Climaco orders halt, probe of

Climaco orders halt, probe of

Patalon quarrying operations

ZAMBOANGA CITY, July 01 (ZNS) -Mayor Maria Isabel Climaco Salazar on Thursday ordered a stop of all illegal quarrying operations in Pulang Lupa in barangay Patalon and at the same directed City Legal officer Atty. Jesus Carbon to conduct a thorough investigation of said activities.

This, as the mayor personally saw the destruction in the environment resulting from extensive quarrying activities sans the necessary permits. The trees on the mountainside are almost uprooted and the water from the river exits through the narrow waterways.

Together with Zamboanga Economic Zone and Freeport Authority Chairman Christopher Arnuco, Patalon barangay chairman Gaudencio Rojas and Labuan Police Station Commander PSI Raymond Sanson trekked the hilly and rocky road to Pulang Lupa in barangay Patalon in the wake of complaints from barangay residents and Zambo ecozone about rampant quarrying activities in the area.

 “Por medio de capitan, ta ordena yo que suspende anay todo operacion aqui hasta hace propio investigacion si Judge Jesus Carbon para puede quita hace el lo que debe,” the mayor said citing the massive destruction wrought by the quarrying activities in the area.

She likewise ordered the Labuan Police Chief to station police personnel in the area to monitor quarrying activities and to apprehend those who would continue to engage in such activities. The presence of heavy equipment in the area speaks volumes of the extent of quarrying activities being done thereat.

Mayor Climaco stressed that the destruction caused by illegal quarrying threatens the safety of the residents particularly the young children. “Mio orden con Judge Carbon is to make appropriate investigation as we suspend the operations.”

The City Government has not issued permits nor renewed the permits of any individual to conduct quarrying activities in the area which, according to the Ecozone officials is part of their jurisdiction, according to the mayor. “I am for the total protection of the environment y nuay quita dale licensia.”

Patalon Chairman Rojas said he will also assign barangay tanods to guard the area  to ensure that no further destruction will take place. He said the need to suspend quarrying operations is very crucial.

Together with personnel from the City Environment and Natural Resources Officer, Rojas said, the Barangay Council last April also visited the area and ordered the suspension of operations. “They (those engaged in quarrying) were asking for the renewal of their permits but they were told to do some rehabilitation before they can apply for renewal. The call (for rehabilitation) was unheeded and the destruction was aggravated.

Earlier Thursday morning, members of the City Council with City Environment and Natural Resources Officer Engr. Rey Gonzales dialogued with Ecozone and barangay officials and residents in the area. (ZNS)

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Orendain resigns as city administrator

Orendain resigns as city administrator

June 22, open to new position if given

ZAMBOANGA CITY, July 01 (ZNS) -City Administrator Antonio Orendain Jr. has submitted to the city mayor his resignation as City Administrator  last June 22.

City Mayor Maria Isabel Climaco Salazar  has confirmed this resignation by saying that Orendain will serve this post only up to end of the month of June.

Orendain is a regular employee of the city government and while he resigned his position as city administrator, it is up to the mayor to assign him to another position.

“We can’t be there forever. We worked for Zamboanga,” said  Orendain, Jr.

Orendain who served the city of Zamboanga for the past years under  several Local Chief Executive way back  from the Late Mayor Maria Clara “Caling “ L. Lobregat  said that  as far as he is concerned  “I am resigning , it is up for the  Mayor Maria Isabelle “Beng”  Climaco Salazar.”

It will be recalled that the resignation of Orendain came after   the Civil Service Commission (CSC)  questioned his  eligibility to occupy the position.

According to Orendain,  there is no problem if and when Mayor Climaco Salazar will appoint him in another capacity aside from City administrator.

What is important, he said , is that   he served and worked for the city of Zamboanga  for  the past years .

Orendain said that after he handed his resignation letter to the mayor, She told him; “ “ I will talk to you.” (ZNS)

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COA blocks “soft opening” of Divisoria

COA blocks “soft opening” of Divisoria

Integrated Bus Terminal less overpass

ZAMBOANGA CITY, July 01 (ZNS)- The Commission on Audit (COA) has stopped the planned the soft opening of the multimillion peso Integrated Bus Terminal at Divisoria barangay on account of its unfinished overpass.

City Administrator Antonio Orendain Jr said the  City Government can not open “partially” the Integrated Bus Terminal (IBT) minus the overpass that is still unfinished  to  June 30,2015 as scheduled .

Administrator Orendain  Jr. said that  the COA denied   the city plan for the partial opening of the IBT  since it the entire project is not yet 100 percent (100% ) complete.

Although the IBT  building is 100 % completed the contractor has not completed the overpass that would allow people to cross the street to and from the IBT.

According to Orendain,  The COA has ruled that the project should be  100 percent (100%)  complete before it can be opened to the public .

“Mandated del COA no pwede abri partial , “ Orendain said.

“All the while we thought that because  the building is completed pwede ya usa. Nuay kita pensa  it will happen that way , “ Orendain  added.

As this developed, Orendain said that they already met with contractor  and the City Engineer’s Office headed by Engr. Luis Vicente Despalo to expedite the  completion of the  “over pass” with in a period of one (1) month.

Orendain said that  they need about P 240,000  which is not provided in the contract on the Zamcelco line  that hamper the over pass.

Orendain said that  they already made the estimate on that matter.

In other development, Orendain said that  in as far as the building is concern  everything is completed except for some additional improvement like  to put a grills on the windows .

Orendain also said that about 50’s personnel will be deployed for the operations of the IBT  made up by , some 40’s  on “job order”  personnel as man power, five (5) foreman and five (5) operators for the CCTV cameras. (ZNS) 

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Elago says probe on barrio captain cases will continue

ZAMBOANGA CITY (ZNS) -Notwithstanding its defeat by a technicality, the city council Committee on Good Government will continue its investigation against alleged anomaly in the barangay government of Talon Talon.

City Councilor Juan Kim Elago said that there is the possibility that the guilty person will be terminated from the service if found guilty of grave misconduct  and dishonesty,”.

Elago said that while   the motion  to suspend on a “preventive suspension “ for a period  of 60 days  to Talon Talon Barangay Chairman  Teodiver Arquiza was defeated by a minority number at the city council, the Committee on Good Government will continue .

Elago  voted in favor of a move to suspend a but was outvoted by others in the city council.

Elago said that there really is a case and appealed to fellow councilors to follow  due process  as the recommendation of the Committee on Good Government  for a  preventive suspension is not yet the verdict.

He said that councilors should not allow themselves to be emotionally be involved in the case.

 “Numa tiene emotion , sigi conel ley, “Elago  said .

According to Elago,  the decision of the members of the council  as to whether they are in favor or not or abstained  is  “their own decision and they are responsible and answerable to the public  for that matter .”

Elago further  appeals to his colleagues    to observe “good governance  “  and not to put mal-practices  that if there is   graft and corruption  involving sum of money – there must be “transparency .”

“Dale kita  mira que el consejo  hende  emocional siendo kwanto del  maga consehales   ya keda  tamen un capitan y kagawads  na diila barangay, “

Elago said .

“That’s the reason  y pesao para man suspend – grande  efecto, “ Elago added

 (Letty M. Militante ) (112814)

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Seven councilors outvoted by six in move to suspend barrio official

ZAMBOANGA CITY (ZNS) -Strange as it may seem, majority was not the rule when the councilors voted on a proposed resolution to impose a preventive suspension order on a barangay official of Talon Talon whose case was brought to the City Council Committee on Good Government.

 “I am mandated to perform  my job’” Councilor  Melchor “Mel” Saddain said.

Saddain  who chairs  the Committee on Good Government  together with four (4)  other members  said that , they failed to get the majority of vote of eight  (8) .

How did this happened and where did the “majority rule” characteristics of democratic institution came into play in the case?

The councilors who voted in favor  for a “preventive suspension “  were  Councilors  Rommel, Agan, Myra Paz Abubbakar ,  Juan Kim Elago,  Jawo Jimenez,  Ismael Musa, Percival Ramos  and   Mel Saddain.

They made up a total of seven votes.

Those who voted against the “preventive suspension” were Councilors  Vincent Paul Elago , Charlie Mariano , Roel Natividad, Jerry Perez, Eddie Saavedra  and Rudy Bayot .

They made up a total of six votes.

It appeared that under the city council rule for a majority of the 16 member city council, the votes should have at least reached  8 votes as a majority to carry a resolution or a decision.

Councilor Noning Biel  abstained  while three (3) others,  Councilors  Gerky Valesco, VG Guingona and Mike Alavar were absent on official travel.

Sadain said that  it his job though it is  hard and or difficult  but it is  part of the procedural process  based on documentary  evidence  and witnesses resistance .

“Duele man , trabaho lang, “ Sadain said .

As this developed, Sadain said he will still respect the decision  of the members of the City Council .

The committee  on Good Government chairs by Saddain included  Co-Chairman Charlie Mariano with members , Councilor Myra Paz Abubakar , Councilor Percival Ramos and Councilor VG Guingona  whom  only three signed for the recommendation.

Only three councilors signed the recommendation, namely Ramos,  , Guingona  and Sadain and who opted to  present the preventive suspension resolution  so as not to influence   the testimonies of the witnesses  and for the committee to  be able to get hold  of the original documents  in the course of their  investigation .

Councilor Charlie  Mariano and  Myra Paz Abubakar were out  for travel at the time  to sign the recommendation for a  preventive suspension .

Saddain added that the committee is saddled with two complaitns.

The first case has 17 complainants wjhile the second case has only three complainants.

Saddain said that  actually  the committee already received the referral coming from  the Ombudsman  which then  has referred to the councilor  committee .

“We are  just waiting  the answers from the respondents.  “Sadain  said .

The time frame for the respondents to answer  summon  on  the case filed against them is good for fifteen days upon received thereof. (Letty M. Militante) (112814)  

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Mayor orders police crackdown Against motorcycle drag racers

ZAMBOANGA CITY (ZNS) -Police authorities Sunday dawn impounded 9 motorcycles and a luxury vehicle and their drivers issued with citation tickets and temporary operator’s permits (TOPS) for alleged involvement in the illegal drag racing activity in major streets downtown.

This, as Mayor Beng Climaco ordered an intensified drive against drag racers due to persisting complaints concerning the illegal activity. Areas specified in the complaints include Veterans Avenue near the vicinity of the Zamboanga Doctor’s Hospital and San Jose Gusu.

Public Safety Company Commander PSupt. Ariel Huesca said discreet mobile patrols conducted by his team along Veterans Avenue between 1am-3:30am Sunday (Nov. 23) yielded 9 motorcycles and a Nissan Terrano, the driver of which was suspected to be one of the bettors in the said race. In addition, the PSC team issued 12 citation tickets and 2 TOPs.7 of the nine motorcycles were involved in drag racing.

Mayor Climaco said the campaign against drag racers should be unrelenting given the hazards it pose not only to the people involved in the activity but also to other motorists.

In his report to Mayor Climaco, Huesca said his men, for several times, engaged the drag racers in a chasing incident from Veterans Avenue to Tetuan and the adjacent streets but would not pin down the daring culprits as they might be involved in an accident.

On numerous occasions, last Sunday, the drag racers came close to hitting the islands and posts in the Sta. Cruz area due as they are being chased. They would not also stop even if chasing policemen were able to get hold of the motorcycle’s rear angle guard, according to Huesca.

In the last 4 months, two drag racers ended up in the intensive care unit due to a chasing incident with Huesca’s team during anti-drag race operations in San Jose Gusu and Nunez extension.

Most if not all of the drag racers are teen-agers and young adults. They usually strike past midnight, when policemen are out of the streets. With the engines of their modified motorcycle units revving, they square off in streets for as fast as 12 seconds, amidst bettors and spectators.

Huesca assured that the crackdown against drag racing will be a continuing activity stressing that City Police Director Col. Angelito Casimiro has instructed the PSC to focus operations on drag racing activities.

Meanwhile, Huesca clarified that people involved in drag racing cannot be apprehended as it is merely a traffic violation and is sanctioned by administrative fines under Republic Act 4136. However, if they are caught in the act of betting, people can be arrested for violation of anti-gambling law. On the other hand, offenders who engage policemen in a chasing incident, if collared, can be charged for disobedience to a lawful order or agent or person in authority. (Sheila Covarrubias)  (112814)

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Anti-jay walking drive steps up

ZAMBOANGA CITY (ZNS) City Administrator Antonio Orendain, Jr. said the anti-jay campaign which started Monday has been gaining success as most people are learning to use the pedestrian lanes when crossing the streets downtown.

Orendain explained that the campaign was not intended to make money for the city government, but to educate the people, especially the young ones, in observing traffic and pedestrian rules and regulations.

He said the anti-jay walking campaign was prescribed in the ordinance, thus there was no need for the city government or the police to inform the public before its implementation.

The city administrator, however, admitted the city government did not religiously implement the ordinance because it was observing that most of the people downtown are using the pedestrian lanes when crossing the streets.

“We observed that at least 80% to 85% of the people downtown are using the pedestrian lanes, so we did not implement the ordinance for so long as there was no immediate need for it. We concentrated on another work,” Orendain explained.

He said an average of 120 violators is apprehended every day since Monday, and most of them are students and transients who were not aware of the anti-jay walking ordinance. “Those who really are from the city observe the jay-walking.”

“We are also doing this so that when people go to big cities like Manila and Cebu they will no longer be apprehended there for jay walking,” Orendain said.

He advanced the information though that the anti-jay walking campaign cannot be sustained because there are other things or work that the police and city personnel will have to do. “So, we are appealing to our people to make it a habit to use the pedestrian lanes with or without apprehension.”

Violators are asked to do community services for at least one hour or pay a fine of P100 each. (Vic Larato) (112814)

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City gov’t sees delay in Dec. 15 deadline for full transfer of IDPs

ZAMBOANGA CITY (ZNS) Following questions posed on the quality of housing units for the internally displaced persons (IDPs) resulting from the September 2013 siege, Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar said their transfer to transitory shelters will go beyond the Dec. 15 deadline.

“It would be quite considerable to be slow in the construction as long as the housing units are of good quality than to rush things up just to meet the deadline and end up compromising the quality of the shelters,” Climaco explained adding “the city cannot meet the Dec. 15 deadline to move all IDPs out of the Joaquin Enriquez Memorial Sports Complex.”

“We can be slow as long as we are sure that the housing units we will give to the IDPs are of good quality. We have to make sure of quality more than meeting the deadline,” She pointed out.

Mayor Climaco said, of the 2,086 IDPs still occupying the grandstand since last year, the most that the city can do is to move out 380 families on or before the December 15 deadline.

The Mayor even expressed her desire of having permanent shelters already constructed for the remaining IDPs at the grandstand rather than spend money for temporary shelters then later to permanent homes.

“We want to relieve the IDPs with the burden of transferring from grandstand to temporary shelters then to their permanent homes,” Mayor Climaco said. 

It can be recalled, the national government has set Dec. 15, 2014 as the deadline for the clearing of the grandstand and full transfer of IDPs. By Jocelyn P. Alvarez  ( PIA IX) (112514)

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Right of Way owners OK sale of lots for Camins-Ramos road

ZAMBOANGA CITY (ZNS) -  At  least 50 lot owners possessing properties along the propoed road from Governor Camins to Gov. Ramos passing through Centro Pastoral have agreed to the sale of these properties to the city government.

City Engineer Luis Vicente  Despalo said these lot owners have already met with the mayor and other local officials to settle the right of way problems.

The 50’s lot owners  have already given  their  approval   with the road opening wherein payments for that lots is now at the office of the City Legal Office .

Despalo  said that as soon as everything is set particularly the payments for the lot owners affected , the office will immediately  implement the project for opening of the  road.

The project is expected to be completed in a  a year’s time.

Despalo said that   under the plan  for the road opening , it will have a width of 20 meters  and will stretch fro 1.2 kilometers from both ends at Camins and Ramos avenues. (Letty Militante) (112514)

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Now it’s Final: Chavacano must be spelled with a “V”

ZAMBOANGA CITY (ZNS) -  The following is the full text of what agreed among educators after the  three-day Chavacano Orthography Congress was held  Nov 19-21. The first  two days included presentation by researchers on Chavacano, mostly results from surveys conducted among selected respondents in the city.  On the third day  the newly organized Chavacano Orthography Council met language and Department of Education officials  and agreed on the following items: The items will form part of the guiding principles in the Chavacano Orthography that will be formulated and serve as the basis for preserving, propagating and development of the Chavacano in Zamboanga.

Summary of Points Agreed:

·        Etymological approach will be used for spelling of words. (This means that words of Spanish Origin should be spelled in Spanish and words from other dialects, that became a part of Chavacano, should be spelled in the particular local dialect of origin)

·        “Chavacano” must be spelled with “V”.

·        Alphabet that will be used consists of 5 vowels and 24 consonants. (refer to DepEd’s list)

·        Words whose etymology can be traced to an original dialect or language should be spelled and pronounced like the original

·         Coined words should be spelled as they are heard or pronounced.

6. Rules regarding accent of words:

·        Words that end in a vowel, n or s, have the stress on the penultimate (next to last) syllable. For example, toro, limonada, joven and zapatos. 

·        Words that end in other letters have the stress on the last syllable. For example, hotel, doctor ciudad, matador and virtud.

·        If a word isn't pronounced according to the above two rules, an accent is placed over the vowel of the syllable that gets the stress. For example, común, lápiz, inglés, and ojalá.

·        Written accents are also used to differentiate between words that are pronounced the same but have different meanings:

si - if
sí - yes

tu - your
tú – you

ole- to smell

olê- to repeat

  7.  When words are borrowed from other languages, rules used in the original languages must apply

·          Repeated words are hyphenated.  Example is “bira-bira”

·         Words should be spelled using English letter names.

·         Science and math retain their technical terms.  Example are photosynthesis, pi, square root, cosmos,

The congress was sponsored by the Office of the City Mayor and the Ateneo de Zamboanga University Language Department. The activity was led by Dr. Genaro Yap Aizon PhD, Executive Assistant on Education, Culture,  Arts and History.

The group will draft the Official Orthography of Chavacano in Zamboanga to be approved by the City Government and henceforth will guide the propagation, preservation and development of the Language. (ZNS)(112514)

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