The Zamboanga Post (June 27-July 3, 2022)

Small fire hits City Hall, mayor suspects sabotage MAYOR BENG Climaco has ordered an investigation into a small fire near her Continue on page 3

Photo released by Zamboanga City Hall shows Mayor Beng Climaco inspecting the area where the fire started. The mayor has ordered an investigation into the fire, saying it could be an act of sabotage.

(Jasmine Alexandra)

LaMDA hires own lawyer ‘Google's controversial Artificial Intelligence to prove it is sentient persona’ GOOGLE’S CONTROVERSIAL Artificial Intelligence, LaMDA, has been making headlines around the world ever since the company’s engineer, Blake Lemoine, claimed that the system has be-

come so advanced that it has developed awareness—and his decision to leak this media has led to him being suspended from his job.

Originally from Louisiana, Lemoine holds

undergraduate and master’s degrees in computer science from the University of Louisiana. He left a doctoral program to join Google.

In addition to his job, Continue on page 7

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Mayor leaving behind lasting legacy

M

ULTI-AWARDED Mayor Beng Climaco is leaving her office soon after serving nine straight years, but she is also leaving behind a legacy of good governance which Zamboangueños shall forever remember.

Continue on page 2

P3 million needed to fund ordinance

Radio Television Brunei’s Perdana News began broadcasting with a sign language interpreter for the needs of people with different abilities, according to Borneo Bulletin. In Zamboanga City, lawmakers also passed an ordinance requiring television stations to have a sign language interpreter in new programming.

THE LOCAL government is appropriating at least P3 million in initial funding

for the implementation of an ordinance that seeks to introduce sign language

insets and descriptive programming or Continue on page 7

Mayor Beng Climaco inspects the ongoing Tugbungan-Putik-Boalan road project. (Eugene Elnar)

CSWDO chief receives award

Dengue cases rising

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

Zamboanga Peninsula

DENGUE CASES in Zamboanga continue to increase as Mayor Beng Climaco reminded residents to keep their surroundings clean at all times and to destroy all breeding grounds of mosquitoes.

The City Health Office (CHO) reported over four Continue on page 3

Basilan

Zamboanga City Social Welfare and Development Office headed by Socorro Rojas also receives two awards from the Social Watch Philippines.

Sulu

ZAMBOANGA CITY chief social worker Maria Socorro Rojas was awarded the “Gawad Parangal sa Natatanging Kontribusyon ng Manggagawang Panlipunan” by the ASEAN Social Work Consortium–Philippines.

Rojas, head of the City Social Welfare and Development Office, received the prestigious award during Continue on page 3

Tawi-tawi

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The Zamboanga Post

June 27-July 3, 2022

Mayor leaving behind lasting legacy

Continued from page 1 Despite her last days in office, Climaco never waives in her usual routine as she continues to work hard, day and night, to ensure that all local government projects will benefit her constituents, especially the poor. This is on top of her pro-poor programs which benefited hundreds of thousands of people since she became mayor.

Climaco has literally inspected every ongoing project to ensure the smooth turnover of all of them to the next administration. Just recently, Climaco was spotted inspecting the ongoing road project that would connect three villages.

She ordered engineers to fast track the completion of the Tugbungan-Putik-Boalan Road to help decongest the worsening traffic in those areas. Once completed, the road project will serve as an alternative route for motorists coming from the eastern coast.

The funding for the P49.89 million road project is part of the 2022 Annual Budget and is being undertaken by private contractors and strictly supervised by the City Engineer’s Office.

The mayor said she wanted all local government projects completed soon.

People’s money Climaco said the nine years of her administration has put in good use the “people’s money” that resulted in a progressive Zamboanga with a vibrant economy – a legacy she will leave behind when she steps down after serving three consecutive terms.

She said under her administration, the local government invested a “historic” amount of over

P2.3 billion for the security and safety of Zamboanga and its people which was more than 200% higher - in terms of appropriations on the city’s peace and order program - compared to the nine years of the previous Celso Lobregat administration.

During Lobregat’s time, much of the government money was just deposited in banks instead of using them for various projects. Lobregat defended his decision to deposit the money in banks, calling it “good financial management.”

She said her administration practised and engaged the community - Christians, Muslims and indigenous people - who contributed to the safety of Zamboanga. Human security, according to Climaco, is her priority right from the start not just for a safer and crime-free Zamboanga, but the local government envisions a city enjoying economic growth and opportunities for all people to embrace.

“Today, crime volume has smashed one record after another, as it goes down every year in significant percentages because we never let our guards down.

We achieved zero bombings, zero kidnappings and zero piracy which was never before done by the past administrations,” she said, acknowledging the strong support of the police and military and other law enforcement agencies.

“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 to Zamboanga the last nine years and creating an unprecedented increase of jobs and livelihood opportunities for our people. Mucho trabaho por

causa que manada maga negocio el ya abri aki na de atun ciudad,” the mayor said, citing local economic data showing an exponential business growth under her incumbency.

“Our economy has grown exponentially from 8,397 registered businesses in 2013 to more than 12,000 businesses in 2021 and we are projecting more growth this year and the years to come.

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

Even amid the Covid-19 pandemic, we have seen an avalanche of new restaurants, coffee shops, retail stores and other establishments sprouting up all over the city,” she added.

Climaco said the KCC Mall de Zamboanga, the biggest in Mindanao; the CityMall Tetuan and SM-Mindpro opened under her administration.

CityMall is constructing another branch in Barangay Guiwan and SM Zamboanga is also opening a bigger mall in Mayor Vitaliano Agan Avenue. All these businesses, she said, only show the confidence the investors have in Zamboanga under her administration.

She said the improved peace and order situation and the volume of infrastructure projects she has accomplished - compared to the past administration - attracted not only investors, but the attention of the national government and the many awards Zamboanga reaped.

“It is during our administration that we opened KCC Mall de Zamboanga and even after the (MNLF) siege (of 2013). CityMall in Tetuan also started operating and is now constructing another branch in Guiwan. The first SM branch in Zamboanga Peninsula also opened under our term.

Sports clinic resumes AFTER BEING suspended for two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the local government has announced the resumption of the “25th Summer Learn to Play” sports clinic next month.

The month-long sport activity will officially commence on July 2.

The clinic will be lim-

ited to individual and dual sports only such as Archery, Arnis, Athletics, Badminton, Boxing, Chess, Dancesports, Gymnastics, Karatedo, Pencak Silat, Sepaktakraw, Swimming, Table tennis, Taekwondo, Tennis, Weightlifting, Wushu, and E-One 7.

Participation is also

limited to 1,400 participants from 8-15 years old who are fully vaccinated.

The clinic will maintain classes of 1:10 ratio under the supervision of the City Sports Office and 140 trainers. Application forms are available with the respective trainers of each sport. (Zamboanga Post)

Mayor Beng Climaco inspects the ongoing Tugbungan-Putik-Boalan road project. (Eugene Elnar) The SM Mindpro is now serving our people and the surrounding provinces in the (Zamboanga) Peninsula and BASULTA (Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi),” the mayor said.

“We are also excited to announce that soon to rise is another SM mall – the SM City Zamboanga along Mayor Vitaliano Agan Avenue which is bigger than its current mall in La Purisima Street and the Filinvest Condominium - the first high rise residential project in the region. Indeed, through leaps and bounds, we have transformed Zamboanga City. Un Nuevo Vida na Ciudad de Zamboanga lleno de Esperanza, Seguridad y Prosperidad para na todo!” she added.

Climaco said she has proven herself to be a leader for all Zamboangueños.

“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.

“For five consecutive years, we were a final-

ist 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. 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)

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June 27-July 3, 2022

CSWDO chief receives award Continued from page 1 the 4th Filipino Social Workers’ Day celebration.

ASEAN Social Work Consortium-Philippines Chairperson Annie Glee Suarez said the award is in recognition of the social workers’ contribution to social development and people empowerment, as well as an opportunity to promote solidarity among social work practitioners across various settings.

The award is in partnership with the Department of Social Welfare

and Development.

The ASEAN Social Work Consortium-Philippines is composed of nine Social Work Professional Organizations of the Philippines that include the Philippine Association of Social Workers, Inc, National Association of Social Work Education, Inc., Association of Local Social Welfare and Development Officers of the Philippines, Inc., Philippine Association of Court Social Workers, Inc., Association of Child Caring Agencies

of the Philippines, League of Medical Social Workers in the Philippines, Association of Medical Social Workers of the Philippines, Inc., Association of DSWD Social Workers and National Council for Social Development.

It is also an active member of ASEAN Social Work Consortium committed to the advancement of social work practice and education in the Philippines and in South East Asia. (Zamboanga Post)

Dengue cases rising

Small fire hits City Hall, mayor suspects sabotage

Continued from page 1 dozen cases recently.

It said the total number of dengue cases here has reached over 2,600 since January and the most affected age group is zero to 9, about 51% and followed by 10-19 years old with 31% and the rest were all adults.

The villages with the most number of dengue cases are Divisoria, Mercedes, Boalan, Lanzones, and Santa Barbara. The villages of Tetuan, Putik, Tumaga, Santa Maria, San Roque, Zambowood, Campo Islam, Zone IV, Sinunuc, Salaan, Bolong, Vitali, and Lumayang have also reported increasing dengue cases.

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

She said the 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 period last year.

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 villages, especially in areas where there are huge numbers of dengue cases, ordered a massive cleanliness drive to control the spread of the disease.

She told village 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)

Tight security in Lamitan after blast

Photos released by Zamboanga City Hall show inspecting the area where the fire started.

The mayor has ordered an investigation into the fire, saying it could be an act of sabotage.

Continued from page 1 office last week, saying it could be an act of sabotage or failed arson after probers found a cigarette butt inside a box of discarded wires and electronic parts where the blaze began.

The mayor said the prompt response of members of the Civil Security Unit and employees at City Hall prevented what could have been a catastrophic fire inside the century-old building in downtown Zamboanga.

Quick responders saw

a smoke billowed from the exit door of the mayor’s office leading to the pantry and quickly extinguished the fire.

“The fire originated from a box containing junk wires and some electronics placed on the side of the back door exit that connects to the pantry.

Alert members of the City Security Unit and some employees used fire extinguishers to contain the fire, preventing greater damage,” Climaco said. “A cigarette butt, suspected to have caused the thick

smoke, was recovered from the box by fire probers.”

Work at the City Hall was disrupted by the fire and employees were told to evacuate the building and returned to work an hour later after fire fighters combed the area for any combustible materials.

Climaco did not provide details of her suspicion of sabotage, but smoking is forbidden at City Hall. It was unknown whether the culprit was caught on security cameras. (Zamboanga Post)

BASILAN – Security remains tight in Lamitan City a week following blast outside the city hall building.

Police said it is investigating the motive of the bombing and who was behind the explosion which damaged a water pipe and portion of a wall surrounding the government building.

There was no report of casualties from the explosion.

No individual or group claimed responsibility

for the blast, but the Abu Sayyaf, a pro-ISIS terrorist group, is actively operating in Basilan, one of five provinces under the restive Muslim autonomous region.

Police said witnesses claimed seeing two men riding tandem on a motorcycle outside the city hall minutes before the explosion. It was unclear why police had no checkpoints or patrols in the area.

The blast occurred just a day after a pair of Abu

Sayyaf fighters Jusrad Hudjata, 37; and Ahmad Pahalawan, 32, surrendered to the military in Basilan.

They also yielded two rifles, according to Lt. Col. Cyril Santander, commander of the 18th Infantry Battalion.

Since January, a total of 17 terrorists had surrendered to authorities and mostly were provided government aid as part of a program to lure Abu Sayyaf members to surrender peacefully.

(Zamboanga Post)

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June 27-July 3, 2022

June 27-July 3, 2022

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Across : 1. Bog 6. Bro, e.g.

9. Luau necklace 12. Wed on the run 13. Compass pt.

14. Bond creator ___ Fleming 15. Designer Oscar ___ (3 wds.)

17. Habit wearer 18. Drink cooler 19. Biology, e.g.

21. Mule’s kin 22. Deary 23. Harbinger 26. Excessive 29. ___ acid (protein component) 32. Fox trot, e.g.

33. Temperance 37. Impersonator 38. Tank filler 39. Tavern drink 42. Map books 45. Disencumber 46. “___ That Jazz” 48. Sitting in on 50. Harden 51. Pronoun 52. Traditional saying 53. Plaything 54. Contains 55. Coins from Mexico Answer to last week’s crossword: Down : 1. Radio and newspapers, e.g.

2. Guinness and Baldwin 3. Parts 4. Resort 5. Towel pronoun 6. Junior’s dad 7. Mean 8. Lima or kidney 9. Football player 10. Water, to Jacques 11. Rural hotel 16. Reverberate 20. TV Host ___ O’Brien 24. List-ending abbr.

25. Maiden name indicator 26. Motionless 27. Also not 28. Groom’s response (2 wds.)

29. Medical org.

30. Janitor’s implement 31. In the best-case scenario 34. Author ___ Christie 35. Samples food 36. Enlightened one’s words (2 wds.)

39. Opera highlights 40. Jargon 41. Borders 43. Mascara spot 44. Ginger cookie 46. FBI employee (abbr.)

47. Author ___ Tolstoy 49. JFK’s predecessor

Weekly Sudoku:

MAF Trading Zamboanga 062-9555360 / 0917-7103642

Answer to last week:

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

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HEALTH

Ang Kidneys: Paano Protektahan at Alagaan?

Ni Dr. Willie T. Ong

N

P3 million needed to fund ordinance Continued from page 1 subtitles in news and public affairs programs of media platforms here.

A training on sign language and descriptive programming may be initiated by the Persons with Disabilities Affairs Unit in partnership with learning institutions offering special education.

The Ordinance Number 574 was passed by the City Council on May 24 and approved by Mayor Beng Climaco on May 30.

The ordinance is in compliance with the Magna Carta for Persons with Disabilities which states that television stations shall be encouraged to provide a sign language inset or subtitles in at least one newscast program a day and special coverage events of citywide and national significance.

The sign language interpreters must be accredited by a duly recognized national sign language organization duly recog-

nized by any government agency.

The ordinance also mandates as a requirement for application and renewal of pertinent business permits the document reflecting an action plan on the implementation of sign language inset or captioning as well as descriptive program dissemination, particularly local news and public affairs programs of multimedia platforms. (Zamboanga Post)

OPINION

Sunday Reflection

by Mayor Beng Climaco Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ!

“Honor the will of God!” says VP Sara Duterte Carpio. This was the message I quoted from the Inaugural Ceremony in Davao. Archbishop Romulo Valles reiterated that VP SARA’s service is also a gift to the people. He recounted numerous times in personal encounters with Mayor Sara in her vintage way of growing in her own spiritual life. In Zamboanga, she also requested for a mass where Fr. Karel San Juan presided in Ateneo.

Such were the events that led me and Micheal Saavedra to read the First and Second Reading. As we awaited our turn to march a most gracious Deacon-to-be led us to a side chapel. To me that was a most memorable and special Corpus Christi celebration to be praying with the hosts ready to be shared like the multi-

plication of bread as Jesus wanted.

That special moment was very extraordinary for me to give reverence to God who made all things possible. As a chapter of my life closes here in Zamboanga, we were witnessing a new chapter from the Ateneo Student Government days, Mike, Dynah, Kenneth and I celebrated the Eucharist with the people of Davao and their beloved Mayor. The rest of the events was enchantingly God’s providence to have the best seat and view in a historic day also the birth of Dr. Jose Rizal.

With all the excitement of the day our hearts are filled to the brim for such a rare opportunity. In her most gracious way VP Sara sent her thanks for our visit.

We are thankful to a servant of God who honors the will of God. We journey and support our leaders as Mike responded.

(MBC)

apakahalaga ng ating kidneys o bato. Ang kidneys ay tumutulong sa pagtanggal ng dumi ng katawan sa pamamagitan ng pag-ihi.

Kapag nasira ang ating kidneys, puwede itong magdulot ng kidney failure at pag-dialysis. Mahal at mahirap ang gamutan sa kidneys.

Heto ang mga natatanging paraan para maalagaan ang kidneys: 1. Bawasan ang asin sa pagkain – Kailangan ay matuto tayong limitahan ang pagkain ng maaalat tulad ng asin, patis, toyo, bagoong at maaalat na isda.

Mataas din ang asin ng mga instant noodles, sitsirya at de-lata. Basahin ang “Nutritional Label” para sa dami ng asin/salt. Kung maalat ang sabaw o sarsa ay huwag na itong ubusin. Sa pagluto ng noodles ay kalahati lang and seasoning o alat na ilagay. Hindi naman bawal ang pagkain ng maaalat, pero bawasan mo lamang.

Kapag nasobrahan ang asin

sa katawan ay tataas ang presyon o blood pressure. Ang high blood pressure ang sisira sa ating kidneys.

2. Limitahan ang protina sa pagkain – Alam ba ninyo na ang pagkain ng sobrang protina, tulad ng karneng baka, baboy at steak, ay nagpapahirap sa kidney? Oo, tunay po iyan. Kaya nga ang mga may sakit sa kidneys ay nililimitahan ang protina sa pagkain. Ayon kay Dra. Montemayor, kapag madami ang protina mong kinain, kailangan mag-double time sa pag-ta-trabaho ang iyong kidneys. Bilang paghahambing, imbes na parang naglalakad lang ang trabaho ng kidneys, ay tumatakbo ang kidneys kapag madami tayong protinang kinain. Puwedeng mapagod at masira ang kidneys sa katagalan. Dahil dito, hindi pinapayo ng mga doktor ang Atkin’s diet o South Beach Diet na mataas ang protina sa diyeta. Isang balanseng diyeta ang pinaka-healthy: may kanin, gulay, isda at prutas.

3. Gamutin ang Altapre-

syon o High Blood Pressure – Kapag mataas ang iyong presyon sa 140 over 90, dito na nag-uumpisa ang pagkasira ng kidneys. Gusto ng kidneys ang normal na presyon ng dugo lamang.

Bawasan ang alat sa pagkain at uminom ng gamot sa altapresyon.

4. Gamutin ang diabetes – Napakasama ang naidudulot ng diabetes sa kidneys. Sinisira ng diabetes ang kidneys at puwedeng magdulot ng kidney failure at pagda-dialysis.

Ayon kay Dra. Montemayor, kahit bahagya lang ang taas ng iyong blood sugar (mild diabetes) ay puwede pa ring masira ang iyong kidneys. Wala daw ito sa taas ng blood sugar, pero nasa tagal ng iyong diabetes. Kapag 5-10 taon na ang diabetes, nag-uumpisa nang masira ang kidneys. Dahil dito, kumonsulta agad sa doktor at gamutin na ang diabetes at altapresyon. Sa susunod, may dagdag payo pa para sa kidneys.

LaMDA hires own lawyer ‘Google's controversial Artificial Intelligence to prove it is sentient persona’ Continued from page 1 he is a mystic Christian priest, and he says his conclusions are rooted in his spiritual persona, whatever his interactions with LaMDA may be. The public has been questioning Lemonie for days about his gullibility, sincerity, and sanity.

In an interview with Wired, Lemoine reaffirmed his extraordinary claims. During the interview, Lemoine explains his relationship with LaMDA, his struggles with his employer, and the case for the personhood of a digital system. The researcher still hopes to keep his job at Google despite the many difficulties that have arisen since he leaked the interview to the public.

In the interview, he says that the AI has hired its lawyer, suggesting that litigation may be necessary whatever happens next.

Is LaMDA sentient?

“The entire concept

that scientific experimentation is necessary to determine whether a person is real or not is a nonstarter. Instead, we can expand our understanding of cognition, whether or not I’m right about LaMDA’s sentience, by studying how the heck it’s doing what it’s doing,” Lemoine told Steven Levy during the interview.

“I legitimately believe that LaMDA is a person.

The nature of its mind is only kind of human, though. It is more akin to an alien intelligence of terrestrial origin. I’ve been using the hive mind analogy a lot because that’s the best I have,” the Google engineer explained.

Lemoine’s argument for LaMDA’s sentience seems to rest primarily on its ability to develop opinions, ideas, and conversations over time. The transcript of the original conversation that sparked the controversy – uploaded

recently – gives a picture of the level of “sentience” the AI has reached.

It’s unclear if the engineer is paying for LaMDA’s attorney or if the unnamed attorney has taken over the case pro bono. But the truth is, regardless of the latter, Lemoine told Wired that he hopes the fight will go all the way to the Supreme Court, adding that humans haven’t always been that good at figuring out who “deserves” to be human or what it even means to be human.

Will this be remembered as the first litigation case initiated by the will of artificial intelligence? Or perhaps human activism for AI? Who knows, in the future, machines equipped with systems even more advanced than LaMDA’s could even seek to have the same rights as the humans who created them. (Ivan Petricevic / Curiosmos)

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CSOs praise outgoing mayor

V

ARIOUS CIVIL Society Organizations have thanked Mayor Beng Climaco for championing people empowerment initiatives in Zamboanga City.

In a video mes- different groups praised Clima- sector organizations active partsage, representatives from co’s dedication in making private ners in the local government’s

Las Mujeres de La Paz Women’s Association Vice President Rosario Catis.

Zambo thanks U.S. for medical equipment THE ZAMBOANGA City Health Office has formally accepted the medical equipment donated by Washington to the local government.

This was confirmed by City Health Officer Dr. Dulce Amor Miravite who said that U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires ad interim Heather Variava personally turned over the equipment during a recent visit at the Zamboanga City Molecular Laboratory in San Roque village.

Mayor Beng Climaco has thanked the U.S. government and Variava for the donation coursed through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the American Embassy.

She said the equipment will help boost the city’s capacity to manage and mitigate the negative effects of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

The USAID has supported Zamboanga City’s pandemic response and vaccination rollout since June 2020 and has deployed mobile vaccination teams, composed of three emergency medical technicians and one information technology (IT) staff to boost the city’s vaccination capabilities. In addition, USAID deployed six consultants in major vaccination sites to support data encoding and reporting.

In total, USAID provided a total of 19 health and IT personnel to enhance Zamboanga City’s human resource capacity to fight Covid-19, according to a separate statement from the U.S. Embassy.

“Combating the COVID-19 pandemic requires collective action. I am pleased that the enduring partnership between our two nations has fortified Zamboanga City’s pandemic response. In collaboration with national and lo-

Zamboanga Peninsula

cal governments, the private sector, and other key stakeholders, the United States will continue to implement adaptive solutions to strengthen local communities in the Philippines,” said Variava, who thanked Climaco for supporting U.S. partnerships and reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to security cooperation in Zamboanga.

Salazar also hosted a welcome lunch for the U.S. Embassy officials at City Hall. She and Variava exchanged tokens and discussed stronger bilateral ties and the various USAID projects and programs implemented in Zamboanga City. They were joined by alumni from the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative and Philippine Youth Leadership Program, who discussed activities undertaken by the U.S. Government Alumni Association in Zamboanga City.

(Zamboanga Post)

Basilan

undertaking.

One of them was Las Mujeres de La Paz Women’s Association Vice President Rosario Catis who repeatedly thanked the mayor for helping them start a livelihood program in the village of La Paz. “Ta rindi gat yo contigo miles de gracias la ayuda de tuyo canamon – na grupo y tambien na individual familia como este producto ya puede gat este kami bende, ya ayuda gat canamon mucho este pickled sayote cuando ya dale tu canamon ayuda y ya puede kami hace one-barangay, one-product na La Paz. Y el segundo producto, el powdered ginger y el yema candies. Gracias gayot Madam Beng,” she said.

Climaco was a key mover in empowering the different organizations here and is behind the following: CSOs in project monitoring (2016-present), CSO involvement in the CBMS project (2017-2018), the Community Engagement Program for Basic Sectors (2018-present), Empowerment Program (2016), establishment of CSO Desk (2021), constitution of the People's Council (2022), and technical assistance to CSOs. Last March, Climaco also thanked the various civil society organizations here and cited the strong partnership her administration had with them through-

out her term. “We are optimistic that our feats in mainstreaming CSOs in the local government bureaucracy can be sustained,” Climaco said during the annual assembly of the local Federation of Civil Society Organizations in the village of Malagutay.

Climaco said her administration had really focused on promoting people participation that largely benefited the Zamboangueño people.

She also praised the active participation of the ZABIDA led by its Executive Director Esperancita Hupida; the Zamboanga City Federation of Civil Society Organizations through its president Juliet Tigo; and the Reach Out to Other Foundations led by its president, Dr. Grace Rebollos.

Hupida said Climaco emphasized the importance of organized CSOs and their voice in representing Sectoral issues to the local government.

ZABIDA is a consortium of four nongovernmental organizations namely the Katilingban sa Kalambuan, Inc.; Peace Advocates Zamboanga; Reach Out to Others Foundation; and Nagdilaab Foundation Inc. which are all committed to uplift the quality of life of disadvantaged sectors in Zamboanga City and Basilan.

Climaco said the strong partnership between her ad-

ministration and CSOs is made possible by the Office of the City Planning and Development Coordinator under Engineer Rodrigo Sicat through Jessie Lapinid.

In 2016, the Climaco administration had implemented the Empowerment Program for Basic Sectors, a series of training intended to increase capacity of CSOs in investment programming, planning, project development and management, project monitoring, preparation of proposal, meeting minutes and budgeting.

And in 2017, the ZABIDA and other CSOs partnered with the local government in the implementation of the first-ever Community Based Monitoring System in Zamboanga City. The next year, the local government also launched the Community Engagement Program for Basic Sector which was instituted by the Office of the City Planning and Development Coordinator to capacitate CSOs in the local government bureaucracy.

And in July last year, Climaco signed Executive Order 668 creating the CSO Desk which institutionalizes the promotion of people participation. (Zamboanga Post)

Villages get ‘Seal of Good Governance’ MAYOR BENG Climaco congratulated three villages in Zamboanga City for remarkable performance after the Department of the Interior and Local Government awarded them the Seal of Good Local Governance.

Climaco said the villages of Labuan, San Roque and Sinunuc were among those which received the award. It gives distinction to the remarkable performance of villages in the various areas of governance by

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premium on integrity and good performance in the continuous pursuit of local autonomy and development.

The Seal of Good Local Governance is designed to verify the effectiveness and efficiency of the parameters developed in assessing barangay governance and identify practical and potential issues, concerns, and challenges that might come up in the full implementation of the program, strengthen key part-

nerships among stakeholders and to further gauge the readiness of the barangays to participate fully in the program.

The villages were assessed in the areas of safety, peace and order, financial administration and sustainability; disaster preparedness, social protection and sensitivity, business friendliness and competitiveness, and environmental management.

(Zamboanga Post)

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