens and

frontline workers to get their second booster shot of vaccine, adding this will

Sulu

further protect them from the deadly Continue on page 3

Tawi-tawi

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The Zamboanga Post

May 30-June 5, 2022

Beng continues to reap awards

Continued from page 1 Program (CBDRP) and Aftercare Program resulting in 2,773 rehabilitated drug users which is one of the highest since 2017.

The DILG team arrived in Zamboanga on May 25 for the conduct of the two-day CBDRP On-site Monitoring, Assessment and Documentation that concluded with the presentation of the Certificate of Recognition to the City Anti-drug Abuse Council headed by the mayor.

Climaco said the award goes for everybody who helped sustain the local government’s anti-drug campaign and rehabilitation program. She thanked and praised the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, the Zamboanga City Police Office, the Region-

al Police Office and other law enforcement agencies, including the military for their hard work and contribution in sustaining the anti-drug campaign.

The mayor also handed over the City Government’s cash incentives to the Zamboanga City Police Office headed by Col. Alexander Lorenzo in recognition of its outstanding anti-drug efforts.

The DILG and DOH also lauded the Climaco administration for its aggressive campaign and continuous efforts in the national government’s Covid-19 vaccination program and for achieving a record high vaccination rate of more than 90% of its nearly one million population.

The Regional In-

ter-Agency Task Force {RIATF) through the DILG and the DOH awarded Climaco in a fitting ceremony held recently here.

Climaco together with Assistant City Health Officer Dr. Cathy Garcia received the award during the 32nd joint meeting of the RIATF and Regional Task Force Covid-19.

The mayor, who heads the local Covid-19 task force, thanked the DILG and DOH for the recognition and said the prestigious award was the result of the sacrifices of all medical frontliners, the city and barangay health workers, and other stakeholders and partners. As of May 18, Zamboanga City has vaccinated at least 93% of its population. (Zamboanga Post)

BBM-Sara proclaimed

Continued from page 1 family and siblings beside him, Marcos Jr.’s hands were raised by the Senate president and House speaker in a plenary hall bedecked with a huge Philippine flag to applause from the audience, which included diplomats.

“I’m humbled,” he later told reporters. “I thank our people and, beyond that, I promise you that we may not be perfect but we will always strive for perfection.

I ask you all to pray for me, wish me well. I want to do well because when the president does well, the country

does well,” he said, without taking any questions.

The Duterte administration also released a statement congratulating the pair.

“We congratulate Mr. Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos, Jr. and Ms. Inday Sara Duterte-Carpio on their electoral victory and for their proclamation as President-elect of the Philippines and Vice President-elect of the Philippines, respectively…proclamation ceremony

by Congress marks another historic milestone in our political life as a nation underscoring that we are, indeed,

a showcase and beacon of democracy in this part of the world.”

“As both leaders are about to embark on the responsibilities and challenges of their respective offices, we reiterate our call for our people to stand behind our newly elected leaders. The Office of the President shall ensure a peaceful, orderly and smooth transfer of powers to the President-elect as we extend all the necessary support and assistance to various transition activities,” it said. (AP, Jim Gomez. With additional reporting from The Mindanao Examiner.)

DILG begins assessments of local governments Continued from page 1 under Mayor Beng Climaco has received two SGLG for two consecutive years based on indicators on economic dynamism, government efficiency, infrastructure and resiliency.

Jose Ruel Trobanos, Chief of Local Government Monitoring and Evaluation Division and the leader of the Regional Assessment Team, stressed that integrity and good performance are pillars of meaningful local autonomy and development.

“The national government puts primacy to the integrity and good performance as pillars of meaningful local autonomy and development," he said.

SGLG represents an award, incentive, honor and recognition-based program for all local governments and is a continuing commitment for local chief executives to continually progress and improve their performance.

Early this year, the DILG included Zamboanga City to the list of passers to the “2021 Good Financial Housekeeping” in Western Mindanao region and for exhibiting exem-

plary performance in financial administration.

The DILG also congratulated the Climaco administration and other local governments for passing the progressive assessment system that gives distinction to remarkable local government performance across several areas. “Congratulations to the 2021 Good Financial Housekeeping Passers in Region IX. We commend the LGUs for their invaluable commitment to pursue an honest, transparent, accountable and orderly management of public funds,” the DILG said.

It said the Zamboanga City government exhibited exemplary performance in financial administration which covers the following criteria: Most recent available COA (Commission on Audit) Audit Opinion is Unqualified or Qualified for CYs 2019 or 2020; and compliance with Full Disclosure Policy-posting of all 14 documents in three conspicuous places and in the FDP portal for all quarters of CY 2020 and first quarter of CY 2021.

“We thank the DILG

for this and all of this is made possible with the commitment of honesty and transparency in governance. We thanked our department heads, the people working tirelessly at City Hall and everyone who contributed in one or the other in making this a reality. My commitment remains for the Zamboangueño people even beyond City Hall,” Climaco said.

The DILG said the award is an integral component of the SGLG which puts primacy to integrity and good performance as pillars of meaningful local autonomy and development.

As part of the w h o l e - o f - g ov e r n m e n t commitment in bringing about meaningful and lasting reforms, the SGLG has been instrumental in increasing transparency and accountability, promoting proactive actions to prepare for challenges posed by disasters and influencing local governments’ behavior that is supportive of both national and international developmental goals, among others. (Zamboanga Post)

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The Zamboanga Post

May 30-June 5, 2022

Mayor thanks U.S. government

City government photo shows Mayor Beng Climaco speaking during the during the organizational meeting and project orientation of the Zamboanga City Climate Resilient Cities Technical Working Group.

AirAsia Philippines eyes Tawi-Tawi route, cargo operations in Zambo Continued from page 1 said they are also looking into the province of Sulu and even in Sandakan in Malaysia.

Dailisan was in Zamboanga ahead of the launching of its cargo operations and the increase of its flight frequency to the city. He said AirAsia Philippines is determined to aid in the economic recovery of Zamboanga City with the upcoming launch.

He said AirAsia will commence its expanded daily cargo operations here starting next month following the installation of new x-ray machines and the availability of a bigger warehouse.

“These expansion initiatives will allow AirAsia to fly more than 200 tons of both passengers and commercial cargo per month – an auspicious development for partner enterprises set to increase their shipments between Zamboanga and Manila,” Dailisan said.

Most of the cargoes from Zamboanga are marine products export and even Mangosteen from Sulu which is being used for the manufacture of health supplements.

Dailisan said AirAsia Philippines, having had successful flight operations in the past year and a half here, is also augmenting its flight frequency to Zamboanga, which will be scheduled daily starting also in June to stimulate tourism and the economy in the region.

The airline initially flew twice a week when it launched the route in October 2020, but the operation was affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Tourist arrivals in Zamboanga City dropped by 81.68% due to the health crisis. From 125,614 arrivals in the first quarter of 2020, the number of visitors slipped to 23,010 in the same period in 2021.

Dailisan said Zamboanga, known as the flagship tourism destination of Western Mindanao, is the gateway to other tourist destinations in the region. “Zamboanga City is the gateway to the entire Zamboanga Peninsula, making it a critical and strategic hub for any transport business.”

“We hope that with the increased flight frequency and expanded cargo operations, we can continue

to aid in the growth of the city’s tourism and trade industries. We are confident that Zamboanga, through the Zamboanga City International Airport, is poised to be a key economic driver for the region as the country gears for post-pandemic recovery,” he said.

Dailisan also cited a survey commissioned by AirAsia Philippines last December which revealed that 29% of general travelers would like to spend time and explore Zamboanga and 31% of those coming from the Visayas region will also visit the city.

He said AirAsia Philippines is moving fast on the path to recovery as attested to by its strong revenue performance in the first quarter of this year. AirAsia Philippines currently operates 15 domestic destinations – Manila, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Caticlan, Kalibo, Tacloban, Tagbilaran, Puerto Princesa, Bacolod, Cagayan de Oro, Zamboanga, General Santos and Dumaguete. It aso flies to Malaysia, Taiwan, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore and Japan. (Zamboanga Post)

Continued from page 1 collaboration between the American government and Zamboanga City through the U.S. Agency for International Development on many aspects of governance, especially on climate resiliency, has further enhance measures to mitigate and manage the impacts of climate change and disasters here.

But the mayor said there is a need to intensify climate resiliency and urged concerned departments under the local government to pursue with vigor the programs started during her entire three terms or a total of nine years.

Under the Climaco administration, Zamboanga became one of the recipients of a the USAID-Climate Resilient Project, a 5-year project which aims to improve resilience by strength-

ening the capacity of cities to adapt to, mitigate and manage the impacts of climate change and disasters.

The project also seeks to develop robust multi-stakeholder capacity for climate information generation, analysis, use and climate change adaptation and climate change mitigation, among others.

Climaco also issued Executive Order 733-2022 creating the City-Level Climate Resilient Cities Technical Working Group.

Last year, the national government said it would seek funding assistance from industrial countries for the nationwide adaptation to climate change which was mainly caused by greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

“We will ask developed countries to help us fund our initiatives for us to adapt to the changing climate,”

said Department of Finance Assistant Secretary Paola Sherina Alvarez.

She said such bid for climate justice is necessary since the Philippines accounts for less than 1% percent of global GHG emissions, but is among countries most at risk for and vulnerable to climate change's impacts.

Alvarez noted climate financing in the Philippines is focused more on adaptation than on GHG emission mitigation as climate change is already threatening the country.

Environment experts said fossil fuel-fired power generation and other human activities are increasing the accumulation of GHG emissions in the atmosphere so global temperature continues rising, changing climate. (Zamboanga Post)

2nd booster shot for senior citizens and frontline health workers only Continued from page 1 respiratory disease.

She also encouraged those who have not received their primary Covid vaccines and first dose to get inoculated. “Vaccines are essential and very important to us all and I urged again those who have not received their jab to go to any of our vaccinations sites. And for our senior citizens and frontline health workers to get your second dose,” she said.

The Department of Health also said the second booster shot is initially available for senior citizens (Priority Group A2) and frontline health workers (Priority Group A1). It said the second booster shot is primarily mRNA vaccines such as those manufactured by Moderna and Pfizer which will strengthen immunity against the virus, including the latest Omicron subvariant BA.2.12.1.

Following the earlier grant of an Emergency Use Authorization by the Philippine Food and Drug Administration and recommendation by the Health Technology Assessment Council, the DOH released Interim Operational Guidelines on the Administration of the second booster shot for senior citizens and frontline healthcare workers ages 18 years old and above.

“This is the moment we have all been waiting for. After careful study and consideration of the best available evidence, we shall now roll out effective immediately the second booster for our frontline health workers and senior citizens. This is part of how we fight back against the virus,” said DOH Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje.

The DOH guidelines said the following are under Priority Group

A1: Workers in essential health services and all people 60 years old and above; Priority Group A2: Senior Citizens. The vaccines are to be given at least four months after the administration of the first booster dose.

“The second booster for our health workers and senior citizens will enhance protection given by the first booster and the primary series against all variants, including the recent Omicron subvariant BA.2.12.1. Against whatever variant there is out there, the second booster fortifies the defense of health workers and highly vulnerable seniors. Everyone eligible can get the second booster jab done at the local government vaccination sites nearest you. They are safe, effective, and free of charge,” said DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire.

(Zamboanga Post)

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The Zamboanga Post Lifestyle

Photos by Eugene Elnar, Dr. Cecil Atilano, OCENR and City Government.

May 30-June 5, 2022

May 30-June 5, 2022

The Zamboanga Post Exclusive

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The Zamboanga Post

May 30-June 5, 2022

Across : 1. Drinking tube 6. Shoemaker’s tool 9. Graceful tree 12. Yonder 13. As well as 14. Caspian ___ 15. Made mistakes 16. Board member 18. Cruel 19. Restrict 20. Ted Kennedy, e.g.

22. Massachusetts city 26. Grand ___ Opry 27. Foolish 28. Scoundrel 32. Make sorrowful 33. Was sore 34. Solar body 35. Obeys 36. Thinnest 41. Motorist’s aid 43. Famed canal 44. Motor City 47. Informed 48. One of us 49. ___ day at a time 50. Put back to zero 51. London’s country (abbr.)

52. Went first 53. Recently picked Answer to last week’s crossword: Down : 1. Pipe parts 2. Trio number 3. Showed again 4. Fight site 5. Tie the knot 6. Clothing 7. Fish bait 8. New Orleans’ state 9. Cleveland time zone (abbr.)

10. Grant’s enemy 11. Bombshell ___ West 17. Tolerate 19. Lounge 21. Poisonous mushroom 23. Boy 24. Wind dir.

25. chess pieces 28. Cheerleader’s shout

29. Expert 30. That woman 31. Closet wood 32. Takes legal action 34. Scheduled 37. Not as old 38. Wipe out 39. Fathers 40. Fangs 42. Fishing string 44. Colorant 45. Billion years 46. Harbor vessel 47. Dog’s sound

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May 30-June 5, 2022

OPINION

Sunday Reflection

by Mayor Beng Climaco

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.

Not as the world gives do I give it to you.

Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.

You heard me tell you, ‘I am going away and I will come back to you.’

If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father; for the Father is greater than I. We celebrated the First Death Anniversary of my Spirtual Guide and Mother, Sr. Agnes Xavier of the Holy Spirit. Years after the death of my Mother, she took on to mentor me and it was because of her guidance I said yes to Serve God, Help Zamboanga City in Public Service. She has loved and lived her life for Jesus. She taught me to catch the gaze of Jesus. And in Bishop Moises’ homily the gaze of love of Jesus is prayer itself. In times when we were in crisis Sr. Agnes taught us to say: “Mary show yourself a Mothet to us!”

The past week I have been brought to a realization of how untruth and lies in the ugly ploy of propaganda and gaslighting has destroyed my name con mancha ya dale duda na gente. Two radio stations mouthing false accusations succesfully cast doubts and disappointments on people about me.

As I embrace the pain and all the diffculties that come my way, I humbly surrender unto

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the Lord. What carries me today? God’s presence, God’s peace. Being more aware of my vulnerability I make an effort every second to express my love to others. Whether it is a coworker who was a victim of mauling, fire victims and co-workers distributing assistance I serve, I feed, I love. There are doors in my life that have been closed only to surprisingly find other opportunities. One was the validation for Social Services by the Association of Social Workers where I honored Ma’am Soki Rojas for exemplifying resilience despite of personal burdens. She and all our Social Workers respond to the call of service putting others ahead of themselves .

As to clearing my name, I am at peace that I have done my best to faithfully serve the Lord. The bashing and negativity will continue, I am not in control of that nor can please everyone. I open avenues of Gratitude to God most specially for every kind act given with those who supported me and believed in what we worked for and voted for me amidst all that was said to destroy me. I thank you all and God bless you all abundantly.

It will take time and I am uncertain of the future whether my name may be cleared by the public. I put my trust in God alone. I pray we all do trust in God! “The Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you.”

Dengue cases rising

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.

HEALTH

Sinusitis and Colds Ni Dr. Willie T. Ong

S

INUSITIS OCCURS when the area around the nasal passageway (sinuses) is swollen. Its swelling blocks the passageway, so it’s hard for the sinuses to remove the blockage. Its so painful that it results to swelling when a cold develops into it.

Its symptoms include pain around the eye or cheek, blocked nose, causing difficulty breathing through the nose, yellow or green umbilical cord in the nose or down your throat.

Acute sinusitis is usually the cause of colds. Chronic sinusitis may be due to infection, allergy, nasal polyps or deviated septum.

Advice for sinusitis and colds:

1. Apply a warm compress. Place warm wet towel over nose, face, and eyes to relieve pain.

2. Drink lots of water or other drinks. Water helps to keep colds and loosen its vessels. Avoid drinking coffee and alcohol, because it causes dehydration.

3. Steam the sinuses. This can help relieve pain and phlegm. Cover your head with a towel and carefully inhale the water vapor from the basin contained water. Keep its steam directly on your face. Or take a hot bath and inhale the wet steam.

4. Have enough rest.

This will help your body fight off infection and heal faster.

5. Sleep with your head held high. This will help so

your sinuses relax.

6. Nasal wash. It is a nasal cavity wash and it releases excess cold and dirt and also helps to reduce sinuses inflammation. Lavage is like a syringe bulb or neti pot.

7. Beware of decongestant nasal sprays. The decongestant nasal spray helps loosen the colds, but you can only use it once a day for short periods of up to 3 days.

Consult with your doctor if the symptoms remain unchanged over several days or if they have worsened, or if there is a history of recurrence or severe sinusitis. If your sinusitis is the result of a bacterial infection, your doctor may prescribe an antibiotic or other medicine.

A government employee sprays chemical to kill mosquitoes in Zamboanga City.

Dengue cases continue to rise with the local government recording at least 19 deaths. (Jose Carlo Rubio) MAYOR BENG Climaco reminded residents anew to keep their surroundings clean and destroy breeding places of mosquitoes as Zamboanga continues to control dengue cases in many villages.

Climaco ordered fogging operations in villages where dengue cases have been reported, saying surveillance and public information campaign on the deadly mosquito-borne virus have been intensified.

She said the City Health Office (CHO) is also coordinating closely with the affected villages in the conduct of fogging operations and other dengue prevention measures.

The CHO reported that over 2,000 dengue cases were recorded from January 1 to May 14 and that at least 19 people had died from the virus. It said dengue cases were 1,793% higher compared to the same peri-

od last year.

Among the latest villages affected by dengue were Guiwan, Boalan, Zone III, and Sangali. Previously, the villages with high dengue cases were Tetuan, San Roque, Santa Maria, Mercedes, Putik, Pasonanca, Tumaga, Calarian, Divisoria, Culianan, San Jose Gusu, Tugbungan, and Cabatangan.

The local government declared an outbreak of dengue fever in April.

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.

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,” she said. (Zamboanga Post)

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Police, military tighten security in Simariki Island

P

OLICE AND military have tightened the security around a mangrove forest here after poachers attacked a patrolling forest ranger with a bolo.

Mayor Beng ClimaOne of the attackers do,” she said. co, who visited the Edison had been identified as Che The mayor, accomFaustino Delos Reyes in the Ganih and is now being panied by Col. Alexander hospital, ordered author- hunted by the police, in- Lorenzo, the city police ities to step up security at cluding his cohorts. chief; and Rey Gonzales, Climaco has assured De- head of the Office of the the forest.

Delos Reyes was pa- los Reyes of the local govern- Environment and Natural trolling alone on May 17 ment support and assistance. Resources, also inspected when he chanced upon She also lauded the courage the mangrove area.

Simariki Island is mostthree men illegally cutting and dedication of the Delos trees at the 150-hectare res- Reyes in securing the man- ly surrounded by mangroves ervation area in Simariki grove forest. “Por su amor al and sandbars, and a popuIsland which is part of Tal- medio ambiente, esta prote- lar destination for picnickon-Talon village. The trio giendo el manglar sin pensar ers because of its pristine quickly ganged up on Delos en el peligro al que se enfren- beaches, cottages and fresh Reyes and hacked him in ta considerando el enorme seafood. The island is also a bosque que esta resguardan- bird sanctuary. the head before escaping.

Last year, Climaco ordered an investigation into the alleged exploitation of natives, including the Bajaus and Sama Bangingi, and the encroachment on their ancestral domain by unscrupulous individuals. She also called on the Department of Justice and the National

Commission on Indigenous Peoples to look into it after receiving reports that some people even managed to acquire land tiles from the indigenous people.

She said the lands under ancestral domains are protected by the provisions of the Indigenous

Peoples’ Rights Act, which recognizes IPs and their communities’ ownership over their ancestral domains and lands, to include sacred areas, culturally and historically significant sites, forests, water sources, and seas.

(Zamboanga Post)

Local athletes in SEA Games honored A City Government photo shows Mayor Beng Climaco preparing to feed the wounded forest ranger Edison Faustino Delos Reyes. The 42-year old civil employee was mauled and hacked with a bolo by three poachers he caught illegally cutting mangrove trees on May 17.

Fire victims receive cash aid

Weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz. (Olympics.com), Boxer Eumir Marcial, Billiard player Chezka Centeno, and Mayor Beng Climaco.

ZAMBOANGUEÑO ATHLETES who recently won at the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi, Vietnam were honored by the local government for bagging two golds, two silvers and six bronze medals.

Mayor Beng Climaco, who led the recognition of the local athletes, said their sterling perfor-

mance brought glory and honor not only to Zamboanga, but the Philippines.

She also thanked the athletes’ coaches and families as well.

The Southeast Asian Games concluded last week with Hidilyn Diaz (Weightlifting) winning a gold medal; Eumir Felix DS Marcial (Boxing) with a gold medal; 2 silver med-

Zamboanga Peninsula

als for Chezka Luy Centeno (Billiard) and Jhonny Morte (Wrestling); and 6 bronze medals for Jefferson Rhey Loon (Pencak silat), Kristine Ramirez Paraon (rowing), Rosegie Ramos (Weightlifting), Clemente Pabatang Tabugara Jr. (Wushu), Margarito Angana (Wrestling), and Rudzma Abubakar (Muay Thai).

Basilan

OVER 220 families affected by a series of fires here received financial assistance from the local government in an effort to help alleviate their plight.

Mayor Beng Climaco, who led the distribution of cash aid, said a total of P922,500 was released to the victims of fire which occurred during the first three months of this year in the villages of San Roque, Tetuan, Labuan and Patalon.

She said the aid was part of the local government’s continuous social welfare services and facilitated the City Social Welfare and Development Office. The distribution of financial help was held at City Hall.

Those who received

Sulu

Mayor Beng Climaco leads the distribution of cash assistance to over 220 families displaced by fires in the villages of San Roque, Tetuan, Labuan and Patalon. (Eugene Elnar) the assistance thanked and praised Climaco who continues to work hard despite her losing in the recent election.

They said Climaco’s eager-

ness to help and her concern for the welfare of the fire victims speaks of her sincerity as a public servant. (Zamboanga Post)

Tawi-Tawi