Founded July 2019
ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT, PLEASE CALL (062) 9555360 or (0995) 5202358
P10
March 9-15, 2020
Estoy con todos ustedes: Beng ‘Tabangan nato ang maga tricycle drivers’
El Alcaldesa Beng Climaco junto con el maga oficiales para discuti el posible solucion na maga ruta del tricycle. (Bong Serondo)
Y
A ASEGURA el Alcaldesa Beng Climaco cay hinde le deja con el maga tricycle drivers despues
el Department of the Interior and Local Government ya ordena que no puede mas estos usa el highway.
El mismo DILG Secretary Eduardo Año el ya firma con el orden y hasta
el maga pedicabs no puede mas na highway. Ya habla si Climaco
cay mas importante el la vida del maga tricycle Continue on page 3
Mayor reminds residents to maintain cleanliness
ZAMBOANGA MAYOR Beng Climaco reminded residents to always maintain cleanliness and good hygiene practises even as the local government continues to protect the public’s health against the deadly Wuhan coronavirus also called coronavirus disease or COVID-19. “Let us always main-
tain cleanliness in our surroundings and proper hygiene to ensure good health,” Climaco said, adding, Zamboanga remains free from the COVID-19. Climaco also met recently with medical directors and key health personnel from both government and private hospitals in Zamboanga
to discuss and agree on a common action plan should there be cases of COVID-19 here. The mayor, who assured them of the support of the local government, urged everyone to unite and work together against the spread of the deadly respiratory disease. The Department of Continue on page 5
A medical worker checks diagnosis record of a patient with his colleague in Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University in Wuhan, central China’s Hubei Province, Jan. 24, 2020. (Xinhua / Xiong Qi)
First Standard Finance Corporation Zamboanga City 0995-5202358 FOR SALE FOR SALE FOR SALE FOR SALE
Toyota Fortuner P795,000
Mitsubishi Strada P899,000
Suzuki Ciaz GL P475,000
Suzuki Swift P350,000
2
The Zamboanga Post
March 9-15, 2020
The Philippine Navy has recognized the Zamboanga City Technical Working Group on Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism and Terrorism chaired by Mayor Beng Climaco for its efforts to combat radicalization towards violent extremism in this part of the country hand- in-hand with the Civil Military Operations Group of the Philippine Navy Flag Officer in Command Rear Admiral Giovanni Bacordo during the 9th anniversary celebration of the CMO-PN held at Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City recently.
P73-million water projects for Zambo released THE NATIONAL Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) awarded over P57 million for the conduct of a feasibility study of the Zamboanga impounding dam project on top of a P16 million grant from the Sagana at Ligtas na Tubig Para sa Lahat (Salintubig) program on the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG). The NEDA fund will be used for aerial surveys, firming up of dam locations, identification of borehole locations and subsurface geotechnical investigations which were already done to explore the viability of the project that will help ensure water security in the coming decades. While the Salintubig program is for water system projects in eight barangays with the Zamboanga City Water District (ZCWD) as the servicing entity together with the City Planning and the City Engineer’s Office. With the perennial shortage of water supply in Zamboanga, the local government and the ZCWD are now in talks with municipal officials of Sibuco in the neighboring province of Zamboanga del Norte for possible
water interconnection, according to Elmeir Apolinario, head of the Zamboanga City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office. Apolinario said Barangay Malayal in Sibuco has a very good source of water supply that can be tapped and interconnected into Zamboanga’s water system. A group of city officials has already visited the area and met with Sibuco municipal officials to discuss the possibility of water interconnection and how it can benefit both areas. The idea, he said, is patterned after Singapore which for years has relied on Malaysia for its water needs. Singapore has been importing water from Johor, under two bilateral agreements. The first agreement was officially signed on October 1961 and expired in August 2011. The second agreement was signed on September 1962 and will expire in 2061. A maximum of 250 million gallons of water a day can be drawn from the Johor River under the agreement. Imported water can supply up to 60% of Singapore’s water needs. Apolinario said aside
from water interconnection, the Zamboanga City government and the ZCWD are also building on the possibility of developing the 70-hectare
Bog Lake in Upper Calarian. He said water samples have already been taken for laboratory testing. The local government is also pursuing the
completion of the Lapakan Water System project amounting to P3 million and the Cahumban Water System project worth P76 million and awarded
to the ZCWD. Plans for the construction of small impounding dams are already being finalized, according to Apolinario. (Zamboanga Post)
‘Thank you Inday Sara, BRP Ang Pangulo’ MAYOR BENG Climaco thanked the officers and crew of the Presidential Yacht BRP Ang Pangulo and President Rodrigo
Duterte’s daughter and Davao City Mayor Sara Carpio for visiting Zamboanga City and giving Zamboanguenos the opportu-
nity to have a glimpse of the 62-year old ship. Carpio used the ship in her visits in the South and even stayed for 2 days
Zamboanga Mayor Beng Climaco and First Gentleman Trifonio Salazar, who is a retired and decorated major general in the military, feted the crew of the Presidential Yacht led by Commander Marissa Martinez with a thanksgiving dinner last week. The mayor also thanked Presidential daughter and Davao City Mayor Sara Carpio - who used the ship in visiting the South - for allowing students to view the BRP Ang Pangulo while it was in Zamboanga for refueling. (Bong Serondo)
in Sulu. And upon her instruction, the BRP Ang Pangulo was opened for public viewing in Zamboanga. Climaco and other local government officials, including Colonel Thomas Joseph Martir, the city police chief, and students from the Tetuan Central School toured the BRP Ang Pangulo skippered by Commander Marissa Martinez. The mayor together with First Gentleman Trifonio Salazar, who is a retired and decorated major general in the military, feted the crew of the Presidential Yacht led by Martinez with a thanksgiving dinner. Other top security officials led by Lieutenant General Cirilito Sobejana, chief of the Western Mindanao Command; and Colonel John Antonio Divinagracia, commander of the military’s Task Force Zamboanga, also joined the dinner. (Zamboanga Post)
3
The Zamboanga Post
March 9-15, 2020
Estoy con todos ustedes: Beng ‘Tabangan nato ang maga tricycle drivers’
Continued from page 1 drivers poreso mas temprano ya ordena el alcaldesa que estudia todo manera para puede usa el maga tricycle drivers con el highway, especialmente na maga lugar que nohay otro camino para na maga diferente barangay y sitio.
“Ayuda con el maga tricycle drivers segiuendo na ley cay importante el busca vida. Tabangan nato ang maga tricycle drivers para sa ilahang kinabuhi,” segun con Climaco. Del otro mes pa ya crea si Climaco con el un task force para puede pla-
nea con el maga ruta para na maga tricycle cay no quierre el alcaldesa que afecta el nuevo orden del DILG na medios de vida del maga driver y de estos familia. El task force compuesto de diferente grupo - el alcaldesa que ta
Zambo to rehabilitate closed sanitary landfill A REHABILITATION plan is now in the works to rehabilitate the Cell 1 of the sanitary landfill in Barangay Salaan which had been shut down recently. Rodrigo Pagotaisidro, of the Office of the City Environment and Natural Resources, said they will be working on the rehabilitation plan for the Cell 1 area for public health and environmental safety. “It is already closed but there must be a closure plan because this is a sanitary landfill and we all know that there are waste being buried, ya tapa alya maga basura,” he said. Adhering to established procedures of the sanitary landfill, Pagotaisidro said the closure and rehabilitation plan will include physical and post closure initiatives such as safe storage of waste, pre-
vention of environmental pollution, securing the Cell 1 area, and maintenance of landfill facilities, soil cover, embankment, and fences. He said landfill personnel will also be tasked to plant appropriate vegetation as well as to continuously monitor indicators of environmental pollution. The closure and rehabilitation plan will be done in coordination with the Environmental Management Bureau. The Cell 1 of the sanitary landfill has been closed following the completion of Cell 2 recently. Pagotaisidro said they are coordinating with local government offices and security forces to improve roads, facilities, and post detachment points in routes leading to the sanitary landfill for safe and smooth garbage collection
and disposal. Climaco said the sanitary landfill project is part of the local government’s efforts towards sanitation, cleanliness, and solid waste management. She said the local government will establish more transfer stations and additional materials recovery facilities to address the city’s huge garbage collection. She also reminded residents again to separate their garbage into biodegradable materials and non-biodegradable waste and throw them to trash bins or put outside their house so it can be collected at a designated time. And asked residents not to litter or throw their garbage anywhere on the streets, rivers or sea and help the local government in maintaining cleanliness. (Zamboanga Post)
Mayor Beng Climaco inspects the Salaan Sanitary Landfill. The local government is exerting its best efforts towards sanitation, cleanliness and solid waste management. (Bong Serondo)
Earn More, Be an Advertising Agency! Do you want to earn more? Be an ADVERTISING AGENCY and DEALER for The Zamboanga Post and earn hefty commissions. Apply now. This offer covers Zamboanga Peninsula, Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi provinces. ZAMBOANGA CITY OFFICE: 3rd Floor, JLC Building, Don Alfaro Street, Tetuan Phone: 062-9555360 Mobile: 0995-5202358 URL: mindanaoexaminer.com E-mail: mindanaoexaminer@gmail.com
senta como chairperson; el jefe del policia como el vice-chairman; el committee chairman on transportation or public safety del Sanguniang Panlungsod; el presidente del Liga ng mga Barangay; el jefe del Tricycle Regulatory Board; el jefe tambien del Department of Public Order and Safety, y el planning and development officer, el jefe del Traffic Management Office, el local government operations officer como miyembro. “We ensure that there will be compliance, but with minimal displacement on the livelihood of our tricycle drivers. We
have to follow the law,” habla si Climaco. Na orden del DILG, ta habla que “tricycles are not allowed to even cross or make a U-turn on national highways, and that the local governments must review and modify tricycle routes according to the ban and are encouraged to include in their plans the construction of local roads or overpasses where the tricycles can operate.” Segun con Climaco, estipulado na orden del DILG que el puede usa el mga tricycle drivers con el porcion del highway si nohay otro camino para na de estos ruta na maga
otro barangay. “A provision in the DILG Memo 2020-036 dated Feb. 17, 2020, states that portions of the national highway may be allowed to be used by tricycles for lack of alternate routes. We ensure compliance to the DILG memo, we abide by the law, but in the implementation of such, we meet half-way, and give opportunities for our drivers,” segun con el alcaldesa. Grande el suporta del maga tricycle operators y drivers con el alcaldesa cay sabe estos que si Climaco nunca abandona con el maga tricycle drivers. (Zamboanga Post)
4
The Zamboanga Post
March 9-15, 2020
Zamboanga Pictures in the News
Mayor Beng Climaco and ZCPO Director Colonel Joseph Martir tour the Presidential Yacht, BRP Ang Pangulo, together with students from the Tetuan Central School. (Photos by Bong Serondo)
5
The Zamboanga Post
March 9-15, 2020
Mayor reminds residents to maintain cleanliness Continued from page 1 Health (DOH) said the whole Zamboanga Peninsula is free from COVID-19 and does not have any persons under investigation (PUIs). “Wala po tayong PUIs since January to present,” said Dr. Dennis Dacayanan, head of the Regional Epidemiology Surveillance Unit. But Dacayanan was
quick to say that the DOH has placed 3 people under monitoring in Zamboanga del Norte province who had had travel in China and stopovers in Hong Kong. He said individuals with history of travel to China, Macau, Hong Kong, and most recently, South Korea, are closely monitored by the DOH. The
country has 3 confirmed COVID-19 cases and one Chinese national had died in Manila from the disease which originated in Wuhan City in the Chinese province of Hubei. The City Health Office (CHO) continues to coordinate with the Department of Health (DOH), the Bureau of Quarantine, and airport and seaport au-
thorities in the implementation of health protocols and intensified screening procedures for all passengers and travellers, especially those who came from China and countries affected by the coronavirus. An inter-agency task force for COVID-19 has been activated, and both local and national govern-
ment agencies are regularly meeting to continuously thresh out protection measures and protocols, according to City Health Officer Dr. Dulce Miravite. Miravite said individuals, who have history of travel in countries with confirmed nCoV cases, should take caution, self-quarantine, and seek immediate consultation
Zambo pioneers solid waste management program TRUE TO its commitment to protect the environment, the local government has pioneered an integrated solid waste management program in line with its 10-year plan. Hailed as the Green Thumb Awardee top model city in 2019 by country’s oldest newspaper The Manila Times, Zamboanga Mayor Beng Climaco said the local government is strongly promoting cleanliness and good health in its communities. She said the City Government of Zamboanga is set to carry out the first-ever integrated solid waste management program in the country. The integrated solid waste management program is seen as a sustainable and efficient solution. It will address the waste challenges of Zamboanga
being the third largest and one of the highly urbanized cities in the country. Carefully designed and executed studies and groundwork were made to ensure that concerns confronting waste generation, hauling, segregation, transportation and disposal are well met by the program. And this began as early as 2018. This effort of the Climaco administration will ensure proper treatment and processing of solid waste while lowering dependency on landfills. Through environmentally-sound waste handling, along with the development of a world-class treatment facility, the program is expected to significantly reduce the carbon footprint and greenhouse gases emissions of the city. Once realized, the
Rows of stainless steel composters are part of the Zamboanga’s integrated solid waste management program. (Investment Promotion Services Division) government’s integrated solid waste management program is expected to advance Zamboanga City’s “earthconomy.” It will strengthen its potentials as a sustainable business destination open to green projects to address climate change. (Zamboanga Post)
with medical professionals. “Si etu sabe tu estaba tu este places tiene cases, man isolate kita, de ya anda na crowded places, si tiene cough and colds usa ya mask, y man consult earlier,” she said. Miravite echoed the mayor’s call to residents to maintain proper hygiene by regularly washing hands with soap and water, and drink enough water, avoid alcohol and smoking and to cover mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, and not to spit in public areas. Reports said the coronavirus has spread to at least 77 countries. A total of 92,305 (including 80,380 in Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau) confirmed cases of coronavirus infection, including 3,198 deaths (2,979 in China; 79 in Italy; 77 in Iran; 32 in South Korea; 12 in Japan; 9 in the US; 4 in France, and one each in the Philippines, San Marino, Spain, Australia, Thailand, and Taiwan. (Zamboanga Post)
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.
6
The Zamboanga Post
March 9-15, 2020
Across : 1. Fire remains 6. Slugger’s need 9. Mama sheep 12. Respond (to) 13. Batter’s stat 14. Coffeepot 15. Gent (sl.) 16. Modified 18. Asparagus unit 19. Willie and Ozzie 20. That thing’s 22. Sixth sense (abbr.) 23. Welcome mat locale 28. Browning’s “always” 31. Hearing organs 32. Employ 33. Indian robe 34. Enjoy the slopes 35. Intensified 37. Look over 40. Raced 41. football player 45. High-minded 49. Dancer Fred ___ 50. Pointer 51. ___ bag 52. Make a knot 53. Down East 54. Conger 55. Dejected 56. Daisy’s kin
The Zamboanga Post
An Edition of the Mindanao Examiner Regional Newspaper
Maritess Fernandez
Publisher/Executive Producer (On Leave)
Al Jacinto
Acting Publisher/Editor-in-Chief
Graphics/Video Editor
Mindanao Examiner Productions Web Master
REGIONAL PARTNERS Mindanao Daily Business Week Mindanao Star
ADVERTISING Jeng Fernandez (0917) 7930652 Zamboanga Peninsula
Answer to last week’s crossword:
Down : 1. Dog’s sounds 2. Leak 3. Healthy 4. Creamy pastries 5. Commences 6. Fiber source 7. Skilled 8. Name 9. Italian, e.g. 10. Tiny bird 11. Purposes 17. Curvy turn 21. Wall support 23. ___ Moines 24. Acorn dropper 25. Asian 26. Compass reading
Reynold Toribio
(abbr.) 27. Look closely 29. Byron’s “before” 30. Free (of) 33. spanish women 36. Canal country 38. Positive vote 39. Gives forth 41. Not punctual 42. Words of understanding (2 wds.) 43. Diva’s forte 44. want 46. Englishman, for short 47. Unescorted 48. Wide-spouted pitcher
Weekly Sudoku:
Richard Suarez
(0910) 7348600 Kismet Cable TV, Aquino cor. Cabrera sts., Gatas District, Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur
The Zamboanga Post
is published weekly in Mindanao, Philippines.
ZAMBOANGA CITY OFFICE:
3rd Floor, JLC Building, Don Alfaro St., Tetuan, Zamboanga City Phone & Fax: (062) 9555360 Mobile: (0995) 5202358 URL: mindanaoexaminer.com E-mail: mindanaoexaminer@gmail.com
Answer to last week:
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 (082) 2841859 / (0932) 4323301 / (0997) 3172021
Marilou Cablinda
NORTH COTABATO KIDAPAWAN CITY CENTRAL MINDANAO COTABATO CITY Rhoderick Beñez (0927) 4757936
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
3rd Floor, JLC Building, Don Alfaro Street, Zamboanga City (062) 9555360 / (0995) 5202358 / (0917) 7930652
Jeng Fernandez mindanaoexaminer.com mindanaoexaminer@gmail.com
7
The Zamboanga Post
March 9-15, 2020
LOTTO TIPS KARON SEMANA
Timbo karon, timbo ugma, timbo kada adlaw ug timbo kada semana! ' 352%$%/(6
BU-AK ANG NUMERO -214 863 134
6 6 9 2 One Week Hearing
HEALTH
Ni Dr. Willie T. Ong
CEBU
313
198
5 1 6 4
3 0 1 4
MINDANAO
469
313
445
4 4 0 0
9 6 5 8
0 4 4 6
MANILA
198
325
108
(= 352%$%/(6
12 23 25 14 DAVAO
285
287
268
687
Home Remedies For The Common Cold Cold Virus is Contagious: Most colds are caused by rhinoviruses, all 200 versions of the virus, which spread through the air when someone with an infection coughs or sneezes. Kids are notorious for spreading the virus especially in school. Why? Because they don’t close their mouths when they cough, and they keep on hugging and kissing their classmates. Aside from inhaling
the virus, you can also get them when you handle a contaminated object. Telephones, computers, toilets and doorknobs are especially notorious for harboring germs. Worst of all, did you know that the cold virus can live up to 48 hours on these objects? Hence, meticulous people who keep on scrubbing their hands may be correct after all. Studies show that you really need to wash your
NOTICE
FREE CLEFT LIP AND PALATE MISSION SET MARCH 18-22
(Tricky Care)
Smile Train and the Marikina St. Vincent General Hospital (MSVGH) in collaboration with the City Government through the City Health Office will conduct a free Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate surgery at the Labuan Public Hospital. Smile Train and MSVGH have been providing free cleft repair surgery in Zamboanga City for several years now. To all patients in need of Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate operation please proceed to the City Health Office in Pettit Barracks for registration. Slots are available for this life- changing operation that would bring smiles on your faces.
hands for at least 20 seconds with soap or alcohol. Here are some ways to dodge the cold virus: (1) No kissing and no holding hands; (2) No sharing of spoons, dishes, glasses, and towels; (3) Cover your mouth when coughing; (4) Call in sick and stay at home to avoid infecting others; and (5) Regularly clean your desk, phone and computer with alcohol. Home Remedies:
Let us look at several ways we can shorten the duration of a cold: 1. Take water and other fluids. Drinking 8-12 glasses of water a day can help. Water, juice, ginger drink (salabat), and warm calamansi juice with honey help loosen congestion and prevent dehydration. Avoid taking alcohol, coffee and soft drinks, which make dehydration worse. 2. Take Vitamin C. Vitamin C may short-
en a cold’s duration. A dose of 500 mg appears to be enough and is less irritating to the stomach. 3. Consider cold medications. Over-the-counter decongestants may offer some symptom relief, but they won’t prevent a cold or shorten its duration. You may or may not take these. A word of warning: those with high blood pressure and heart
Founded July 2019
ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT, PLEASE CALL (062) 9555360 or (0995) 5202358
P10
March 9-15, 2020
Hurrah! City Development Council Oks environment, shelter plans
T
HE CITY Development Council headed by Mayor Beng Climaco endorsed to the Sangguniang Panlungsod for approval the local government’s management and development plans for watersheds and central mangrove forestlands, and the shelter plan for the next 10 years. The CDC first re- “whole-of-ecosystem” and Labuan. It has high viewed, adopted and and refers to integrated value vegetable producendorsed the Updated approaches to freshwater tion, coffee growing, Ayala and Manicahan and coastal area manage- mountain resort, miWatershed Management ment emphasizing the in- cro-finance organization and Development Plans ter-connections between and 420-hectare rubber 2020-2030 which was the natural and social sys- plantation. prepared by a technical tems through coastal waThe Manicahan rivworking group and par- tersheds and habitats. er watershed measures ticipated by stakeholders Measuring 3,347.36 5,697.35 hectares locatand follows the “ridge to hectares, the Ayala water- ed at the middle-eastern reef” concept and land- shed covers 7 barangays section of Zamboanga scape approach. - Ayala, Baluno, Cawit, and drains in a southeast Ridge to reef Dulian (Upper Pasonan- direction into the Moro approach is a ca), Pamucutan, La Paz Gulf. It covers the baran-
3 barangays now ‘drug-free’
A path walk inside a coastal mangrove farm in Zamboanga City. Environment and local government officials appeal to residents to preserve the mangroves which is habitat to different sea animals. (Zamboanga Post) The Regional Oversight Committee on Barangay Drug Clearing Program chaired by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency headed by Regional Director Emerson Margate and the City Oversight Committee chaired by Mayor Beng Climaco. (Bong Serondo) THREE MORE barangays have been declared “drug-free” in Zamboanga adding to the list of areas that were also cleared by the Regional Oversight Committee on Barangay Drug Clearing Program. The latest additions to the drug-free barangays are Tolosa, Pamucutan and Pangapuyan which underwent months of tedious process, according to Mayor Beng Climaco who awarded the barangays with P50,000 each that will serve as additional funding to sustain its anti-drug programs. Regional Oversight Committee on Barangay Drug Clearing Program is chaired by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency headed by Re-
gional Director Emerson Margate and the City Oversight Committee chaired by Climaco. The mayor lauded and commended the efforts of the three barangays and police authorities and other agencies in aggressively pursuing the anti-drug program. The Regional Oversight Committee on Barangay Drug Clearing Program earlier cleared Pasilmanta, Landang Laum, Tictapul, Sibulao, Lumayang, Lanzones, Capisan, Dulian in Upper Pasonanca and Tigbalabag. Zamboanga has 98 barangays. The parameters in declaring drug-cleared status include the non-availability of drug supply; absence of drug transit or transhipment
activity; the absence of clandestine laboratory or clandestine drug warehouse or chemical warehouse; the absence of marijuana cultivation site; absence of drug den, dive, resort; absence of drug pusher or user or drug dependent and absence of protector and financier. And also the active involvement of barangay officials and Sanguninang Kabataan in anti-drug activities and help maintain the drug-liberated status of the barangay; and the existence of drug awareness, preventive education and information and other related programs and existence of voluntary and compulsory drug treatment and rehabilitation process desk. (Zamboanga Post)
gays of Bunguiao, Dulian, Lamisahan, Lapakan, Victoria and Tolosa with a total household of 1,485. The management and development plans seek to address issues and concerns affecting the watershed such as the presence of toxic materials from abandoned mining tailing pond, inadequate forest support budget, calcining plants, timber and wildlife poaching, inadequate access facilities and lack of diversity. It will likewise address inadequate support services, the lack of proper coordination among stakeholders and poor access to farming technology for several households within the area. The plans also seek to address the issues on timber poaching, lack of access road, no replacement of tress cut for charcoal production, no relocation plan for occupants. The CDC also gave its
imprimatur on the Management Framework Plan of the Central Mangrove Forestlands of Zamboanga covering 2,684.57 hectares in the 7 barangays of Rio Hondo, Mariki, Kasanyangan, Tugbungan, Mampang, Talon-Talon and Arena Blanco. The central mangrove forests represent 51.2% of the 5,243.80 hectares of the total mangrove areas in the city. Among the issues and concerns to be addressed are the illegal trade of seaweed and other aquamarine products. The Local Housing Board chaired by Climaco also approved a 5-year Local Shelter Plan (LSP) in an effort to address the housing backlog following a series of meetings and consultations with stake holders. The plan identifies areas in Zamboanga for relocation, community mortgage program, land tenure assistance pro-
gram, and for joint venture agreement, which is a local government tie up with the national government housing projects. It also covers areas for housing programs to be undertaken by non-government organizations. “Little by little the city government is trying to address our backlog in housing and shelter for our people in need,” Climaco said, adding, the LSP also has a provision for land banking. The LSP seeks to address the city’s 20,971 housing backlog and 12,561 future housing needs. It also aims to provide decent, affordable and disaster-risk resilient and climate change adaptive shelters with adequate facilities towards the formation of liveable and socially responsible residential community. (Zamboanga Post)