Zamboanga News Forum

Mayor Celso Lobregat asks questions from Raing Harubin, the boat operator who was with Vicente ?Teng? Barrios when the kidnapping happened off Bolong in the east coast yesterday morning.

Via Zamboanga Times

The City Agriculturist Office in cooperation with law enforcement authorities the other day seized motorized pump boats moored at the R.T. Lim Boulevard and Bolong beach for violation of the fishery code and other local laws.

The operation last weekend yielded 8 pumpboats—5 moored at the R.T. Lim Boulevard while 3 at the Bolong coastal area. It was part of the continuous campaign on pump boat registration in compliance with City Fishery Ordinance 2002-89 which requires all motorized banca operators to secure licenses from the city government. City Agriculturist Diosdado Palacat said the pump boats seized were either not registered with the city government or were found mooring in prohibited areas specifically the shoreline of R.T. Lim Boulevard to the area of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) regional office. Sanctions for violation of the city ordinance include a fine of P1, 000 and the immediate registration of the pump boats.  Under the law, all motorized banca operators should secure licenses with the city government. Certain fees are imposed depending on the tonnage of the watercrafts. Palacat said since the start of the implementation of the law, OCA personnel have already seized numerous pump boats without the required documents. The registration of all motor boats is purposely to prevent the commission of crimes such as kidnapping and other illegal activities. The same regulation also mandates all fish workers to secure licenses from the city government. The OCA is closely coordinating with the Public Market Fish Brokers’ Association for the compliance of the law by all fish vendors to avoid inconveniences in the future. “Those selling fish there should register”, Palacat said. Palacat said his office will continuously step up the campaign to ensure that fishery laws are properly complied. The OCA undertook massive information dissemination campaign relative to the provisions of the law prior to the strict enforcement of the same.

Via Zamboanga Today

Mayor Celso Lobregat on Friday spearheaded the release of turtles at the Cawa-cawa Boulevard in line with the city government’s continuous program on wildlife protection.
The turtles came from the Zamboanga State College of Marine Sciences and Technology (ZSCMST) hatchery. Their release highlighted the observance of  Dia de Limpiesa na Zamboanga which formed part of the celebration of Philippine Environment Month.

Among those released were 3 days-old green sea turtles and at least seven 8-month old hawksbill turtles. Because of their age, the turtles were released without metal tags. Lobregat was assisted by Parks and Wildlife Coastal Zone Management Sector (PAWCZMS) Director Rudy Aradanas and Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer Edgardo Callantas. Last month, Lobregat was conferred with a plaque of recognition by the DENR for the cityâ??s program on wildlife conservation. City Agriculturist Diosdado Palacat, whose office implements the cityâ??s wildlife conservation program, also received similar recognition. Since 2005, the city government has rescued and released a total of twenty-five (25) sea turtles, the latest of which was Fortunato, a male sea turtle rescued by a fisherman in Barangay Bolong last month.  Fortunato was immediately turned over to the Office of the City Agriculturist for tagging and was later released.Mayor Lobregat personally leads the release of the turtles.  In one occasion, he was assisted by no less than American Ambassador Kristie Kenney in releasing Espiritu de la Paz de Zamboanga, a male green sea turtle off the waters of Paseo del Mar. In another occasion, Archbishop Romulo Valles assisted the mayor in the release of the mammal at the Bolong beach. Prior to the release of the turtles off the Cawa-cawa coastline, Lobregat spearheaded the cleanliness drive at the port area to remind the public about the need to sustain cleanliness and sanitation. He stressed that everybody is a waste generator, thus, everybody has a role to ensure that the environment is safe and clean. â??Dia de Limpiesa na Zamboangaâ? was undertaken by the city government throught he Office of the City Environment and Natural Resources (OCENR) in partnership with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Regional Office and with the participation of various sectors of city. (CITY HALL PR – Sheila Covarrubias)

Via Zamboanga Today

Mayor Celso Lobregat on Friday spearheaded the release of turtles at the Cawa-cawa Boulevard in line with the city government?s continuous program on wildlife protection.
The turtles came from the Zamboanga State College of Marine Sciences and Technology (ZSCMST) hatchery. Their release highlighted the observance of  Dia de Limpiesa na Zamboanga which formed part of the celebration of Philippine Environment Month.

Among those released were 3 days-old green sea turtles and at least seven 8-month old hawksbill turtles. Because of their age, the turtles were released without metal tags. Lobregat was assisted by Parks and Wildlife Coastal Zone Management Sector (PAWCZMS) Director Rudy Aradanas and Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer Edgardo Callantas. Last month, Lobregat was conferred with a plaque of recognition by the DENR for the city?s program on wildlife conservation. City Agriculturist Diosdado Palacat, whose office implements the city?s wildlife conservation program, also received similar recognition. Since 2005, the city government has rescued and released a total of 25 sea turtles, the latest of which was Fortunato, a male sea turtle rescued by a fisherman in Barangay Bolong last month.  Fortunato was immediately turned over to the Office of the City Agriculturist for tagging and was later released.Mayor Lobregat personally leads the release of the turtles. In one occasion, he was assisted by no less than American Ambassador Kristie Kenney in releasing Espiritu de la Paz de Zamboanga, a male green sea turtle off the waters of Paseo del Mar. In another occasion, Archbishop Romulo Valles assisted the mayor in the release of the mammal at the Bolong beach. Prior to the release of the turtles off the Cawa-Cawa coastline, Lobregat spearheaded the cleanliness drive at the port area to remind the public about the need to sustain cleanliness and sanitation. He stressed that everybody is a waste generator, thus, everybody has a role to ensure that the environment is safe and clean. ?Dia de Limpiesa na Zamboanga? was undertaken by the city government throught he Office of the City Environment and Natural Resources (OCENR) in partnership with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Regional Office and with the participation of various sectors of city. ? Sheila Covarrubias

Via Zamboanga Times

Barely two days after unveiling two school buildings in the west coast amounting to almost P10 million, Mayor Celso Lobregat yesterday hied off to Putik Elementary School to inaugurate another school facility initiated by the city government.
Costing P5.9 million, the two-storey 8 classroom facility brings the total number of classrooms in Putik Central School to 68 that will help ease the classroom-student ratio.

?We ado not get tired in putting so much attention and priority to the education sector?, the mayor said even if he stressed that it is the obligation of the Department of Education to provide the necessary school facilities, teachers and other requirements in public education.  ?The city has taken upon itself to take the lead (in implementing education related programs)?, Mayor Lobregat said as he turned over to the DEPED and later to the Putik Central School administration the newly-constructed building. Just last Tuesday, Lobregat inaugurated two school buildings?one at the Recodo Elementary School worth P5.7 million and one at the Ayala National High School worth P4.4 million. The new Recodo School building however will be initially utilized by students from the Recodo National High School, as school facilities for the secondary level are still on going construction. City-government initiated projects at the Putik Central School started 3 years ago with the major repair of a 2-storey 6 classroom building that was affected by a fire incident. The year after that the city turned over a 2-storey 8 classroom building and last year, the city constructed and consequently inaugurated a covered court. According to Mayor Lobregat, prior to the repair of the burnt 2-storey 6 classroom building, Putik Central School had only 48 classrooms but through the city-initiated projects, the number rose to 68 at present.  Due to lack of space, the chief executive however said the latest 2-storey 8 classroom building will be the last to be constructed in the Putik Central School campus. ?But at least, we were able to help solve the problem on student-classroom ratio?.More inauguration of school buildings will be set in the coming days, as construction of the facilities in various schools is now complete. These include the 2-storey 4 classroom building in Sinunuc; 2-storey 8 classroom in Maasin; 2-storey 8 classroom in Ayala Central School and a 2-storey 6 classroom building in Labuan?all in the west coast and newly constructed school buildings at the Culianan Learning Center, Bolong National High School and Maria Clara Lobregat National High School in Divisoria. In his message during the turn over ceremonies yesterday morning, the mayor also talked about another initiative of the city government, the Operation 10-Rs, that is presently benefiting public school students. The spirit of volunteerism of Operation 10-Rs is causing ripple effects, as other non-government organizations such as the Los Contratistas de Zamboanga and even the Consunji Group of Companies have donated and continue to donate chairs to public schools in the city. Operation 10-Rs is a city-initiated project that seeks to repair and recycle old and dilapidated chairs and desks from public schools. It is implemented in cooperation with other agencies and groups. Present during the turn over ceremony in Putik yesterday were Councilors Rey Candido, Eddie Rodriguez, Eddie Saavedra and Rudy Lim; City Schools Division Supt. Dr. Dolores Alcantara and her assistants Dr. Norma Vecina and Pedro Melchor Natividad; Putik barangay chairman Ignacio Romano, Putik District Supervisor Carmen Saculingan, Maybeline Ty of the Department of Education regional office, City Engineer Luis Despalo and General Parent-Teacher Community Association President Mrs. Siglos. ? Sheila Covarrubias

Via Zamboanga Times

Two persons were killed and two others were injured in two separate road accidents in Barangays Cabaluay and Boalan last Friday and Saturday.
Killed were Adih Calung y Sebastian, 26, married of Bolong and Angelito Salazar, 38, of Boalan.

   Injured were Calung?s backrider Razul Calung, , and Salazar?s companion Jesus Dagalea.    A police report said that Adih was driving a motorcycle with Razul as backrider along Lobregat Highway in Cabaluay when they collided with a passenger van driven by Ruben Diaz.    Adih died on the spot due to head injuries, while Razul was rushed to the Western Mindanao Medical Center for treatment.Salazar and Dagalea were riding tandem on a motorcycle on their way home from Tugbungan around 5 p.m., when the accident took place.Police said the motorcycle that Salazar and Dagalea were riding crashed onto an electric post.Salazar died on the spot while Dagalea was taken to the hospital for treatment.Police said that Salazar lost control of the steering bar of the motorcycle that led to the accident. ? Dan Toribio Jr.

Via Zamboanga Times