NEWS

For the next 3 years: Let’s continue to work together, move city forward—Celso

1 July 2010

Celso Lorenzo Lobregat yesterday morning formally took his oath as the re-elected mayor of Zamboanga for 2010-2013 pledging before God and people to serve only the best interest of the city.

In his inaugural address, Lobregat said urged his fellow officials to pledge to continue to work together and move the city forward. “As we look to the future, new challenges will emerge and let us face them squarely, head-on with renewed spirit and with a firm resolve.”

Mayor Lobregat was sworn into office by Regional Trial Court Executive Judge Reynerio Estacio in simple yet meaningful rites held at the Garden Orchid Convention Center with a crowd of a thousand people representing the cross section of the city.

Joining him in the oath taking rite that started shortly before 10 a.m. were District II Cong. Erbie Fabian, Vice Mayor Cesar Iturralde and the 16 elected City Council members, 11 of whom are Lobregat’s party mates in the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino-Adelante Zamboanga (LDP-AZaP). District I Cong. Beng Climaco, who took her oath June 26 at the Museum courtyard, was in Manila attending the inauguration of President Noynoy Aquino.

For the next 3 years, Mayor Lobregat vowed to continue to concentrate on the 17-point agenda for a more developed, peaceful and progressive Zamboanga City, a social contract that was carried out in 1998 and 2001 during the time of the late Mayor Maria Clara Lobregat and the same platform of government that the people entrusted their hopes, aspirations, confidence and support in 2004 and 2007 and again in 2010.

“We shall continue to focus on our social contract with the people as well as implementing programs and projects in our City Development Strategies”, the mayor declared specifically citing programs on education, health, public safety, social services, resettlement, environment, sanitation and waste management, sports and youth development, arts and culture, tourism, agriculture, and anti-poverty.

He also vowed to pursue the city’s quest for the return of the regional center to Zamboanga, the exclusion of Zamboanga in any interim peace deals, the fight against terrorism, illegal drugs and other menaces. “Likewise, we will step up our massive infrastructure program, assistance to law enforcement agencies and public schools as well as barangays.”

As proof of his administration’s continuing efforts to bring about development and progress to Zamboanga, the chief executive has inaugurated millions worth of projects, most of which are school buildings and other programs that impact the lives of Zamboanguenos right after his proclamation last May 12.

The city under the Lobregat administration will also continue to aid the Zamboanga City Water District in the implementation of potable water projects to areas not served by the water firm. He had strong words in the aspect of power, when he said “we should take the bull by the horn and save what is left of Zamcelco and make the hard decision on the most viable and affordable alternative proposal from the private sector to set up power generating plants in Zamboanga sooner than later”.

Lobregat earned high marks during his first two terms. In his first term, he laid the foundation of good governance and sound fiscal management –something that augured well for Zamboanga in his second term: 2,114 infrastructure projects amounting to P2.2 billion and acceleration of social services and other programs. In his third term, Lobregat hopes to undertake bigger and massive infrastructure projects and further enhance pro-poor services and assistance and benefits to workers and volunteers.

Now on his third term, Lobregat admitted that to be mayor of a city like Zamboanga is not an easy task, stressing that “Zamboanga is a city of diverse cultures and multi-ethnic societies where issues on human needs, religion, education, conflict resolution and many others interact in very complex patterns”.

Zamboanga’s location, he said may be strategic but some if not most of the times, it becomes the cause of the city’s problems particularly in terms of image. This is the reason why public service becomes increasingly demanding and challenging, but the mayor stressed all these adversities will be surmountable with the continuous help and support of the people with unity and continuity.

“Your unwavering support gives us the impetus to pursue the vision to give always the best for our people”, he said.

He emphasized: “If we are to work together and build a better, stronger and more peaceful Zamboanga City, let us not do what the prophets of doom have been doing---bringing about the bad, the worst, the negative and the ugly, misperception of Zamboanga City but we have to bring about the good, the best, the positive and the beautiful of Zamboanga.”

While the city emerged triumphant in its numerous tribulations in the past years, the city at present, according to Lobregat is beset with new challenges such as kidnapping cases and the spate of shooting incidents in some areas of the city.

“Once again, I call on the law enforcers in the city to do everything possible to secure the safe release of Mr. Barrios from his abductors and bring them to the bar of justice the soonest time possible. We appeal to the abductors, please release Mr. Barrios unconditionally”, he said.

He at the same time exhorted authorities “to do everything to put a stop to all these shootings and killings especially in the Mampang-Arena Blanco and Talon-talon area at the same time, air a stern warning to these feuding families and groups to stop taking the law into their own hands and to end these senseless killings”.

On the other hand, Mayor Lobregat, thanked all his supporters, volunteers and family and friends for the hard work and efforts they put up that ensured his re-election last May 10. Special mention was made to the barangays where the LDP-AZaP or so-called Team Colorao had an 11-0 sweep, these were

Boalan; Culianan; Dulian Upper Bungiao; Tigbalabag and Tolosa.

“Un gran orgullo y honor di mio para servi con el pueblo soberano de Ciudad de Zamboanga como Alcalde por aka tres termino.Contodo mi Corazon, yo ta rindi gracias con ustedes todo por el confianza y suporta que ustedes ta continua dale comigo. El de ustedes confianza y fe en este administracion ay servi como mi guia y inspiracion para hace pa mas, mucho mas, para el bien del ciudad de Zamboanga”, the mayor stressed.

The newly-elected City Council members are Councilors Jaime Cabato, Melchor Sadain, Cesar Jimenez, Jr.; Rodolfo Bayot; Rogelio Valesco Jr.; Luis Biel III; Rodolfo Lim and Myra Paz Valderoza Abubakar for District I and Lilia Nuno; Benjamin Guingona III; Eduardo Saavedra Jr.; Reynerio Candido; Rommel Agan; Percival Ramos; Vincent Paul Elago and Al Jihan Edding.

The new set of City Council members will have the maiden session on Wednesday, July 7. (Sheila Covarrubias)

Celso, US envoy vow to work closely for ZC

3 July 2010

Meeting for the first time yesterday, Mayor Celso Lobregat and newly-installed American Ambassador to the Philippines Harry Thomas Jr. vowed to continue the good relationship between the governments of the USA and Zamboanga City to guarantee more projects for the benefit of the residents.

“I really hope to come to Zamboanga as often as she (former Ambassador Kristie Kenney) did because of our USAID projects all throughout the city and the region, we want to highlight them, amplify them and again highlight the contributions of the American government to improving the lives of our people here”, Ambassador Thomas in an interview told reporters at the Western Mindanao Command headquarters shortly before noon yesterday.

The envoy, who succeeded Ambassador Kenney, an adopted daughter of Zamboanga, was in the city for the first time yesterday to grace the change of command ceremony of the Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines (JSTOFP).

In his lengthy conversation with Mayor Lobregat after the ceremony, the ambassador said, he has learned a numerous things about Zamboanga and its people and most importantly about the people’s aspirations for improved law and order so they can educate their children and ensure that both the rich and the poor will get equal quality of education thereby ensuring the youths a brighter future.

For his part, Mayor Lobregat described his first ‘encounter’ with the new envoy as very cordial and casual and that Amb. Thomas as a very good man. “It was my first meeting with AmbassadorThomas and you know right off, it was a very cordial and casual meeting. He seem to be a very good man and so we can be sure that the good relationship that we have not only with the US government but on a personal basis, Ambassador Thomas will be a very good friend of Zamboanga”.

During the past 3 years, the American government through the JSTOFP and the United States Assistance for International Development (USAID) worked closely with the Armed Forces of the Philippines in implementing various projects for the city and other parts of the region.

The US implemented 150 civic projects for schools and clinics that amounted to P900 million; dissolved 64,000 explosives and saved 91 critically injured members of the AFP and many more.

 “We worked closely with the AFP and the local residents and much of those credit goes to the team work that we had through the mayor and other elected officials who have been very supportive of our efforts”, the first African-American ambassador to be assigned in the Philippines declared.

When asked what he learned about Zamboanga he said: “Wow! I have learned a lot about Zamboanga in my conversation with the mayor, about the aspirations of the people and about the politics here. I have also learned that people want peace, law and order in the streets so they can educate their children and ensure that their children get the same opportunity that the others had”.

He stressed that the American government will remain to be an ally of the Philippines and will be willing and ready to assist the government in whatever way it can. “We are here to work with them, to beat terror, the ASG (Abu Sayyaf Group), the JIs (Jemaah Islamiya) and make the city and region safe to everyone”.

On the other hand, the envoy said newly-installed President Aquino is an inspiration not only to Filipinos but to Americans as well. “We are most impressive by what he said: no one will be left behind, we think that is great and we have high hopes on him”.

The change of command of the JSTOPF held at Camp Navarro was a private ceremony that was attended only by the JSTOPF personnel and a handful of Western Mindanao Command officials and Mayor Lobregat. (Sheila Covarrubias)

Kadra building inspected

3 July 2010

Joint personnel from concerned city offices yesterday initiated an ocular inspection of a commercial building along Veterans Avenue to check on compliance of laws and ordinances specifically the sanitary code.

Spearheaded by the City Administrator’s Office, the joint inspection was done by the City Health Office, City Environment and Natural Resources Office, City Engineer’s Office, City Legal Office, City Treasurer’s Office and City Police Office in line with the city government advocacy to ensure the compliance of all ordinances and laws and as part of the mandates of the different offices concerned.

The actual inspection was also done in view of complaints received by the City Administrator’s office regarding alleged violations committed by the occupants of the Hadji Kadra Masihul Multi-trade Center owned by businessman Hadji Kadra Masihul and located along Veterans Avenue.

“Apart from being part of our advocacy, the inspection was also in view of written complaints submitted to our office. So we had to do the actual check in order to get a first hand information”, Assistant City Administrator Elmeir Apolinario said.

Initial findings show that the building is being used as a commercial area and at the same time as a residential area. Some violations of the sanitary code and other laws were also noted.

According to Apolinario, the inspection was mainly to ensure the promotion of public welfare, as the building’s operation sans compliance of laws and ordinances might bring about health problems and other complications.

The inspection team is expected to come up with its report and recommendations next week.

The building was constructed in the late ‘90s with the original intention of using it as a multi-trade center. (Sheila Covarrubias)

Celso asks NEA to conduct Zamcelco audit

6 July 2010

Mayor Celso Lobregat has formally asked the National Electrification Administration (NEA) to conduct a fair, accurate and comprehensive audit of f the operations of the Zamboanga City Electric Cooperative (ZAMCELCO) in the light of alleged controversies afflicting the cooperative.

The mayor officially wrote NEA Administrator Edith Bueno yesterday, July 5, requesting the agency to do the audit based on authorization granted to him by the City Council.

“I believe that the as of the moment the more appropriate action is to ask NEA to conduct the audit”, the mayor said banking on an assurance from the administrator that if and when the agency decides to accept the task, the same will be a fair, objective, accurate and comprehensive audit.

Mayor Lobregat it is recalled has personally called the NEA administrator June 24 in the light of the a Council resolution authorizing him to commission an independent body to audit the operations of Zamcelco in view of mounting complaints on alleged irregularities. A few hours after his talk over the phone with Ms. Bueno, a NEA audit team which happened to be in the city for another transaction with Zamcelco, met with the chief executive in City Hall to preliminary discuss about issues and concerns besetting the cooperative.

The NEA is a government owned and controlled corporation with numerous powers that include the close monitoring of performance of electric cooperatives in the country including Zamcelco.

According to Lobregat the audit proposed to be conducted will be a comprehensive one that will include the financial audit, technical audit, institutional audit and all other aspects.

Tapping the NEA instead of an independent auditor would eliminate the long process of auditing. If an independent body will conduct the audit, the results will have to be submitted to NEA for proper action, just the same.

Lobregat said the NEA, which has been regularly conducting audits of Zamcelco operations can speed up the audit to cover the coop’s operations until the end of 2009 or until June 30, 2010.

The mayor is confident that the NEA will accept the request. The audit, based on initial talks with the NEA administrator is expected to last 3 to 4 weeks.

The last NEA audit on Zamcelco operations covered he period April 2007-august 2009.

 Auditing operations—technical, financial and all other aspects of electric cooperatives, is one of the mandate of the NEA.

Aside from writing the NEA, the mayor also wrote the City Council informing the august body about the action he has taken as a result of the resolution.

In his meeting with the NEA audit team, which was in the city last June 24 to follow up Zamcelco implementation on the agency’s recommendations in the last audit, the mayor learned that the NEA has not authorized the purchase of luxury vehicles but only maintenance vehicles contrary to what the coop alleged.

The mayor wanted to get the assurance from the NEA that if and when the agency will be tapped to conduct the audit, the investigation will be fair, accurate and comprehensive. (Sheila Covarrubias)

JCI donates wheelchairs to city gov’t

7 July 2010

Mayor Celso Lobregat yesterday morning accepted for the city government three wheelchairs donated by the Junior Chamber International (JCI) Senate-Philippines, Inc. headed by businessman Banny Ong.

Ong together with JCI senators that included erstwhile Mayor Efren Arañez and former Vice Mayor Roberto Lim and JCI Zamboanga president Architect Daihan Graciano, personally handed over the wheelchairs to Mayor Lobregat in a simple rite at City Hall Conference Room.

A national flagship program of the JCI Senate Philippines Inc., Ong said, the wheelchairs were imported from Taiwan through the Taiwanese ambassador for Economic and Cultural Office, which donated 50 units.

“We donated to the city mayor three wheelchairs which will in turn be given to indigent handicapped recipients through the Office of the City Social Welfare and Development Office,” Ong said.

He added that the ambassador of Taiwan had also donated to the JCI Senate Philippines 20 units of i-Touch, a new version of facilitated communication device which, when downloaded with the prologo software, will help non-verbal autistic children to communicate with other people.

Ong said that an i-Touch now could cost about P9,000 and two units of that have been donated to the Autism Society of the Philippines. On Saturday, the organization will be donating another i-Touch unit to the autism society.

“This is a project that exemplifies our motto: Service to humanity is the best work of life,” Ong said. (Vic Larato)