HALFWAY HOUSE FOR FORMER REBELS TO RISE IN ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR

PAGADIAN CITY (Nov. 27, 2019) - Former rebels (FRs) in Zamboanga del Sur will soon have a temporary shelter as they prepare to return to the mainstream of society.

Zamboanga del Sur Gov. Victor J. Yu along with officials of the Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Social Welfare and Development, and the Philippine Army, led the groundbreaking ceremony Tuesday for the P5million facility for ex-rebels inside the 53^rd Infantry Battalion Headquarters, Camp Sabido, Poblacion, Guipos town.

The halfway house will serve as temporary dwelling for former New People’s Army (NPA) rebels while their documents are being processed. It will also become a venue for livelihood education and training for surrenderers.

In a speech, Gov. Yu reiterated the significance of peace and the cooperation of every people in order to attain progress in the province.

He also expressed his pleasure upon seeing the former rebels back to the fold of law.

“The halfway house is where you will stay to let you feel that the government is concerned to do projects for the people,” he said.

The governor also vouched that he will offer incentives to the FR’s if they can convince those who are still operating in the hinterlands to surrender to the government.

Meanwhile, USEC Rene Glen Paje, DSWD Undersecretary for Inclusive and Sustainable Peace, said he is optimistic that those rebels who are still in the mountains will have second thoughts once they learned of their comrades coming back to the government in peaceful means.

“Ako’y nananawagan na mag-isip-isip sila dahil yung mga pinaglalaban nila ay patuloy namang tinutugunan ng gobyerno,” Paje said.

The P5 million fund was sourced out from the E-CLIP, a reintegration program of the government formed to help former rebels to encourage those who have remained in the revolutionary work to avail the services that the government has offered.

DDB, Zambosur gov’t inks agreement for P5Million drug treatment facility renovation

Pagadian City (Nov. 25, 2019) – The Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) and the local government of Zamboanga del Sur recently signed a memorandum of agreement granting financial assistance worth P5Million for the renovation of the drug treatment center in Aurora town.

On Wednesday, November 20, the MOA signing was made between DDB officials led by Secretary Catalino S. Uy and Governor Victor J. Yu of Zamboanga del Sur.

Pursuant to Board Resolution No. 2 Series of 2019, the financial aid from DDB will be fully spent for the renovation of the drug treatment and rehab facility located in Brgy. Anonang, Aurora town, Zamboanga del Sur.

Under the said MOA, portion of the facility will also be used for the implementation of its community-based treatment and rehabilitation efforts for individuals with substance use disorders.

The memorandum also states that DDB will monitor the utilization recommendations to the local government of Zamboanga del Sur and Municipality of Aurora.

In his official statement, DDB Chairman Catalino S. Cuy shared that they are hopeful that the support they extend will get to improve the services of local treatment and rehabilitation centers and ensure that effective interventions are provided to individuals who once fell into the trap of addiction.

Meanwhile, Governor Victor J. Yu thanked DDB for the support to the province especially in treatment and rehabilitation programs.

“This financial assistance that you gave us is a huge help in order to renovate some facilities that are already old and unrepaired,” he said.

The Province of Zamboanga del Sur thru the leadership of Governor Victor Yu had manifested its intention to operate the aforesaid drug treatment and rehab facility to support the campaign of President Rodrigo Duterte and the national government against illegal drug trafficking and abuse.

GOV. YU LEADS SYNCHRONIZED POLIO VACCINATION CEREMONIAL LAUNCHING

PAGADIAN CITY (Nov. 25, 2019)– Governor Victor J. Yu led on Monday the ceremonial launching of “Sabayang Patak Kontra Polio” in Zamboanga del Sur, as part of the Department of Health’s (DOH) campaign against the contagious disease.

The kickoff ceremony sought everyone’s support in ensuring that no child misses out on polio vaccines. The first round of the Mindanao-wide campaign begins November 25, 2019 up to December 7, 2019 and the next round on January 6-18, 2020.

During Monday’s flag raising ceremony, Gov. Yu urged parents and caregivers in the province to submit their children under five years old for oral polio drops to safeguard them from the infection.

“Let us support this not just by letting our own children and relatives to undergo the vaccination but also inform the whole community that DOH is having this campaign in order to protect our children”, Gov. Yu said.

On the same day, 1^st District Congresswoman Divina Grace Yu and Gov. Yu joined health personnel in giving of oral polio vaccine to children at the Zamboanga del Sur Medical Center.

Mrs. Dahlia Aseniero, Provincial Health Education and Promotion Officer, said aside from barangay health centers, hospitals and schools, there will be vaccination teams who will conduct door-to-door visitations to give OPV’s to children.  

Polio is a highly communicable disease spread through fecal-oral transmission. It is caused by the poliovirus and may result in permanent paralysis and even death. However, the disease can be prevented by vaccine.

The Synchronized Polio Vaccination Campaign aims to boost immunization coverage against polio by giving three doses of the oral polio vaccine to all children five years old and below, regardless of their immunization status. DOH said full vaccination against the poliovirus is the best way to prevent the transmission of the disease.

Zambosur PCCB convenes for national census 2020

Pagadian City – Presided by Governor Victor J. Yu, the convening of Provincial Census Coordinator Board (PCCB) – Zamboanga del Sur regarding the 2020 Census of Population and Housing (CPH) was successfully conducted Tuesday, November 12 at Four Queens Resort, participated by 28 representatives from various coordinating offices in the province.

The Philippine National Statistics Authority (PSA) – Zamboanga del Sur spearheaded the first ever board assembly under the Yu administration with its objective of gathering all coordinating boards who will assist in the conduct of national census, come May 2020.

The Provincial Census Coordinating Board includes: 1. Provincial Governor (Chairperson) 2. Schools Division Superintendent – DepEd (Vice Chairperson) 3. DPWH District Engineer 4. Provincial Commander of the Philippine National Police (PNP) 5. Military Camp Commander, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) 6. District Commander/Station Commander, Philippine Coast Guard 7. Provincial Planning and Development Coordinator 8. Provincial Assessor 9. Provincial Agriculturist 10. Provincial Population Officer 11. Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer 12. Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer 13. Provincial Information Officer 14. Provincial Officer (NCIP) 15. Provincial Director (DILG) 16. Provincial Health Officer 17. Provincial Public Attorney 18. Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer 19. Private Sector Representatives (3) 20. Chief Statistical Specialist, Provincial Statistical Office – PSA (Executive Officer).

As presented by Dimna P. Bienes, the 2020 CPH Focal Person of PSA – Zamboanga del Sur, the 2020 Census Population and Housing, taglined “Sama na, Census na!”, aims to provide government executives, policy and decision makers, and planners with update population and housing data as bases to their social and economic development plans, policies and programs.

Moreover, the 2020 CPH will be the 15th census of population and 7th census of housing to be undertaken in the country since the first census in 1903.

Together with Dr. Ma. Luza R. Tabilon, CESO VI, DepEd Schools Division Superintendent, the coordinating board has also discussed the huge role of the public school teachers as they will be the enumerators for the census.

With the responsibility set, the Division Superintendent probed for assurance that the teachers will be rightfully compensated during Summer time. According to the Provincial Statistics Officer, Bernardo C. Martinez, the national-paid public school teachers shall receive P13,000 each worth of cash allowance during their 15-day conduct of 2020 national census.

According to the Provincial Statistics Officer, Bernardo C. Martinez, the information that will be gathered from 2020 CPH will also be used as validation to the data needed for the implementation of the Philippine ID Sytem (PhilID) on 2022, which will start soon after the said census.

“The 2020 CPH is very important because our planning for the future relies on census. With that, as the governor of the provincial government of Zamboanga del Sur, I pledge full support and commitment to this undertaking,” said PCCB Chairman Governor Victor J. Yu.

It is expected that Census coordinating Boarding Meetings will follow at the municipal and city levels.

DTI TURNS OVER DARK CHOCOLATE PROCESSING EQUIPMENT TO ZAMBOSUR TOWN COOPERATIVE

Midsalip, Zamboanga del Sur (November 7, 2019) – With the government’s move to revitalize the cacao industry, the Department of Trade and Industry on Wednesday turned over a set of processing equipment to a town cooperative in Midsalip, Zamboanga del Sur to help farmers produce dark chocolate, tablea, and other cacao-based products.

DTI-9 Regional Director Sitti Amina M. Jain said the Midsalip Farmers’ Cooperative (MIFAMCO) received a P2.1million dark chocolate processing facility that they can use for free, provided that they can yield cacao-based products within 6 consecutive months and will be permanently owned by the cooperative if properly managed within 2 years.

Jain said that the project is aligned to the priorities of DTI where cacao is one of the priority clusters and is included in the rapid growth programs of the department.

The project is open to other cacao farmers in the province according to the DTI regional chief.

“There will be lots of assistance and activities in store for the cacao industry in Zamboanga del Sur considering it as one of the leading cacao-producing provinces in the region”, the director added.

Giving of free cacao seedlings to farmers has been a major agricultural program of Gov. Victor J. Yu since his congressional years which complemented to the programs of the national government and benefited municipalities as they now enjoy the fruits of their labor.

Development coordinators formed by the provincial government are continually conducting Pananom Program Orientation in villages to assist farmers in propagating the seedlings given to them.

Aside from providing facilities to farmers and their cooperatives, DTI also offers training on project management, access to market and packaging for cacao products.

(Photo Courtesy: DTI Region 9)