ZDS ONLINE NEWS

  The Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) is calling on the people of Zamboanga del Sur to end leprosy-related stigma and discrimination. Dahlia Aseniero, the Health, Education and Promotion Officer (HEPO) in an interview during the 'Balitambayan sa Hapon' program over DXMB Radyo Sakto reported that the province recorded 18 cases of leprosy in the year 2022. She also urged the residents in the province who have members of their family who are infected with the disease that they should immediately bring them to the Rural Health Unit (RHU) for treatment and so that they will be cured.

 

Five (5) clustered barangays in the town of Margosatubig, Zamboanga del Sur participated in the 3-day Agri-Aqua Trade and Tourism Fair on February 22 to 25   in barangay Poblacion. The trade fair is an event created by the local government (LGU) to give farmers an opportunity to exhibit and sell their agricultural and fishery products to visitors and residents from neighboring municipalities. The exposition also emphasizes the importance of agriculture in helping to develop the economy of the town.

At least 23 of the 39 people who were registered were qualified for the job they applied for and one person was also hired on the spot during the job fair held at the mayor Toribio Minor gymnasium in the municipality of Margosatubig on February 24. Mayor Alejandro E. Agua III graced the event and officially declared the one-day event as the first job fair in the history of the town. There are nine (9) local and overseas employers who participated in the event and who offered 1,170 job vacancies. The job fair is one of the highlights of the activities during the celebration of Araw ng Margosatubig on February 25, organized by the local government unit through the Public Employment Service Office (PESO) in partnership with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE). (Photo courtesy: Jimuel Rabasio, DOLE)

The local government unit of Margosatubig and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) will hold a one-day job fair at the Mayor Toribio Minor gymnasium today, February 24. Six (6) local companies offer 227 jobs,   while three (3) participating companies offer 943 jobs abroad. The job fair is one of the line up activities created by the local government through the Public Employment Service Office (PESO) in celebration of the founding anniversary of the municipality.

By Gideon C. Corgue PAGADIAN CITY, February 22--- The 1st Cavalry (Tagapanguna) Battalion, Armor Division, Philippine Army held a change of command ceremony for outgoing and incoming officers recently. LtCol. Jerry Tucaqui, the outgoing commanding officer was replaced by LtCol. John Mark Competente, the incoming commanding officer during the simple ceremony held at Camp Col. Jacobo Zobel, Upper Pulacan, Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur. The ceremony was graced by Major General Facundo Palafox IV, the commander of the Armor Division who is also the presiding officer and was attended by officers from the various units of the division. Palafox turned over the flag of the unit from Tucaqui to Competente as a symbol of passing the authority to manage the unit. Palafox said that with Tucaqui's operational and administrative expertise, the command is optimistic that he will provide knowledge and enough experience to optimize the strategic level of planning to benefit all units under ...

Major General Facundo Palafox IV (right), the commander of the Armor Division, Philippine Army transferred the flag of the unit from  LtColonel Jerry Tucaqui (center), the outgoing commanding officer to LtColonel John Mark Competente (left), the incoming commanding officer during the change of command ceremony on February 21 at Camp Col. Jocobo Zobel, Upper Pulacan, Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur. Falafox, the presiding officer said that the ceremony is a symbol of the passing of authority vested in the commander to lead the unit with the accrued responsibility of maintaining the administrative and operational tempo in the organization. (Photo courtesy: Neil Pulmano)

About 30 representatives from banks and remittance centers in the city attended the forum organized by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) on Monday, February 20. The forum aims to address the complaints of clients against some banks that allegedly will not honor the e-Phil ID issued by PSA when encashing the check, while some remittance centers will limit up to P7,000 in releasing money to their clients who present the e-Phil ID during their transaction.

  By Gideon Corgue PAGADIAN CITY, February 19--- About 44 beneficiaries of the 'Balik Pinas, Balik Hanapbuhay' Program of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) received a package of livelihood assistance recently. Maricris Abastar, the family welfare officer said that the individual check received by the beneficiaries is a maximum of P20,000 as start up or additional capital for their livelihood project. Abastar said that a total of more than P700,000 was given to the beneficiaries so that they can use it to start up a livelihood project, help with their daily expenses and not to return to work outside the country. "The livelihood assistance that we provide is part of the 'Balik-Pinas, Balik Hanapbuhay' program for the distressed and displaced OFWs so that when they return to the Philippines, they can start or add to the business they have already started,” Abastar explained. She added that the livelihood assistance provided to the beneficiar...

LtCol. Jerry Tucaqui (right), the outgoing commanding officer of the  1st Cavalry (Tagapanguna) Battalion, Armor Division,  Philippine Army   on February 16, paid a courtesy call to Melchor Coronel (center), the chairman of the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP)-Zamboanga del Sur chapter. Tocaqui accompanied by LtCol. John Mark Competente (left), the incoming commanding officer expressed his profound gratitude to the local chapter for their active support of the civil-military operations' (CMO) activities during his two-year stint as commanding officer of the unit and p romised to continue their strong partnership through the leadership of the new commanding officer.

  By Gideon C. Corgue PAGADIAN CITY, February 16---The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW-9) established a "Task Force Turkey" so that Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in Turkey and Syria can be contacted by their family here in the Philippines. Thus, disclosed Atty. Kinnymar Pañares, regional coordinator of the DMW in his message to the 44 beneficiaries of the 'Balik Pinas, Balik Hanapbuhay' program of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) during the release of the livelihood assistance held recently. It can be recalled that last February 6, a very strong earthquake with a magnitude of 7.8 struck Turkey and Syria  resulting in the loss of thousands of lives, injuring thousands of people and destroying large buildings. Pañares said that there are several OFWs working in those countries, so the DMW encourages families in the Philippines to contact the DMW-One Repatriation Command Center so that they can talk to their family members, and their agenc...

About 44 beneficiaries of the 'Balik Pinas, Balik Hanapbuhay' Program of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) received individual checks from Maricris Abastar, the family welfare officer of OWWA-Zamboanga del Sur at the awarding ceremony on February 14 at DOLE Building, Pagadian City. Abastar said that the returning distressed/displaced OFW members received the package of livelihood support/assistance amounting to a maximum of Php 20,000.00 so that they can use it as start up or additional capital for the livelihood project. A total of more than P700,000 was released by OWWA for the beneficiaries to improve their livelihood and prevent them from returning to work abroad.

The flower vendors in the Agora Complex, Pagadian city are very busy arranging their flowers that they will display on the day of the hearts today, February 14. The prices of the flowers they sell can be purchased as follows: P100, 150, 300, 500, 1,000 and 3,000 depending on the desire and quantity of flowers to be purchased by customers. The flower vendors will also customize the flower bouquet and deliver the orders to the customers.

To improve effectiveness, strengthen communication, boost morale, and make the organization more successful, the Provincial Advisory Council for Police Transformation and Development (PAGPTD) held a team building activity at Bukid's Mountain Resort, Sergio Osmena, Zamboanga del Norte on February 12 , 2023 with the theme "Coming Together, Sharing Together, and Working Together Equals Succeeding Together." Activities such as strengthening communication and parlor games were conducted to improve the team work of the organization. The PAGPTD led by chairwoman Edna Dalena in partnership with the Zamboanga del Sur Police Provincial Office (ZSPPO) conducted the team building this year after it has not held the event for the past three years due to health restrictions implemented by the national government.

  By Gideon C. Corgue LABANGAN, Zamboanga del Sur, Feb. 12 (KBP)--- At least 30 aspiring broadcasters from the 1st Civil-Military Operations (1CMO) Battalion, Philippine Army participated in the four-day Radio Broadcast Service (RBS) Maintenance and Operation's Training on Feb. 11 to 18 at Camp Major Cesar Sang-an, Pulacan in Labangan town. Capt. Jeffrey Paguia, the operations' officer of the 1CMO battalion said the participants were taught by veteran resource speakers Joan Guangco and Gideon Corgue in broadcasting, writing news script, conducting interview, basic anchoring, and programming. Paguia said that the participants were subjected to practical exercises inside the RBS booth which is located behind the building of their unit so that they can use what they learned in the training and become effective broadcasters. He added that the trained soldiers will take the lead in communicating the government's peace efforts so that our community can attain inclusive an...

At least 30 aspiring broadcasters of the 1st Civil-Military Operations (1CMO) Battalion, Philippine Army underwent a 4-day Radio Broadcast System (RBS) Maintenance and Operations Traininginside Camp Major Cesar Sang-an, Pulacan in Labangan town  on Feb. 8 to 11   . The participants were taught by resource speakers in broadcasting, writing news script, conducting interview, basic anchoring, and programming. They also underwent practical exercises inside the RBS booth so that they can use what they learned in the training and become effective broadcasters.  

At least 14 persons with disabilities (PWDs) in Zamboang del Sur will undergo a one-year skills training at the Area Vocational Rehabilitation Center (AVRC) in Zamboanga City. The 14 PWDs qualified to become trainees after the 21 PWD applicants underwent initial screening, counseling and medical check up sponsored by the Persons with Disability Affairs Office (PDAO) on February 8. The PWDs will be trained in specific course where they have an allowance during that period of time. After they are trained, they can find a job with the help of the center.

 

By Gideon C. Corgue PAGADIAN CITY, February 7 (KBP)- As a show of caring for the environment and at the same time, encourage and raise awareness on the importance of keeping water sources, the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP)-Zamboanga del Sur chapter conducted a coastal clean up drive in Panikian Island (also known as Turtle Island) on February 4. The local chapter under the leadership of Melchor Coronel, the chairman in partnership with the local government unit of Pitogo together with 50 officers and members went around the island's shore and picked up non-biodegradable wastes in order to protect the cleanliness of the ocean and also to preserve the habitat of our fish. Coronel said the coastal clean up was held in Pitogo so that the KBP members can participate in cleaning the ocean and they can develop their love for our environment not only in Pagadian city but in other parts of the province. "We are happy that the LGU-Pitogo through Mayor James Yecy...

Mayor James Yecyec of the municipality of Pitogo in an interview with members of the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP)- Zamboanga del Sur chapter on Saturday (February  4)  announced that the local government unit (LGU) plans to develop Panikian Island (also known as Turtle Island) by installing solar lights, building a function hall and providing good amenities to att ract foreign and local tourists. Yecyec said that the fund they will use in the project is the P2-M prize they received from the Department of Agriculture's Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) as the regional champion in Search for 'Malinis at Masaganang Karagatan" (MMK) in the year 2021-2022 in Zamboanga Peninsula .  

COASTAL CLEAN-UP DRIVE| In order to contribute to the protection of the health of our oceans, the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP)-Zamboanga del Sur chapter under the leadership of Melchor Coronel, the chairman in partnership with the local government unit of Pitogo conducted a coastal clean up drive to Panikian Island (also known as Turtle Island) on February 4, 2023. Around 50 officers and members of the local KBP chapter along with stakeholders went around the island's shore and picked up the non-biodegradable wastes in order to protect the habitat of the fish. This activity is regularly held by the local chapter to ensure our sustainable future by protecting and preserving our healthy marine ecosystem.