Zambo wins award anew

DESPITE THE black propaganda and personal insults against Mayor Beng Climaco by her foes and Internet trolls, her administration continues to reap awards from the national government as if there is no stopping in all the good deeds the local government is providing to its constituents.

Zamboanga City Government wins the DILG's "Most Functional Covid Task Force in Region 9." (CDRRMO)

The Climaco administration was again awarded by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) for being the “Most Functional Covid Task Force” in the whole Zamboanga Peninsula region.

This was confirmed by DILG Director Ginagene Uy, who handed over some P50,000 in check to the Emergency Operations Center of the Zamboanga City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.

The Regional Assessment Team led by the DILG gave Zamboanga City a rating of 86.5%.

The government incentive was in recognition of the efforts and Covid-19 response of the local government. The awarding was held in Pagadian City during the “Gawad Tanglaw sa Pandemya: Award for the Most Functional Covid-19 Task Force in Region 9 for Province and Highly Urbanized City Category.”

The award was received by Clint Senosa, Abdel Canti and Cheermie Bejerano on behalf of the Zamboanga City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.

Other government agencies, including the Department of Health, the Office of the Civil Defense, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine National Police and even the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, among others, and international organizations have commended the Climaco administration.

Climaco continues to be popular among residents here and proof of this is the spike in the number of her followers on social media. Her Facebook page is now being followed by nearly 359,000 fans from only 133,000 in 2018 – a year before she was re-elected and won by a landslide against former mayor and lawmaker Celso Lobregat. 

Her followers increased by more than 47,000 compared to last year’s 312,000 which was more than 200% from 2018. 

Climaco is now on her third and final term and she is leaving behind a legacy of good governance responsive to the needs and welfare of the Zamboangueños, more especially at this time of the Covid-19 pandemic.

And despite all this, trolls and political foes continue their black propaganda against Climaco, taking advantage of the situation ahead of next year’s polls in an effort to influence and boost those they are supporting. But residents are firm in their support to the mayor and even lambasted those who were trolling Climaco on social media.

Climaco repeatedly condemned fake news and disinformation being peddled by her detractors and called on the public to carefully scrutinize news or stories created to deliberately misinform or deceive readers to influence views or for political motives.

“El black propaganda ta continua y el fake news, false information na social media ta continua hace calayat el cuantos maga persona que tiene mal intencion para destrosa el govierno local, para destrosa el esfuerzos del govierno por de ila vested interest,” Climaco told the Zamboanga Post.

“Y el los demas personas, como venganza contra con el govierno cay no puede estos maga gente influir con el gobierno local. Por tantos años, el ataque contra na administracion sin descanso por causa de politica,” she added. 

Climaco said the local government continues to work hard for the welfare of the people while her foes are busy spreading black propaganda. In one of her weekly columns, “Sunday Reflection”, Climaco said she leaves everything to God.

“Where would I hewn my strength if not from God alone who placed me here? Despite the toxicity of politics, bien mabuling gayod, I am here to respond to the calling of God to change systems to be able to deliver quality service to the people. Just as in Jesus’ ministry, there were noisy, angry, and divisive voices that became obstacles in His mission. I too, navigate into these destructive obstacles that try to lure me away from my mission and my focus on my work,” she wrote.

“Politics is the main challenge that continues to distract our efforts to address the real problems of Covid-19. Malicious claims, spreading of baseless accusations and giving people false hope in doing what is popular…and all these for personal and political agenda? Very divisive and distractive as it is an obstacle to unity in these times of crisis. This is the cross a leader must carry, to deny oneself for the people. Not to let the distractive voices be an obstacle in following Jesus and our mission to serve. No matter how heavy our crosses may be, do not let obstacles block God’s love to grant you hope and a future!” she added.

In the end, Climaco quoted Jeremiah 29:11 and wrote: “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

She also thanked the Zamboangueños for their unwavering support and love for her. (Zamboanga Post)

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