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Motorcycle barrier hindi na kailangan! M
ALAKI ANG pasasalamat ni Zamboanga Mayor Beng Climaco sa national government matapos na suspidihin ang paggamit ng motorcycle barrier alinsunod sa kautusan ng National Task Force Against Covid-19. “Muchisimas gracias barrier y puede ya monta tional Task Force Against con el National Task Force aquel quien ta queda na Covid-19 ay kailangan pa Against Covid-19 cay lifted un casa,” ani Climaco. rin gumamit ng face Continue on page 3 ya el usada del motorcycle Ngunit ayon sa Na-
Would personal air purifiers keep us all healthy? ‘Common-sense hygiene may be a better defense, experts suggest’
President Rodrigo Duterte (PCOO) Ipinag-utos ngayon ng National Task Force Against Covid-19 ang suspensyon sa paggamit ng motorcycle barrier para sa mga ankas na nakatira sa iisang bahay lamang o miyembro ng pamilya. Ito rin ang hiniling ni Mayor Beng Climaco sa Department of the Interior ang Local Government na siyang nagpatupad sa paggamit ng plastic barrier bilang proteksyon laban sa Covid-19. (Zamboanga Post)
SO-CALLED personal air purifiers promise to protect users from harmful viruses and bacteria, but experts say the devic-
es may not work in real-world conditions, Laura Johannes writes in the Wall Street Journal. Personal air purifi-
ers—such as the AirSupply Minimate from Wein Products—are meant to be worn around the Continue on page 2
DILG urges public, LGUs to combat black propaganda Mayor Beng Climaco
THE DEPARTMENT of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has called the public to combat not only the spread of Covid-19, but also the purveyors of malicious information who malign and discredit the actions taken by the government amid the pandemic. “We are now at the crucial stage in our fight against Covid-19. In retrospect, the DILG has been
persistent in finding ways to lessen the severity of Covid-19’s effect in our local communities – enhancing and capacitating our local government units to the greatest possible extent and challenging them to do better,” said DILG Regional Director Paisal Abutazil. “We are at the forefront of this fight, not only at risk of the disease but also vulnerable to the
public’s opinion. In light of the recent events, we call upon on our local government units and the public to take more proactive measures to combat not only on the repercussions of the Covid-19, but also to the purveyors of malicious information – with the sole purpose of maligning and discrediting the actions taken by the Continue on page 7
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The Zamboanga Post
Would personal air purifiers keep us all healthy? ‘Common-sense hygiene may be a better defense, experts suggest’ Continued from page 1 neck. They work by emitting electrically charged particles called ions. In theory, the ions transfer their electric charge to harmful particles, which are then repulsed from the user because like-charged particles repel each other. Wein partially funded research at the University of Cincinnati to test its product. The results were published in the journal Indoor Air in 2005. Overall, the device was found to clear the air of half of the test particles in 15 minutes and almost all of the particles in an hour and a half. However, some experts are skeptical. Darryl Zeldin, scientific director of the National Institute of Environmental
Health Sciences, says, “It sounds like it worked in a laboratory setting, but that doesn’t say anything about whether it works in real life.” For instance, some researchers argue the purifiers may struggle to actually clear air. “If you sit next to a person in an airplane, this person will sneeze and cough during the entire eight-hour flight,” says Werner Bischoff, an infectious disease specialist at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center. Moreover, many harmful germs are transferred via infected surfaces—which are unaffected by the purifier. Sergey Grinshpun, who the led the study, acknowledges that shortcoming, but adds “at least you reduce inhalation exposure.”
Anecdotally, representatives from Wein and other manufacturers say that customer feedback has been positive. However, according to the Wall Street Journal, some of the devices’ infection-fighting prowess may be the result of the antibacterial effect created by air pollutants, such as ozone. Stanley Weinberg, CEO and chairman of Wein, says his company’s product emits only a small amount of ozone. Ultimately, Bischoff says other common-sense methods might be a better way to guard yourself against infection than the purifiers. For instance, avoid touching your nose or mouth while on an airplane, he suggests (Johannes, Wall Street Journal)
Halos tatlong buwan na umano ang leaking ng tubo ng tubig sa Don Alfaro Street at Falcatan Street sa Barangay Tetuan. (Zamboanga Post)
While trolls and political foes of Mayor Beng Climaco continue their black propaganda against her amid the Covid-19 pandemic, she continues to do her job - day and night - for the welfare of the Zamboangueños. (Zamboanga Post)
August 24-30, 2020
The Zamboanga Post
August 24-30, 2020
Motorcycle barrier hindi na kailangan! Continued from page 1 mask at full-face helmet ang motorcycle driver at pasahero nito. Ito rin ang kinumpirma ni Climaco sa panayam ng Zamboanga Post. “Necesita el usada del face mask y full-face helmet si ta monta motorsiclo y este segun na orden del National Task Force Against Covid-19,” dagdag pa ni Climaco. Matatandaan ilang ulit na kinausap ni Climaco ang Department of the Interior and Local
Government (DILG) at Department of Transportation, gayun rin ang National Task Force Against Covid-19 upang alisin na lang ang motorcycle barrier at sa halip ay gumamit na lamang ng face mask at helmet. Nagpaalala rin si Climaco na kailangan pa rin ng quarantine pass sa mga motorcycle driver at pasahero nito dahil kabilang ito sa guidelines sa ilalim ng Moderate General Community Quarantine.
Bagama’t marami ang natuwa sa desisyon ng National Task Force Against Covid-19 ay problemado naman ngayon ang mga negosyante at online sellers na nagpagawa o bumili ng maraming mga plastic barrier dahil wala na umanong bibili nito. Naunang ipinag-utos ng DILG ang paggamit ng motorcycle barrier bilang proteksyon sa Covid-19 sa kabila ng malawakang protesta laban dito at ang isyu ng kaligtasan. (Zamboanga Post)
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SUNDAY REFLECTION by Mayor Beng Climaco Matthew 15:21-28 “A woman’s heart wins the day! Mary’s heart wins the Day!” (Luis Rodriquez SJ, Crieghton University)
W Mayor Beng praises
54th Engineer Brigade
Mayor Beng Climaco and First Gentleman Trifonio Salazar gracing the 29th founding anniversary celebration of the 54th Engineer Brigade under Brig. Gen. Anthony Cacayuran. (Photo by Bong Serondo) ZAMBOANGA MAYOR Beng Climaco praised the Philippine Army’s 54th Engineer Brigade for its commitment and support, and assistance to the local government in terms of infrastructure development amid the coronavirus pandemic. Climaco, who graced the 29th founding anniversary celebration of the 54th
Engineer Brigade, lauded the officers and men for their dedication to serve. “Congratulations and thank you for your support and assistance to the City Government in terms of infrastructure development. Vaya con Dios,” she told the 54th Engineer Brigade headed by Brig. Gen. Anthony Cacayuran. The 54th Engineer Bri-
gade, through its Disaster Response Team, completed in June the installation of additional holding area for Covid-19 patients at the Zamboanga City Medical Center. The parking space of the hospital now serves as holding area for Covid-19 admission and consultation of patients. (Zamboanga Post)
Members of the Philippine Army’s 54th Engineer Brigade under Brig. Gen. Anthony Cacayuran while at work at the Zamboanga City Medical Center. (54th Engineer Brigade)
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E CELEBRATED Mary’s Assumption on August 16! She who said “Yes” to God’s invitation and stood in the midst of the cross seeing Jesus die, her only and beloved son. The (Assumption) celebration is the reunion of Jesus and Mary in the new life of eternity. I remembered in our visit to Holy Land of a church where Mary was supposed to have slept to be awaken in heaven - a fitting end to an enduring story of love and triumph; a mother’s love and her sons penultimate fulfilment of this beautiful bond. In today’s reading, we see Jesus in an unchartered pagan territory, that of a Canaanite woman’s persistence and faith. Jesus reaches out to all and this led to Jesus healing her daughter. After a very interesting conversation about dogs feeding from the master’s scraps, Monsignor Chris Manongas explained this - that the dog’s and from other insights of today’s Gospel refer to pet dogs, our “Palanga Dogs”. The message of the gospel tells us to await with persistence, with patience and not give up to call on God in our moments of need. God hears us even in his seeming silence; God will act in God’s kairos, qadar - su propio tiempo. Let me diverge a little bit on the story of dogs. I am a certified mother to fur-daughters. I remember in the year 2000, two months after my father’s death, my brother and I were orphaned. I came home from an NMYL (National Movement of Young Legislators) Assembly, and Queenie, my faithful dog, greeted me and accompanied me to where I went after a long absence. I had to hang my wet clothes and did not quite respond to her welcome, but little did I know that she followed me to her death. She was run over and convulsed to death in my arms. I unleashed the pain kept from my parent’s loss, to her lost and wailed in pain.
Mayor Beng Climaco, a certified mother to fur-daughters, in her modest abode in Barangay Santa Maria. After burying her, I went to San Roque Church and as I prayed, I saw Señor San Roque de Montpellier’s statue with a dog. This made me cry all the more. Today is his feast, a Saint who intercedes for us to heal our world from this pandemic. The dog as stated in the MCIC page, would bring San Roque food and lick his wounds that contributed to his healing. Barangay San Roque celebrated their fiesta. This is also the birthday of Fr. Bill Kreutz, SJ who like the persistence of the Canaanite Mother, pushed me to obtain my Master’s degree in Ateneo de Manila University. He too, was responsible for the conversion of Ateneo de Zamboanga to a University when he was President. Persistence in light of a pandemic means that we continue our battlecry under MGCQ. Recently, a mother approached me, whom to contact for her son’s swab test, and I gave her a name. The next day, she again approached me to solve the fee for the test. We are tested to persevere, to be patient, to pray and keep our faith and not lose hope. I would get letters of complaint for not receiving Family Food Pack, SAP, denial of departure, entry delays in the border, bien tarda el test, delayed el comida, at times posted even on social media, or they take it on the radio and TV to broadcast their complaints. Only to find
the solutions to their complaints which are justified with a valid reason answered to. Unfortunately, if only patience, perseverance was afforded there would be less trouble, and damage done without any apology: culpa di Mayor! First Reading: Is. 56:1 “This is what Yahweh says: Maintain what is RIGHT and Do what is JUST, for my salvation is close at hand, my justice soon to come.” May this verse guide us all in this pandemic starting with everyone in the City Government in the exercise of our functions in delivering SERVICE to the people. We will deliver all that is needed to give our whole hearted service por amor de Ciudad de ZamboangaMuslim, Cristiano y Lumad Ciudadanos. I ask that in like manner as our FRONT LINERS giving their best to the point of exhaustion, government funds exhausted that people respond lovingly like the Mother above; to persist, to pray and persevere. Let us, as one family, STAY SAFE and STAY at home. Be responsible to bring down the numbers. Even if we are under MGCQ, we are all responsible as lives matter. Let us not exhaust energy and resources but contribute to improve the lives of people and save the lives of all we love!
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The Zamboanga Post
August 24-30, 2020
Zamboanga Pictures in the News Local government of Zamboanga City at work. This is where your taxes go. (Photos by Bong Serondo, Eugene Elnar, Carlo Ezer Camins, and Giana Andrion)
August 24-30, 2020
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Zamboanga Pictures in the News
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The Zamboanga Post
August 24-30, 2020
Across : 1. Belly 4. British baby carriage 8. Pub brews 12. Fire remains 13. Loony 14. Not common 15. Zodiac lion 16. ___ transmission 18. Nabs 20. Build 21. Pal (Fr.) 22. Pallid 23. Stairs 30. Lincoln’s nickname 31. Poet’s eternity 33. That female 34. Canvas covers 37. Bank transaction 40. Tuna container 42. Blazing 44. Ill-fated ship 48. Napoleon ___ 50. Picnic beverage 51. Burden 52. Lima or Kidney 53. Male descendant 54. she (Fr.) 55. Highland Scot 56. Computer key
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DILG urges public, LGUs to combat black propaganda Continued from page 1 government,” he added. Zambo Mayor Just recently, supporters of Zamboanga Mayor Beng Climaco branded as “heartless” the trolls and black propagandists, and political foes who continue to malign and defame the local government’s chief executive amid the coronavirus crisis. Even City Hall employees strongly condemned the political and even personal attacks of Climaco. “Bien bueno ya lang gane si Mam Beng. Dol carabao ya gane se ta trabaja desde antes pa hasta ahora, pero el maga ataque con Mam Beng bien terrible, detestable gayod. Lejos pa el ellecion ta destrui ya sila con el persona de Mam Beng,” said one female employee, who asked not to be named for fear of being accused of political partisan. One of Climaco’s old time supporters, Benito San Jose, said trolls and propagandists are believed being used by the mayor’s political foes and taking advantage of the health crisis that has put extreme pressure to the local government in fighting the pandemic and taking care of the welfare of the people.
“Beng has her hands full. She is busy running this government and at the same time fighting this health (crisis), the coronavirus (pandemic) while taking care of Zamboangueños and making sure the disease stops spreading,” San Jose said. “But sad to say, anti-Climaco forces are heartless and they are bent on destroying the mayor because at stake here are the 2022 elections. They are not only heartless, but ruthless. They are political terrorists – these black propagandists and paid trolls are on the offensive now,” he added. Another follower of Climaco, who claimed to have campaigned hard for her the past decade, blamed the mayor for her “forgiving and compassionate” character. “Beng, being a very religious woman and devoted Christian, is very forgiving. Her compassion for other people and her persona are something that others (politicians) do not have, and that is also why she is being abused. Her kindness is being abused and disrespected by her antagonists for their personal gain and political interest,” he said. Last June, Netizens called on Climaco to sue
those defaming and maligning her administration and to file libel charges against trolls and black propagandists besmirching her persona. In posts left on Climaco’s Facebook account, dozens of Netizens defended the hardworking mayor against all criticisms and fake news and false information spread by her foes. Even on Climaco’s Facebook page, trolls and black propagandists leave insulting comments. This after Climaco branded as “very malicious and very dangerous” the false information and fake news being peddled by her foes and political trolls in the middle of the government’s effort to contain the spread of the pandemic. Climaco previously blasted propagandists, who are spreading fake news on social media, particularly on Facebook, and especially on the issue of the rising number of Covid-19 infections and the late releasing of test results by health authorities. “Actualmente este insinuations are very malicious and very dangerous, as Local Chief Executive you do not know what it feels every time I receive a (report of Covid) positive
case. No one would want to endanger Zamboanga City, aquellos que tiene malicioso pensamiento que ta pensa que ta queda kita alegre na maga caso positivo is very dangerous. Poreso gane este maga tiempo mas bueno pa si concentra ya lang kita na de atun trabaho imbes de hace calayat maga false information.” “We are really praying that every Zamboangueño be healed because if every Zamboangueño is healed then Zamboanga City will be able to recover. Stop insinuating and stop accusing (and) let us work together for the benefit of Zamboanga City,” Climaco said. Probe Even DILG Secretary Eduardo Año was not spared by propagandists after a malicious “meme” on social media claimed that he wants couple living together to practice social distancing after
having sex. Año vowed to go after individuals and groups who continue to spread the meme on social media and has ordered the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group to conduct the probe and file the necessary charges and to teach those behind the fake news a lesson. He also condemns the use of social media as a platform to proliferate malicious and false information. “There is no truth to the recent statement in circulating on social media about practicing distancing after sex,” Año stressed. “We at the DILG are not inclined to make such false and malevolent claim or neither will we tolerate them,” he added, noting that those behind the false social media post “impugn the institution’s credibility and undermine the progress we have thus far accomplished in the
fight for Filipino survival (amid the pandemic).” Año said the DILG will investigate the matter at hand and will go after the propagators of fake news with renewed intensity. The controversial meme showed a photo of Año with a caption: “After mag-sex, dapat may distancing din.” Año said the original photo showed him calling for social distancing inside residences because there is no assurance that those living together in one house are all negative from the highly-infectious coronavirus. “In these troubling times, we at the DILG believe that the right step to healing and recovery is not through divisive and disparaging means. Rather, we must all put our best foot forward and unite as a nation to establish mutual trust between government and the citizenry,” he said. (Zamboanga Post)
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August 24-30, 2020
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Over 500 recover from Covid in Zambo
Z
AMBOANGA CITY has recorded over 500 cases of Covid-19 which recovered from the deadly respiratory disease since the start of the pandemic in March, Mayor Beng Climaco said. Climaco, who heads the said while the number of pa- fresh Covid-19 cases are also local task force on Covid-19, tients recovering is increasing, spiking due to returning locally
Hurrah for the Crystal Land Homeowners Association!
Zamboanga Housing and Land Management Division Chief Rodrigo Pagotaisidro hands over a cheque worth over P969,000 to Ernesto Perez, the registered landowner of the 11,433 square meter property located in Sitio Lumbayao in Zambowood intended for dozens of underprivileged beneficiaries of the Crystal Land Homeowners Association. (Claudine Uniana) THE ZAMBOANGA City government has paid in full a lot in Barangay Zambowood for dozens of underprivileged beneficiaries of the Crystal Land Homeowners Association (HOA), Inc. The Housing and Land Management Division (HLMD) of the City Mayor’s Office handed over cheque amounting over P 969, 000 to Ernesto Perez, the registered landowner of the 11,433 square meter property located in Sitio Lumbayao. The payment represented the balance for the lot eyed to benefit 52 beneficiaries, according to HLMD Chief Rodrigo Pagotaisidro, who personally handed over the cheque. Pagotaisidro said the
amount covers the remaining balance of the full cost of the lot which totalled to P 4.8 million. “The check was financed by the Social Housing Finance Corporation,” he said, adding, the payment was witnessed by its regional officer, Gina Lumbre, and Crystal Land HOA President Leslie Lang. The land acquisition was realized through the Community Mortgage Program (CMP), a component of the local government’s social housing program that aims to help qualified beneficiaries in the low-income bracket. The Crystal Land HOA is registered with the Department of Human Settlement and Urban Development (formerly the
Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board) on February 16, 2016. It was organized by HLMD on October 7, 2015 and Crystal Land HOA will be paying the SHFC through monthly amortization at 6% interest for a 25year period. The City Government thru its Housing and Land Management Division as project mobilizer of CMP projects is closely monitoring the activities of the community association in order to sustain the high collection efficiency of the city. High collection efficiency will enable other underprivileged residents to also become beneficiaries of this program. (Claudine Uniana and Zamboanga Post)
stranded individuals and overseas workers afflicted by the virus, and community transmission. She said Zamboanga still has more than 300 active Covid-19 cases with at least 3 dozen mortalities since March. “The over 500 Covid recoveries represent a 56% recovery rate for Zamboanga City and it is a positive development because of the effective health system in place,” Climaco said. Zamboanga’s total Covid-19 cases are more than 900 since March. Climaco said as part of the “whole of government” approach to tackle the pandemic and more effective reporting of Covid statistics, the local government will soon launch a dedicated site for all related data. She said the local government will put up the Zamboanga City Covid-19 Data Center and it will be a one-stop repository
and online tracker that will synchronize and centralize Covid-19 management data such as real-time updates for confirmed coronavirus cases, testing numbers, case mapping in barangays, and other relevant information. The online tracker, according to the mayor, will also highlights up-to-date count of confirmed and suspected Covid-19 cases, including the breakdown of cases according to type, identification, sex, age and status. “It will also have data and figures for the occupancy status of quarantine and isolation facilities and private and public hospitals as well as the inventory of equipment, supplies and PPEs in hospital establishments,” she said, adding, a contact tracing form and a database of all Covid-19 related executive orders will also be made accessible to the public. Climaco said the Zamboanga City Covid-19 Data Center is
part of the local government’s continued efforts to fight the spread of the disease in all fronts, and ensuring the dissemination of relevant, timely, and important information amid the spread of fake news and false information this time of crisis. She said the project is a joint undertaking of the Computer Services Division of the Office of the City Mayor, the Research, Evaluation and Statistics Division of the Office of the City Planning and Development Coordinator, and the Surveillance Unit of the Office of the City Health Officer. The technical assistance in the development of the tracker is also provided by the Ateneo De Zamboanga University, the National Resilience Council and the Local Government of Baguio City. (Zamboanga Post and Jasmine Mohammadsali)
Zamboanga City health workers on the front line of Covid battle. (Zamboanga Post)
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