ZDS ONLINE NEWS

By Gideon C. Corgue PAGADIAN CITY, October 29 – “It is necessary that we choose leaders who have the heart to serve the people and have the knowledge to manage the affairs of the barangay," the mayor of Pagadian City said. In the weekly radio program dubbed "Mayor's Report", Mayor Samuel Co said that in the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Election (BSKE) on October 30, the people of the city should choose candidates who have a heart to serve the people. "We don't choose candidates who have power and money, but we choose candidates who have a heart to serve the people," said Co. Co assured that the candidates he endorsed also possess the leadership qualities so he will not hesitate to endorse them to the people when they give their decision on the day of the election. Meanwhile, the mayor explained that it will be difficult for him to implement projects and programs in the city if the people will choose candidates who are not his allies adding ...

By Gideon C. Corgue PAGADIAN CITY, October 28 – In the upcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Election (BSKE) on October 30, Governor Victor Yu urged the voters to choose the candidate who will be able to implement development projects and programs in the barangay. Yu said that the voters should be able to choose the candidate who will help the people in the barangay adding that "when they are in a difficult situation, they will be able to find a way to help the people and can also bring projects to the barangay.” Yu said that we should bear in mind that the barangay leaders are supposed to represent the people to bring about the much needed changes in the grassroots. The good governor said that the three-year tenure of the barangay official is a short period of time, but if the service they provide to the people is sincere, it will help the barangay a lot. Meanwhile, he discouraged the voters not to choose the candidate who is only thinking about the 'slot' ...

By Gideon C. Corgue PAGADIAN CITY, October 23 – The construction of two district hospitals in this province will provide significant contribution in promoting health, well-being of ZamboSurians. Thus disclosed Governor Victor Yu during a press conference with the local media recently. Yu said that the groundbreaking ceremony was held in the two district hospitals located in the town of Ramon Magsaysay and San Miguel in this province on October 14. The two major projects to be constructed have an initial budget of P70 million from the national government. Yu added that he wants the district hospitals to have 100 bed-capacity because based on their inspection to Zamboanga del Sur Medical Center (ZDMS) in barangay Dao, Pagadian City and Margosatubig Regional Hospital (MRH) in In the town of Margosatubig, the hospitals are full of patients. "In our actual inspection of the ZDMS in barangay Dao, we found out that there are more than 250 patients occupying the hospital beds ...

By Gideon C. Corgue PAGADIAN CITY, October 22 – The suspension of quarry operations in the town of Labangan will significantly affect the implementation of infrastructure projects in the province. This is the reaction of Governor Victor Yu to the statement of Labangan Mayor Eddie Relacion during the press conference held recently. It can be recalled that Relacion made his pronouncement during an interview with the local media that he stopped the large-scale quarrying operation in Labangan because it will destroy the environment. Yu said that if the quarrying operation is stopped, where will the people who make improvements to their houses buy sand and gravel? Yu added, people can buy sand and gravel in the neighboring towns of Bayog, Dumingag, Mahayag and Tigbao but it is too far away and the price is too expensive. The governor also said that most of the quarry permittees went to his office but he could not issue a permit because the mayor would not issue them a business p...

By Gideon C. Corgue PAGADIAN CITY, October 21 – The direct flight from Pagadian to Caticlan will be launched by Leading Edge Air Service Corporation (LEASCOR) at the Pagadian airport in the month of December, this year. Thus disclosed Mayor Samuel Co during the press conference held recently. Co said that LEASCOR through its new plane ATR-72500 conducted a 100-hrs test flight from Pagadian City to Caticlan in the province of Aklan on October 19. Co added that the commercial plane with 74 seating capacity will be used for the proposed direct flight to Pagadian-Caticlan (vice versa). The good mayor added that he promised the public last year to have a direct flight from Pagadian to Boracay island, one of the best beaches in the world. "The flight from Pagadian to Caticlan for me is a 'dropped by the heavens' or an answer to my request because LEASCOR called and informed me that they will conduct a test flight since their new plane has arrived. I am very happy tha...

By Gideon C. Corgue GENERAL SANTOS CITY, October 12 – The newly appointed chief of the National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP) said that her administration is implementing a consultative, transparent, and participative type of leadership. In an exclusive interview with Chairperson Jennefir Sebug-las during her recent visit to the city of General Santos, she disclosed that under her current administration she strictly implements the "consultative, transparent and participative" type of her leadership --- where no one is left behind and everyone has a voice in our government. Sebug-las, the former ethnological commissioner for Central Mindanao replaced Allen Capuyen who stepped down from his position as chairperson on September 5, this year. Sebug-las spent enough time to talk to some tribal leaders from regions 12 and 9 who brought up issues and concerns from their respective Indigenous People cultural communities. Oliver 'Jokjok" Tumbao, the Indigen...

By Jhun C. Corgue TIGBAO, Zamboanga del Sur, October 1 – About thirty (30) journalists in Zamboanga Peninsula participated in the media tour organized by the Department of the Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-IX) in Mt. Timolan Protective Landscape (MTPL) in the municiplaity of Tigbao on Sept. 27 and 28. The journalists who attended the media tour were from Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP)-Zamboanga del Sur chapter, PIA, radio and print media from Zamboanga City. Regional Executive Director Arturo Fadriquela said that the media tour, an initiative of DENR-9 that aims to introduce to journalists the rich biodiversity resources that are still developing in this part of the region and preservation and conservation of Mt. Timolan Protective Landscape that attracts many local and foreign tourists. Fadriquela added that the DENR as the only government agency tasked with the protection, management, conservation and sustainable use of the environment and natural re...