Lobregat offers self for Mayor position  in Zamboanga

By Letty Militante

 

 

 

“I am here  ready, willing and able serve once more as your mayor,” thus said mayoralty aspirant former Congressman in Daitric 1 Celso L.Lobregat .

In  a mayoral candidates forum held last Saturday,April 9,2022,5^th floor FWS Multi Purpose Hall,Ateneo de Zamboanga University,  wherein six (6)  among the eight (8) candidates appeared,minus Mr. Ephraim Ekong and Mr. Abubakar Barahama,Lobregat manifested the will  to serve as  mayor comes the May 9,2022 national and local .

Lobregat said that his only reason  for running  is to help “Mi cuidad de Zamboanga” who is in crisis, people are sick, people are hungry , many have lost their jobs, businesses affected and many have closed shop.

“I can not turn a blind eye nor turn my back on this crisis and the plight of our people,”Lobregat said.

According to Lobregat, he will lead the city in right direction, healthier, more livable and friendlier.

That, he will lead by example, act with sense  of urgency and govern with compasion.

Lobregat who picked a question something to do with the issues and concerning the problems on traffic congestion  said that if elected as mayor, he will sign an Executive Order for the implementation of two (2) fly over in the city , more barangay roads –particularly the  farm to market roads and opening of new roads. And deals the problems on donations.

Lobregat also said that in as far as tricycle units are concern, there is the exiting ordinance that governed the operations of tricycles.

However, aside from the operation of tricycles,  there is also the operations of the so- called Piaggio that added to the problem of traffic congee stion.

Lobregat said that it takes a political will to .solve traffic problem in the city.

Lobregat together with the other candidates who favor for the establishment or opening  of  a “night market”  said that there should be no curfew especially on those barangays who are viable to have a night markets .(Letty M.Miltante)

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Customs for aggressive

implementation of laws

By Letty Militante

 

 

The  Bureau of Customs  is now fully equip and will expect more apprehensions and more mitigation in this city.

This as, the BOC conducted the launching of the Fast Patrol Boats of the BOC-POZ, turn over ceremony for donation of vessels  & awarding  of stakeholders  and partner agencies held last Friday,April 8,2022 in Madrid Hall 1 ,Palacio del Sur this city.

 

District Collector Segundo Sigmundfreud Z. Barte,Jr. Said that the turn over of two (2) fast patrol boats in addition with two more (2) coming soon for a total of four(4) with a capacity of 150 horse powersaid that the events marks the symbol of cooperation and streghtening partnership with the PNP , Maritime Group and BOC Port of Zamboanga  Thru a deed of donation and acceptance of vessels.

 

That, Barte ,Jr. Said  that BOC is now ready and fully equip of  BOC’s unwavering  implementation of its anti- corruption campaign initiatives  greatly contribute  to the success of the agency in curbing  and rectifying corrupt practices.

 

“Tonight marks another milestone of showing our heartfelt and deepest gratitude to everyoneThat , without the undying support, participation and cooperationsto the  BOC port of Zamboanga , we will never reach this far,”Barte,Jr. Said.

 

With these development, Barte, Jr. said that the BOC  will also need additional personnel to be assignedfrom land to  sea operations.

 

Bases on records, the BOC hits the target quota and even exceeded reaching to 7.7 billion tax collections

From the Php 5.billion in 2020 and Php 6.2 billionin  2021  it exceeded toPhp 7.7  billion, Barte,Jr. Said.

 

Barte,Jr. Said that these  tax collecions mostly came from the importation of fuel – oil coming  from Russia which is the major  supplier in the country.

 

Barte,Jr. Also thanked shipping lines  and the top ten businesses cargoes especially on  those coming from  other ports like in Cagayan de Oro who are discharging their cargoes here in Zamboanga City.

 

Barte ,Jr. Also said that part of the tax collections include the apprehensions of illegal cigarettes and  rice both by land and sea cargoes in closed coordination with the Local Government Unit  of the present administration Mayor Maria Isabelle C. Climaco Salazar.

 

Barter,Jr. BOC implements the inter agency cooperation operations which he started from the present administration like the installation of checkpoints in the city.

 

This Barte, Jr. said that this is in  close coordination with the other line enforcement agencies of the Zamboanga Ciyt Police Offie ,Philippine Coastguard , ESS-CPD,Maritime Group,RMU 9and others.(Letty Militante)

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Zambo City Holy Week destination to open after 2 years

 

The city government is making the necessary preparations for the solemn observance of Holy Week which include the sprucing up of the Abong-Abong Holy Hill in Barangay Pasonanca here, Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar said Saturday.

“It will be opened to the public for the first time since the pandemic started in March 2020,” Salazar said.

Police and barangay officials estimated that some 20,000 Catholic devotees gather every Holy Week at Abong-Abong Holy Hill to pray at the 14 Stations of the Cross at the foot of Mount Pulong Bato.

Salazar said workers of the City General Services Office (CGSO) are currently stepping up its preparations such as painting the different Stations of the Cross, repairing dilapidated roads, and cleaning the surroundings in Abong-Abong.

Salazar is meeting with the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office, police, military, and other concerned offices including the barangay officials of Pasonanca to finalize measures and guidelines for the Holy Week.

Col. Alexander Lorenzo, Zamboanga City Police Office (ZCPO) director, said they will deploy policemen in coordination with the military’s Task Force Zamboanga at Abong-Abong to ensure the solemn observance of the Holy Week.

Lorenzo said security forces will be also deployed in churches and in all areas where religious activities are set to be conducted.

Efigenio Julian Jr., Pasonanca barangay chairperson, said the pattern of security, parking, and traffic flow that will be implemented this year will be similar to that in the previous years.

Just like in the previous years before the pandemic, the use of backpacks, baseball caps, hooded jackets, and bladed weapons will be prohibited at the Holy Hill, Julian said. A liquor ban will also be enforced. 

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9 Zambo City drivers found positive for drug use: PDEA

 

Anti-narcotics agents have found nine public transport drivers positive for illegal drug use in a surprise test held Friday in this city.

Jury Rocamora, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-Zamboanga City Office head, said Saturday they were among the 82 public transport drivers and conductors subjected to a surprise drug test in line with the implementation of “Oplan Harabas”.

Rocamora said the breakdown of drug tests conducted are as follows: bus drivers, 12; conductor, eight; taxi drivers, 18; tricycle drivers, 30; and, Public Utility Jeepney (PUJ) drivers, 14.

"Oplan Harabas" is a nationwide anti-drug program initiated ahead of the Holy Week observance in coordination with the military, police, Land Transportation Office (LTO), and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).

The campaign is aimed to curb vehicular accidents caused by drivers under the influence of illegal drugs.

“Those found positive in the drug test comprise seven taxi drivers, one tricycle driver, and a PUJ driver,” Rocamora said.

He said the results of the drug test were immediately endorsed to the LTO for proper action.

He added they will also endorse those who tested positive for illegal drug use to the City Health Office for proper assessment and intervention. 

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 405 policemen deployed for Zamboanga poll duty

 

At least 405 policemen undergoing specialized training have been deployed to different parts of the Zamboanga Peninsula for election duties.

The police teams include 241 Basic Internal Security Operation Course (BISOC) trainees, 100 Public Safety Basic Recruit Course (PSBRC) trainees, and 64 Reactionary Standby Support Force (RSSF).

The police trainees were turned over Thursday by the Regional Training Center to the Police Regional Office-Zamboanga Peninsula (PRO-9) as part of the security preparations in the region for the May 9 national and local elections.

Maj. Shellamie Chang, PRO-9 information officer, said Friday the policemen will be deployed in Isabela City, Zamboanga Sibugay, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte, and to the RSSF.

“They are now in their respective places of assignment,” Chang said.

“The RSSF personnel will be a ready force to be deployed in areas where the trouble may arise on election day,” she added.

The 64 RSSF members—composed of three police commissioned officers and 61 non-commissioned officers—are personnel assigned at Camp Col. Romeo Abendan, home of the PRO-9 headquarters in Barangay Mercedes here.

Brig. Gen. Franco Simborio, PRO-9 director, reminded the policemen to remain apolitical in carrying out their tasks.

Meanwhile, Chang said that the Regional Joint Security Control Center (RJCC) has yet to review and update the data of the places tagged as election areas of concern in the region.

The RJCC has earlier classified 15 areas in the region under the red category; orange, 14; and yellow, 15.

The red category are election areas of grave concern, while the orange and yellow categories are election areas of immediate concern and election areas of concern, respectively. 

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Vessel rams, destroys 4 houses in Isabela City

 

A local shipping firm's commercial vessel rammed and destroyed four stilt houses and a motorboat in Isabela City, Basilan province, Friday morning amid inclement weather condition.

Uso Dan Salasim, Isabela City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) chief, said villagers managed to rescue an old sick lady from one of the four houses that were destroyed during the incident in Barangay Kaumpurnah Zone 1.

“It’s good that somebody managed to pull her out from one of the damaged houses that was about to be swept by strong current,” Salasim said.

Initial investigation showed the vessel, which came from this city, was on docking maneuver when it was swept by strong current towards the stilt houses at the shore of Barangay Kaumpurnah Zone 1, he said.

He said strong currents were observed in Malamawi channel since Thursday night due to inclement weather spawned by a Low Pressure Area (LPA) and Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ).

In Friday's weather bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the Zamboanga Peninsula and other parts of the country will have cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms.

Possible flash floods or landslides during moderate to at times heavy rains may occur, according to PAGASA.

 

8mmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Zambo City to open P14-M molecular lab

 

The City Health Office (CHO) is set to open the local government's own PHP14 million molecular testing center in Barangay San Roque here.

Dr. Dulce Amor Miravite, city health officer, said Thursday the molecular laboratory will be opened as soon as operations guidelines have been finalized and preparations are completed.

“We have already received our license to operate the molecular laboratory,” Miravite said. “There are logistics preparations that we are doing for the opening anytime in the coming week."

She said the city government-owned testing center can run 300 tests daily.

The molecular laboratory would be the sixth of such facilities to be established in the city as part of the local government’s response to the pandemic.

The other five molecular laboratories are operated by the government-run Zamboanga City Medical Center, the Philippine Red Cross, and private hospitals. 

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Comelec forms

monitoring panel

 

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Zamboanga
city,  in partnership with other government agencies, has organized a committee to monitor campaign violations and guidelines in line with the May 9, 2022 national and local elections.

Lawyer Stephen Roy Cañete, first district election officer, said Wednesday the Comelec campaign committee is composed of representatives from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) – Zamboanga City Office; the City Health Office, the Philippine National Police; and the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Cañete said the DILG – Zamboanga City has tasked barangay officials to monitor campaign activities such as rallies, meetings, and motorcades.

“They (barangay officials) will be the ones who will report about the conduct of campaign activities in their locality,” he said.

He said the monitoring of campaign activities will include compliance with health protocols.

The public is strongly urged to continue practicing minimum health standards such as the wearing of face masks, hand hygiene, and physical distancing although the city has been placed under Alert Level 1 effective March 1.

Meanwhile, Cañete said they will again conduct Operation Baklas together with the city police office on March 25.

Cañete said all oversized campaign materials will be removed, including those placed outside the Comelec-designated common poster areas.  

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 Zambo City suspends

vaccination of children

 

The Zamboanga City Health Office  has temporarily suspended the vaccination of children aged 5 to 11 due to a lack of supply of vaccines against the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

“Once we receive the additional supply, we will resume our activity,” said Dr. Dulce Amor Miravite, city health officer, on Wednesday.

She noted that a total of 13,548 children have so far received their first dose since the vaccination for the particular age group rolled out on February 9.

Miravite said a reformulated Pfizer vaccine brand has been allocated for the youngest pediatric group.

Meanwhile, she said 621,141 individuals representing 69.30 percent of the target population of 896,200 have been fully vaccinated since the vaccination rolled out in March 2021.

She said 530,164 of the 621,141 fully vaccinated individuals were adults while the remaining 90,977 were children aged 12 to 17.

She added that 73,596 adult individuals have received their vaccine booster shots.

She encouraged all the fully vaccinated individuals to get vaccine boosters for added protection against Covid-19.

“This (vaccine booster) will protect us from the severe form of infection,” Miravite said. 

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 Zambo City installs alarm

system for security vehicles

 

The Zamboanga city government is installing an automatic vehicle locator (AVL) on all mobile assets of its security sector, especially those provided by the local government.

The upgrade comes as part of the emergency dispatch system being installed in the command center of the Security and Surveillance Coordinating Office.

Christopher Mandi, command center head, said Tuesday that the AVL is a high-tech system that will become the backbone of a localized emergency hotline that can be accessed via cell phone through a one-push alert button.

Mandi said they are currently completing the installation of 70 AVL on all vehicles the city government has turned over to the security sector.

He said the purchase of vehicles for the security sector was in line with Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar’s commitment to security.

Mandi said to be installed with AVL gadgets are vehicles of the Zamboanga City Police Office, Joint Task Force Zamboanga, Bureau of Fire Prevention, and Emergency Medical Services.

“With the AVL, the command center will have a dashboard (live map) showing the real-time location of all the security assets, to include motorcycles,” he said.

In the dispatch of emergency services, Mandi said the vehicle nearest to the place of the incident will respond and the system will even suggest the route taking into consideration real-time traffic.

The sophisticated public safety system is only the second one being installed in the country, after Valenzuela City, according to Mandi.

The AVL system is designed for surveillance operations that enable law enforcement units to discreetly track and monitor vehicles.

AVL systems can report vehicle information, such as location, speed, and stops, to investigators by obtaining data from global positioning system satellites. 

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 Zambo City shifts to Alert Level

1, retains RT-PCR requirement

 

 

Amid its shift to Alert Level 1, the city government has retained the negative reverse transcription - polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) requirement for inbound travelers from areas with a higher alert level status.

The city has been downgraded to Alert Level 1 by the national Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases effective March 1 to 15.

Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar said Tuesday the negative RT-PCR test result should come out within 120 hours, and 24 hours for a rapid antigen from the time of specimen collection.

“Fully vaccinated and boosted individuals are exempted from the requirement,” Salazar said. “Children below 18 years old need not undergo RT-PCR or antigen test, if accompanied by fully vaccinated and boosted parents or guardians.”

Children below 18 years old, regardless of vaccination status, shall also be allowed to visit malls, parks, and public places, so long as they are accompanied by fully vaccinated parents or guardians.

In addition, Salazar said fully vaccinated individuals and those who received vaccine boosters against the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) are exempted from the imposition of curfew hours.

Organizers of social gatherings and other events are still required to inform the City Tourism Office and submit the participants’ vaccination cards, although 100 percent capacity is already allowed, the mayor said.

Public transport vehicles are allowed to carry full seating capacity while agencies and instrumentalities of government shall adhere to a 100-percent on-site workforce.

Salazar encouraged the public to get vaccine boosters, which improves protection against Covid-19, as this will be a requirement for participation in events come April.

The public is urged to continue practicing minimum health standards and avoid closed spaces, crowded places, and close-contact settings. 

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