Zambo, one of the best run LGUs in the country—Puno
Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno and Mayor Celso Lobregat lead other officials in the ceremonial cutting of the ribbon during the inauguration of the P1.9 million Recodo fire sub-station, one of the numerous city-funded projects unveiled Thursday. (JOEY BAUTISTA)
Zamboanga is not the richest city, but it is one of the best run local government units in the country.
Thus, declared Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno yesterday, as he inaugurated over P8 million worth of infrastructure projects undertaken by the city government under the administration of Mayor Celso Lobregat in Boalan, Recodo and Ayala.
“Mayor Celso Lobregat has the best record of inauguration of barangay halls, fire stations, police stations and other projects for public safety in the country,” Sec. Puno said as he continuously praised the city government for its unceasing support to the police, fire and jail bureaus and other agencies under the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).
Upon arrival from Manila yesterday, Sec. Puno motored together with Mayor Lobregat to Boalan in the east coast where he unveiled some P2.7 million projects that include the new fire station (P1.9 million) and the renovated and improved barangay hall and health center (P834,000).
“It is only in Zamboanga City where we find hard time keeping up with your mayor in the implementation of projects for public safety,” the secretary declared citing the many other projects that the Lobregat administration undertook in support to public safety.
He was referring to the 10 pumpboats donated by the city government to the local police, the newly renovated and restored Central Police Station worth P1.6 million, the newly constructed P4.6 million two-storey 4 cell building at the City Reformatory Center and the P4.1 million newly constructed Sinunuc Police Station which he inaugurated together with undersecretary Marius Corpus and PNP Chief Jesus Versoza last June 23, 2009 and the P3.8 million repair and restoration of the heritage Central Fire station which he also inaugurated last November 14, 2009.
From Boalan, Sec. Puno together with Mayor Lobregat and other officials proceeded to barangay Recodo in the west coast for the inauguration of the P1.9 million new fire station constructed in a compound where city is also constructing a barangay hall and office for the community police action team and school buildings for the Recodo National High School. The site in Recodo was donated by the Consunji family through representations made by Mayor Lobregat.
Aside from the police office, the mayor also presented to Sec. Puno the two fire trucks that the city government acquired for the Fire Bureau and another firetruck which was allocated by the DILG as a show of gratitude to the city’s all out support to the DILG family and formally turned over to the Bureau of Fire last February 11.
The inauguration of the Ayala Police Sub-station worth P3.4 million was the last activity that the secretary graced where he also witnessed the turn-over of four motorcycles and 2 multicab vehicles purchased by the city for the local police.
“Mayor Lobregat is the symbol of what a local chief executive could become”, the secretary emphasized as he ordered Bureau of Fire Director Rolando Bandilla to ensure the allocation of another fire truck for Zamboanga City to reciprocate the uninterrupted support of the local government to the DILG family.
He also said that the barangay halls, fire stations and health centers constructed in the city can be models that other local government units can look at. “These projects are a product not only of leadership but of teamwork in Zamboanga City”.
For his part, Mayor Lobregat assured that the city government support to the DILG family will never cease but will always continue for as long as he is mayor of the city.
Other officials present during the inauguration of the different projects were DIPO Director Sr. Supt. Felizardo Serapio, Police Regional Director Sr. Supt. Angel Sunglao, Bureau of Fire Protection Regional Director Sr. Supt. Leonardo Prades, City Fire Marshall Col. James Ramirez, City Police OIC Director Col. Edwin De Ocampo, members of the City Council and some council aspirants belonging to the red team, barangay and school officials from areas that will benefit from the city funded projects. (Sheila Covarrubias)