Celso turns over P3.8M city fire building
Local Government Secretrary Ronaldo Puno presents a token plaque of appreciation to Mayor Celso Lobregat for numerous projects undertaken by the city through Lobregat's initiative for the promotion of public safety during the turn over of the P3.8 million City Fire Station Building November 14. Looking on are Bureau of Fire officials and city officials. (JOEY BAUTISTA)
In line with the city government’s thrust to protect and preserve heritage sites and most importantly the commitment to public safety, Mayor Celso Lobregat on Saturday unveiled the newly-rehabilitated City Fire Station building located in Mayor Cesar Climaco Avenue.
Costing P3.8 million, the project was initiated by the Lobregat administration to demonstrate its full commitment to preserving and safeguarding heritage sites and traditions.
“We have restored a heritage building,” the mayor said during the turn over rite with Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno as guest of honor. “Almost every time Sec. Puno comes to Zamboanga City, it is to receive something from the city government.”
Last June, Puno was in the city to also receive numerous other projects from the city intended for the Zamboanga City Police Office and the City Reformatory Center—all under the umbrella of the DILG.
If not because of the Secretary’s tight schedule, Lobregat would have invited the national official to also receive another fire station building project constructed by the city in Boalan.
Lobregat said the Boalan fire station building is already complete and its inauguration will be set soon.
According to the mayor, Sec. Puno will have to come back to the city to unveil more city-funded projects intended to help promote public safety. These include the fire stations in Recodo, Ayala, Upper Calarian and Sta. Catalina.
Aside from fire station buildings, the city is also constructing Police Community Action Centers in Recodo and Upper Calarian.
“I can go on and on and on (in the list of projects), we have very great concern for public safety not only for the Police but other departments or bureaus under the DILG,” the mayor said during the turn over rite.
Also present during the turn over ceremony were Police Regional Director Gen. Angel Sunglao, Bureau of Fire Regional officials led by P/SSupt. Ruben Morales, City Fire Marshal Maj. James Ramirez, Councilors Cesar Iturralde, Nonong Guingona, Rudy Lim and Rey Candido, Zamboanga Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce president Richard Chan, Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation Inc. president James Makasiar, Fire Volunteer Brigade president Eddie Chua, Zone 2 barangay officials and many others.
The City Fire Station building located at Cesar Climaco Avenue was built in 1937, a year after Zamboanga was declared a chartered city.
Numerous other sites which are considered part of the nation’s heritage list have undergone or are undergoing improvements like the historic Fort Pilar, the Paseo del Mar, the Jardin Maria Clara in Pasonanca, the Pasonanca Park, Taluksangay mosque and the soon to be implemented Plaza del Pilar which will serve as a showcase area of Zamboanga products and souvenir items.
Most of the city’s infrastructure projects, such as the Ayala Police Sub-station and the Sinunuc Police Station have architectural designs that are reflective of the city’s history. (Sheila Covarrubias)