ZAMBOANGA CITY – Local mayor Beng Climaco has lined up at least 4 issues that she would like to discuss with presumptive president-elect Rodrigo Duterte, who won a landslide victory in Zamboanga City.
Climaco, who campaigned for Mar Roxas and Leni Robredo, of the Liberal Party, sent congratulatory message to Duterte and with it is a set of requests that she said will “fuel Zamboanga City’s vision to build back better.”
Zamboanga congressman Celso Lobregat also campaigned for Roxas, a former Interior secretary.
“The people of Zamboanga have spoken and their overwhelming choice is Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and as chief executive of the city, I would like to say congratulations to Mayor Duterte and we pray for his success,” Climaco said.
Climaco she will appeal to the Duterte administration to exclude Zamboanga City in the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law that seeks to create a separate Muslim territory in southern Philippines.
“We have spoken against the inclusion of Zamboanga to the BBL and we are again appealing to presumptive president Rodrigo Duterte to respect the will of the people,” she said.
Climaco also wanted to acquire the Cabatangan property in Zamboanga City which is under the Muslim autonomous region and the return to Zamboanga of the regional center which is now Pagadian City. She also requested Duterte to prioritize the construction of a new international airport here.
She said given Duterte’s background in local governance as mayor of Davao City for 21 years, he will be very effective in his stint as the country’s 16th president.
“He has the pulse of a chief executive and he knows the problems on the ground and so he can effectively guide us and respond to our concerns,” Climaco said, adding, she looks forward for Duterte’s new policies and guidance as soon as the new administration officially assumes office on June 30.
Climaco also expressed her disgust with Teresita Deles, the presidential adviser on the peace process, who failed to prevent the attacks by Moro National Liberation Front rebels in Zamboanga City in September 2013 that killed many innocent civilians.
“OPAPP has failed us in terms of the siege and so we wait for policies on how local governments must deal with Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the Moro National Liberation Front, as well as the utilization of budgets for personnel services, Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses and infrastructure projects and developments,” she said.
Duterte has named former Gloria Arroyo’s presidential peace adviser, Jesus Dureza, to replace Deles. (Mindanao Examiner. With a report from Sheila Covarrubias)
Share Our News
Like Us on Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/mindanaoexaminer
Follow Us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MindanaoExamine
Read Our News on: http://www.mindanaoexaminer.com / http://mindanaoexaminernewspaper.blogspot.com/
Digital Archives: https://issuu.com/mindanaoexaminernewspaper
20
