This retort came about on September 8, 2007, when  the Technical Working Group Under Secretary Dan Encinas of OPANGC (Office of the Presidential Assistance for New Government Centers), ASEC Mira Sol, and a Malacanang staff Ed Martinez visited the city of Pagadian. Mayor Samuel S. Co and his team and the four Zamboanga City Councilors together with RD Brenda Nazareth-Manzano representing the Association of Regional Directors in Region 9 and the NEDA RD Rafael Evangelista acting as the secretariat met to share views and talk about the proposed transferof the regional offices.

Zamboanga City Not Opposed to Transfer 

Zamboanga City officials led by City Councilors Elago, Noño, Lim and Eding stated that they are not opposed to the transfer, however they are only presenting the sentiments of the regional offices employees, who for the last 16 years questioned their plight when they will transfer to the new regional center. The main point of their objection is whether we can accommodate the influx of this employees into the city. At 7000 employees and multiplied by a conservative 5 to include their families, it will come to a total of 35000 persons.  

{sidebar id=8}Questions on health and sanitation, education, settlement, offices, and even water, electricity, transportation and most of all their security and safety were raised by the Zamboanga team. TWG-Pagadian Team answered back with new infrastructure projects of the Co administration, to include a 30 hectare regional center site with nearby subdivision now being established by the private sector, and other infrastructure projects that is worth millions just to accommodate the transfer.

But, TWG-Zamboanga Team fired back that, they will never retract from the issues of concern among the affected employees. “We are supporting Mayor Co, however, we can never neglect the request of these employees, Councilor Elago said.

ZamPen Growth Corridor the Answer 

“Upholding of oneness into making this plan is more than the regional transfer issue, however, Pagadian will still be the regional center while Zamboanga City will become the Commercial Center of the Corridor.” Encina cited.

“There should be strengthening of these programs, if there are already 16 regional offices that transferred for compliance these should be properly dealt with,” USEC Encinas said.

Zamboanga City Councilor Rudy Lim said that, with the issue, Malacanang realizes that Zampen Region is here, alive and to be dealt with. “This makes me happy that they (in Malacanang) are opening their eyes, and with the planned Zampen Growth Corridor, our region will surely be the next super region.

Last update : 22-09-2007 13:33

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