For and on behalf of the city government of Zamboanga, Mayor John Dalipe has signed two memoranda of understanding with the Philippine Red Cross represented by Secretary General Gwendolyn T. Pang.
Signed were the MOU increasing the city government’s subsidy assistance to PRC-Zamboanga from P2.5 million to P4 million, and another MOU creating the RC 143 volunteer groups.
Mayor Dalipe and SG Pang led the ceremonial MOU signing Friday, March 17, at City Hall Conference Room with representatives from PRC-Zamboanga Dr. Victor Liozo as chairman of the Board, Councilor Rogelio Valesco Jr. as BOD-Committee chair on Volunteer Service and Chapter Administrator Joseline C. Fernandez.
Also signing the MOUs on the part of LGU-Zamboanga City were City Legal Officer Atty. Haydee Gretchen Panganiban, who is also the BOD Legal Counsel, CDRRM Officer Dr. Elmeir Apolinario and Montano Cortez, chief of Barangay Affairs.
In his message, Dalipe stressed that the city’s continued partnership with the Red Cross underscored the values of volunteerism and selfless, which the PRC is known for, even as he called on the Zamboangueños to take an important and proactive role in disaster risk reduction management as well as in matters of governance.
“This is a manifestation of our administration’s thrusts of transparency, participation, and good governance,” Dalipe said, adding that the time for resiliency and disaster preparedness is now.
The local chief executive believed that Zamboanga City is more appreciative of DRRM, given its past experiences with disasters and seeing as to how DRRM systems, processes, and strategies have helped save lives.
For her part, SG Pang said both agreements signify the strong partnership and collaboration between the LGU-Zamboanga under Mayor Dalipe’s leadership and the PRC-Zamboanga.
She said Zamboanga is one of only three cities in the country chosen for the “Promotion of Green and Circular Economy through Civil Social Society Engagement and Good Governance in Highly Urbanized Coastal Cities in the Philippines” program with P48 million funding. The two other cities included in the program are Manila and Malabon.
The barangays of Ayala, Tulungatung, Cawit, Maasin, San Roque, Baliwasan and Sta. Catalina have been identified for the solid waste management program of the agency.
Also present during the ceremonial signing were Vice Mayor Josephine Pareja, Spanish Red Cross delegate Maider Zabala, selected barangay chairpersons, PRC Board of Directors, staff and volunteers, City Human Resource Management Officer Roderco Jose Lucero. (Vic Larato, photo courtesy by Kathy Wee Sit)
(Source: City Government of Zamboanga Facebook page)