Urban poor sector praises mayor

MEMBERS OF the Cabatangan Urban Poor Federation thanked Zamboanga Mayor Beng Climaco for continuously assisting them and for other pro-poor programs and projects her administration has implemented. 

Climaco, who graced the recent general assembly of the Cabatangan Urban Poor Federation held, also thanked the members for their strong support of her administration as she outlines her priority programs for the welfare of the urban poor sector. 

Mayor Beng Climaco with members of the Cabatangan Urban Poor Federation. (Bong Serondo)

The mayor, who is running for congresswoman in District 1, vowed to continue and prioritize the urban poor sector should she win in the May polls. “I have a lot of things to continue after my term should I win the congressional race. The poor have a special place in my heart and they will always be,” she told the Zamboanga Post when asked about her meeting with the federation members. 

Climaco lamented that her Largo Vida program was discontinued by councilors allied with former lawmaker Celso Lobregat, whom she defeated in the 2019 election; and Rep. Mannix Dalipe. She said the Lobregat-Dalipe councilors not only “killed” the Largo Vida program, but they also trashed other important pro-poor projects when they slashed the local government budget because of their own vested interest.

The mayor was referring to opposition councilors Monsi dela Cruz, who is now deceased; John Dalipe, BG Guingona, Mike Alavar, Litlit Macrohon, Khymer Olaso, Lilibeth Nuño, Cary John Pioc, VP Elago, and Jerry Perez – who removed the Vida program’s vital funding in the P4.38 billion 2021 Executive Budget. 

The Largo Vida program was Climaco’s initiative that started in 2018 and which she had intended to expand to over 60,000 beneficiaries had it not trashed by the councilors.

The mayor said the Vida program was really aimed at creating a more lasting and meaningful impact on the lives of all its beneficiaries, including the urban poor sector, because it contained various projects such as Salva Vida and Cuida Vida, which could have benefited senior citizens, low income families, disadvantaged communities, marginalized sectors, most affected families of the Covid-19 pandemic and other vulnerable members of society.

Climaco said the actions of the Lobregat and Dalipe allies in the City Council not only affected some 17,000 senior citizens, but also the 400 “lifeliners,” including women and those who are out-of-school and mostly breadwinners of their families, who were tapped to tirelessly deliver health assistance door-to-door to every elderly beneficiaries of the Largo Vida. It is only during the time of Climaco that such programs and social services benefitted thousands of senior citizens and the vulnerable sector. (Zamboanga Post)