The Zamboanga Post (July 5-11, 2021)

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July 5-11, 2021

Indian variant feared!

‘Beng tells Zamboangueños to follow health protocols’

W

ITH THE Delta variant or the Indian Covid-19 variant affecting over 100 countries now, Mayor Beng Climaco told the public anew to strictly follow health protocols, even those who were inoculated or fully vaccinated against the deadly respiratory virus.

The Department of Filipino workers. Health which sparked a global Health (DOH) has so far experts warned the Del- health crisis last year. confirmed at least 17 cas- ta variant is more contaClimaco, head of the es of the Delta variant gious and deadlier from local Covid-19 task force, Continue on page 2 from returning overseas the original Wuhan virus

Zambo now under GCQ THE NATIONAL government’s Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases has placed Zamboanga City under the General Community Quarantine classification following the dramatic decrease of Covid-19 cases from over 2,800 to under 500 the past months.

Zamboanga was placed under the stricter Modified General Community Quarantine from May 8 and lasted until end of June due Continue on page 2

A health worker takes a swab sample from an elderly woman in Zamboanga City. (Zamboanga Post)

Zambo’s proposed solar thermal plant impressive

Ivanpah Solar Power Facility in California, USA.) (Photo by Craig Dietrich - Flickr)

THE CITIES and Development Initiative for Asia (CDIA) said it was impressed with the proposal of the local government to establish a Solar Electric Generating System Project or Solar Thermal Plant in Zamboanga City.

Mayor Beng Climaco, who attended the recently concluded CDIA virtual clinics, highlighted Zamboanga City as a destination for bankable and Continue on page 3

Travellers flock to island to illegally enter Zambo AN ISLAND off Zamboanga is reportedly being used as a jump off point by travellers from nearby provinces to illegally enter the city in an effort to avoid the strict health requirements imposed by the local government.

All travellers and even individuals who have received their Continue on page 3

WITH THE continuing mutations of the Covid-19 and grave dangers posed by new variants of the deadly respiratory virus, Mayor Beng Climaco has sought to prolong the services of nurses and contact tracers hired by the national government to help fight the spread of the disease in Zamboanga Continue on page 7

Health workers take swab samples on a neighborhood in Zamboanga City. (Zamboanga Post)

Kalaboso sa mga ayaw magpabakuna

Military photos show a boat loaded with 83 boxes of smuggled cigarettes and 8 passengers and crew men with no health requirements are intercepted on Tictapul Island off Zamboanga City.

Zamboanga Peninsula

Longer employment contract of health workers sought

Basilan

IPINAG-UTOS NI Pangulong Duterte sa mga barangay kapitan sa buong bansa na kunin ang mga pangalan ng mga taong ayaw magpabakuna upang maipakulong.

Tinawag pang “yawa”

at minura ni Duterte ang mga ayaw magpa-bakuna at sinabing uutusan nito ang Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) upang mandohan ang mga barangay officials na kunin ang mga

Sulu

pangalan ng mga residenteng tumatanggi sa Covid-19 vaccine.

“Kayong mga barangay captains, I will task the DILG to do that, to look for these Continue on page 2

Tawi-tawi

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The Zamboanga Post

July 5-11, 2021

Indian variant feared!

‘Beng tells Zamboangueños to follow health protocols’

Continued from page 1 told Zamboangueños to get listed so they can be inoculated as soon as the vaccines are available.

“With the discovery of Delta being the new variant of concern worldwide, people should get vaccinated and religiously observe the minimum health standards from wearing face masks, face shields to observing social distancing and hand sanitation,” she said.

“Health experts have said that people not wearing face masks, observing phys-

ical distancing, and avoiding enclosed spaces can get the virus even during a short interaction with someone carrying the mutated variant,” the mayor added.

With these, Climaco stressed that people should get vaccinated as a protection against the virus, saying that “a dose of the vaccine is a dose of hope.”

City Health Officer Dr. Dulce Miravite also explained that even fully-vaccinated individuals may still get infected because of emerging Covid-19 variants.

However, she said vaccination will ensure protection against severe infections.

Miravite urged residents to register online through zambocovax.com or the nearest barangay health center so they can be vaccinated as soon as Covid-19 vaccines are available.

More Contagious The World Health Organization (WHO) also said the Delta variant causes more severe symptoms.

Molecular epidemiologist Dr. Edsel Maurice Salvana said the Delta variant is

Kalaboso sa mga ayaw magpabakuna Continued from page 1 persons and kung hindi, I will order their arrest, sa totoo lang. Why? Because if you are a person na hindi ka vaccinated, you are a carrier, a potential carrier (of Covid-19) and to protect the people, I have to sequester you in jail. Mamili kayo: magpabakuna kayo o ipakulong ko kayo sa selda? Sabi ko sa iyo ‘yong selda diyan sa mga pulis, walang linis ‘yan, eh tamad ‘yang pulis maglinis. Nandoon ang lahat, lahat na ng baho nandoon. Doon kayo. Ganito na lang, I will think it over very hard, legally, of course.

Pero ‘pag hindi, ayaw ninyo, ipaaresto ko kayo. That is in pursuance of a policy of our crisis of itong health issue,” ani Duterte.

“Iyang mga yawa na ‘yan na ayaw magpabakuna. Itong mga gago na ayaw magpa-bakuna, and they are really the carriers.

If you are, they can, you know, travel from one place to another, carrying the virus and then contaminating other people. Ito ‘yong ayaw magpabakuna. Kayong ayaw magpabakuna, ipabakuna ko ‘yong itong sa bakuna ng baboy, ‘yong Ivermectin. Iyon ang ibakuna ko sa kanila. Ang tigas ng ulo eh. Kaya don’t get me wrong. There is a crisis being faced in this country.

There is a national emergency. Kung ayaw mong magpabakuna, ipaaresto kita,” dagdag pa nito.

Nagbanta rin si Duterte na tuturukan pa nito ng Ivermectin na gamot kontra-bulate ang mga mahuhuli.

“Itusok ko sa puwet mo. Putang ina, bwiset kayo. Eh, hirap na nga tayo tapos nandiyan pa kayo napakaraming dag… So kung lahat ng Pilipinong nakikinig ngayon, bantay kayo. Don’t force my hand

into it, kagaya nitong ano.

Strong-arm method ‘yan eh. Walang may gusto niyan. Pero kung hindi kayo magpabakuna, umalis kayo sa Pilipinas. Go to India if you want or somewhere, to America. But for as long as you are here and you are a human being, and can carry the virus, eh magpabakuna ka,” wika pa nito.

Matatandaang sinabi noon ni Duterte sa mga namimili ng brand ng Covid-19 vaccines na kung ayaw nila ng Sinovac ng China ay huwag na silang magpa-bakuna.

Karamihan sa mga Pilipino ay ayaw sa Chinese vaccines dahil umano sa mababang efficacy rate nito at iba pang kadahilanan. Sa Wuhan, China nagmula ang Covid-19 virus noong Disyembre 2019 at kumalat ito sa buong mundo. (Mindanao Examiner, Zamboanga Post)

more contagious than other Covid-19 variants. In a briefing with President Rodrigo Duterte on June 21, Salvana said: “The Delta variant is really very scary and this is all the more reason why we really should police our borders po kasi it only takes one variant to get in and then puwedeng mag-India-like surge po tayo kasi mataas po talaga ‘yong number of people na kayang i-infect ng isang taong mayroong Delta variant.”

“Kung ‘yong dating virus po natin ay ‘yong original virus dalawa lang po iyong nai-infect, itong Delta variant up to eight po. So it’s up to four times more contagious than the original virus from Wuhan (China) po. So this will really be a big disaster if we do not keep it out of the country po.”

With the presence of the Delta virus, Salvana said there are now four “variants of concerns” in the country - Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta - and told Duterte that stringent protocols must continue.

“Wala pa po tayong community transmission ng Gamma at Delta and we really want to keep it that way, and that is why very important po ‘yong stringent protocols natin. Iyong Delta

po, as I have mentioned, is 60 percent increased transmission over Alpha or ‘yong UK variant, which has already 60 percent increased transmission over the original virus from Wuhan. So mabagsik po talaga ito. If we thought Alpha was mabagsik, ‘yong UK variant, mas mabagsik po itong Indian variant, ‘yong Delta. And, of course, there’s also the finding that ‘yong mga partially vaccinated ‘yong one dose pa lang, nahahawa pa rin po sila kasi mukhang itong Delta really needs two doses para ma-protektahan po nang maayos. Iyong one dose po is not very good at protecting against Delta,” he said.

The DOH also confirmed Salvana’s report and said the Philippines has all those Covid-19 variants - the Alpha variant or the United Kingdom variant; the Beta variant, also known as the South African variant; and Theta variant or the Philippine variant.

More Vaccines The national government’s Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases said it will send more Covid-19 vaccines to Zamboanga City in an effort to further augment and sup-

port the local government’s response to the pandemic.

Climaco, who already signed a $2 million (or roughly P100 million) deal with the British-Swedish multinational pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca, said the local government’s vaccination program will cover 694,696 residents or 70% of the projected 2021 population of 992,423 inhabitants.

The initial P200 million for the purchase of the vaccines are included in the P4.38-billion 2021 Executive Budget of the local government, according to Climaco, who said the vaccines are expected to arrive during the 3rd quarter of the year.

Over 60,000 people here received their first jab while some 17,500 had been fully inoculated, according to health records.

The DOH has prioritized those under the A1, A2 and A3 categories in the government mass vaccination program. A1 refers to workers in frontline services; A2 are the senior citizens and A3 are those with comorbidity or those with more than one disease or condition which is present in the same person at the same time.

(Jasmine Mohammadsali, Zamboanga Post)

Zambo now under GCQ Continued from page 1 to the sudden surge of Covid-19 cases largely attributed to the South African variant of the deadly virus and aggravated by the continued violations by residents of the public health orders.

Presidential and IATFMEID spokesman Harry Roque announced this recommendation during President Rodrigo Duterte’s virtual presser on June 28. He said Zamboanga City will be under GCQ until the end of the month.

He said the neighboring province of Zamboanga Sibugay is also placed under GCQ. But Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga del Norte have been placed under the Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine until July 15 due to the rising number of Covid-19 infections.

Zamboanga City Mayor Beng Climaco said the local government will continue to implement strict health protocols in an effort to further slow the spread of the deadly respiratory virus, especially now that the Philippines has recorded at least 17 cases of the more contagious Delta or Indian variant of the Covid-19.

“We are happy to note the significant drop in the number of Covid cases na pabor del Dios recorded in the past days although the figure of 500 is still considered high. We just have to keep our guards up so we can further reduce the cases.”

“We reiterate our call for everyone to always cooperate with authorities in the implementation of the minimum health standards such as but not limited to the wearing of face masks and face shields, observing social distancing, and hand sanitation under the guidelines of the community quarantine,” she said.

Although the Covid-19 cases have gone down, some areas here are still in so-called granular lockdown due to the high number 0f viral infections. Climaco said the local government continues to provide food aid - rice, canned goods, hygiene kits and vitamins, among others - to families affected by the lockdown.

Mass vaccination is also going on for the A1, A2 and A3 categories as listed in the inoculation priorities of the Department of Health.

A1 refers to workers in frontline services; A2 are the

senior citizens and A3 are those with comorbidity or those with more than one disease or condition which is present in the same person at the same time.

The IATF-MEID said it will send more Covid-19 vaccines to Zamboanga City in an effort to further augment and support the local government’s response to the pandemic.

Climaco, who already signed a $2 million (or roughly P100 million) deal with the British-Swedish multinational pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca, said the local government’s vaccination program will cover 694,696 residents or 70% of the projected 2021 population of 992,423 inhabitants.

The initial P200 million for the purchase of the vaccines are included in the P4.38-billion 2021 Executive Budget of the local government, according to Climaco, who said the vaccines are expected to arrive during the 3rd quarter of the year.

Over 60,000 people here received their first jab while some 17,500 had been fully inoculated, according to local health records. (Zamboanga Post)

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The Zamboanga Post

July 5-11, 2021

Zambo’s proposed solar thermal plant impressive

Mayor Beng Climaco and City Administrator Apple Go.

Travellers flock to island to illegally enter Zambo Continued from page 1 Covid-19 vaccine or those fully vaccinated are required to present their negative RT-PCR test results upon entering Zamboanga City as part of stricter health protocols in combating the spread of the deadly virus.

Mayor Beng Climaco, head of the local Covid-19 task force, said she received reports of landings of travellers on Simariki Island which is populated by mostly indigenous people. She said the island is being used to illegally enter Zamboanga.

Citing reports, the mayor said motorized boats operated by unscrupulous individuals make at least 3 trips to the island where they transport passengers who do not have negative RT-PCR tests and other requirements. Most of the passengers would then enter coastal barangays.

Climaco said she ordered security forces to intensify patrols and prevent the entry of people without the necessary health requirements.

“Zamboanga City is strictly implementing the No RT-PCR Test, No Entry Policy for all travellers, including those from Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Basilan, Zamboanga Sibugay, Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga del Sur,” she said.

Climaco said travellers must have negative Covid-19 test results – whether by Saliva RT-PCR test or nasopharyngeal RT-PCR test.

She previously issued Executive Order 651-2021 that mandates all inbound passengers, whether APOR (Authorized Persons Outside Residence) or private individuals, regardless of reason or purpose of entry, including transit travellers to present negative RT-PCR test

result within 5 days from date of specimen collection and their valid identification cards before they can enter Zamboanga City.

“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,” the mayor said.

Soldiers and policemen had intercepted dozens of people trying to enter Zamboanga the past months without the health requirements.

Zamboanga, which has a long coastline, is dotted by over two dozen islands and islets which makes it extremely difficult for security forces to guard. The city is near the provinces of Basilan, Zamboanga Sibugay, Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga del Norte.

(Zamboanga Post)

Continued from page 1 sustainable Infrastructure projects.

Climaco cited the need for a Solar Electric Generating System Project or Solar Thermal Plant in Zamboanga. “If this green project is implemented, it can help the poor due to lower electricity rates, job generation, and a sustainable and cleaner environment for the city,” the mayor said during the two-day virtual clinics which concluded on June 17.

She said the local government envisions a thermal plant similar to California’s Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System which has a gross capacity of 392 megawatts.

The Ivanpah system consists of three solar thermal power plants on 3,500 acres (1,400 ha) of public land near the California–Nevada border.

Fields of heliostat mirrors focus sunlight on receivers located on centralized solar power towers. The receivers generate steam to drive specially adapted steam turbines.

Climaco branded the Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System as an engineering marvel.

In addition, City Administrator concurrent

Apple Go, who was also among those who attended the virtual clinics, told CDIA participants that the proposed Solar Electric Generating System Project can be located at the sprawling Zamboanga City Special Economic Zone.

“The area is ideal for its size and affordability,” she said, adding the thermal plant will be a good Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Project under the Joint Venture modality.

“This can ensure institutional strength to the project,” said Go, who is also the concurrent Local Economic Development and Investment Promotions Officer.

Zamboanga’s major economic activities are mainly on services at 69%; with the industry getting 28.43% and agriculture with 1.36 and the remaining 1% is in the fishery sector.

At the end of the virtual clinics, the CDIA said it was impressed with the project proposal which falls under its priority area of Energy. They said that it is a bankable project, a resilient and sustainable infrastructure project, and it integrates climate change resilience.

The CDIA, established in 2007 by the Asian Development Bank and the government of Germany, also helped the local government draft an application letter for support equivalent to an average of project preparation study of US$500,000.

With the objective of assisting secondary cities in Asia and the Pacific prepare sustainable and bankable infrastructure projects and linking them with funding sources as well as strengthening their capacities to develop and implement high priority investments, CDIA uses a demand-driven approach to support infrastructure projects that emphasize poverty reduction, environmental improvement, climate change mitigation or adaptation, and good governance.

CDIA’s work is mainly focused on traditional urban infrastructure sectors such as water supply, drainage, sanitation and mobility. However, to address needs and critical developments, CDIA is open to supporting projects in the energy, education, healthcare and heritage conservation sectors.

(Zamboanga Post, Investment Promotions Division)

FOR SALE

Face Mask from South Korea Retail: P65 a piece Wholesale: P50 a piece (20 pieces up) Mobile: 0915-3976197 – Zamboanga City

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The Zamboanga Post

July 5-11, 2021

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

July 5-11, 2021

The Zamboanga Post

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Zamboanga Pictures in the News Photos by : Bong Serondo, ZCPO, Giana Andrion, Eugene Elnar, Christine Lim, and CHO.

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July 5-11, 2021

Across : 1. Snoop 4. Pollution problem 8. Military supplies 12. Stretch the truth 13. Carson’s successor 14. Canvas cover 15. Painted 17. Quiz 18. Consent 19. Tax agency (abbr.)

20. Musical works 23. Proportion 26. “Oz” character 28. Medicine quantity 32. “Mamma ___!”

33. Quality of sound 34. Designer Oscar ___ (3 wds.)

37. Delete 38. Giant wave 43. Small bite 44. Actress ___ Sarandon 45. Be a passenger 47. Roadside problem (2 wds.)

50. Unrefined metals 51. ___ Moore of “Indecent Proposal” 52. Quick swim 53. Small pie 54. Harness strap 55. Take food

The Zamboanga Post

An Edition of the Mindanao Examiner Regional Newspaper

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Answer to last week’s crossword: Down : 1. Appeals 2. Beatle ___ Starr 3. Long 4. Rains ice 5. Voice actor ___ Blanc 6. Small bill 7. “In ___ We Trust” 8. Lure 9. Conductor’s title 10. “___ Robinson” 11. Make a selection 16. ___ culpa 19. Indignation 21. Apex 22. Canonized person 24. Charged atom 25. Have debts 27. Rodents

Reynold Toribio

28. President after HST 29. Atop, poetically 30. Defamation 31. Least difficult 35. Agent (abbr.)

36. Texas town 39. Filbert, e.g.

40. In reserve 41. Newswoman ___ Shriver 42. Bumbling 45. Deteriorate 46. Lyricist Gershwin 47. Pres. before HST 48. Grant’s enemy 49. Pal (Fr.)

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The Zamboanga Post

July 5-11, 2021

Longer employment contract of health workers sought

A local government photo shows health workers in Zamboanga City.

Organic Kopi Luwak or Civet coffee isn’t really pricey KIDAPAWAN CITY Coffee lovers in the Philippines may now enjoy the best and the most expensive coffee in the world - Kopi Luwak - but not as pricey as every connoisseurs think.

Kopi Luwak is a coffee that consists of partially digested coffee cherries, which have been eaten and defecated by the Asian palm civet. The cherries are fermented as they pass through a civet’s intestines, and after being defecated with other fecal matter, they are collected.

In Manila, a kilogram of Civet coffee sells for as high as P15,000 and over $500 dollars abroad.

But Kopi Luwak can now be enjoyed by every coffee lovers for as low as P150 for a 16 oz. cup that comes with a drip bag, ground organic Civet coffee beans, two packets of brown sugar and a stirrer in a beautiful Kraft paper bag – thanks to the Mindanao Civet Coffee seller in Zamboanga City.

The new market player in the coffee business, although small, is now offering affordable organic Kopi Luwak – sourced and picked by farmers from the highlands of Mindanao, cleaned and dried and roasted to perfection to

Continued from page 1 City. The health workers were hired by the Department of Health (DOH) and Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to work for 6 months only.

Climaco said the employment contract of the contract tracers ended on June 30 while the nurses, who are deployed in Covid-19 isolation facilities, have until August 30.

She asked both the DOH and the DILG to extend until December 30 the employment contracts of the health workers.

“Our contact tracers and health workers have been working tremendously in our fight against Covid-19, and we badly need their continued services as there is no end in sight yet for the pandemic.

Thus, we want their contracts extended until the end of this year,” the mayor said.

Under the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act or the Bayanihan II Law, the DILG was authorized to hire at

least 50,000 contact tracers to ramp up the government’s contact tracing program.

In October last year, the DILG deployed over 600 contact tracers in Zamboanga City in to assist existing contact tracers of the City Health Office and help in tracking and managing the close contacts of confirmed Covid-19 patients.

Under the DILG guidelines, contact tracers will earn a minimum of P18,784 per month in a contract of service status.

Climaco previously sought to extend the services of contact tracers and even wrote a letter and requested the DOH and the DILG in December last year to extend the services of contact tracers and other Covid-related personnel until December 2021.

In her letter dated December 22 to DOH Secretary Francisco Duque and DILG Secretary Eduardo Año, Climaco said the invaluable services of the nurses and contact tracers are crucial to

Zamboanga’s sustained effort in battling the spread of the Covid-19.

Climaco, who heads the local Covid-19 task force, said one of their challenges has always been the shortage of healthcare workers, as well as effective contact tracing.

“Our country is still suffering from Covid-19 pandemic and while it is true that our country is slowly opening up the economy with a concomitant increase of people’s mobility, the virus is still here and its threat to our health and safety is ever present. Thus, the need to extend the services of Covid-related personnel until December 2021,” the mayor emphasized in her letter.

The mayor has repeatedly expressed her gratitude to the contact tracers and medical frontliners, including the barangay health workers for their dedication in serving people despite the grave risk they are facing in fighting Covid-19.

(Zamboanga Post)

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Mindanao Civet Coffee, which started as a home reseller of coffee beans, now offers organic Kopi Luwak in 250 grams ground Civet coffee and 250 grams Civet coffee beans – all medium roasted to perfection.

Kopi Luwak is also available now in 3rd Cup Café at LM Metro Hotel in Zamboanga City, and

resellers in Luzon, Cebu and other parts of Mindanao. The Mindanao Civet Coffee is a favorite among travellers and tourists and coffee connoisseurs. And for those who wanted the perfect gift for all occasions, Kopi Luwak is the best choice.

And those who are interested to resell or perhaps enjoy a daily hot cup or cold brew of Kopi Luwak may call the Mindanao Civet Coffee at this mobile number 09153976197. (AJC)

Good for two. Golden Haven Boalan in Zamboanga. Near main gate about 20 meters, beside, pathwalk, near a tree. Prime location, Phase 1, Section 1.

Please Call 0915-3976197

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July 5-11, 2021

July 5-11, 2021

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Beng warns smugglers anew M

Sunday Reflection

by Mayor Beng Climaco

13th Sunday Wisdom 1:13-15; 2:23-24 and Psalm 30:2, 4, 5-6, 11, 12, 13 2 Corinthians 8:7, 9, 1315 and Mark 5:21-43 or 5:21-24, 35b-43 JESUS TELLS us: “Do not be afraid, just have faith.” We witness the healing touch of Jesus on a woman who suffered from hemorrhage for 12 years. She said “if I but touch his clothes, I shall be cured.” And immediately her flow of blood dried up. She felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction. Jesus responds: “Daughter, your faith has saved you. Go in peace and be cured of your affliction.”

These passages show Jesus as the healer. Even if the synagogue official’s daughter was reported

to have died, Jesus persisted because the Father had faith. People laughed and ridiculed Jesus. But he persisted and called the family into the room where the miracle took place.

Amediante na Pandemia cosa milagro si Hesus ta hace na de aton vida? More than a week ago, a family in our household had to be taken for quarantine because the daughter, who worked to help people gain the needed medical and other assistance, was Covid-19 positive. I witnessed how the daughter was taken by men in white PPE. It was drizzling and I wondered the fear she must have had to go on while in isolation.

Then the brother, mother and father were taken in another vehicle

Zamboanga Peninsula

almost midnight. They were separated to go on quarantine. I was worried and fearful for the family and also the danger Covid-19 would cause.

We were on lockdown and contact tracing was done with the supervision of our Medical Officer in our Barangay.

Later on, other co-workers got Covid-19, and even a patient who is on dialysis, was also afflicted. With 10 Hail Mary’s imploring our Mother Mary to heal the sick, comfort the family, strengthen the frontliners and eternal peace to the departed - Jesus received in the Eucharist brings His miracles of healing. The family is back home with the daughter recuperating, other patients have recovered too all by God’s grace. Verdad el presencia de Dios que ta dale Su amor para curada. After the drizzle while still on lockdown, I looked up the sky and behold a beautiful rainbow appeared and I know Jesus tells us to have FAITH! His love brings healing and hope. Gracias a Dios con abrazos de La Virgen Maria y San Jose.

(MBC)

Basilan

AYOR BENG Climaco warned smugglers anew to stop their unscrupulous acts and ordered the police and military forces intensify the operations against those behind the criminal activities, including their masterminds or financiers.

The latest warning came boanga City to be a smug- intercepted off Barangay following the confiscation of gling capital so our police, Ayala and Sinunuc.

It said the MB Nurshismuggled cigarettes worth military and other partners about P5 million on June in the security sector contin- da, manned by 7 crewmen, 19 just 10 days after mem- ue our efforts to implement was loaded with 228 cases bers of the 2nd Zamboanga our policies against smug- of Cannon cigarettes worth about P7.9 million when City Mobile Force Company gling,” the mayor said.

“The police authori- it was stopped by patrol led by Lt. Chris John Riege Sundayan also intercepted ties and the Bureau of Cus- boats near the shoreline of a motorboat loaded with toms are working closely to Ayala village. While the MB smuggled cigarettes worth investigate and determine Dreamboy was carrying over P6 million off Santa the personalities or groups 274 cases of assorted cigCruz Island in Zamboanga behind the smuggled items arette brands worth about intercepted in Zambo- P9.6 million.

City.

Climaco, a fierce anClimaco said the local anga City. We do not let government remains firm these smuggled items pass ti-smuggling advocate, has on its policy against smug- through Zamboanga City,” strongly supported President Rodrigo Duterte’s gling and continues its ef- she added. forts to thwart any attempt In May, the Philippine campaign to put a stop to to use the city as a transit Navy also seized smuggled the rampant smuggling point for contraband items. cigarettes worth P17.5 mil- of fuel, vehicles and cigaShe also ordered police lion from two motorboats rettes in the country that authorities to seize smug- off Zamboanga. It said the resulted in losses of more gled cigarettes being sold by boats - MB Nurshida and than P300 billion in annual MB Dreamboy - originated revenues. (Claudine Unitraders in Zamboanga.

“We do not want Zam- from Sulu province and were ana, Zamboanga Post)

Zamboanga, 8 other cities launch digital, IT roadmap

ZAMBOANGA JOINED eight other Philippine cities in the launching of the Digital and Information Communications Technology Roadmap which Mayor Beng Climaco said would serve as a blueprint of the city’s digital transformation.

“The roadmap will serve as a blueprint for the success of Zamboanga City with the business process management industry as the local government puts premium on data and information technology especially under the new normal,” she said during the June 28 virtual launching of the digital roadmap.

“We fully support this roadmap, we will work for the success of Zamboanga

Sulu

City,” she added.

The other cities were Balanga, Batangas, General Santos, Iligan, Legaspi, Puerto Princesa, Tuguegarao and Taytay. The event was spearheaded by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) in partnership with the Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines and Leechiu Prop-

erty Consultants.

DICT said Zamboanga City has been identified as one of the 25 Digital Cities of 2025. Previously termed Next Wave Cities, the Digital Cities 2025 program aims to strengthen the industry-readiness of new centers by creating and developing ICT hubs in identified locations.

It said the Digital City Roadmap of Zamboanga serves as a blueprint that sets the direction and priorities for ICT development and providing a strategy for how stakeholders would support its socio-economic development goals. (Jasmine Mohammadsali, Michael Tiu Lim, president of the local ICT Council also joined the event. Zamboanga Post)

Tawi-tawi