Zamboanga City Government News Bits – June 7, 2015
One hundred twenty-seven (127) families from Mariki displaced by the September 2013 siege will finally return to their permanent houses Monday, June 8 after ceremonial turnover rites set at 10:30am. The turnover was originally set last Saturday, May 30 but was deferred to Monday pending clarifications on the vulnerability criteria as stipulated in the Code of Policies for Z3R Beneficiary Selection and its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). Mayor Beng Climaco and officials from the National Housing Authority will spearhead the turnover of the initial 127 houses on stilts.
Everything is set for the Contingency Planning organized by the CDRRMO under Dr. Elmeir Apolinario from June 9-11 at the Royce Convention Center, Astoria Hotel with Undersecretary and NDRRMC Executive Officer Alexander Pama as keynote speaker. The activity will have some 200 participants representing the different sectors in the community with the primary goal of preparing the city to human-induced calamities. The activity is one of the mandates of the CDRRRMO as provided in RA 1021 also known as the Disaster preparedness law.
Livelihood programs for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) are continuously undertaken by the Livelihood Sector through the CSWDO-PESO, in line with the early recovery and rehabilitation efforts of the City. 25 families are the latest recipients of livelihood starter kits for food vending and merienda production following the conduct of livelihood orientation, Saturday, June 6 at the CSWDO office. A week ago, livelihood starter kits were also turned over to 60 families. They all form part of the total 240 families targeted for the program.
The City Government has set 7 events, mostly celebrating history of the nation and Zamboanga City. These include the 117th Independence Day on June 12 at 8am, plaza Rizal; 153rd birth anniversary of Dr. Jose Rizal, June 19, 8am at Plaza Rizal; Dia de Fundacion Chabacano, June 23, 8am at Plaza Rizal; Chabacano Debate Exhbition, June 23, 1pm at City Hall; Battle of the Bands, June 23 at Paseo del Mar; Cine Chabacano-film and animation festival, June 23-28 at Cinematheque Zamboanga and Arbor Day, June 25, 7am at Climaco Freedom Park.
The 2nd Peace Journalism Training and Internship Program participated by 16 campus journalists, culminates Monday, June 8 with graduation ceremonies set at 5am at Yakan 1, Garden Orchid Hotel. Organized by the USAID-ENGAGE in partnership with the City Government through the Public Information Office, the program seeks to build the capacities of selected youth for peace building through the mass media. The program kicked off May 5 and included a 3-day intensive training on peace journalism and a 20-day internship in local media establishments.
The Legal, Social and Protection Needs of IDPs Workshop is slated Monday, June 8 at 8am at Lotus 2, Grand Astoria Hotel. The activity is organized by the UNHCR and IOM with the objective of identifying timely and appropriate interventions on legal, social and protection needs of IDPs, the prevailing protection issues on displacement areas an permanent settlement sites and the needed support by IDPs in pursuing durable solutions.
Some 200 home-based IDPs (west coast cluster) trooped to the ZSCMST gymnasium Saturday, June 6 on the 4th day of the information caravan (3rd wave) organized by the Communications Working Group (CWG) with support from the USAID and the Asia Foundation. The Code of Policies on Z3R Beneficiary Selection and its Implementing Rules and Regulations is the focus of the face-to-face engagement with the IDPs, as the city prepares them for their eventual transfer to permanent houses. The schedule in other transitory sites is as follows:
June 9 at 2pm- PTSI Transitory Site (PTSI Multi-purpose hall)
June 10 at 9am- Rio Hondo TS (Rio Hondo MPH)
June 11 at 2pm Buggoc TS to include Silsillah (Buggoc open space at the entrance)
June 13 at 9am -home based IDPs (east coast cluster) at Centro Latino
June 16 at 2pm- Asinan, Kasanyangan (Kasanyangan barangay Hall)
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