Zamboanga City Government News Bits March 29, 201

Mayor Beng Climaco is to lead the culminating activity of the Women’s month celebration in a ceremony dubbed “Unido Fuerza de las Mujeres Para Paz” at 4 p.m. Monday, March 30 at the Western Mindanao Command grandstand. The activity will be a convergence of women in the police, military and other branches of service to show their active role in peace building. Highlight of the event will be the women formation of the peace symbol and a Zumba fitness activity.

The 2-man team from the Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Soil and Water Management which came to Zamboanga City to assess the prevailing condition of the drought-stricken farmlands and crops has formally recommended the conduct of cloud seeding operations. The recommendation is awaiting approval of Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala.

The continuing dry spell and prevalent bush fires have caused damage to crops and fishery products to surge to 8,743.9 hectares with estimated value at P129.44 million as of March 24. City Agriculturist Diosdado Palacat said the bush fires due to outdoor burning and slash and burn activities have led to increased devastation of agricultural lands planted with banana, cassava, mango, rubber and coconut.

Zamboanga City joined the rest of the world in the observance of Earth Hour, a global call to action to change climate change Saturday evening, March 28. Around 600 participants from the youth sector, the academe, security forces, and local and national government agencies flocked to Plaza del Pilar to support the Earth Hour initiative which was celebrated with the hour-long shut down of power, and song and poetry performances. Also among the highlights of the Earth Hour program were the candle-lighting ceremony, the Doodle Earth board where participants wrote and drew messages of support for Mother Nature, and the Habagat Earth Hour Night Ride which saw 400 bike riders pedaling for nature.

The Local Inter-Agency Committee will convene 2 p.m. on Tuesday, March 31 at the City Hall conference room to discuss among others the draft implementing rules and regulations of the Code of Policies as well as the status of power supply in Z3R permanent housing projects, status of coordination-works on permanent shelter between National Housing Authority and CRS, status of the request of the residents of Ayer Village and PP 69 in Sta. Barbara and several others.