Mayor Celso Lobregat Thursday afternoon turns over to PNP Chief Dir. Gen. Jesus Versoza 50 firearms and 500 units of flashlights which compose the city's latest batch of assistance package to the local police. Witnessing the event Police Regional Director Angel Sunglao, City Police OIC Director Col. Edwin De Ocampo, Councilors Luis Biel III, Jaime Cabato and Eddie Rodriguez and council aspirant Myra Valderozza Abubakar. (JOEY BAUTISTA)

Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Director General Jesus Versoza has commended the efforts of the city government under the leadership of Mayor Celso Lobregat for the constant support to the police which he said significantly help in upgrading the capability of the local law enforcers.

“I am very glad to be invited to witness the turn over of these donations, these are very important donations that significantly help in upgrading the capability of our city police. This is exactly one of the programs of your integrated transformation program of the police”, Gen. Versoza said during the turn over of 50 armalite rifles and 500 units of rechargeable flashlights to the police by the city government late Thursday afternoon.

The 500 armalite rifles (M4 model) costing some P3 million and the flashlights were the latest batch of assistance package from the city government through the initiative of Mayor Lobregat.

Mayor Lobregat took the opportunity of inviting Gen. Versoza to the turn over ceremony, as PNP chief was visiting the city to address the members of the police force on issues concerning the implementation of election rules and regulations amid the campaign season.

“We are now going towards elections and the City of Zamboanga is a place that should be emulated by the different areas especially in the cities in the island of Mindanao, because inspite of the threats and inspite of the things happening around, Zamboanga was able to adjust to present situation and was able to implement a lot of programs that are designed towards the continuing protection of Zamboanga City”, the PNP chief emphasized in his speech before city officials and regional and police officers and members.

For his part, Regional Police Director Angelo Sunglao said the turn over of the firearms was “another demonstration of the city government’s commitment to public safety, and once again it complements the PNP mission to deliver high quality police services that promote and preserve an atmosphere of security, safety and quality of life for the constituents”.

In his welcome message, Sunglao enumerated the numerous assistance of the city to the police over the last 3 years which included the P1.6 million renovation and restoration of the Central Police Station; P4.1 million construction of the Sinunuc Police Station ; P3.4 million construction of the Ayala Police Station; 10 watercrafts or pumpboats; 7 units 4x4 jeep; 6 units multi-cab; 3 unit Mitsubishi L-300; 4 Honda motorcycles; 25 units mountain bike; and communication facilities like Smart handy phones and handheld radio sets

Other than infrastructures, transportation and communication facilities, the city government under Mayor Lobregat, has also increased the allowances for our police personnel, according to Sunglao.

The P200 monthly allowance that the police personnel have been receiving for 11 years (1995 to 2006) was increased to P300 in 2007 to P500 in 2009 and P700 in 2010. In a matter of four years, the appropriations for the monthly allowance increased six-fold from P1.69 million in 1995-2006 to P3.78 million in 2007-2008; to P6.36 million in 2008 and P8.90 million in 2010 due to the increase in allowances and in the number of personnel.

“And I was informed, when Mayor Lobregat will submit the 1st Supplemental Budget for 2010, the P700 allowance per police personnel will be increased to P1,000 which will translate to an appropriation of P1.06 million—all because of sound fiscal management”, the PNP regional director said to the applause of the members of the local police force.

The city government is also undertaking preparations for the construction of community police action centers in Recodo, Calarian and Manicahan.

“The list of city government assistance and support to the police could be more but the ones I mentioned are more than enough to show that Zamboanga City is a place where there is positive collaboration among the key actors in public safety, in this case, the city government and the police”, the police regional director added.

For his part, Mayor Lobregat committed to pursue the city’s assistance and support to the police in line with the city’s thrust to help keep the city safe and sound.

The turn over ceremony held at the Central Police Office was attended by City Police OIC director Col. Edwin de Ocampo, Councilors Jaime Cabato, Luis Biel III, Rudy Lim; council aspirant Myra Abubakar and other officials. (Sheila Covarrubias)

It will be a dream come true for the residents of barangay Recodo, as the city government today fulfills its commitment to bring put up the necessary facilities to make education and social services accessible to the residents in the area.

Mayor Celso Lobregat, who initiated the projects, will personally lead city government in inaugurating and turning over to the Department of Education some P21 million worth of projects that will fully operationalize the Recodo National High School this year.

The projects to be unveiled include the two 2 storey-8 classroom buildings amounting to P15 million; 322 linear meter road concreting project worth P2.075 million and construction of fence with gates worth P3.23 million.

Last March 4, Mayor Lobregat, together with Sec. Ronaldo Puno of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) turned over a 2-storey fire station constructed in Recodo. After the inauguration today, the mayor together with other city officials will have to be back in Recodo for the inauguration of the P3.8 million barangay hall which is now ongoing construction. Another building intended to be the Community Police Action Center (COMPAC) will also rise in the area using city government funds.

The school projects are constructed inside a 1 hectare property while the fire sub-station, the barangay hall and the proposed COMPAC are seated on the adjacent 2,500 square meter property donated by the Consunji Family to the city government through the efforts of Mayor Lobregat.

The negotiations for the donation of the property commenced at the time when the creation or establishment of the Recodo National High School was initiated.

“This will be like a model school because the entire complex, the entire one hectare property has been fenced”, the mayor said with elation.
Construction of school buildings and other education-related facilities form part of the Lobregat administration’s unceasing support and assistance to the education sector with the hope of improving the quality of education in the city.

Education springs development and progress, the mayor has emphasized.

In sum, the total cost of the projects implemented by the city government in Recodo is estimated to reach over P24 million. (Sheila Covarrubias)

Mayor Celso Lobregat, Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral and Social Welfare Assistant Secretary Ruel Lucentales lead the ribbon cutting ceremony during the turn over of 3 city government-initiated projects at the Home for the Elderly Wednesday afternoon. Assisting are Councilors Cesar Iturralde and Rey Candido and DSWD-9 OIC Director Zenaida Arevalo. (JOEY BAUTISTA)

Zamboangueños are lucky to have Mayor Celso Lobregat whose top priority in governance includes the welfare of the poor and the elderly. Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral said this here yesterday.

“Kung sa ibang bayan, kung saan nan dun ang DSWD wala man makita sa isang taon na isang proyecto na may inagurahan ng isang local chief executive, dito sa Zamboanga ay masuerte ang mga mamamayan dahil ang mayor nila ay prayoridad ang kapakanan ng mga mahihirap at ng mga nagangailangan ng tulong,” (In some cities where there is DSWD we can hardly see a project being inaugurated by the local chief executive, but here in Zamboanga people are lucky because the mayor’s priority is welfare of the poor and the needy) Secretary Cabral said after inaugurating with Mayor Lobregat the P1.5 million projects at the Home for the Elderly in Mampang.

Mayor Lobregat’s administration has been marked by performance and accomplishments with a projects amounting to P2.2 billion implemented in only 3 years’ period.

These include the Home for the Elderly’s mess hall worth P1,219,860.68, four comfort rooms amounting to P148,507.63, and concrete fence in the amount of P132,189.53, which were inaugurated yesterday with no less than Sec. Cabral and Assistant Secretary Ruel Lucentales of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). The facility is home to 41 (15 males, 26 females) abandoned, unattached and homeless elderly persons in the region.

“Kaya sigurado na ang susunod na term dito sa mayor ng Zamboanga City as para kay Mayor Lobregat at sa kanyang magiging ka-partner na vice mayor na si Councilor Cesar Iturralde and at lahat ng mga councilors na kailangan din manalo para ang lahat ng proyecto ng ating mayor ay mapatupad sa lalong madaling panahon,” (For sure, the next term for the mayor of Zamboanga City is for Mayor Lobregat, his running mate Councilor Cesar Iturralde and all his councilors, who all deserve to win for speedy action on all projects of the mayor) Cabral said.

She further said: “Seriously, thank you very much Mayor Lobregat. I know that you feel this is something that you promised me, but in fact this is a promise that you made to the elderly of Zamboanga City through the DSWD. I am very thankful that this promise was kept. I wish all mayors were like Mayor Lobregat in their concern for the disadvantaged and the marginalized because if that were so there will no marginalized and disadvantaged sector in our country. Just the same, because that is not so, his efforts are doubly appreciated not only by the people who benefit from it but from his partners like the DSWD and the DOH who look at it for inspiration and support always.”

The Home for the Elderly projects were actually committed by the mayor to Sec. Cabral during the latter’s visit to the city late last year when she was then the DSWD secretary.

For his part, Asec. Ruel Lucentales described the city’s support to the DSWD as something different because the city government is helping the department improve its facilities.

“I cannot recall any local government unit doing what Mayor Lobregat is doing in Zamboanga. This is something especial, this is something different, and we commend the city government of Zamboanga,” said Lucentales.

Present during the inauguration rites were Councilors Nonong Guingona, Rey Candido, Iturralde, council aspirants Roseller Natividad, Percival Ramos, Michael Alavar, City Social Welfare and Development Officer Francisco Barredo, Health regional director Dr. Arestides Tan, DSWD-9 officials and staff, barangay officials of Mampang and other personalities. (Vic Larato)

Police Chief Gen. Jesus Versoza will personally accept from Mayor Celso Lobregat this afternoon the 50 firearms that the city government purchased to augment the arms cache of the local police.

The 50 firearms, costing some P3 million all in all, form part of the city government’s continuing thrust on public safety.

Mayor Lobregat has vowed his all out support and assistance to the police in a bid to ensure the safety and protection of the residents.

The firearms— 50 units M16 rifles (M4 model) cost approximately P60,000 each for a total of about P3 million.

It was November last year during the turn-over of 9 armalite rifles to the local police by the Regional Police Office-9 when Mayor Lobregat announced that the city government has already secured the necessary authority and processed documents for the purchase of the high powered firearms.

“This has been planned sometime ago but the delay in the processing of documents and the authority to purchase (these firearms) impeded the plan, but all that have already been fixed, we will purchase all these very soon,” Mayor Lobregat then said.
The city government’s support and assistance to the local police and other law enforcement agencies will continue without let up. The assistance comes in the form of transportation and communication facilities, infrastructures, allowances and other items.
Just last March 4, Mayor Lobregat turned over two fire station buildings—one in Boalan and the other in Recodo and a police sub-station office in Ayala, with Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno as guest of honor. (Sheila Covarrubias)

The newly-assumed secretary of the Department of Health Esperanza Cabral and Secretary of Social Welfare Celia Yangco will grace the inauguration of 3 city government-initiated projects for the Home for the Elderly in Talon-talon today, March 24.

Secretaries Cabral and Yangco will assist Mayor Celso Lobregat in unveiling and turning over the 3 projects— newly repaired mess hall, four units comfort rooms and the construction of fence –all amounting to P1.5 million—to the DSWD regional office under Director Teodulo Romo and Home for the Elderly Center Head Nenita Cartagenas.

It was October last year when Mayor Lobregat, while visiting the Home for the Elderly together with Sec. Cabral, then the secretary for DSWD, committed to help improve the facilities thereat, to help provide the aging clients the comfort and convenience they need.

“This is an early Christmas gift for you”, the mayor told the almost 40 clients housed at the Home for the Elderly in the presence of Secretary Cabral while inaugurating the Home during the inauguration of the extension building last year. The extension building was constructed and funded by the Department of Social Welfare and Development, which supervises the Home for the Elderly, at a cost of almost P1 million.

The mayor said the city government will shoulder the expenses specifically for the repair of the decrepit social hall and the crumbling fence including the poorly conditioned comfort rooms—and which he did.

The inauguration of the 3 projects today highlights Mayor Lobregat’s continuous assistance and support to the Home for the Elderly. Several other projects have been implemented by the city in the DSWD-run facility before.

Mayor Lobregat also visits the residents in the Home for the Elderly during special occasions such as Christmas and birthday. He last visited the facility last March 20, in celebration of his 62nd birthday where he distributed food packs, relief goods and other food items.

Forty one residents are housed at the Home for the Elderly, 15 of which are males and 26 are females. Of the total number, 60 percent is from Zamboanga City while the rest are from Cebu, Ilo-ilo and the neighboring provinces. (Sheila Covarrubias)

Mayor Celso Lobregat has only one wish for Dr. Grace J. Rebollos as a new member of the government panel headed by Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Rafel Seguis that is negotiating peace with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MNLF). “Stand on the ground.”

“I don’t know whether to congratulate or sympathize with her, but I hope Dr. Rebollos and the other new panel member (Atty. Antonio Laviña) will stand on the ground, mindful of our position on the peace process,” Lobregat said, but he did not elaborate.

“They should realize that Tomas Cabili and Adel Antonino were doing well as peace negotiators representing their sectors, but they had been marginalized, and eventually resigned from the panel because of certain disagreements,” Lobregat said.

According to the mayor, he knew of Dr. Rebollos having been recommended to the peace panel as early as January this year, but he remained silent about it considering it was premature at the time.

“Now that she is there (in the panel), I think she knows our position,” Lobregat said after talking to Dr. Rebollos, who called him over the phone yesterday morning.

Lobregat likewise clarified that the REbolllos’ and La Vina’s designation as members of the panel was not done on the basis of their being from Zamboanga. “They do not only represent Zamboanga City because the selection of panel membership is not done on the basis of local government units or cities or provinces”.

Meanwhile, Secretary Annabelle Abaya, presidential adviser on the peace process, is arriving in the city to keynote the 65th Commencement Exercises of the Western Mindanao State University (WMSU) today, March 23, and tomorrow, March 24.

Lobregat will be meeting with Sec. Abaya and Dr. Rebollos over dinner tonight.

To recall, President Arroyo has appointed Dr. Rebollos, president of WMSU, and Atty. Antonio La Viña, dean of the Ateneo de Manila University’s School of Governance, as new members of the peace panel, replacing Cabili and Antonino, who remain consultants to the panel though.

Rebollos has been cited for her involvement in various non-govermental organizations, including a stint in East Timor. As a development worker, she is involved in conducting seminars on culture of peace and conflict transformation.

La Viña, on the other hand, is a known environment advocate and has written a number of books, reports and articles on climate change, ecosystem management, and conflict and development, aside from being a law professor. (Vic Larato)

Heavy rainfall has been hitting various parts of the city since cloud seeding operations started two weeks ago aimed to induce rains and improve water levels at the reservoir.

Natural rains, coupled with thunderstorms, also hit the city Sunday night that further improved the situation at the Pasonanca dam.

City Agriculturist Diosdado Palacat said the 9th and 10th cloud seeding sorties conducted in the watershed area Sunday and Monday morning brought heavy downpour in the watershed area including La Paz.

On Sunday, heavy rains hit the Pasonanca watershed Nancy outpost from 1 to 1:30 p.m. bringing that yielded at least 228 millimeters of water. The cloud seeding also yielded an 18-minute slight to moderate rainfall at the intake area in Murok from 11:30 to 11:48 a.m. also Sunday.

Yesterday, Monday, the operations resulted to a 30 min rain at watershed area and barangay La Paz, according to Palacat.

The cloud seeding operations, conducted by a team from the Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Soil and Water Management, per request from Mayor Celso Lobregat.

The DA has allocated a total of P2.7 million for the operations that will cover mostly Zamboanga City and some parts of Region 9.

The cloud-seeding induced rains plus the natural rainfall Sunday and Monday, according to Palacat have improved water levels at the Zamboanga City water District’s reservoir in Pasonanca as well as provided respite to the city’s farmers.

The DA cloud seeding team is expected to conduct a total of 30 sorties in the region. So far, ten sorties were conducted in Zamboanga and two in Zamboanga del Norte.

The City Disaster Coordinating Council has approved the allocation of some P2.7 million out of the city’s calamity funds for the possible extension of the cloud seeding operations in Zamboanga to help cushion the effects of the dry spell El Nino.

Palacat is confident that the cloud seeding operations will help alleviate the plight of the Zamboanguenos suffering from the brunt of the dry spell. (Sheila Covarrubias)

Gov. Ramos Avenue in Sta. Maria, Don Alfaro Street in Tetuan and Cabato Road also in Tetuan are declared one way streets to pave way for the rehabilitation and repair works.

Mayor Celso Lobregat has issued 3 executive orders rerouting traffic and naming the said roads as one way streets to efficiently and effectively address the traffic situation in the said areas.

Executive Order CL 315-2010 reroutes traffic and names Gov. Ramos Avenue a one way street from its junction with Saavedra St., Sta. Maria to its junction with San Roque main road for the duration of the rehabilitation/ reconstruction of damaged paved road along Gov. Ramos Avenue, for all six-wheeler, ten-wheeler trucks and all container trucks.

The order took effect Wednesday, March 17, 2010 until the project is completed.

Executive Order CL 316-2010 issued on March 15, 2010 reroutes traffic and names Don Alfaro St. in Tetuan a one way street from its junction with Veterans avenue and Gov. Alvarez St. to its junction with Estrada Street, for 30 days for the duration of the rehabilitation/ reconstruction of damaged paved road along Don Alfaro Street.

The order takes effect today, March 19, 2010 until the project is completed.

On the other hand, Executive Order CL 318-2010 issued March 16, 2010 reroutes traffic and names Cabato Road in Tetuan a one way street from its junction with Veterans Avenue extension, to its junction with Maria Clara Lobregat Highway, for the duration of the rehabilitation/ reconstruction of damaged paved road along Cabato Road. The order also takes effect today, March 19, 2010 until the project is completed.

The three projects are part of the infrastructures programmed by the city government and are now ongoing. All projects are concreting of road and would entail the breaking of existing concrete pavement, removal and consequent reblocking of the pavement.

The issuance of the executive orders is based on recommendations from the City Administrator’s Office.

The City Police Traffic section in cooperation with the City’s Traffic Aides is tasked to strictly implement the directives in order to efficiently and effectively address the traffic situation.

Copies of the mayor’s executive orders have been furnished to the concerned agencies and offices such as the city police office and its traffic section, the barangay councils concerned, the traffic enforcement team of the city and others concerned. (Sheila Covarrubias)

Mayor Celso Lobregat Thursday morning distributes health insurance cards to different sectors coming from barangays within the 7-kilometer radius in line with his expanded PHILHEALTH program. (JOEY BAUTISTA)

Mayor Celso Lobregat and vice mayoralty candidate Councilor Cesar Iturralde yesterday led city government officials in the distribution of PhilHealth cards to 4,294 indigents during a program held at the Zamboanga City Coliseum in Tetuan.

The new PhilHealth beneficiaries included 2,974 indigents from the different barangays within the seven-kilometer radius of the city, 500 urban poor members, 250 Rural Improvement Club members, 160 senior citizens, 44 persons with disability, 57 job order employees of the city government, and 308 non-sectoral members for a total of 4,294.

Of the total, 294 were appropriated in 2009, while the remaining 4,000 were new beneficiaries for 2010.

Mayor Lobregat said that when he assumed office in 2004 there were only 3,993 PhilHealth beneficiaries with an appropriation of P2.39 million. In 2006 to 2008, the city had insured 5,000 more indigents. “But it was only in 2009 when we were able to practically cover all sectors in the city,” he said.

Lobregat attributed the massive PhilHealth insurance sponsorship to the city government’s sound fiscal management, which he initiated during his second term in office.

In 2009 alone, the mayor said, the city government had appropriated P3.9 million for the PhilHealth insurance of 6,500 indigents. When the year’s second supplemental budget was approved another P8.7 million was earmarked for the additional 14,000 beneficiaries.

In addition, the amount of P1.2 million was also appropriated last year for the insurance of 10,000 cooperative members, bringing to 24,000 the total PhilHealth beneficiaries sponsored by the city government.

This feat has earned for Zamboanga City the “Universal Coverage Award,” which Mayor Lobregat received from the PhilHealth Insurance Corporation during its 15th Anniversary celebration last month.

Joining Lobregat and Iturralde were Councilors Rudy Lim, Nonong Guingona, Rey Candido, Gerky Valesco and Lilia Nuño together with council aspirants Roseller “Ller” Natividad, Percival Ramos, Myra Paz Valderrosa Abubakar, Josephine “Pinpin” Pareja, Kaiser Olaso and VP Elago.

Also present were the barangay chairmen concerned, City Social Welfare and Development Officer Francisco Barredo and staff, City Health Officer Dr. Rodel Agbulos and Commission on Elections (Comelec-9) representatives who conducted Voters’ Education on the automation voting. (Vic Larato)

Mayor Celso Lobregat Wednesday reconstitutes and convenes the City Census Coordinating Board (CCCB) in preparation for the 2010 Census on Household and Population set in May by the National Statistics Office. (JOEY BAUTISTA)

Mayor Celso Lobregat yesterday issued an executive order reconstituting the City Census Coordinating

Board (CCCB) in preparation for the conduct of the 2010 Census of Population and Housing by the National Statistics Office in May.

Under the law, Mayor Lobregat is the designated chairman of the CCCB.

The mayor convened the board to discuss about preparations for the major undertaking that will employ the services of over 700 enumerators to cover the entire 98 barangays of the city.

The City Schools Superintendent is the designated vice chairperson of the Board with the following as members: the assistant Schools Division Superintendent, City Administrator, City Police Director, Task Force Zamboanga, City Health Officer, City Planning and Development Coordinator, City Social Welfare and Development Officer, City Assessor, City Civil Registrar, the Private Sector represented by the presidents of the Zamboanga City Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation, Inc.; Industrial Group of Zamboanga, Incorporated; Movement for a Better Zamboanga and the Zamboanga Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce, Inc.; the President, Association of Barangay Captains, the City/Provincial Statistics Office (Executive Officer) – NSO and the City Population Officer.

The Census of Population and Housing refers to the entire process of collecting, compiling, evaluating, analyzing, publishing and disseminating data about the population and the living quarters in a country. It entails the listing and recording of the characteristics of each individual and each living quartrer as of a specified time and within a specified territory. It is designed to take an inventory of the total population and housing units in the Philippines and to collect information about their characteristics.

The 2010 CPH is a nationwide undertaking of theNational Statistics Office (NSO). It will be the 13th census of
population and the 6th census of housing that will be conducted in the country since the first census was undertaken in 1903.

The 2010 CPH will be conducted to provide government planners, policy makers, and administrators with data on which to base their social and economic development plans and prgrams.

The city’s population based on the 2007 census of population is over 774, 400.

Mayor Lobregat has tasked City Civil Registrar Atty. Eric Elias to determine what assistance and support the city government can provide to the NSO for the conduct of the CPH.

Also invited to the meeting of the CCB yesterday were the police station chiefs, Housing and Land Management Division personnel, Urban poor and Homeowners Association, representatives from the Western Mindanao Command and Edwin Andrews Air Base, the Federation of Kagawads in Zamboanga, Philippine Public Safety College and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology. (Sheila Covarrubias)