The Zamboanga Post (November 15-21, 2021)

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November 15-21, 2021

Beng still very popular ‘Zamboangueños behind Mayor’

D

ESPITE THE black propaganda against her, Mayor Beng Climaco - who is running for congress – is still very popular among residents here and proof of this is the surge in the number of her followers on her Facebook page now at 373,000.

Followers of Clima- from only 133,000 in 2018 a landslide over former of her followers in July inco’s social media page in – a year before she was mayor and lawmaker Cel- creased by over 47,000 Continue on page 2 July was almost 359,000 re-elected and won by so Lobregat. The number

Zambo targets 19,000 jabs a day Face shields or no face shields?

MAYOR BENG Climaco said the local government is awaiting guidelines from the National

Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Infectious Diseases (NIATF-MEID) whether to

ease the mandatory use of face shields in open spaces.

Continue on page 3

Doc paints to pass time during pandemic ZAMBOANGA CITY – With the Covid-19 pandemic entering its second year, the health crisis affected not only the business sector, but everyone else.

Many have lost their Continue on page 3

ZAMBOANGA CITY has fully vaccinated at least 191,000 or 28% of its target eligible population of nearly 700,000 and is pursuing to inoculate 19,000 residents daily as soon as the vaccines against COVID-19 is available, according to Mayor Beng Climaco.

Climaco said the City Health Office also inoculated nearly 300,000 residents – their first jab and this is expected to further increase as the local government started its pediatric vaccination last month in at least seven hospitals.

With the aggressive vaccination program, the Continue on page 3

Mayor Beng Climaco

Expert warns public on ‘unauthorized’ booster shot

Free RT-PCR tests?

Anesthesiologist Dr. Marcus Mancao puts finishing touches on one of his paintings at his studio in Zamboanga City.

Zamboanga Peninsula

CHIEF COVID frontliner Mayor Beng Climaco announces the possibility of granting free RT-PCR tests to essential workers and APOR or those people who are authorized to travel under different community quarantine statuses or levels once the local government-owned

Basilan

molecular laboratory is operational.

“We are thinking, subject to the policies of the City Health Office and the City Budget Office, granting free RT-PCR tests to authorized persons outside residence or APORs and other essential Continue on page 2

Dr. Edsel Maurice Salvana

Sulu

DOCTOR EDSEL Maurice Salvana, a molecular epidemiologist from the University of the Philippines, has warned the public against getting an unauthorized booster shot against COVID-19.

In his social media page, Salvana wrote: “I’m not blind or naive.

I know some of you have taken boosters. I know a lot of people don’t use face shields with their masks. As a doctor, I base my recommendations on what I believe Continue on page 7

Tawi-tawi

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November 15-21, 2021

Beng still very popular ‘Zamboangueños behind Mayor’

Continued from page 1 compared to last year’s 312,000 which was more than 200% from 2018.

Now, the number of Climaco’s followers on her Facebook page increased by 14,000 in just four months since July.

Climaco’s lone social media page has the most number of followers today compared to Lobregat’s two Facebook accounts with a combined followers of 199,035 while Rep. Mannix Dalipe’s two Facebook pages with only 40,026 followers. And if

elections are held today, Climaco will surely win hands down and be back at Congress again.

The mayor is now on her third and final term and she is leaving behind a legacy of good governance responsive to the needs and welfare of the Zamboangueños, more especially at this time of the pandemic.

However, trolls and political foes continue their black propaganda against Climaco, taking advantage of the situation ahead of next year’s polls in an effort to influence

and boost those they are supporting. But residents continue their outpouring of support for Climaco.

Climaco has repeatedly lambasted fake news and disinformation being peddled by her detractors and called on the public to carefully scrutinize news or stories created to deliberately misinform or deceive readers to influence views or for political motives.

“El black propaganda ta continua y el fake news, false information na social media ta continua hace calayat el cuantos

Free RT-PCR tests?

Continued from page 1 workers from Zamboanga City. Let us look at a more favorable 2022, but we need everyone’s cooperation,” Climaco said.

The mayor previously asked the support of the City Council to provide a wider coverage of RT-PCR testing in Zamboanga in response to the clamor of the public. Residents and travellers have urged the local government to provide free or subsidize RTPCR tests which cost between P2,000 to P5,000.

“It may not be necessarily a free-for-all grant, but at least with a wider coverage than the present free RT-PCR test given to those with Covid-19 symptoms, suspected and positive cases only,” she said.

Climaco said her proposal to the City Council for free RT-PCR testing is subject to the availability of test kits and once the

local molecular laboratory is approved and becomes operational. She also ordered the City Health Office and the City Budget Office to come up with the policy in conformity with the guidelines set by the Department of Health and the Red Cross.

The mayor issued an executive order making it mandatory for all travellers - whether they are fully vaccinated or not - entering Zamboanga to present their negative RT-PCR test results following the emergence of the highly transmissible Delta variant.

She also ordered a strict border control and implementation of the health protocols in Zamboanga, saying travellers must have negative Covid-19 test results, whether by Saliva RT-PCR tests or nasopharyngeal RT-PCR test, before they enter Zamboanga.

Climaco issued Executive Order 651-2021 that mandates all inbound passengers, whether APOR or private individuals, regardless of reason or purpose of entry, including transit travellers to present negative RT-PCR test results within 5 days from date of specimen collection and their valid identification cards before they can enter Zamboanga City.

Many travellers who underwent random RTPCR tests conducted by health workers at the Zamboanga borders and in sea and air ports had tested positive for the deadly respiratory virus.

The mayor said these are temporary measures designed to curb the sudden spike in Covid-19 cases in order to promote the health and safety of the general welfare of the citizens. (Zamboanga Post)

Lifting of ‘Sunday lockdown’ recommended RESIDENTS MAY soon enjoy going out on Sundays after Mayor Beng Climaco recommended the lifting of the weekend lockdown as the number of COVID-19 cases are decreasing and to help the business sector and provide livelihood opportunities to all.

The lockdown policy has been imposed as part of the measures to curb the spread of the deadly respira-

tory disease. During Sunday lockdown, the movement of people are limited, although those going to places of worship are allowed and so are health workers and those in essential and food services and APORs or authorized persons outside residence.

Climaco said the local COVID-19 task force which she heads are also studying several recommendations from various sectors on how

to incentivize fully vaccinated individuals to encourage more people to inoculate.

The mayor called on residents to the public health protocols. “Always wear face masks and follow minimum health protocols, and have yourselves vaccinated. Ese el de atun vacuna de esperanza, bakuna ng pagasa at kapit tayo sa Panginoon,” she said. (Zamboanga Post)

SUPPORT PEACE IN MINDANAO

maga persona que tiene mal intencion para destrosa el govierno local, para destrosa el esfuerzos del govierno por de ila vested interest,” Climaco told the Zamboanga Post.

“Y el los demas personas, como venganza contra con el govierno cay no puede estos maga gente influir con el gobierno local. Por cuantos años, el ataque contra na administracion sin descanso por causa de politica,” she added.

Climaco said the local government continues to work hard for the welfare of the people while her foes are busy spreading black propaganda. In one of her weekly columns, “Sunday Reflection”, Climaco said she leaves everything to God. “Where would I hewn

my strength if not from God alone who placed me here? Despite the toxicity of politics, bien mabuling gayod, I am here to respond to the calling of God to change systems to be able to deliver quality service to the people. Just as in Jesus’ ministry, there were noisy, angry, and divisive voices that became obstacles in His mission.

I too, navigate into these destructive obstacles that try to lure me away from my mission and my focus on my work,” she wrote.

“Politics is the main challenge that continues to distract our efforts to address the real problems of Covid-19. Malicious claims, spreading of baseless accusations and giving people false hope in doing what is popular… and all these for personal

and political agenda? Very divisive and distractive as it is an obstacle to unity in these times of crisis. This is the cross a leader must carry, to deny oneself for the people. Not to let the distractive voices be an obstacle in following Jesus and our mission to serve.

No matter how heavy our crosses may be, do not let obstacles block God’s love to grant you hope and a future!” she added.

In the end, Climaco quoted Jeremiah 29:11 and wrote: “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

She also thanked the Zamboangueños for their unwavering support and love for her. (Zamboanga Post)

Hurrah! New building for Southcom National High School FACULTY MEMBERS thanked Mayor Beng Climaco for the newly-constructed two-storey school building at the Southcom National High School.

Climaco who was joined by government officials formally turned over the building to Education officials and Elena Balan, the school principal; and witnessed by Barangay Calarian Chairwoman Flor Arcillas and San Jose Gusu Chairman Joel Esteban and Rep. Jawi Jimenez.

“Our support to the education sector is unending amid the COVID-19 pandemic,” the mayor told Balan and other teachers during a simple ceremony held recently at the school compound.

“The City Government will always support programs and projects for the benefit and welfare of our children, the future of Zamboanga City. Let us make our children’s future a reality today,” Climaco said.

The mayor vowed to continue providing more infrastructure projects to different barangays as part of her administration’s priorities in Security, Health and Education.

Last September, Climaco also inaugurated three climate-resilient school buildings in Barangay Tetuan, Canelar and Pasobolong.

In Tetuan, the mayor inaugurated a four-storey, 20-classroom building for the Zamboanga City High School.

Climaco also led the handover of the new school buildings at Canelar Elementary School and Pasobolong Elementary School. All the ceremonies were also attended by faculty members who thanked the mayor for continuously prioritizing education and other literacy programs that benefit the students.

Notably, it was only during Climaco’s administration that the new schools have no initials of the mayor unlike in the previous administration of Mayor Celso Lobregat where virtually all window grills had CL welded on it and roofs painted with “Adelante Zamboanga.”

But in Climaco’s administration, only the “love for Zamboanga City” - I love ZC - are emblazoned in many infrastructure projects.

Education officials led by Dr. Victoria Mangaser previously praised Climaco and thanked her for donating 32 printing and digital hubs intended for different schools in Zamboanga City to help teachers cope with the demands of mass production of printed materials and modules needed for “blended learning” which combines both tradition-

al classroom and online classes or courses.

The printing and digital hubs are complete with Acer Veriton S desktops which provide high reliability and a long lifespan due to its 100% solid capacitor and Acer V7 Series computer monitors that provide professional performance with a 4K resolution screen. All the hubs also come with Risograph, a brand of digital duplicators manufactured by the Riso Kagaku Corporation that are designed mainly for high-volume photocopying and printing.

Mangaser praised the mayor for the continuing and overwhelming support the local government has provided the Department of Education since becoming mayor. Climaco is now on her third and last term and running for Congress in next year’s polls.

Just this year, the mayor also turned over the newly-constructed two-storey barangay hall to the officials of Barangay Tolosa and Barangay Ayala. The buildings have a brick façade and stainless hand rails and ramp for people with disabilities. The two buildings also have their own covered terrace in the front.

The mayor said the new barangay hall is the commitment of her administration to the barangays and its residents. (Zamboanga Post)

The Zamboanga Post

November 15-21, 2021

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Doc paints to pass time during pandemic

Good job! Beng lauds PNP, Customs ZAMBOANGA CITY Mayor Beng Climaco lauded authorities following the confiscation of smuggled cigarettes worth over P4 million in separate operations off Tumalutab Island.

“We commend our authorities, the brave men of the 2nd Mobile Force Company and the Bureau of Customs for this successful anti-smuggling campaign.

Good job,” said Climaco.

The mayor also warned smugglers to stop their nefarious activities because local authorities will continue

to run after them. “Let this be a warning, not here in Zamboanga because we will not stop until you are all put in jail,” she said.

Members of the 2nd Mobile Force Company and the Bureau of Customs’ Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) and the Enforcement and Security Service (ESS) intercepted a motorized boat loaded with 77 boxes of assorted cigarette brands worth some P2.7 million.

The boat, manned by six crew members, was trans-

porting the undocumented cigarettes to Olutanga town in Zamboanga Sibugay province when intercepted by authorities.

The same teams also seized 47 cases of assorted cigarette brands worth some P1.6 million being transported by another motorized boat near the island. The boat had three crew members.

Authorities did not say who the owners of the cigarettes or the names of the crewmen or where the contraband originated. (Zamboanga Post)

Face shields or no face shields?

Continued from page 1 Climaco, head of the local IATF-MEID, asked City Health Officer Dr. Dulce Miravite and the City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit to make the necessary studies and immediately come up with recommendations on the possibility of making the face shield non-mandatory in open spaces.

Miravite maintained that the use of face shields should be mandatory inside closed spaces, crowded places and those with close contact with COVID-19 patients such as hospitals and quarantine facilities. “It is okay to ease the face shield requirement in open spaces, but not in closed spaces,” Miravite said.

She said face shields provide a physical barrier to protect the wearer

from contracting the virus from others and the environment. Face shields also reduce how frequently a person touches their eyes throughout the day, which also might help reduce the spread of the virus.

The mayor said the decisions of the local government should always be consistent with NIATF-MEID guidelines. The Department of Health said face shields are necessary in protecting the users from getting the virus through the eyes.

According to a report by the “All About Vision”, COVID-19 spreads through the eyes through the conjunctiva, a thin, clear mucous membrane that covers the white portion of the eyeball and the inner surface of the eyelids.

Like the mucous

membranes of the nose and mouth, the conjunctiva can be an entry point for coronavirus into the body. Once in the conjunctiva and tear film, COVID-19 can be spread to others by rubbing your eyes and transferring the virus to other objects or directly to people with your fingers.

Also, it may be possible for coronavirus in the eye to spread from your eyes to your nose, throat and lungs. This is because the tears drain from the surface of our eyes into the nose and throat through a small drainage channel called the nasolacrimal duct. From the nose and throat, the coronavirus can be inhaled into the lungs, causing respiratory distress and other symptoms of the disease. (Zamboanga Post)

Zambo targets 19,000 jabs a day Continued from page 1 mayor expressed optimism that the local government may be able to achieve 50% herd immunity before end of the year following assurances from the Department of Health and the National Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Infectious Diseases to send more COVID-19 vaccines in the coming weeks.

Climaco said ramping up vaccination will boost plans to reopen the city to

the “new normal” by relaxing some of the quarantine restrictions and medical requirements from travellers entering Zamboanga such as the RT-PCR tests for fully vaccinated individuals.

She said children may also be allowed to visit public parks and engage in other recreational activities, if and when the city achieves a vaccination status of 50% or more. “This is our goal and this is our objective by the month of

December, but the public must fully cooperate with the authorities and strictly follow health protocols,” Climaco said.

City Health Officer Dr. Dulce Miravite said the local government is also mulling the possibility of conducting mobile vaccination in strategic locations and is considering hiring more health workers and vaccinators to speed up the mass vaccination program. (Zamboanga Post)

Continued from page 1 jobs, others suffered from depression and stress due to lockdowns and limited movement of people.

And Covid-19 itself can lead to neurological and mental complications, such as delirium, agitation, and stroke. People with pre-existing mental, neurological or substance use disorders are also more vulnerable to SARSCoV-2 infection they may stand a higher risk of severe outcomes and even death.

Many people in Zamboanga City resorted to flower gardening to cope with the stressful day-to-day life, others have raised cats and dogs to help manage their children’s anxiety And the Center for Disease Control and Prevention found that children with dogs in the home had reduced anxiety levels and reduced amount of perceived stress. They believe that kids who interact with dogs have increased levels of oxytocin released into their brains.

But one medical doctor in Zamboanga City has unique ways on how he spends his quality time being an anesthesiologist and a loving father of two and a husband to an equally busy and beautiful wife, who is a nurse by profession.

Dr. Marcus Mancao tells the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner that despite his rigorous job he still finds some time to do things he truly loves - painting and scale model assembly - but the 41year old doctor is also a fitness enthusiast who goes to the gym when he has time and an endurance cyclist and marathoner.

He says painting is his passion even when he was just little. “It started when I was a kid and as a preschooler, I kept on painting and drawing as a pastime with my older brother.

I guess it just developed from there. Although I never had any formal training in painting, I just paint like how I imagine it in my mind,” says Dr. Mancao, a father to a pair of intelligent kids Calebs, 8; and Savannahs. 4.

“It wasn’t until Christmas of 2020 when my wife, Amirrah, got me some painting supplies and suggested I should get back to doing what I used to love. So I spent some of my free time during this pandemic doing just that,” he says as he gestures to some of his pieces at his living room-turned-studio. “Besides my older pieces done when I was younger, I've currently done 10 pieces in the past years.”

But the health crisis also brought fear to Dr. Mancao after he tested positive for the deadly respiratory disease that has already claimed the lives of nearly 1,000 people since last year; and his family also contracted Covid-19 and they all survived the virus.

From that harrowing experience, Dr. Mancao - like the mythical phoenix - painted the “Perseverance” which reflects his continued effort to do and achieve something despite the difficulties and failure in life.

“I did the ‘Perseverance’ piece when I got the Covid-19 virus, I took the opportunity while I was quarantined at home, in isolation together with my family, who also had the virus. In a way, it was timely amidst all the uncertainties we are all facing right now, life needs to move on. The pandemic helped

Zamboanga City anesthesiologist, Dr. Marcus Mancao, with his "Perseverance" painting. me realize that all the material things in life shouldn’t be your priority. The real wealth is your health and your family.”

“The pandemic made me realize that your health is far more important than anything else. This is a very perilous time to be a physician, you can literally die if you let your guards down, but this is also the time when humanity needs you the most. You really have to answer the calling. Painting is one way to get off some of the stresses of being a frontliner,” the doctor says, his voice cracking from the memories of the past that he has to retell for everybody to realize that Covid-19 chooses no one.

Dr. Mancao admits that emotions played a vital role in some of his paintings.

His dreams, he says, are also reflected on his canvasses. “Emotions, some of it, yes.

Some are just what attracted me during that time. I dreamt of it, I thought of it or just saw it a while ago and I’d say ‘hey, I like to paint that,’ although some of my pieces have hidden messages and meaning in it, mostly about life and nature,” he says, noting that in the past, he tried to follow the styles and brush strokes of famous artists, but he finds that his unique and own artistic expressions simply work magic and he attributes this to his mood.

“I tried following famous artists’ works and I just couldn’t, I just have to make my own style. I think it’s much better that way, uniquely my own. My paintings are really greatly influenced by mood. I paint when I have free time, and when I am in the mood for painting. I want to get the work done in one sitting, but I can’t, given the very busy schedule in hospitals. So, it’s like when I am in the mood and when I have a free time, I will grab it and continue painting. It’s always fun and exciting to see your work unfold every time you sit there, and you should know when you’re done, so you won’t overdo it,” explains Dr. Mancao, adding “I would like to think anesthesiologists have steady hands, an advantage for someone who paints. As a doctor, we always give much attention to details, we love scrutinizing.”

Dr. Mancao says his painting mediums are oil and acrylic and his beautiful pieces are “somewhere along Art Nouveau and realism art.” Although he wants to hold a solo exhibit, Dr. Mancao says the Covid-19 pandemic remains a public threat.

Many of his friends want to buy his paintings, but Dr. Mancao says “it’s really hard to let go of the things I put much time and effort on. Just like when you breed dogs, it’s just hard to let go of the puppies.”

Aside from painting, Dr. Mancao also busies himself in assembling scale models of battle tanks, among others and also paints them according to their colors during their era. “It so good to assemble scale models, it keeps my mind and spirit busy, especially this time of the Covid-19 pandemic. We need to do something, work on something that we love and that’s good enough,” he says. (Mindanao Examiner)

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November 15-21, 2021

Zamboanga Pictures in the News Local government of Zamboanga City at work. This is where your taxes go.

November 15-21, 2021

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Zamboanga Pictures in the News Photos by : Giana Andrion, Bong Serondo, Christine Lim, CMO-PIO, Dr. Arndo Agbayani, and Coun Omaga’s Office.

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Across : 1. Worth 6. Quilting party 9. Sis’s sibling 12. Wear down 13. Elbow location 14. Paddle a boat 15. Teach 16. Get 18. Exit 20. Advanced gradually 21. Limited 25. Snacks 26. Gun org.

27. Show boredom 31. Rd. 32. Uncle ___ 33. Indignation 34. Salon treatment 36. Compass dir.

37. Length times width 38. Appraisal 41. Incline 44. Thump 45. Root vegetable 48. Make joyous 51. Adam’s mate 52. Train termnal (abbr.)

53. Sandwich shops 54. Had been 55. Boston time zone (abbr.)

56. Sharply inclined Down : 1. Came acrosss 2. Goof 3. Type of car 4. Fools 5. Choir voice 6. Saloon 7. Before, in verse 8. Roast host 9. Military prison 10. Ramble 11. Was indebted to 17. whirlpool 19. Gets the soap off 21. Gather crops 22. Icicle’s spot 23. Hoisting machine 24. Least wild

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Expert warns public on ‘unauthorized’ booster shot Continued from page 1 is in the best interest of a patient. As someone who keeps updated on the latest studies and has the requisite training to analyze this data, I try my best to give the safest and most beneficial advice.

Ultimately, that's what it is, a recommendation.”

“I never take it personally when a patient doesn’t follow what I recommend. In a way, it's a relief because I am no longer responsible for what happens because the patient didn't follow the advice. The only downside for me is that I end up taking care of people who could have saved themselves a lot of trouble if they had listened in the first place.

Such a waste of everyone’s time.”

Salvana also said that in the past days, three people have asked his help after taking unauthorized booster jabs and had a bad reaction. And he posted this on his Facebook page: “Three people now in the last three days sheepishly asking for help since they took an unauthorized booster and had a really bad reaction. Here are my thoughts: 1. If someone is willing to give you a shot “off the record,” how sure are you that’s a real COVID-19 vaccine you're getting? Could be water. Worse, might be contaminated and you get a very bad infection.

Even if it’s real, it might be expired or improperly stored.

2. We still aren’t sure which vaccines are safe to mix with others. Early data shows higher reactions with mixing for most combinations. You're

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November 15-21, 2021

really taking a gamble by haphazardly mixing without proper safety data to back it up.

3. The efficacy of a third shot remains unclear, especially with different combinations.

So you might be risking a bad reaction with no clear benefit. For instance, Astra uses an adenovirus carrier which our body makes antibodies against. A third shot may not work because your body kills the adenovirus before it can deliver its load. This is why Gamaleya uses different adenoviruses for its 1st and 2nd dose.”

Salvana said taking any unauthorized medicine is not just against the law, but “you are literally playing around with your health and with your life. Doctors study immunology and vaccinology for many years, and if we recommend a drug, we are accountable for that advice. Please stop experimenting. You might end up with something worse than COVID-19.”

The Duterte administration is also considering “heterologous vaccination” for fully vaccinated individuals who are up for their third dose of COVID-19 vaccine to boost immunity.

Heterologous vaccination or mixing different vaccine brands would ensure the public’s immunity against the deadly coronavirus regardless of manufacturers’ supply, said Carlito Galvez Jr., in-charge of the government’s vaccine procurement program.

Galvez said they are awaiting recommendations from vaccine experts before giving the third dose specif-

ically to healthcare workers, immunocompromised people or those having an impaired immune system, and the elderly.

He said the emergency use authorization issued to different Covid-19 vaccine brands must also be amended before giving the booster shot to the intended segment of the population.

Apart from heterologous vaccination, Galvez said one other government strategy is to vaccinate 90% of the student population and teaching personnel to gradually bring the country back to normalcy.

Galvez, who is also the National Task Force Against Covid-19 policies chief implementer, said that apart from economic revival, the government also focuses on pediatric vaccination, considering the psychological and emotional toll of the pandemic on the youth as a result of the nearly two years of lockdowns and restrictions.

Citing studies conducted by psychologists, Galvez noted a 300 to 400% increase in cases of depression and suicidal ideation among the younger population during the pandemic. “Once the children are vaccinated against the coronavirus, the government could start easing the restrictions, allowing young people to go out, socialize, and play,” he said.

With the help of the local governments, Galvez said he is optimistic that pediatric vaccination will be completed

by December this year. (Mindanao Examiner)

OPINION: Hard Punch by Mario Feliciano

‘Be careful what you wish for’ DISTRICT 1 Councilor Lit-Lit Macrohon never wavers in his continuous fight versus alleged massive corruption activities in our local government under the current administration of Lady Mayor Beng Climaco. He waged his anti-corruption battle in the name of transparency and accountability, since winning the election in 2019, although already there as a substitute for one veteran alderman accused and convicted for alleged crime of Estafa after the High Tribunal found him guilty for gross violation of the Anti-Bouncing Check law -- hence his removal from his post.

The 40-year old neophyte city legislator from the West Coast described his latest stumble on the alleged whopping amount of funding repairs of comfort rooms in various local government facilities worth P15 million as “totally absurd and irrational.”

During their budget hearings, Macrohon asked City Engineer Chris Navarro if the tiles of these toilets to be constructed are made of gold as the large amounts clearly would indicate it to be so.

Macrohon griped in Chavacano: “Ta pensa yo si demio ese sen bien grande yo ay puede planta casa. Cosa clase gaha ese comfort room gold el piso, cosa clase de plano gaha ese?”

Engineer Navarro said his office will implement the construction, rehabilitation and improvement of the different comfort rooms at the public market amounting

to P3 million, City Hall worth P5 million, Centro Latino worth P3 million and at the Grandstand worth P2 million.

Macrohon chided if he has P3 million, he would already be able to construct a house with a big comfort room. He revealed that the majority in the Council will have to lower these amounts and to divert it on other significant projects.

But wait a minute Mr. Councilman, before you can do that, study first President Rodrigo Duterte’s brilliant mind when he addressed one of his overflowing crowds in General Santos City during its momentous event a few years back. What’s it all about?

The tough-talking President Duterte CHASTISED the government procurement law that explicitly provides LOWEST BIDDING as its standard rules to win proposed major infrastructure government projects.

In his own lengthy speech, President Duterte was emphatically pointing out: “Itong sa corruption, matagal ko ayaw yan. Puputulin ko yan talaga. Kayo mga COA, do not insist on this, because magka-away tayo dito. Hindi ako susunod sa inyo. Don’t give me that shit! Alam mo itong lowest bid, ito naka-leche’,leche’ ang buhay ng mga Filipino. Matagal na yan. Kung may project dyan, example a building worth P100 million, may mga grupo dito sa Pilipinas, umi-ikot lang yan, nago-golf lang mga yan,at kung marinig saan yong bidding, doon yan sila pupunta..they go there and meet in cabal, and agree to rig every bidding..mahirap

OPINION: El Balagon by Kelso Matias

‘Future Mayor of Gutalac!’

I MET a fellow GUARDIAN in one of the shopping malls in Zamboanga City and he is none other than the good and hardworking Bro. Joel Tendero, the Vice Mayor of the Municipality of Gutalac in Zamboanga del Norte province. He is a man whom I highly respected because of his true and downto-earth character, his honesty and style of leadership and his credibility and competence as a public servant.

Actually, I wanted to interview him more, but because of his limited time since they have to go back to Zamboanga del Norte, sa Facebook na lang daw kami mag-usap. So, pagdating ko sa office, I called up another fellow GUARDIAN from Gutalac and asked for more information kung ano ang plano ug maga proyekto ni Bro. Joel this coming election, at ito po ang nakuha kong mga importanteng impormasyon about the honorable Vice Mayor: I learned that Vice Mayor Joel Tendero, who is a second-termer, filed his certificate of candidacy with for Mayor of Gutalac at the last hour of October 8, 2021. The municipality of Gutalac has 33 barangays with almost 20,000 registered voters. Local residents and various sectoral groups are all out in their support to the mayoralty candidacy of Bro. Joel and his constituents vowed to help him win the race!

Ang maga pumuluyo na mismo ug maga Barangay Kapitan ang ga sulti na daghan pa si Vice Mayor Joel proyekto kaysa kay Mayor. Wala man gihatag o gikuhaan pa jud ang budget sa Mayor para sa opisina ni Vice Mayor Joel, pero tungud sa iyahang abilidad, sincero para muhatag ug maayung serbisyo sa maga kataohan, si Vice Mayor Joel naningkamot sa iyahang kaugalingon nga budget para makahatag patubig o Water System sa maga Barangay Banganon, Sas sa Sitio Buena Suerte, Bagong Silang, San Roque, Lux, Canuto ug sa Barangay Map naa 3 ka patubig ug sa Sitio Manganese pud naay duha ka project sa water system.

Si Vice Mayor Joel nanigkamot sa iya kauglingun mangita ug paagi para makahatag pa: One building for the Office of the DepEd Supervisor with computer sets and school chairs; Seeds and fertilizers for the farmers and free use of heavy equipment such as tractor for the farm-to-market roads; Medicines for the senior citizens and the sick. Gahatag pa ug wheelchairs sa may kinahanglan; Fishermen in the 13 coastal barangays have received fishing boats and fish net for livelihood; Ayuda pag naay bagyo, gahatag ug pagkaun , bugas ug sud-an; Cleaning and maintenance of public cemeteries in Barangays Loay, Canuto Enerio, San Juan, Panganuran, Tipan ug sa kinadak an sementerio sa sentro sa Gutalac. Usa sa maga programa ni Vice Mayor Joel Tendero gipadayon gikan pa kaniadto hantod karon.

Maga senior citizens, health workers, farmers, barangay captains ug maga kagawad, miembro sa maga kooperatiba ug maga empleyado para kay Vice Mayor Joel Tendero. When Vice Mayor Joel Tendero called me, sabi ko Bro. Vice Mayor Joel, I salute you, nasa puso mo ang pag serbisyo sa maga pumuluyu , alam ko ang oras mo ay para sa maga constituents ng Gutalac.

Good Luck Bro. Mayor Joel Tendero, we wish you all the best!

kasi sa lowest bidding, bigyan pa sa barangay captain, mag bigay pa..I’m not trying to offend mga consehal,mayors, governors, o Presidente kung Malaki yong( Proyecto).”

The President continued: “Yan ang problema magbigay pa doon, pati hasta sa mga barangay because under the law, you have to sign. Ilan na lang matira sa contractor? Wala na siyang kita. Kung pa build niya ng P100 million (project), so he’ll give you an infrastructure worth na lang P45 million. I’ll no longer tolerate this. Ito ang proposal ko - P100 million itong building, okay sabi ko sa kahat ng mga contractors, kaya mo P100 million? Tayuan mo ako ng building worth P100 million, pagkatapos bayaran kita. Paghinaw-shao mo ako, pati ang mga cement (wala sa kalidad) no, nada! Hindi ako bayaran sa iyo. Sino yong contractor para mahiya? Poreso ayaw ko yong lowest bidding. Ayaw ko yong barato, kasi babarutiin tayo, kaya mga barato.”

See its nitty-gritty behind?

The City Engineer’s Office should better justify its P15 million worth of constructing better comfort rooms at our public market worth its amount of P3 million; awesome rehab of City Hall worth P5 million; Centro Latino improvement worth P3 million; Pasonanca worth P2 million and the Grandstand worth P2 million.

Such projects apparently are falling under our Lady Mayor Beng Climaco’s “BUILD BACK BETTER ZAMBOANGA!” following the infamous 21-day September 9, 2013 Zamboanga Siege after over 400 heavily-armed MNLF group attempted to invade, and hoist its own flag at our City Hall, supposedly at the behest of their disgruntled leader MNLF founder Nur Misuari.

SOME SIGNS of REAL PROGRESS AND DEVELOPMENT in Zamboanga under the Climaco administration are the following: The mushrooming of SCHOOL BUILDINGS for Department of Education’s Junior and Senior high schools (our Mayor sees to it there are enough classrooms for its students whose school populations keeps on growing), and together with it is the building of bleachers and gymnasiums for the student’s physical education and recreational activities; the conversion of Ayala and Vitali Vocational-Technical Schools into a local City College now called Colegio dela Ciudad de Zamboanga which is one of her priority projects; then her S.H.E. projects that benefit so much our City of Zamboanga in terms of Security, Health and Education in the form of a lot of them - to include building infrastructure projects for their conveniences and protection from hazardous elements outside, etc.

For her FEAT, to THE ENVY OF HER POLITICAL FOES, Mayor Beng Climaco was conferred the “2018 World Mayor Prize and Commendations,” exclusively bestowed upon women mayors who have OUTSTANDING AND LONG-LASTING CONTRIBUTIONS to their communities.

(Top 5 World’s Best Mayors by the prestigious City Mayors Foundation.)

Can you beat that, huh? Not really playing biased here. What I want to point out is, WAIT FOR YOUR OWN APPOINTED TIME to be mayor too, someday. Too much rocking the boat can RUIN EVERYTHING for someone with big potentials to lead La Bella Zamboanga one day. So, be careful what you wish for. See you guys, next time around.

Praise the Father. (Mario Feliciano)

Vice Mayor Joel Tendero

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The Zamboanga Post

November 15-21, 2021

November 15-21, 2021

The Zamboanga Post

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Mass vaccination continues Government pledges more Covid-19 medicines

T

HE LOCAL government continues its mass vaccination program as it targets to inoculate at least 70% of the nearly one million population to be able to achieve herd immunity against the deadly COVID-19.

Mayor Beng Climaco said nearest health center or at the behind in mass vaccination and the local government aims to City Health Office so they can be other local governments in Luease community restrictions inoculated as soon as COVID-19 zon, Visayas and Mindanao also and eventually return to the vaccines are available. aired similar complaints, saying “new normal” soon provided The mayor previously asked the lack of vaccines prevent them residents strictly follow the pub- the national government and the from carrying out the mass vaccilic health protocols to prevent DOH to provide Zamboanga City nation program.

Just recently, Climaco atthe virus from spreading further. with more vaccines and medical The vaccination program supplies to be able to effectively roll tended the virtual meeting called has recently included children out the mass vaccination program. by the National Vaccination Operor the pediatric population and She said Carlito Galvez, in-charge ations Center which was attended those under the priority list of the government’s vaccine pro- by over 600 local government repof the Department of Health curement program, has pledged to resentatives and discussed vari(DOH). The local government provide Zamboanga with addition- ous issues affecting the rollout of the vaccines, among others. and the DOH also tapped vari- al supply of the medicines. ous establishments and in difClimaco also assured Galvez Climaco recommended the ferent barangays in the conduct that the local government is more involvement of cabinet secretaries of the vaccination and among than ready and capable of inocu- in assisting the different regions them are KCC Mall de Zambo- lating the local population as long in the vaccination program and anga, Yubenco Star Mall, SM as the supply of COVID-19 vac- ensuring focused attention on the Mindpro, Zamboanga City Med- cines are available. But despite the gaps and challenges they face. ical Center, Zamboanga Penin- readiness of the local government, At the meeting, the mayor sula Medical Center, Zamboan- the arrival of vaccines in Zamboan- thanked Galvez and his deputy, ga Chong Hua High School. ga City is little compared to other Vivencio Dizon; Health Secretary Climaco also appealed to areas in the country such as Davao, Francisco Duque and Interior residents who have not been Cebu, NCR and Calabarzon.

Secretary Eduardo Año for their vaccinated to register to their Zamboanga Peninsula lags commitment to provide contin-

Sunday Reflection OPINION

by Mayor Beng Climaco

‘GOD’S PROVIDENTIAL COINCIDENCE?’ I always believe in Kairos, Qadar, God’s Perfect Timing.

After attending the Beautiful Mass of the Holy Spirit for the ADZU MEDICAL SCHOOL LEVEL 1 till Batch 2026, we sought the Holy Spirit to guide our Ignatian doctors.

Dr. Dulce Amor Dagalea Miravite was an alumna, who celebrated her birthday with the Eucharistic celebration.

Thanks to Boya De Los Santos who invited us and Fr. Koko, S.J., who echoed Jesus as the Divine Healer.

I visited the memorial and brought flowers to Tita Pilar Molina, who recruited me to the CLC CHRISTIAN LIFE COMMUNITY in 1984. This is the Lay community of Marian-inspired devotees following Ignatian Principles to praise and reverence. Serve and love God. After visiting my parents, I joined our virtual National Convention sponsored by LUZON CLC’ers. I partly saw the sharing of Ate Didi and missed the stories of hope in times of Pandemic.

By the time I got home, they put us in Breakout Room No. 20. I do not know them personally, but Ate Rose visited Zamboanga City since we sponsored the 2019 National Convention. We started sharing and I stressed that “ang mahalagang natutunan ko sa pandemia ay ang kumapit sa Panginoon.”

It was a wonderful mix in our group. Kuya Cesar said he would ask me a favor later. By evening, I got a most unexpected text. Kuya Cesar was asking for the Homily of a dear friend, Fr. Manoling, in our wedding in 2009. He was informed by my cousin-in-law, Mary, that Joe married; to Kuya Mon and that Fr. Manoling Francisco, S.J.,

mentioned them.

A Husband’s Request: “If that homily was captured on video, I hope that you would be so kind enough to share it with me and my family in time for Christmas, and the 45th anniversary of my marriage to Pin on December 23. If this request would find favor with you, you can. Here is a love story within a wedding Homily which points to God’s eternal love. There was a magazine with Sharon Cuneta on the cover. The ad was calling for people to write a letter, the best story would receive a diamond pendant. Josephine, Cesar’s wife, wrote that she would want to win the diamond pendant because she was suffering from cancer and did not know if she would live to see her grandchildren.

One day, their son, a seminarian, opened the magazine and lo and behold, their mother Josephine won the essay. Josephine called her daughter and opened the box with the beautiful diamond pendant and put it on her daughter to remind her of her eternal presence. Cesar, her husband, affirmed his eternal love for Josephine who died of cancer. May we make our eternal pledge: LORD TA AMA YO CONTIGO ETERNAMENTE! Just like my Dad’s eternal pledge of love to my mom who died of cancer. They are buried together in the memorial. God’s eternal love enables us to love and experience his eternal love by allowing us to find the love of our lives, as a couple and as priests and lay responding to our vocations of Love for God. (MBC)

Zamboanga Peninsula

Basilan

Mayor Beng Climaco poses with vaccinees during a mass vaccination program at KCC Mall de Zamboanga. Also in the photo are Councilor Pinpin Pareja and Rep. Jawo Jimenez. (Bong Serondo) uous vaccine supply to Zamboanga City and Zamboanga Peninsula and help accelerate the vaccination rollout.

Climaco renewed her calls for a synchronized policies, task lists and templates in COVID-19 response to

guide the local governments and ensure uniform and standard policies for all.

(Zamboanga Post)

PUJ, trike drivers thanked Beng for aid, vaccines HUNDREDS OF jeepney and tricycle drivers and public transport groups thanked Mayor Beng Climaco for the cash assistance and COVID-19 vaccines they received from the local government the past weeks.

Climaco said the Local Social Amelioration Program is aimed at helping the jeepney drivers who are mostly affected by the pandemic. She said the distribution of cash assistance was also conducted simultaneously with the vaccination drive to ensure the drivers are protected from the deadly respiratory virus.

The distribution of the cash aid and vaccination were held at the Integrated Bus Terminal in Barangay Divisoria. Nearly 2,900 beneficiaries are expected to benefit from the program.

Climaco was assisted by social workers and medical frontliners. Rep. Jawo Jimenez and Councilor Pinpin Pareja also joined the recent rollout of the program.

Last August, hundreds jeepney and tricycle drivers also benefitted from the rice and grocery goods donated by the benevolent Tzu Chi Foundation, a Taiwanese international humanitarian and non-governmental organization.

Climaco, who assisted in the distribution of food aid, thanked the Tzu Chi Foundation for its relief assistance to jeepney and tricycle drivers, and those under the trans-

Sulu

A government photo shows an unnamed driver posing in front of a sign at the bus terminal. Hundreds of PUJ drivers thanked Mayor Beng Climaco for the cash aid they received.

The drivers were also vaccinated against the COVID-19. port sector. “Miles de gracias Dharma Master Cheng Yen and Tzu Chi Foundation. Muchisimas gracias Dr. Anton Lim and the Zamboanga Tzu Chi volunteers por el servicio con amor y compacion. Vaya con Dios,” Climaco said.

The relief goods included 2 bags of 10-kilo rice and P500 worth of groceries. The assistance is intended to help those severely affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, the mayor said.

The beneficiaries were among the more than 4,000 public utility drivers identified by the City Administrator’s Office and the Office of the Mayor.

The local government also distributed rice assistance to residents affected by the health crisis,

particularly those areas which have been locked down due to the high number of Covid-19 cases. “We are rolling out this rice assistance for beneficiaries in communities affected by the pandemic,” Climaco said.

She said the local government has already distributed cash aid for people with disabilities (PWDs) at City Hall recently.

The mayor vows to help more PWDs and indigent families as part of the local government’s welfare program for the poor.

“This shows that no amount of disability can ever hinder a person’s right to live and have a successful life even in the face of the pandemic,” she said. (Zamboanga Post)

Tawi-tawi