ZDS ONLINE NEWS

1CAV’s community outreach program benefited school children in Tukuran town By Gideon C. Corgue PAGADIAN CITY, April 1--- About 200 school children in Manlayag Elementary School (MES), barangay Manlayag in Tukuran town have benefited from the community outreach program conducted by the 1st Cavalry Battalion, Armor Division, Philippine Army recently. Teresa Mercado, the school principal of MES is very happy to receive the services offered by 1CAV with its stakeholders in their school. "I am very happy that our school became a beneficiary of the community outreach program of 1CAV dubbed 'Serbisyong Hatid ng Tagapanguna'. It was my first time to witness the services provided by the unit since I assumed the position of principal last August 2023," Mercado said. The free services provided are as follows: distribution of school supplies and slippers, feeding program, and free haircuts. Meanwhile, LtCol. Romeo Gabor, the battalion commander of 1CAV was ecstatic wit...

By Gideon C. Corgue PAGADIAN CITY, March 30--- More than a thousand residents and peace advocates from the town of Dumingag and neighboring towns in the province recently,  took to the streets to denounce the atrocities of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New Peoples Army (CPP-NPA). The indignation rally was initiated by the 1st Civil Military Operations Office (Mahigalaon) Battalion, Philippine Army, National Freedom for Peace Movement (NAFPEM) and local government unit (LGU) of Dumingag. Holding their placards, tarpaulins, and streamers, the protesters called for an end to the "terrorist" activities, extortion, harassment and deception of civilians, and protection of children against the CPP-NPA. The protesters were joined by Dumingag Mayor Gerry Paglinawan who marched around barangay Poblacion to raise awareness among the people of the atrocities committed by the CPP-NPA. After the peace rally parade, the burning of the red flags of the CPP-NPA-NDF was imme...

  By Gideon C. Corgue PAGADIAN CITY, March 29--- The Pagadian City government through the City Social Welfare and Development (CSWD) recently distributed 18 assistive devices to women-persons with disability (PWDs) to help them become productive, self-reliant and socially active members of society. In the Women's Month Celebration, the city government also celebrated the Women with Disabilities' Day where mayor Samuel Co led the distribution of two wheelchairs, four quad canes, six crutches, and six hearing aids to the beneficiaries. The local chief executive also led the assembly of the wheelchairs that were distributed and this shows that women with disabilities are close to Co's heart because he always gives free assistive devices to them every year. Co said that the PWDS must also be given the same opportunity as with a normal individual. "They have the same rights and it is our duty as a government agency to uphold them so that they may enjoy and benefit f...

By Gideon C. Corgue PAGADIAN CITY, March 29--- The local chief executive of the province recognized the essential role of women in society. Governor Victor Yu in his message at the Provincial Women's Convention at the Mega gym recently, he said that the leaders of the province are fully aware of how important the role of women is in our society. "If (we) men are called the pillars of the home, women are also called the light of the home," Yu said. Yu said that women always take care of children at home. "When we also visit schools, most of the time we see female teachers who take care of school children," Yu announced. The good governor announced that 1st district representative Divina Grace Yu has good programs for women. Congresswoman Yu promised to provide a Womens' Center and she also bought a mammogram at the Zamboanga del Sur Medical Center (ZDSMC) so that women can avail of free breast check up and to know if there is any new lump, swellin...

By Gideon C. Corgue PAGADIAN CITY, March 20---The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-9) represented by Regional Executive Director Arturo Fadriquela and Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP), Zamboanga del Sur Chapter represented by Melchor Coronel signed the memorandum of agreement (MOA) that aims to promote environmental protection and conservation in Zamboanga del Sur. The MOA signing ceremony was held inside the conference room of DENR-9 on Monday, March 18 and was witnessed by the division chiefs of the department and the KBP officers. In the MOA, both parties agreed to enrich the 1-hectare existing plantation or forest cover located within barangay Baclay in the town of Tukuran. Fadriquela said he was very happy that the MOA signing of the KBP local chapter was conducted and he also observed that the media practitioners are ready and willing to help the DENR in pursuing their vision of a greener and healthier environment. Fadriquela said that...

By Gideon C. Corgue PAGADIAN CITY, March 19--- A city councilor from Team Co chaired by Mayor Samuel Co defected to Team Alianza Zamboanga (ALZA) led by Governor Victor Yu. This was developed after City Councilor Marjorie Revelo-Cerro took her oath as a new member of Team ALZA on Monday morning, March 18 to Yu at the ALZA headquarters in Pagadian City. Yu said that Cerro's plan to join the team first went through a meticulous study and process where they received several messages from the concerned, then she was the one who linked to our colleagues in politics and they discussed the plan carefully. "At the very beginning, I didn't believe in her plan to move to our team because maybe it was just a story from some people. But in several meetings that I attended, my colleagues confirmed that the news is 100% true," Yu said. Cerro said that she moved to Team ALZA because she saw that the team has more programs and services that should be done for the people of ...

  By Gideon C. Corgue PAGADIAN CITY, March 17--- The Pagadian City Airport will be temporarily closed from April 15 to May 15, 2024. This was announced by Mayor Samuel Co during a press conference held at the City Mayor's Office recently. Co said that he received an official communication from the office of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) dated March 8 notifying the city mayor's office of the status of the runway closure at the Pagadian Airport. Co added that the CAAP informed him that the closure of the runway and the start of repair works will start from April 15 to May 15 this year. "The airport management is undertaking runway maintenance as a result of pavement deterioration which affects the integrity of the runway surface. This repair is critical to preserve runway pavement optimal function and ensure safety during flight operations," Co said quoting Engr. Edwin Luching, the CAAP area center airport manager. The good mayor add...

  By Gideon C. Corgue PAGADIAN CITY, March 17--- Margosatubig Regional Hospital (MRH), Zamboanga del Sur Medical Center (ZSMC), Provincial Government and 9th Regional Community Defense Group (9RCDG)signed a memorandum of agreement recently at Pavilion Hall, barangay Dao here. Divina Grace Yu, the representative of the first district of this province was impressed by the partnership conducted by government agencies to facilitate blood letting programs. In her message during the Philippine Army-Wide Blood Donation Drive, Congresswoman Yu, who is also a reservist of the 9RCDG and who has the rank of LtColonel said, the MOA signing ceremony entered   by the government agencies is an initiative made by the government to support their regular blood letting activity. Yu said that the partnership made by government agencies stipulates that 30% of the blood collected from blood donors will be donated to the beneficiaries. She added that one of the important provisions of the ...