Duterte Legacy Caravan sa Zamboanga City, isinagawa

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Apr 30 (PIA) - Muling pinalawak ng ibat ibang ahensya ng gobyerno ang paghatid ng mga serbisyo sa mga residente ng zamboanga peninsula sa pamamagitan ng Duterte Legacy Caravan. 

Mahigit sa dalawang daang benipisyaryo mula sa indigent community ang nabigyan ng gamot at ayuda mula sa mga ahensya. Kabilang na rito ang mga serbisyo mula sa Pag-ibig, SSS, PSA ,pagbabakuna laban sa COVID-19 at marami pang iba. 

“Malaking tulong talaga ito sa amin lalo na sa aming pamilya lalo na po ang libreng chek-up para sa aming kalusugan at sa aming hanapbuhay. Nagpapasalamat kami sa gobyerno sa mga naibigay nila lalo na para sa mga araw na to," ani ng isang benepisyaryo na si Myrna Monteverde Tabugara.

 

Dagdag din ng isang benepisyaryo na si Jeanelith Colongon ang kanyang pasasalamat, “salamat po dahil nasama kami ngayon sa programa, dahil hindi po namin inakala na matutulungan kami ngayon ng gobyerno, malaking tulong na po ito pati gamot po sa mga bata.”

 

Sa pamumuno ng Philippine National Police (PNP) Regional Office patuloy ang pagsasagawa ng caravan sa iba't ibang probinsya sa rehiyon na layuning mas maparami pa ang maabutan ng serbisyo at mas mapalapit ang gobyerno sa mamamayan at tuluyang mawakasan ang insurhensiya.  

 

“Ang duterte legacy caravan ang ating purpose ay iparamdam ipaalam sa taong bayan ano ang nagagawa ng duterte administrationkasama natin ang lahat ng agencies, its whole of society approach  kasama ang civil society groups,” ani ni PBGEN Franco Simborio, Regional Director ng PNP Region 9.

 

Ayon sa PNP, kahit na sa pagtatapos ng administrasyong Duterte, patuloy ang kanilang tulong at serbisyo sa bayan. (MLE/PIA9-Zamboanga City)

 

 

FRs grateful for E-CLIP, NTF-ELCAC programs implementation

 PAGADIAN CITY, Apr 28 (PIA) — Friends rescued (FRs) in the province have been greatly impressed with the government for the sincere implementation of programs and services to the people.

Four FRs shared their statement of gratitude during their guest appearance on the weekly program ‘Kapihan sa PIA” aired on DXPR radio station in the City, recently.

Loryjane Hintapa revealed that upon their return to the folds of the law, they were warmly received and welcomed by the troops of the 53rd Infantry (Matapat) Battalion, Philippine Army and received livelihood assistance from various agencies of the national government.

“I received starter kits from DOLE and underwent free skills training from TESDA. Apart from that, we also availed the animal dispersal program of the Department of Agriculture (DA) where I was given 3 sheeps to breed and 43 chickens to raise in order to help improve my livelihood,” Hintapa said in vernacular.

“I am also happy that my husband Noel, who is also an FR has been given an opportunity by the DA to work and he already has a monthly honorarium to receive from the agency,” Hintapa proudly shared.

Sammy Pardillo  ‘Aka Andoy’, a former political instructor and chief of the defunct Guerilla Front KARA of the New Peoples Army (NPA’s) of the Western Mindanao Regional Committee received the initial P20 thousand financial assistance from the government and is expecting additional benefits from the Enhanced Comprehensive Livelihood Integration Program (ECLIP) as he turned over a high-powered firearm upon his surrender.

“When I surrendered to the 53rd Infantry Battalion recently, they took good care of me. I live temporarily in the halfway house while awaiting benefits being processed under the ECLIP program. They constantly monitor us and they check what our needs are,” Pardillo announced.

Marvie Nano, ‘Aka Kim’ also said that since her return to the folds of the law in May 2016 she has received a number of benefits from the government.

She received livelihood assistance of P65 thousand and an additional assistance from various government agencies, underwent skills training from TESDA, sent to college, graduated from the 10-month Psychoeducation program of Project Good Life and became a CAFGU member.

“The livelihood assistance I received from the government helped with my parents’ farm expenses and my siblings ’schooling,” Nano said.

“I am very happy that I was encouraged by the 53rd IB to continue my schooling and am now in my second year of college. They also made me a CAFGU member and I already have a monthly honorarium,” Nano said.

The FRs are very grateful to President Rodrigo Duterte that under his administration, the ECLIP and NTF-ELCAC programs were faithfully implemented and resulted in the surrender of more than a hundred of rebels and the return of their allegiance to the Philippine government. (RVC/EDT/GCC/PIA Zambonga del Sur)

More jobs for Zamboangeños on Labor Day

(Photo Courtesy of DOLE-9)

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Apr 28 (PIA) – The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)-9 prioritizes to provide more job opportunities for the residents of Zamboanga Peninsula especially in this time of pandemic.

“To all jobseekers, prepare yourselves, because we want to bring back the jobs lost during the pandemic,” said DOLE-9 Regional Director Atty. Roy Buenafe.

During the pandemic, DOLE-9 continued its assistance and programs for all employers and employees affected in formal and informal sectors, and overseas workers in Zamboanga Peninsula.

There are also concerns encountered between the employers and employees in the midst of pandemic that DOLE-9 also focuses. The department implements their developmental approach by teaching the employers and employees the standards and laws to follow for the benefits of both parties especially the employees.

Dir. Buenafe reported that based from the inspection conducted in the companies in Zampen, 98% of them are compliant with the standards provided. “We will continue our approach in order to achieve industrial peace in the region,” he added.

Moreover, DOLE-9 also highlighted the possible wage increase in the region this year. There is a petition for addition Php210.00 wage increase and there is an on-going public hearing to assess the capacity of employers to provide this to their employees.

For the 2022 Labor Day Celebration, DOLE-9 will conduct a job fair with 1,472 recorded vacancies in local employers, for jobseekers interested visit https://www.dole9portal.com.

“Labor day preparation is simple but meaningful. To the employers, let us be flexible and come together to help more jobseekers find jobs,” Dir. Buenafe emphasized. (RVC/EDT/MLE/PIA9-Zamboanga City)

Zambo Norte is now insurgency-free

By: Emmanuel D. Taghoy

DIPOLOG CITY,  Apr. 20 (PIA) - 53 years, and finally, the province of Zamboanga del Norte can truly be freed from the clutches of the notorious NPA terrorists that has been plaguing vulnerable sectors in far-flung communities, spreading lies and deception.

Former rebels, who witnessed and personally experienced the barbaric acts and cruelty of the communist group, are now making a stand against it and even called on their brothers and sisters who are still being deceived and operate in the hinterlands to lay down their arms and live the life they should have.

In a testimony, Ka PeeWee, former commanding officer of Kalaw, Western Mindanao Regional Party Committee (WMRPC) testified on the exploitation and lies of the CTG. 

He said that he was easily recruited to join the organization since there was no government presence in their barangay and only NPA members conducted orientations and provided services. He served about 20 years with the communist group.

Meanwhile, Ka Ason, who served for 34 years in the NPA, shared she served as a rebel for a long time because she was indoctrinated and made to believed that the government (military) will kill her once she surrendered or captured. 

The FRs initiated a rally admonishing the atrocious acts of the CPP-NPA-NDF during a consultation meeting with the armed conflict-affected areas in Zamboanga del Norte province held recently at Dipolog City.

As a show of strong support to the ELCAC initiatives of the government, they burned down an NPA-NDF flag and strongly advocated in hand-written banners and placards “freedom from terrorism and insurgency!”.

Provincial Governor Roberto Uy declared the province insurgency-free upon the recommendation of the Provincial Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (PTF-ELCAC) after rigorous implementation of programs and projects in the 25 priority barangays of different municipalities.

The 102nd “Igsoon” Brigade, Philippine Army including all of its battalions operating in the different parts of the province take pride in announcing the dismantling of guerilla fronts in the area during the PTF-ELCAC meeting held today, April 20, at the Zamboanga del Norte Convention and Sports Center. 

“Based on our parameters, the bulk of the NPA’s forces are with us. Nandito na sa atin. Binibigyan natin ng tulong at hanapbuhay,” said BGen. Leonel M. Nicolas, brigade commander of 102nd Brigade.

The last guerilla front “Big Beautiful Country” (BBC) operating in the province has been dismatled around second quarter of 2022. 

“We have no more guerilla fronts or any entity in the province that is affecting our peace and security,” stressed Nicolas.

Zamboanga del Norte is now insurgency-free and ready for development as per declaration of the PTF-ELCAC. (EDT/PIA Zamboanga del Norte)

COMELEC-9 hopes for a peaceful 2022 election in Zambo City

By: Jayson R. Aucensillo

Zamboanga City, Apr 18 (PIA) -- Electoral campaign of  local candidates here is in full swing while the Commision on Election (COMELEC) is up on its toes to remind candidates to abide by the campaign rules and policies of the Commission.

This, as COMELEC-9 Election Officer Attorney Stephen Roy Cañete appealed for a smooth and peaceful election on May 9, 2022 among the mayoral aspirants, during the Valiente: Mayoral Candidates’ Forum held recently this month.

“I implore you to follow the campaign policies and show to people that you are the right person for the position,” Atty. Cañete said.

The election officer  emphasized and reminded the candidates to not involve in any ferocities and vote buying to avoid violations to their candidacy and eventually be invalid.

“Do not resort to any violence, threats, and intimidations especially vote buying,” Cañete affirmed.

More so, the COMELEC-9 lauded the efforts of the Zamboanga Election Forum Alliance (ZEFA) for having been conducted the forum to provide the mayoral candidates an equal opportunity to present their platforms to the general public.

“The forum is one of the best avenues to determine who among the equally qualified candidates is the most deserving to receive the mandate of Zamboangueños to lead the city for the next three years,” Cañete said.

Philippine Information Agency (PIA)-9 Regional Director Noemi Edaga put premium on the forum's provision of medium for candidates to engage the voters and to express their positions on today’s key issues.

“This provides them an opportunity to generate support for their advocacies and candidacy,” Director Edaga added.

Further, Atty. Stephen Roy Cañete also appealed to the voters not just in Zamboanga Peninsula region but to all Filipinos; to know the persons they want to elect as leaders.

“To our electorates, know your candidates and be an informed voter,” Atty. Cañete said. (NBE/PIA9/Zamboanga City/Photo Courtesy of Ateneo De Zamboanga University)

CTGs now engage online to recruit students

 By: Jayson R. Aucensillo

Zamboanga City, Apr 02 (PIA) -- Most of the youth especially students have access to several online educational applications today and thru this, the Communist-Terrorist Groups (CTGs) consider the platform as an advantage to convince more students to join their movement against the Philippine bureaucracy.

The National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) affirmed that the CTGs online gathering is one of the major concerns of the National Task Force - Ending Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), as they couldn’t stop students from joining these virtual engagements.

“They are really aggressive in using virtual applications like twitter and per our monitoring, somewhere here in our country, almost every day they conduct virtual indoctrination and radicalization of wrong ideologies among students,” NICA Director General Alex Paul I. Monteagudo said in an interview with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA)-9 during his visit recently.

The Director General also clarified that inevery activity, the Communist Party of the Philippines - New People’s Army - National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) injects political angles to the discussions such as the laws, sexual exploitations and the failures of Philippine justice system.

“They talk these things to the youth and eventually, they (youth) will blame the whole bureaucracy and the whole system of the government that will challenge them to replace the system because of injustices,” Director General Monteagudo said.

He also emphasized that CTGs are really good at teaching hatreds.

Meanwhile, the NTF-ELCAC is really at the peak on strengthening the virtual information campaign as social media is currently the most effective in information dissemination in countering the CPP-NPA-NDF’s narratives at the digital warfare.

“The CPP-NPA-NDF propaganda is like a virus. When it is planted in your brain even a little, this will grow,” he said.

The Director General advised the youth as they are the future and the most vulnerable to CTGs recruitment, to always be cautious in attending political forums and not believe the persuasive speeches of the leftist groups.

“Ang mga sinasabi nila may katotohanan pero sinasabayan ito ng mga kasinungalingan, kaya hindi ninyo namamalayan na niloloko na kayo. Kaya huwag na huwag magpapaloko!” Monteagudo concluded. (NBE/JRA/PIA9-Zamboanga City)

ZC Mayoral forum slated on April 9

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Apr 6 (PIA) – Zamboangeños will have a chance to know their Mayoral Candidates through the Valiente: Mayoral Candidates Forum on Saturday (April 9). 

This event aims to provide the candidates an equal opportunity to objectively disseminate their plans and platforms to the voters.

The forum is initiated by Zamboanga Election Forum Alliance (ZEFA) consists of Philippine Information Agency (PIA), Zamboanga Basilan Integrated Development Alliance, Inc. (ZABIDA), Ateneo de Zamboanga University (AdZU) through #DAZURV Electoral Engagement, and the coalition members of the United Front for Honest, Orderly and Peaceful Elections (UF HOPE), in coordination with the Commission on Elections (COMELEC).

COMELEC-9 supports stakeholders in the region to conduct local debate and forums to disseminate information of the official candidates to all the voters. They also strongly encourages the voters to go out and vote for the 2022 elections and to vote wisely, “know your candidates well, for you to choose the right person in the position and if given the opportunity, watch debates to be informed,” said Atty. Stephen Roy Cañete, election officer of Zambaonga City in District 1.

Moreover, PIA-9 also supports the advocacy on voters education as it is important for the voters to be informed, “we conduct this forum to provide the candidates a platform and most importantly to avoid misinformation in this time of election,” said Noemi Edaga, Regional Director of PIA-9.

The public and the voters are encourage to watch the Valiente: Mayoral Candidates’ Forum through live stream on Saturday (April 9) at 1pm via PIA Western Mindanao, ZABIDA, ADZU and COMELEC Facebook pages. (EDT/MLE/PIA9-Zamboanga City)

PLGU calls support to ELCAC to keep Sibugay insurgency-free

IPIL, Zamboanga Sibugay, Apr. 06 (PIA) - to sustain the gains of End Local Communist Armed Conflict (ELCAC) program, there needs to be continued support, “para ‘di magkaroon muli ng communist-terrorist groups (CTGs) sa probinsya ,” said Provincial Task Force (PTF)-ELCAC focal Engr. Romel Duran during Kapihan program. 

He said, when the province was declared insurgency-free in 2020, the national government downloaded in 2021, P80M funds under the Barangay Development Program (BDP) component of ELCAC.
 
The said fund was intended for the Four barangay-beneficiaries used to be affected by insurgency that included Brgy Guinoman in Diplahan town; Balagon, Siay municipality; Lacnapan in Kabasalan and Tampilisan.
 
Each barangay was allocated P20M for the development of their area that included infrastructure projects, livelihood, communication line , and electrification.
 
“Panawagan ko po na importanteng ma sustain po lahat ng gains of ELCAC kahit magpalit na ng administrasyon, if not, may possibility na babalik po sila,” Engr. Duran said .
 
He also called on partner agencies to still provide and include in their agency Programs, Projects and Activities (PPAs) in 2023, efforts to sustain the gains of ELCAC.
 
“Sayang if di ito ma sustain, nasimulan na natin ‘to at malaki ang tulong na naibigay sa community, nawala ang kaso ng insurgency sa probinsya, mas tumaas ang tiwala sa gobyerno dahil natutugunan at natutulungan ang mga tao sa far-flung communities, mga IPs,” Duran said.
 
Engr. Duran gave update as to the status of project implementation in the said 4 BDP areas. He said Road concreting in Balagon-Siay, and Guinoman in Diplahan, is 100% complete; while other infra projects are still ongoing;  livelihood support like poultry, piggery, enterprise development is still at its 25 to 35%  implementaton due to few issues on procurement process, while there are cases of rebidding and water system is almost complete, he enumerated. (JPA / Zamboanga Sibugay)