Mariano stays at city
council, Vice Mayor
Vice Mayor Cesar Iturralde
yesterday said that City Councilor Charlie Mariano is still at the city
council despite an earlier announced en banc resolution of the Commission on
Elections (Comelec) to diaqualify him from running for the position in last
years general elections.
Ituralde said the Sangguniang
Panglungsod has not yet received a copy
of the said resolution from the
Commission on Election (Comelec).
In an interview, Iturralde
said that actually Mariano was still present in yesterday session
September 18, 2017.
Iturralde said that
there is no official information yet from COmelec .
“Nuay, he still here, he is
present , “ Iturralde said.
The City Council actually
moved their regular session for today, Tuesday, September 19, 2017 to
yesterday September 18, 2017.
There will be no quorum at
the city council today as most of the
City Councilors will attend the Councilors League meeing in Davao City.
Iturralde said that while
there is still no official information coming from Comelec , Mariano can
still attend the session of the City Council.
The Comelec will be the one
who will implement the en banc resolution . (Letty M. Militante )
Grandstand completion
eyed for end of October
The Department of Public
Works and Highway –IX ( DPWH 9 ) expects to complete the repair of the Joaquin
F. Enriquez Memorial Sports Complex (JFEMSC) by the end of
October in this current year 2017.
DPWH 9 Project Engineer
Shadimer Jalaidi said that the earlier announced completion date has to
be extended due to delays in the arrival
of materials particular the rubber oval materials.
Jalaidi said that if
the materials arrived on time it could have been completed in time of the
celebration for the Zamboanga Hermosa Festival 2017.
Jalaidi said that this rubber
in the oval is the major parts of all things in the JFEMSC.
He said that the rubber in
the oval plays a big accomplishment to complete the project.
AS of presstime , Jalaidi
said that the completion of the JFEMSC is already at 90 percent (90%) .
In other related
development, the supposed to be earlier completion of the JFEMSC could
have been used for the ZHF 2017.
. (Letty M. Militante )
DILG says Comelec’s Mariano
decision not final and executory
The Department of Interior
and Local Government (DILG) said that the decision of the Commission on
Election (COmelec) disqualifying the candidacy of Councilor Charlie Mariano
during the May 2016 is not yet final and executory .
DILG City Director Mohammad
Arakama said that as off presstime
the decision of the Commission on
Election (COmelec) disqualifying the candidacy of Councilor Charlie Mariano
during the May 2016 is not yet final and executory .
“The decision of the
Comelec is not yet final and executory, “ Arakama said .
Under the Local Government
Code, Arakama said that the there is the power to whom to change in the
case of Mariano.
“Tiene poder cun quien
cambia, “ Arakama said referring to the party of the . Laban ng Demokratikong
Pilipino (LDP) .
Arakama said that the
one to succeed has to be nominated by the highest political
chairman which is the LDP where Mariano belongs.
Arakama also sadi that
it is the Comelec that will implement the En Banc resolution. (Letty M.
Militante )
'Alaga Ka’ caravans kick off
The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) is conducting series of caravans to inform the public, especially the indigents, on the programs and benefits of the agency.The caravan, dubbed as “Alaga Ka” or PhilHealth Alamin at Gamitin para sa Kalusugan 2017, is being held in the different parts of the region.
Philip Cataylo of PhilHealth regional office on Saturday said the caravans focus on members of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
Cataylo said among the topics that will be discussed during the caravan are how to avail of the benefits of the agency and its new programs.
He said the schedule of the caravan in Zamboanga City are as follows: September 19, Barangays Sta. Maria and Canelar; September 21, Vitali and Curuan; September 26, Talon-Talon and Sta. Catalina; September 28, Guiwan and Tetuan; October 3, Manicahan and Sangali; and, October 5, Mercedes and Tumaga.
He said they have coordinated with the barangay officials and other concerned agencies to ensure widest reach of the caravan. (PNA)
Zambo sets 1st
Lechon Festival
- The city government is staging the first-ever lechon festival to showcase and promote the local roasted pig products.The event, dubbed as the 1st Asao Lechon Festival, will be held on October 5 at the Paseo del Mar, this city.
Raquel Rosaline Galdo, administrative officer of the Office of the City Veterinarian (OCVet), on Saturday said that 11 “lechoneros” have confirmed to join the event.
Lechoneros locally refers to businessmen engaged in the sale of roasted pig and cow.
Galdo said two awards, namely “best lechon presentation” and “best lechon taste,” will be given to the winning participant.
She said the audience at the event will be allowed to have a free taste of the participants’ roasted pig during the festival.
She said the 1st Asao Lechon Festival will form part of the activities of the 2017 Zamboanga Hermosa Festival.
The Hermosa Festival reels off October 1 and its highlight is on October 12, the feast day of Our Lady of the Pillar, the most revered saint of this city. (PNA)\
Anti-drug ops net
10 in Zamboanga
Local police authorities have arrested 10 drug personalities and seized packs of illegal drugs as the anti-drug campaign has continued without letup in this city, an official said Friday.Chief Insp. Helen Galvez, Police Regional Office-9 (PRO-9) information officer, said the suspects were arrested on Thursday in different parts of this city.
Galvez identified the suspects as: Hasim Silan, 29; Alhamid Mohammad, 46; Phillip Jayson Jayari, 30; Leo Hurryfil Villarin, 22; Dulmin Awod, 27; Jemar Lindit, 27; Isa Undin, 40; Roostone Mark Nealega, 29; Julkipli Jammang, 27; and, Eutiquio Tanglao, 35.
She said confiscated from the suspects were packs of shabu with an estimated market value of PhP26,100, marked money and illegal drug paraphernalia.
She said that appropriate charges are set to be filed against the arrested drug personalities, who are now detained.
She said the intensified anti-drug campaign is in line with the declaration of war against illegall drugs of President Rodrigo Duterte.
So far, the Barangay Anti Drug Abuse Council (Badac) announced that one barangay in this city has been cleared of illegal drugs as of Monday, September 11. (PNA)
Public warned vs
“satanic rosary”
The Archdiocese of Zamboanga has warned the public against the circulation and sale of “satanic rosary” that may bring bad luck to its owner.The archdiocese issued the warning after it was discovered that the rosary has been circulating and sold to the public in different parts of the country.
“In buying rosary, they should look for the design of the cross and the beads should be complete,” Fr. Marciano Villagracia, Archdiocese of Zamboanga spokesperson, on Friday said.
Villagracia said the "satanic rosary" contradicts the genuine one, which has proven effective in seeking divine intervention.
“The rosary is being prayed by Catholics to get closer to God through the blessed Virgin Mary,” he said.
He said the "satanic rosary," which is being distributed by satanist, is often made of plastic and with a snake wrapped around the cross, a pentagram, and a sun with rays which is an insignia of the illuminati.
He advised the public to properly dispose it should they happen to receive "satanic rosary." (PNA)
Security measures up
for Hermosa Festival
Police and military authorities have readied security plan to ensure the peaceful and orderly celebration of the 2017 Zamboanga Hermosa Festival.This, as the city government has lined up activities to mark this year’s festival, the highlight of which is the feast day of Our Lady of the Pillar on October 12, the most revered saint of this city.
Policemen and soldiers will be deployed in strategic areas to thwart any attempt by lawless elements to disrupt the celebration.
On Friday, Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar issued Executive Order No. 294-2017, which specifies measures that are prohibited to be used and bring in the venues of the different activities as part of the security measures.
Salazar’s EO prohibits the use of hooded jacket, baseball, backpacks and parking of all types of vehicles in all venues of the activities.
The Zamboanga Hermosa Festival will kick-off with the Smoke Out Zamboanga, a grilled food fiesta, and the Grand Midnight Sale on September 30.
It will be followed by the inter-barangay bandoreal competition and pink parade on the following day.
There will be also daily novena mass from October 3 to 11 at the Fort Pilar shrine.
The other activities will include Regatta, parade of lights, street dance competition and fiesta main program and the grand procession.
On the other hand, the City Council has passed a resolution seeking to “relax” the implementation of the National Helmet Law within the eight-kilometer radius of this city.
The resolution takes effect Friday, September 15, until October 31.
The aim of the City Council is to prevent possible atrocities by motorcycle-riding lawless elements.
The feast of Our Lady of the Pillar draws thousands of visitors, including foreigners, into this city every October. (PNA)
Lobregat explains vote
on CHR’s P1K budget
-- Second District Rep. Celso Lobregat on Thursday explained his decision why he supported the position of the House of Representatives’ leadership to just allocate PhP1,000 budget to the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) for the year 2018.Lobregat said the CHR has to prove its worth and impartiality in the conduct of investigation on alleged human rights violations by the enemies of the state and “not to pin down the law enforcers, like policemen and soldiers who maintain peace and order and defending the country.”
Lobregat noted the CHR did not take actions on human rights violations committed by the terrorists and rebels such as in the case of the 2013 Zamboanga siege, the 2015 Mamasapano incident and the Marawi siege.
He also cited that the beheading of soldiers and kidnappings in Mindanao are among the human rights violations committed by terrorists and rebels that were not acted upon by the CHR.
He added that “the issue here is not about the agency itself, but about the position and functions of the head of CHR and its personnel who are reportedly getting bias with the judgment on the present intensified campaign against drugs by the Duterte administration.” (PNA)
240 R9 barangays
declared drug-free
-- A total of 240 of the 1,750 drug-affected barangays had been cleared of illegal drugs brought about by the government’s relentless campaign in Region 9, a top police official announced Thursday.Chief Supt. Billy Beltran, Police Regional Office-9 (PRO-9) director, said the 240 villages were declared by the Barangay Anti-Drug Council (Badac) as cleared of illegal drugs as of Monday, September 11.
Beltran said the Zamboanga del Sur Provincial Police Office (ZDSPPO) has the highest number of illegal drugs cleared barangays at 111.
It is followed by Zamboanga del Norte Provincial Police Office (ZDNPPO) with 103 cleared barangays; Zamboanga Sibugay Provincial Police Office (ZSPPO) with 25; Zamboanga City Police Office (ZCPO), one; and, Isabela City Police Office (ICPO), zero.
Beltran disclosed that 618 of the 1,750 drug affected barangays are in Zamboanga del Norte.
He said the other drug affected barangays are in the following areas: Zamboanga del Sur, 613; Zamboanga Sibugay, 377; Zamboanga City, 97; and, Isabela City, 45.
There are 1,904 barangays in the region and these are: Zamboanga del Norte, 691; Zamboanga del Sur, 681; Zamboanga Sibugay, 389; Zamboanga City, 98; and, Iabela City, 45.
Beltran said 154 of the 1,904 barangays are listed by the BADAC as drug unaffected barangays, namely: Zamboanga del Norte, 73; Zamboanga del Sur, 68; Zamboanga Sibugay, 12; Zamboanga City, one; and, Isabela City, zero. (TPGJR/PNA)
Housing project for Zambo
siege victims almost done
The National Housing Authority (NHA) is expected to complete the construction by December the original housing units, including the additional houses, under the Zamboanga City Roadmap to Recovery and Reconstruction (Z3R).Z3R is the government blueprint for the reconstruction of areas damaged by the 21-day September 2013 Zamboanga siege.
Al-Khwarizmi Indanan, NHA district manager, said they have reached 93 percent completion in the construction of houses in the original target and 70 to 80 percent in terms of awarding of the housing units to the beneficiaries as of September 7, this year.
“We are almost done with the original target of the Z3R and the only projects left are Vale Vista 4 and Ayer Village 3 which are just additional projects requested by the city government and the Local Inter-Agency Committee (LIAC),” Indanan said.
He said that originally, there are over 6,000 housing units dispersed in 18 housing packages for construction by the NHA under the Z3R.
He said that over 4,000 units of the total number of houses have already been turned over while the others are scheduled for turnover soon.
He said the end of December is the new timeline set for the full completion and awarding of the remaining additional projects.
Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar is confident the NHA can fulfill its commitment to finish all the projects including the additional housing units on or before the end of this year.
City government records showed that 29 percent of the total number of internally displaced persons or approximately 1,800 have remained in the transitory sites or residing in private homes.
More than 100,000 people were displaced in the September 2013 siege.
The siege broke out on September 9, 2013 when hundreds of Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) members loyal to MNLF founding-chair Nur Misuari infiltrated at least five coastal barangays of this city. (PNA)
PhilHealth cares for
elderly population
The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) recognizes the importance of taking care of the elderly population thus, affirms its commitment to provide adequate protection for their health needs.“The elderly population needs to be cared for, and your PhilHealth will continue to work hand-in-hand with organizations like the Philippine Society of Geriatrics and Gerontology (PSGG) to make caring for the elderly a stronger advocacy.”
This is the essence of the message imparted by Dr. Israel Francis A. Pargas, PhilHealth’s Head Executive Assistant – Office of the President and CEO and Concurrent OIC – Vice President of the Corporate Affairs Group in a keynote speech during the 5th Annual Convention of the PSGG held recently at the Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria in Quezon City.
This year’s theme, “Saklolo, Saklola”: Problems Updates in Aged Care focuses on older adults who have special health care needs that can make their medical care more complicated. Moreover, there is a need for health care providers to face the challenge of being ready for the demands of the aging population. The PSGG has been the only interdisciplinary organization in the Philippines composed of doctors, nurses, allied medical professions and lay persons providing forum for sharing new information and updates to professionals who provide care for the older persons in society.
Just recently, PSGG is already an official member of the International Association of Geriatric and Gerontology and is also representing the Philippines overseas.
Being the country’s largest purchaser of health care services, PhilHealth is doing its best to take care of the elderly by providing financial risk protection and access to essential health services. While witnessing the growth of the older population in the country, there is also an increasing demand on their health care needs and treatment. Aside from the regular Lifetime members, PhilHealth also responds to the health concerns of senior citizens by automatically enrolling them to the National Health Insurance Program (NHIP) by virtue of R.A. 10645.
An array of hospitalization benefits may be availed of by older adults with more than 4,000 case rate packages made available for the elderly PhilHealth members and their legal dependents. Among the common causes of hospital admissions for older adults are Pneumonia-High Risk (P32,000), Hypertension – Stage II (P9,000), Osteoporosis – Unspecified (P7,900), Osteo-arthritis (P7,000), Other Vascular Dementia (P7,800), Cardiac Arrhythmias (P12,200), Congestive Heart Failure (P15,700), Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (P12,200), Myocardial Infarction (P12,000), Complications of Diabetes Mellitus with other specified complications (P12,600) and Asthma (P9,000).
Pargas reiterated that geriatric health is also among the priorities and is top-of-mind of government. With the latest approval of Administrative Order No. 2017-0001 of the Department of Health entitled Policy Guidelines on the Standards of Care for Older Persons in all Health Care Settings, PhilHealth vows to ensure that these guidelines are considered in accrediting licensed health care facilities.
In an interview, Ramos said that “It’s good news that PhilHealth really works on the benefit packages. And we are happy that acute care is being taken cared of by PhilHealth. But we want it somehow extended in the long term care or outside and that is what we are doing right now.” He also stressed that, “as part of an ageing population, we are considered an ageing population with 6 percent to 8 percent now. Few years from now, it will grow to as high as 12 percent to 15 percent. So tayo ‘yun. We need to be prepared.” He added that, “we are the second wave. But I think, we are on the right track. We just need to help each other.”
With these developments, PhilHealth and PSGG shall closely coordinate together in order to strengthen their partnership in delivering quality health care for the older generation. (PhilHealth)