Zambo Mayor Climaco is cover photo of League Magazine

THE LEAGUE Magazine has featured Zamboanga City Mayor Beng Climaco on the front page of its latest issue and cited her many achievements throughout her nine years as local chief executive.

The cover photo of League Magazine is Zamboanga Mayor Beng Climaco, the first local politician ever featured in the League, a magazine  publication dedicated to local governance. It chronicles the bold efforts undertaken by local government units in the country.

Climaco was the first Zamboangueña politician featured in the cover of League Magazine, the first publication dedicated to local governance. It chronicles the bold efforts undertaken by local governments in the country. The magazine’s past cover stories included Manila Mayor Isko Moreno and Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto. 

“Her efforts to highlight the inclusion of human security as a pillar of national resilience, has really made a big difference,” said League Magazine editor Godfrey Dancel.  

Dancel said their April-May edition features Climaco’s story and her accomplishments the past three terms and how she transformed Zamboanga City to what it is now – “an economic giant with improved peace and order situation and a government that is inclusive for all.” 

Mayor Beng Climaco in the Esquire Magazine photo by Nasser Fernando Hadjula and story by prolific writer Amir Mawallil, now a member of Bangsamoro Parliament.

In August 2019 following her landslide and historical victory over veteran politician Celso Lobregat, Esquire Magazine also featured the multi-awarded Climaco and how she “beat the odds with resilience and diversity and pushed for inclusivity in government. 

“We used to be party mates and I strongly supported (Celso in the past) but such is politics. Everything will work according to God’s plan,” Climaco told Esquire. 

Climaco had served as vice mayor during Lobregat’s term as mayor, and in 2013, Lobregat asked Climaco to run for mayor, since he was running for Congress.  But in 2016, Lobregat wanted to return as city mayor, however, Climaco decided - with the Zamboangueño people behind her - to run a second term and the third. 

The 2019 general elections brought the two political clans into direct opposition against each other: Lobregat’s grandfather, Pablo, was former Mayor of Zamboanga and a representative to the first Philippine Assembly. His mother, Maria Clara, was Zamboanga's first female mayor who was also congresswoman of Zamboanga. Throughout Maria Clara’s long political career, she had lost only once, in 1984, when she ran for the Batasang Pambansa and was defeated by Climaco’s uncle, Cesar, one of the most visible, and loudly heard, opponents of the Marcos dictatorship.  

Climaco said Zamboanga now has a thriving economy: Shopping malls sprawl across the city. Upscale restaurants have opened up shop. New capital coming outside investors is flowing into the city. Some say this is unprecedented, considering that, in the past, business expansion in Zamboanga was controlled significantly by Chinese businessmen residing in the area. 

“There are more business opportunities in the city of Zamboanga now, and we have improved the business climate,” she said. Notorious for its peace and order problems in the past, Climaco said the city has recorded zero bombings and zero kidnappings since 2016. 

This city is home to people of several faiths and ethnicities: The Bisaya live cheek-to-jowl with the Chavacanos, and members of the Tausug, Yakan, Sama and indigenous peoples, including the Subanen. All of these peoples’ rich cultures and traditions are woven into the substance and fabric of Zamboanga City. It is a center of trade and is the commercial hub of the three island provinces of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi. 

In this regard, Climaco said inclusivity is the key to governing her constituents who are culturally and ethnically diverse people. Good, open communication is key. (Zamboanga Post, League Magazine, Esquire Magazine)