Celso urges support for IHL
Mayor Celso Lobregat addresses the hordes of participants to the PNRC-initiated Walk for Humanity, a fund raising campaign, which culminated with a program at the Joaquin Enriquez Sports Complex Saturday morning. (JOEY BAUTISTA)
Mayor Celso Lobregat yesterday called on all sectors to support the campaign to massively disseminate the significance of the international humanitarian law or IHL and the misuse of the emblem spearheaded by the Philippine National Red cross.
This, as he commended the over 10,000 people who turned up for the 2nd Walk for Humanity, an early morning march aimed to raise funds for the information dissemination drive.
Lobregat, a PNRC governor, who was the guest speaker during the program culminating the walk, said a stepped up campaign on IHL and the emblem would make people aware of their rights as citizens as well as the importance of the PNRC.
The walk for humanity, spearheaded by the PNRC-Zamboanga under Vic Liozo netted a total of P105,000.
Participants to the walk were students, government employees, representatives from non-government organizations and private establishments and other sectors.
The walk kicked off 5 a.m. in four different points—Nunez extension, Upper Calarian, Pettit Barracks and Sta. Maria with the Baliwasan grandstand as the convergence point.
Liozo said the Walk for Humanity yesterday was simultaneously held in other areas like Ilo-ilo, Tarlac and other parts of the country.
“It was Zamboanga-PNRC that initiated the activity and it is now being duplicated in other areas,” the PNRC administrator said.
The walk capped with a program with Mayor Lobregat as guest speaker. Special awards were given to active participants.
IHL is the special law applicable during armed conflict while the emblem refers to the symbol or insignia of the International Red Cross which are to be placed on humanitarian and medical vehicles and buildings to protect them from attacks on the battlefield. There are four emblems, the Red Cross, the red crescent and the red crystal. (Sheila Covarrubias)