Mayor John Dalipe in a press briefing Thursday morning declared that he is determined and unwavering in his commitment to safeguard the interests of Zamboanga City and its people, as he formally announced the imposition of a new moratorium on the regional transfer from this city to Pagadian.
“Now with MC 18, we are taking a stand to protect our City’s interests. We are suspending the transfer of regional offices from Zamboanga City to Pagadian City until a comprehensive study of the political, economic, and social implications is completed,” Mayor Dalipe said in an early press briefing in City Hall Thursday.
Malacanang has issued Memorandum Circular 18 imposing a moratorium on the transfer of national government regional offices pursuant to MC 78, series of 2020.
Dalipe said he went to Manila to personally discuss with Executive Secretary Lucas P. Bersamin to LOBBY for a moratorium on the transfer of national government regional offices to Pagadian City. “The Office of the President graciously granted my request.”
Recall that Executive Order No. 429, series of 1990 reorganized Region IX and designated Pagadian City as the regional center and Zamboanga City as the commercial and industrial center of Western Mindanao. Subsequent memoranda directed the transfer of regional offices, but also imposed moratoriums on these transfers, according to Dalipe.
MC 78 which was issued in 2020 repealed previous moratoriums and allowed the transfer of regional offices.
“We cannot ignore the ongoing devolution of national government services and the high economic and social costs of these transfers. It is our responsibility to re-evaluate this policy and assess its impact on our City and our people.,” the mayor added.
(Source: City Government of Zamboanga Facebook page, photo courtesy by Kathy Wee Sit)