Celso’s projects for elderlies reap praises from Sec. Cabral
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)