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NFA rice smell moldy, not fit for consumption, say Zambo villagers ZAMBOANGA CITY – Local residents have complained of receiving rice with moldy smell from their village officials and said even dogs Continue on page 2
The rice ration from DSWD which came from NFA that residents claim are not fit for human consumption. (Zamboanga Post)
ZAMBOANGA CITY – The local task force on Covid-19 or novel coronavirus has immediately responded to an emergency after a man posted a video on Monday appealing for help to bring him to hospital on suspicion he has contracted the deadly respiratory disease.
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Ahmad Hassan Munap, who resides in Barangay Santa Catalina, said he went to seek help with the local barangay leaders, but he was only dropped near the Zamboanga City Medical Center. In his 2-minute appeal, Munap said: “Pumunta po ako sa barangay
May 11-17, 2020 namin at naghanap ng medic, ako po ay fasting pa, nakakaramdam po ako kasi ng simtomas po ng pesteng virus na ito. Pero hindi po ako inasikaso doon, hinatid po ako hanggang labas pero malayo pa at dalawang checkpoint po ang Continue on page 2
Zambo TF Covid-19 rescues another sick man
Duterte praises Zambo mayor for hard work P
RESIDENT RODRIGO Duterte praised Zamboanga City Mayor Beng Climaco for the second time for her hard work and dedication to public service amid the coronavirus pandemic. Duterte, in a recent cation to public service. ment chief executives televised address, also “Si Beng pati si Inday involved in the distribupraised his daughter, (Carpio) talagang nag- tion of the cash emerDavao City Mayor Sarah ta-trabaho,” he said while gency program or Carpio for the same dedi- addressing local governContinue on page 3
More relief assistance for Zambo residents approved!
Mayor Beng Climaco with President Rodrigo Duterte.
THE ZAMBOANGA City Council approved a resolution for additional budget - among others - as requested by Mayor Beng Climaco to be able to feed more residents affected by the strict enhanced community quarantine here due to the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic. Climaco thanked legislators for supporting the local government efforts and she said the budget is being used to augment the second wave of allocation of relief assistance
Mayor Beng Climaco and her Chief of Staff Mike Saavedra inspecting the local government relief assistance for residents affected by the Covid-19 pandemic in this City Hall file photo. - one sack of 25-kilo rice, canned goods, among
others - to all Continue on page 3
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May 11-17, 2020
NFA rice smell moldy, not fit for consumption, say Zambo villagers Continued from page 1 would not eat the grains. “The rice was dirty, smelly and all those who were given rice did not even cook it. I washed it thoroughly and cooked and my even my dog would not touch it,” one old man said in describing the relief aid he got from his village leaders. Neighbors claimed the rice was probably from the stocks of the National Food Authority or NFA. “No, we did not eat the rice. We just threw it away. The moment we opened the blue sack containing the rice we immediately noticed the smell. It was horrible. All of us who received the rice just disposed it,” said one store owner. Another said the commercial rice provided by
the Zamboanga City government is far better than what they received from village officials. “We got relief assistance - good rice quality, canned goods and noodles, and vitamins – twice already from the local government, but this one (rice assistance) from our village officials was not even fit for human consumption. We have complained about this to our village officials, but we got no reply from them,” said another man. The sack of rice villagers received had markings of the DSWD and NFA with a production date of 2018. Village officials have also been receiving rice and food donations from various groups and it was not immediately known whether what residents received came from do-
nors. The NFA said some village officials and other groups were buying rice from its warehouse at P1,250 per a bag of 50 kilos, adding, it also purchases stocks of rice from local farmers since commercial traders are now allowed to import rice from other countries. The Department of the Interior and Local Government has ordered village leaders to provide relief assistance to their constituents and this is on top of the food aid distributed by the local government. However, many residents said they did not get anything, from their village leaders and depend only on the relief assistance from the local government. (Zamboanga Post)
Zambo TF Covid-19 rescues another sick man Continued from page 1 pagitan, pero taga-barangay rin naman po ako.” Despite having difficulty in breathing and pausing several times to cough, Munap continued: “Nakakalungkot mang isipin pero umuwi na lang ako ulit, sana hindi na lang ako kunin, pero ang kinakatakutan ko lang dito ay kung totoo man akong natamaan… ikinakatakot ko lang dito yun mga bata dito sa amin po at baka makahawa ako. Sana maaksyunan itong barangay dito sa amin, kilala nila ako.” He also appealed to those who will watch the video posted on Facebook to share it so that authorities can take action on his complaints. “Sana ipasa po ninyo itong video sana matau-
han yun mga taong nangangailangan kung ako ay makakahawa dito sa Santa Catalina wala na silang magagawa kung kakalat pa itong sakit na ito at saka sila matatakot. Sana magbigay aral po ito sa bawat tao dito sa amin pati na rin sa lahat, stay home po, stay safe, please pray po natin yun mga nakakarandam ng ganitong sakit,” he said, ending the video with a prayer. The Task Force Covid-19, which is chaired by Mayor Beng Climaco, learned of the man’s appeal and quickly ordered the barangay officials to find Munap so he can be brought immediately to the hospital and undergo laboratory tests and provide him the needed medical care. Last month, a sickly old man living alone
in Barangay Santa Maria was also rescued by the Task Force Covid0-19 and brought him to hospital after neighbors sought help from the local government. The septuagenarian was initially aided by a nurse assigned at the Barangay Rural Health Center on April 21 after receiving information about the man also suffering from emphysema. The Task Force Covid-19 which received the report immediately coordinated with the City Health Office and the Zamboanga City Medical Center and brought the patient to hospital. Neighbors were not able to help the old man for fear he could be infected with the novel coronavirus, or Covid-19. (Zamboanga Post)
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Hunt for Sayyaf continues in Tawi-Tawi TAWI-TAWI – Security forces continue the search for Abu Sayyaf militants in the southern province of Tawi-Tawi after soldiers and police commandos clashed with the pro-ISIS group in the town of Tandubas. Government forces killed 2 militants in recent fighting after Marines and police commandos tracked down a group of Abu Sayyaf fighters in the village of Taruk. The fight-
ing lasted only about 10 minutes after the gunmen split into smaller groups and abandoned the bodies of the slain terrorists. Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, chief of the military’s Western Mindanao Command, identified the dead militants as Kamsel Ampang and Jul Haber, believed to be involved in cross-border kidnappings and attacks on security forces in the province which is near Sabah in
Malaysia. Operations against the Abu Sayyaf is continuing in Tawi-Tawi and Sulu, two of 5 provinces under the restive Muslim autonomous region. Last month, Abu Sayyaf militants killed and wounded over 2 dozen soldiers in a series of clashes in Sulu, a stronghold of the pro-ISIS group fighting for the establishment of a caliphate in the South. (Zamboanga Post)
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Duterte praises Zambo mayor for hard work
Rolando Macasaet, Chairman and Acting President and General Manager of the Government Service Insurance System, with Zamboanga City Mayor Beng Climaco during an event in October last year. (Photo from Macasaet’s Facebook page.)
More relief assistance for Zambo residents approved! Continued from page 1 households. And a one-time financial assistance worth P1,000 for their water and electricity bills. “The approved budget will augment present allocation of welfare goods to cover for the second wave of assistance which will provide this time, all households with 1 sack of rice (25 kilos) and onetime utility assistance in the amount of P500 for water bills and another P500 for electricity bills for every residential consumer. This is to ensure the welfare and well-being of every Zamboangueño family while we remain committed in the fight against Covid-19,” Climaco, who heads the local task force on Covid-19, said. The additional budget was also recommended by other stakeholders and largely supported by council members. The first wave of relief assistance by the local government comprising of commercial rice, grocery items and vitamins benefited a total of 178,615 households in all 98 villages. The distribution of food packs was on top of the P5,000 emergency cash assistance received by each family from the DSWD’s Special Amelioration Program in collaboration with the local government that targeted the poorest of the poor. Lawyer Kenneth Vincent Beldua, Secretary to
the City Council, said legislators also enacted the following ordinances: 1. An ordinance authorizing free burial of Covid-19 patients at public cemeteries in Barangays Mampang and Mercedes, and for other related purposes. 2. An ordinance Amending Ordinance No. 532, or the “Covid-19 Emergency Ordinance of the City of Zamboanga. 3. An ordinance establishing and operationalizing the cremation and columbarium services in Zamboanga, authorizing the imposition of reasonable fees or charges, and appropriating funds therefor, and for other related purposes. And 4. An ordinance authorizing Supplemental Budget No. 2, Series of 2020, involving the total amount of P599,991,871.51 for the purposes mentioned in the General Fund and its Special Account. Included in this Supplemental Budget among others, are the following - construction of quarantine facilities; construction of sub-national laboratory capacity building for serology and molecular Testing; purchase of equipment to be used in quarantine facilities and Covid-19 testing center, drugs, medicines, medical and laboratory supplies; rent expenses for facilities utilized by our medical frontliners while on quarantine; constuction of crematorium and columbarium; provision of addi-
tional hazard pay to health workers; purchase of food packs (25kgs sack of rice, 9 canned goods and vegetables per household); and subsidy to Zamboanga City Electric Cooperative and Zamboanga City Water District consumers at P500 each. Residents thanked Climaco for the relief assistance and efforts of the local government in looking at the welfare of her constituents. But Climaco’s political foes and their propagandists and paid trolls were taking advantage of the Covid-19 pandemic and continue to attack the mayor and the local government, and demonizing the public by propagating fake news, lies and deceit while advancing their own vested interest. The mayor appealed to residents and supporters not to be affected by black propaganda and instead urged the public to pray for the safety and good health of those attacking her and the local government efforts in combating the pandemic. She also told village leaders and social workers and other front liners to always put the welfare of the people as their first priority as the local government continues fighting the spread of the pandemic which already killed 3 people here and infected at least 5 dozen with hundreds more suspected Covid-19 cases. (Zamboanga Post)
Continued from page 1 the Special Amelioration Program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). The program aims to provide P5,000 or to P8,000 for poor beneficiaries affected by the strict community quarantine imposed by Duterte in March to prevent the spread of the deadly respiratory disease that already killed hundreds of people and infected thousands more in the country. Duterte said the national government through the DSWD alone cannot handle the SAP distribution to millions of beneficiaries so he tapped the local governments to help fast track the implementation of the pro-poor program. “Dito na ako sa sa mga local governments, mga mayors. (Interior) Secretary (Eduardo) Año would provide the guidelines on how you can help, we are not asking you, we are requesting you to help us. Kasi Hindi talaga kaya ng national government lang, without the local executives patay, we will crumble, so your toil is as good as mine. Kaya sabay-sabay tayo,” he said. The local governments designated village leaders to assist the DSWD in SAP distribution, but complaints are mounting and corruption allegations have reached Duterte who strongly warned those involved in the program not to take advantage of the health crisis or steal funds intended for the poor. “Sinabi ko na sa inyo noon huwag sa panahon ito, basta local govern-
ment employees, lahat naman tayo workers eh, diretsuhin na lang natin, local government works. Sinabi ko na sa inyo na kung may (ga)gawin kayo huwag sa panahon ito,” he said. “Alam ko noon pa sinabi ko na sa kanila na ako ay nagre-resist kasi pag dating niyan sa local government units, the mayors, pero yun mga minsan yun down to the line, downstream, wala kasing tao na sa karami thousands ito, eh we requested the local government units, mga mayors naman kindly look into the people you that you have commissioned to the distribution,” he added. Rolando Macasaet, Chairman and Acting President and General Manager of the Government Service Insurance System, and Netizens also joined Duterte in praising Climaco and describing her as a “dedicated and hardworking” local chief executive. “(I am) So proud of our lady mayor City Mayor Beng Climaco. Dedicated and hardworking public service at its best during times of crisis and sacrifice. As former US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice once said “There is no greater challenge and no greater honor than to be in public service,” Macasaet wrote on his Facebook page. His praises to Climaco also drew widespread admirations from Netizens. “Good work Mayor Beng,” said Sammy Santos and Daniel Nuevo in reaction to Macasaet’s post. Lenra Reyes said: “Proud Zamboangueño here!” While Manny Uy,
who wrote in Spanish on Macasaet’s social media page, said: “Muchas gracias Mayor Beng. Dios nos bendiga.” And dozens more of congratulatory messages spoke of Climaco’s dedication to her job. Climaco said she is humbled by Duterte’s praises. “I am just doing my job just like all other hardworking civil servants, just like Mayor Inday Sarah, just like our President. I am just following President Rodrigo Duterte’s orders,” she told the Zamboanga Post newspaper by phone. The Zamboanga mayor previously told local village leaders to remain honest and dedicated to their job and put the welfare of their constituents first and above all. In August last year, Duterte also praised Climaco at the oath-taking of the newly-elected officers of the League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP) in Malacañan Palace in Manila. Duterte even noticed Climaco’s simple, yet beautiful blue, red and burgundy-striped blouse and a pair of electric blue pants and doll shoes while she was seated along other well-dressed mayors. In giving importance to dozens of mayors and officials of the Liga ng mga Barangay, Duterte said the local chief executives are tough public servants and singled out Climaco. “Yan si Beng, oh galing pa ng Zamboanga yan. (Ma)tigas ka talaga (at) bilib ako sa iyo,” Duterte told Climaco. (Zamboanga Post. With a report from the Mindanao Examiner.)
Mayor Beng Climaco inspects the local government relief assistance for residents affected by the Covid-19 pandemic in this City Hall file photo.
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Zamboanga Pictures in the News Local government of Zamboanga City at work. This is where your taxes go. (Photos by Bong Serondo, Dr. Bagongon, Carlo Ezer Camins, Atty. Kenneth Beldua, and Eugene Elnar)
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Across : 1. Not all 5. Milky gem 9. Biology, e.g. (abbr.) 12. Singe 13. Talk wildly 14. Zodiac lion 15. Unusual 16. Valentine phrase (3 wds.) 18. Branch 19. Less fatty 20. Poor farmer 22. Slight error 26. Hear 28. Not cooked 29. Author ___ Christie 31. Per person 34. Went first 35. Bemoan 37. Future flowers 40. Most unkind 43. Artists’ stands 45. Originally named 46. Superman’s gal (2 wds.) 49. States further 50. Yoko ___ 51. Finales 52. Red vegetable 53. Prohibit 54. Untidy condition 55. Slips up
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Zambo family begs off food aid, wants share go to the poor Z
Bella Huang gestures as she explains the sign her family put outside the house gate. (Zamboanga Post)
Army soldiers hailed for saving life of NPA
Military photos released to the Zamboanga Post newspaper show PFC. Eunice Jane Curayag, assigned with the 1st Civil Military Operations Battalion, giving her blood to save the wounded rebel who was captured by soldiers - who also provided first aid to the enemy - following a firefight in Zamboanga del Norte’s Siayan town. PAGADIAN CITY – The 1st Infantry Division lauded soldiers who save the life of a captured communist rebel wounded in recent fighting in Zamboanga del Norte’s Siayan town. Division commander Maj. Gen. Generoso Ponio said soldiers exemplified the highest respect for human life by saving the rebel who tried to kill them. “I lauded our heroic soldiers for giving premium in protecting lives, even the life of their own enemy,” he said. Ponio said the rebel, a member of the New People’s Army (NPA), was rushed by soldiers to hospital to save his life. And PFC. Eunice Jane Curayag, assigned with the 1st Civil Military Operations Battalion, quickly donated her blood for the injured rebel whose group fought fiercely with troops on May 4. Lt. Col. Manaros Boransing, commander of the 97th Infantry Battalion that clashed with rebels, said the wounded
insurgent was one of the machine gunners of the NPA’s Team Abe belonging to the Squad 2 of the Main Regional Guerrilla Unit of Western Regional Party Committee. “He was the gunner of the M60 machine gun recovered by our troops during the armed encounter,” Boransing said. Boransing’s forces were also reinforced by the 53rd Infantry Battalion under Lt. Col. Jo-ar Herrera, who said villagers provided information them information that led to the capture of the wounded rebel left behind
by his group. “We responded to the information from the locals that a wounded NPA was trying to seek medical help and refuge in one of the community in the village,” he said. The rebel, whom officials called Lando, is currently under the medical care of the army at Kuta Cesar Sang-an Station Hospital in Labangan town in Zamboanga del Sur province, just 15 kilometers from Pagadian City. Maj. Jussel Parlan, head of the military hospital, the rebel was shot in the abdomen and lost a lot of blood that is why Curayag quickly volunteered to give her blood in an effort to save the insurgent from grave danger. “Lando suffered a gunshot wound in the abdomen and due to severe blood loss he was transfused with blood for him to fully recover,” he said, adding, they are closely watching the condition of the insurgent. The NPA has been fighting for many decades now for the establishment of a Maoist state in the country. (Zamboanga Post)
AMBOANGA CITY – While everybody is dependent of government relief assistance for their daily sustenance, a local family has begged off food aid from social workers and telling them to give the share to those who need it most. The Huang family even magbigay rin sila ng tulong coronavirus pandemic or put up a sign outside their sa mas nangangailangan,” Covid-19. However, despite of the house gate that reads: “Pass sa the shy woman told the Zamrelief goods. Please, pakibigay boanga Post newspaper in a crisis that largely affected the local economy and serisa mas nangangailangan. God chance interview. The good deed the Huang ously put many people out of bless us all!” Bella Huang said she and family has showed was also work, including her family’s her husband decided to just praised by their neighbors. business, Huang said they give their share of food assis- “Mabait talaga ang pamily- are happy that all of them are tance from the local govern- ang yan at sana gayahin rin ng healthy and she also wished ment to the poor because they iba, lalo na yun mga mayaya- the same to others who are can still manage to feed their man na magbigay rin ng pag- now suffering because of the three children despite the mamahal sa ating kapwa,” an pandemic that already killed old woman said, referring to over 10,000 in the country health crisis. since March. “Ang purpose po namin the Huang family. In Zamboanga City, The family runs a small kung bakit namin inilagay ito mag-asawa para yun ib- business of buying and selling health authorities have reinibigay ng gobyerno o ng various merchandises from corded at least 60 confirmed barangay na tulong o relief clothing hangers to plastic Covid-19 cases with over 500 goods ay mapunta sa mas cabinets, but Huang said they more suspected of being innangangailangan po. Kung were forced to temporarily fected with the deadly respisino naman diyan na may so- stop selling because of the ratory disease that had killed bra-sobra naman at kaya pa strict enhanced community 3 people here. (Zamboanga naman sa buhay nila sana po quarantine here due to the Post)
Norwegian man in Dipolog City tests positive for Covid-19 PAGADIAN CITY – A Norwegian tourist who stayed for 2 months in Dipolog City in southern Philippines has been tested positive for the deadly novel coronavirus or Covid-19 in Manila. The foreigner arrived on March 2 and stayed in the village of Sicayab two weeks before the local government imposed a strict community quarantine because of the pandemic. But he was rushed to a private hospital in Dipolog on April 26 due to chest pain, according to the provincial and city task forces on Covid-19. He was eventually airlifted to Manila on May 2 and as part of the hospital protocol, the patient was swabbed prior to any medical procedure and result of the test released on May 5 showed him positive for Covid-19. The foreigner is the first Covid-19 case in Dipolog City. Following established protocols, the Covid-19 task force in Dipolog managed to trace and isolate persons who were in close and sustained contact with the foreigner, including health care workers in the private hospital where he was admitted and are all under 14-day quarantine. They will also be swabbed using rapid testing kit to determine
the presence of contagion in their body. Quarantine control points were also put up in the village and manned by the police to restrict unnecessary movement of people in the community. “We would like to assure the people of Dipolog City that we are taking measures to ensure that the situation is under control. The provincial and city governments have prepared isolation facilities for any eventuality that may arise. As always, we call on the public to please stay calm, do not panic, and strictly follow instructions from the local government, particularly
our stay-at-home order, the imposition of stringent social and physical distancing measures, wearing of face masks and proper hygiene and health protocols,” said Mayor Darel Dexter Uy. He also appealed to the public not to discriminate anyone and called on residents to pray for the safety of all. “This is not the time to bash, blame or discriminate anyone. Nobody would have wanted to be in this kind of situation. Let us continue to pray for God’s grace and blessings amidst the present crisis we are facing,” he said. (Zamboanga Post)