AFTER STRONGLY CRITICIZING the Zamboanga government’s program for senior citizens, traditional politician Celso Lobregat and his party mates are now trying hard to duplicate the benevolent assistance of Mayor Beng Climaco to the city’s elderly population.
Lobregat and his team have been going around different barangays and meeting with senior citizens and even campaigning this early and distributing 2 kilos of rice, believed to be from the National Food Authority, and a red sling bag with sign that reads: “Mayor Celso Lobregat.”
One family member of an elderly woman said they received a red sling bag with 2 kilos of rice inside: “Ya recibi 2 kilos de arroz miyo nana na Putik kay yan tapuk sila Celso Lobregat todo senior citizens y alla adentro de sling bag el arroz.”
Lobregat, who is not originally from Zamboanga, also met with senior citizens in Barangay Santa Maria, and he even held a trivia contest with the winner getting a red shirt as prize. And there, he began blabbering in front of the senior citizens and virtually campaigned.
He also went around shaking hands with senior citizens at the covered court. Senior citizens who are beneficiaries of the local government’s medical assistance program strongly criticized Lobregat after he questioned the distribution of medicines and incentives to the elderly here under the “Largo Vida” program.
They accused Lobregat as being anti-poor. Lobregat, who served many years as mayor and congressman, complained that Mayor Beng is using government resources to provide necessary medical and financial assistance to senior citizens in different barangays.
Largo Vida, which literally means “Long Life”, is part of Climaco’s benevolent programs dedicated for the welfare of senior citizens. It is being implemented by the City Health Office, City Social Welfare and Development Office and Office of the City Mayor.
Despite the overwhelming success of the Largo Vida, rabid critics and political foes of Mayor Beng led by Lobregat questioned the timing of its launching. Aside from the Largo Vida program, Mayor Beng also provides cash incentives to senior citizens celebrating their birthday as provided in a local ordinance.
It is the first of its kind in the history of Zamboanga and the distribution of cash gifts covers all 98 barangays here. City Hall said a total of P12 million has been allocated for the incentives which is being implemented by the CSWDO, City Treasurer’s Office and the OCM.
Under the ordinance, the birthday cash incentives will be given annually starting this year to all senior citizens: P500 for ages 60 to 69; P700 for ages 70 to 79; P800 for ages 80 to 90; P1,500 for ages 91 to 94 and P2,000 for ages 95 to 99. Lobregat, not contented with his criticism of the Largo Vida, also went on to gripe the cash incentives for the senior citizens.
But Cesar Jimenez Jr, a former council member and Mayor Beng’s ex-spokesman, said this will be increased to P18 million by next year and included in the approved 2019 Executive Budget which was also opposed by a few of Lobregat’s allies in the City Council.
“This will be increased to P18M in the 2019 Budget to which the councilors from the Red Team (of Lobregat) voted against. I criticized the P25M fountain at Paseo del Mar during his (Lobregat) term. To make matter worse, it cost up P130K per month to operate it. Let people be the judge,” Jimenez said in his Facebook page and followed by hashtag sign #NOTOMATAPOBRE.
Lobregat admitted that he considers himself as an “underdog” in the mayoralty race. Mayor Beng is seeking re-election so she can continue serving Zamboanga and her constituents and propel the city to becoming one of the most progressive in the country.
Her loyal supporters said Lobregat was just griping because during his time as mayor, he did not have projects like what Climaco initiated. Other supporters said Mayor Beng is a strong advocate for the welfare of the elderly, the poor children and youth and her various humanitarian programs and barangay projects are well received and appreciated by the people because they have not experience anything like it in the past administrations of the Lobregats which had ruled Zamboanga for many decades now.
The Lobregats are natives of Cebu and Lanao del Sur provinces. In the 2016 elections, Lobregat’s brother, Jomar, lost in the congressional polls. He is running again as congressman in Zamboanga. Mayor Beng is the niece of Zamboanga’s most loved Mayor Cesar Climaco, who served the city for 11 years, and had greatly influence her to serve the public. Among Zamboanga greatest mayors were the elder Climaco and Vitaliano Agan. (ZCH)
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