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NFA to ship 280,000 bags of rice to Zambo City

(PNA), PDS/TEOFILO P. GARCIA, JR./UTB

ZAMBOANGA CITY, May 22 (PNA) –- The National Food Authority (NFA) is shipping at least 280,000 bags of imported rice to augment the basic staple food’s stocks of this city and of the three nearby provinces in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

NFA Provincial Manager Gaudencio Nuega said the rice shipment is set to arrive in this city anytime this week.

Nuega said that 80,000 bags of the 280,000 bags of rice of 50 kilos each are intended for the provinces of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, which are part of ARMM.

He said the imported rice, which usually comes from either Thailand or Vietnam, will be sold in the local market at P1,250 per sack and at P27 a kilo.

However, he explained the role of the NFA is only to support, citing the agency only provides 20 percent of the rice supply in the market while the 80 percent by commercial rice traders.

In the case of this city, he said the daily rice consumption of the buying public is pegged at 6,400 bags of 50 kilograms daily.

Meanwhile, Nuega disclosed that the arrival of the rice shipment would increase the rice stocks at the local NFA warehouse to 320,000 bags of rice.

Nuega disclosed that they have an existing rice stock of 120,000 of 50 kilograms each.

DepEd exec reminds no-fee collection during enrollment

By Jimmy Villaflores

It’s barely 15 days left before the opening of classes in public schools.

City Schools Division Superintendent Pedro Melchor Natividad reiterated the Department of Education (DepEd)’s memorandum on no-collection policy during enrolment period in all public schools.

In his own initiated radio program over Tatak-RMN entitled “Edukasyon Now Na” every Friday evening (7 to 8PM), Natividad reminded school officials, including officers of Parent Teacher Association (PTA) to get rid of the traditional practices of charging certain fees from enrollees in the primary level during enrolment time. Officially, classes in all public schools will start on June 3, 2013.

“The DepEd memorandum clearly states that cash donations or fees for extra-curricular activities can be done during the month of August until the end of the school year,” Natividad said.

However, he clarified that said fees should be strictly collected on a voluntary basis which include membership fees for Boys Scouts and Girl Scouts of the Philippines, parent-teacher associations, contributions for anti-tuberculosis fund drives, school publications and student organizations.

DepEd Memo No. 64 series of 2013 further reads; “No fees shall be collected from school children in Kinder to Grade 5 to fourth year high school students shall not pay fees from June to July.”

The ban on the collection of fees from June to July ensures that fees will not be used as a precondition for students/pupils to study in public schools, stated the DepEd memo.

School officials found to have violated this DepEd policy will be charged administratively.

In the event PTA officers will compulsorily collect fees from the enrollees, parents are advised to report the matter to school officials or directly to the Office of the Schools Division Superintendent.

“I already reminded school principals to call the attention of anyone from the PTA if ever fees are made during enrolment period,” Natividad said.

Zambo City unveils P21.4-M rehabilitated city council building

(PNA), PDS/TEOFILO P. GARCIA, JR./ABB

ZAMBOANGA CITY, May 20 (PNA) -– The city government on Monday inaugurated the newly rehabilitated and improved Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) building after it was closed for more than a year for repairs.

The inauguration was spearheaded by Mayor Celso Lobregat after the blessing ceremony led by Claretian priest Fr. Maximo Rodriguez at 10:00 a.m.

The inauguration was witnessed by other city officials and personnel of the city council.

The rehabilitation and improvement works cost the city government P21.47 million.

The rehabilitation and improvement works started on January 2, 2012 based on recommendations of the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers (PICE) and a structural engineer.

The repair was mainly due to cracks suspected to be caused by structural flaws.

The repair works included the removal of the roof deck and the construction of a roofing system, repair of certain offices that sustained cracks specifically those at the third floor, construction of sheer walls and other improvements to ensure the building’s structural integrity.

Vice-Mayor Cesar Iturralde said he and the city councilors will again hold office as well as hold regular session in the newly rehabilitated three-storey edifice.

They held regular sessions at the city public library when the City Council building was under repair.

Last May 13, the rehabilitated and improved building was used for the canvassing of the votes and the subsequent proclamation of winners in the local and national elections.

PAZ, ISP join Brigada Eskwela ’13

By Albert F. Arcilla (Peace Advocates Zamboanga)

In support to the Department of Education (DepEd) preparation for the incoming school year, Peace Advocates Zamboanga (PAZ) and the Interreligious Solidarity for Peace (ISP) will participate in the kickoff ceremony of the annual observance of the National Schools Maintenance Week or the “Brigada Eskwela” today, Monday, May 20, 2013.

A motorcade from the Office of DepEd-Division of Zamboanga is set at 6 in the morning today to formally commence the week-long “Brigada Eskwela 2013”. The motorcade will pass through the city’s major street and will proceed to the east and west coast of the city. The Brigada Eskwela will end on May 25.

Brigada Eskwela is a yearly scheduled activity of the Deped where it calls on the different stakeholders to take part in the preparation for the opening of classes by engaging in beautification, repairing and painting of the school surrounding, classrooms and other school equipments such as chairs and tables of the students. The formal opening of classes in public school is on June 3.

PAZ and ISP are both members of the Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and stakeholders of many public secondary schools in the city will join the motorcade and they will visit different public secondary schools to show their solidarity support by helping the school cleaning their surrounding and at the same time to advocates for peace by giving them educational and peace prayer posters. These posters were produced by its partner, the 4th Civil Relation Group-Civil Relation Service (CRG-CRS) from Western Mindanao Command (Wesmincom).

PAZ and ISP are scheduled to visit the 34 public secondary schools during the duration of the five-day’s activity.

Over the years, PAZ and ISP had been partnering many schools in the city where it has given the school administrators and students’ trainings, workshops and orientations on peace education.

It has also signed Memorandum Of Agreement (MOA) with the DepEd Division Office for the implementation in the primary and secondary schools curriculum the Executive Order 570 or the Institutionalization of Peace Education in Basic Education and Teachers Education that values and recognizes the need to tap the active involvement and partnership of civil society organizations in order to create a collaborative working environment in ensuring the foundation of peace and sustainable development.

In the MOA PAZ and ISP will assist the Deped in effectively implementing programs on peace education, peace and governance, peace advocacy and other peace-building efforts at the academe level highlighting the major celebrations of the movement and organization through effective systems of collaboration.

Last year, PAZ and ISP in collaboration with the Task Force Zamboanga (TFZ) had visited different schools located within the city proper including the far-flung schools in the city during the celebration of the Brigada Eskwela.

NCC sets roadshow to boost local competitiveness

(PNA), JBP/TPG/UTB

ZAMBOANGA CITY, May 18 (PNA) -– The National Competitiveness Council (NCC) in coordination with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is conducting NCC Roadshow billed “Boosting Regional/Local Competitiveness through Public Private Partnership” in this southern port city.

The roadshow, which will be held next week (May 23) is part of NCC’s advocacy campaign in the countryside, according to DTI Regional Director Nazrullah Manzur.

Manzur said the activity hopes to initiate a meaningful dialogue with relevant stakeholders to address the challenge of progressing towards improved national competitiveness.

The invited participants to the NCC roadshow include provincial/local chief executives, business chamber heads, industry captains, university/college administrators, Non-Government Organizations (NGOs), national government agencies, and members of the media.

Among the keynote speaker of the activity is former Makati Business Club executive director and now NCC private sector co-chairperson Guillermo Luz.

Luz will talk about the country’s 2013 game plan for competitiveness and the results of the 2013 survey of the business permit and licensing system (BPLS) project.

The NCC was established in 2006 by virtue of Executive Order 571 as a Public-Private Sector Task Force dedicated to developing strategies for the country’s long term competitiveness through policy reforms, project implementation, institution building, and performance monitoring.

The order was amended by E.O. 44 under President Benigno Aquino III to create a more dynamic Public Private Partnership approach aimed at catapulting the country’s competitiveness ranking to the top third by 2016.

TESDA allots P2M for 378 scholars in Zamboanga peninsula

(PNA), JBP/FMS/EBP

ZAMBOANGA CITY, May 17 (PNA) -- The Technical Education Skills and Development Authority (TESDA) has approved the use of P2,371,790 to finance the scholarships of at least 378 students in this city and Isabela in Basilan province.

TESDA Regional Director Lorenzo G. Macapili said the office is already screening prospective scholars who will avail of the program starting this school year or in June.

Macapili said this program called Private Educational Students Financial Assistance(PESFA) will enable high school students or graduates to take up technical courses in any technical education or schools/college in this city.

For the two congressional districts in Zamboanga, the TESDA allocated P1,078,973 for 187 scholars in District 1 and P1,197,042 for 172 scholars for District I.

The TESDA also allocated P95,775 for 19 scholars for Isabela City in Basilan Province.

Each scholar will received an average of about P5,500 each to finance their education in technical courses of their choices.

The amount will be good for this year alone and more funds will be appropriated for the program next year.

Macapli said that there are dozens of short-term technical courses that are assured of immediate employment here and abroad.

DTI reminds contractors to renew accreditation

(PNA), LAP/TEOFILO P. GARCIA, JR./UTB

ZAMBOANGA CITY, May 16 (PNA) -– The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has reminded contractors accredited with the Philippines Contractors Accreditation Board (PCAB) to renew their accreditation to avoid delays in processing and penalties imposed on late registrants.

Starting last February 1, the PCAB has been accepting renewal applications for contracting fiscal year (CFY) 2013-2014 under the following schedules: those with licenses ending in 0 to 1, February; those ending in 2 to 3, March; 4 to 5, April; 6 to 7, May, and 8 to 9, June.

DTI Regional Director Nazrullah Manzur on Thursday said that the new applications approved between January to June this year are included among those who are required to renew in June.

Manzur said that renewal applications of late filers shall be segregated from regular filers and will be imposed with corresponding penalties.

Manzur said contractors may contact PCAB through telephone number (02)895-42-58 or email them at pcabphil@yahoo.com for inquiries concerning the renewal of accreditation.

They may also submit and course their PCAB applications through the nearest DTI field office, Manzur said.

Meanwhile, he reminded the applicants to only transact with the Public Assistance Desk and frontline officer of PCAB.

Climaco-Salazar proclaimed Zambo City mayor

By Roel Pareño (philstar.com)

ZAMBOANGA City, Philippines - The city board of canvassers (CBOC) formally proclaimed today House Deputy Speaker for Mindanao Rep. Ma. Isabel Climaco-Salazar as winner in the mayoral race.

Climaco and winners of the top posts, mostly won by the new mayor's partymates, were proclaimed at the Sangguniang Panglunsod.

Proclaimed along with Climaco were incumbent vice mayor Cesar Ituralde, 1st district representative incumbent mayor Celso Lobregat, 2nd district representative councilor and independent Lilia Nuño, and 5 councilors in each district.

Joseph Lim, CBOC chair, said they have partially proclaimed the winners in the council race as the uncanvassed votes may still affect the standing of candidates positioned at the tail end.

Climaco garnered 172,439 votes against her rival and former ally, Erico Fabian, who earlier conceded with only 29,200 votes.

Climaco’s runningmate – Ituralde – got 100,430 votes compared with 66,784 votes of former councilor Luis Climaco, who was the running mate of Fabian.

Mayor Lobregat on the other hand, bested his staunch rival, former priest Crisanto dela Cruz, in the 1st district congressional race garnering 42,826 votes against 32,342 votes of the latter.

Nuño trounced Lobregat’s younger brother –Joemar Lobregat - in the second district congressional contest. Nuño garnered 33,475 votes while Joemar managed 27, 912 votes.

The CBOC is expected to complete the canvassing and proclaim the rest of the winners anytime today.

Climaco wins Zambo City mayoral seat

By Roel Pareño (philstar.com)

ZAMBOANGA City, Philippines - House Deputy Speaker for Mindanao and1st District Rep. Ma. Isabel Climaco-Salazar is expected to be proclaimed anytime as the winner in the mayoralty race in this southern port city after her closest rival publicly conceded defeat.

Rep. Erico Fabian of the 2nd district conceded after early showing of the election results giving Climaco a wide margin of votes.

“I tip my hat to all the winners and congratulate my friend Beng. The people have spoken and we have to respect their decision,” Fabian said.

The Commission on Elections' (Comelec) partial and unofficial result at the city level showed Climaco, running under the Liberal Party (LP), leading the mayoralty race with 85,505 votes or about 83.70 percent of the 108,848 total number of votes cast.

Fabian got only 14,016 votes as of Tuesday 1 p.m.

Climaco’s runningmate in the 1st district, incumbent Mayor Celso Lobregat (Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino), is also leading the congressional race with 21,770 votes or 42.44 percent from the total 57,792 total votes cast, against former priest Crisanto dela Cruz with 17,002 votes or 33.44 percent.

Mayor Lobregat's brother Jomar, who is gunning for the 2nd District's congressional seat, is tailing behind independent candidate Lilia Nuño, who has received 14,175 votes. Jomar has only garnered 12,858 votes.

The other members of local Team Pnoy under Climaco and Lobregat also dominated the local elections.

No untoward incidents in Zamboanga voting

By Roel Pareño (philstar.com)

ZAMBOANGA City, Philippines - Voting in this city went smoothly as voters, including 400 inmates, participate in the May 13 automated elections on Monday.

Except for some defective precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines and delay of its arrival for distribution in some voting centers, electorates swarmed in almost all polling places here without any untoward incidents.

Atty. Francisco Pobe, Comelec regional director, said all ballots which were not counted due to defective automated counting machines were all gathered and sealed for counting in another PCOS machines to avoid any disenfranchisement of ballots.

“So far election turn outs in most areas in the region was high except for some minor hitches, which were addressed immediately,” Pobe said.

At least 423 inmates from the City Reformatory Center, meanwhile, were also able to cast their votes inside the prison facility.

The conduct of voting was held in gathering hall of the prison facility where inmates in batches guarded by the jail security personnel cast their votes conducted by the members of the Board of Election Inspectors.

The ballots of the votes cast by the inmates will be brought to the adjacent polling center, just across, for the counting on the PCOS machines.

Zambo mayor unveils P1.4-M project

(PNA), PDS/TEOFILO P. GARCIA, JR./EBP

ZAMBOANGA CITY, May 12 (PNA) — Mayor Celso Lobregat took time out on Thursday from his political sortie as he led the turnover of P1.4 million project in Barangay Pasonanca, seven kilometers north of this city.

The project that was unveiled is a covered court constructed at the campus of the elementary school in Upper Pasonanca, which joins the growing roster of infrastructure projects completed by the city government under the administration of Lobregat.

Lobregat urged the school and barangay officials of Pasonanca to put the project to good use.

The project is the first of three covered courts to be constructed in selected schools in Pasonanca, according to Barangay Chairman Efigenio.

Julian said the construction of the second covered court is ongoing at the elementary school in Sitio Luyahan, Barangay Pasonanca while the third one located at the main Pasonanca elementary school is set to start construction after Monday’s mid-term elections.

Upper Pasonanca Elementary School principal Annaliza Martin, on behalf of the students, has expressed her gratitude to Lobregat and the city government for the implementation of the project in her school.

Meanwhile, the city government has so far implemented a total of P180 million worth of projects in Barangay Pasonanca.

The projects include the recently inaugurated El Museo de Zamboanga.

Both the science park and barangay health center are currently under construction.

Alsons assures power for May 13 elections

By BJ

Alsons power, the Alcantara Group’s power project development and power generation management business unit, has announced that all three of its operating power facilities in Mindanao will be on full alert and ready to respond to any power-related contingency during the critical period starting 12 am of Sunday, May 12, until 12 am of Tuesday, May 14.

Alsons Power Group Vice President for operations Edgar D. Sevilles has issued a directive to the plant managers of the revamped Mapalad Power Corporation in Iligan city, the 55 megawatt Southern Philippines Power Corporation in Alabel, Sarangani, and the 100 megawatt Western Mindanao Power Corporation in Zamboanga city to ensure that the facilities are able to provide a steady uninterrupted supply of power to the Mindanao grid within the period mentioned.

All leaves of absence of plant personnel have been cancelled and all essential operations personnel will be on duty during this time, Sevilles said.

Sevilles added that Alsons power will initiate procedures to make certain that supply of fuel is adequate and all engines are on “hot” mode and ready to address any contingency related to the power supply within the areas of coverage of the three plants.

The Alsons power plants will be in constant coordination with the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), the National Power Corporation (NPC) and the Department of Energy (DoE), Sevilles added.


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