Celso to FEBARKAZA: I hope our strength, unity will continue

By: Vic Larato

ZAMBOANGA CITY, June 26 (PIA)- - “I hope and pray our strength, our force and our unity will continue even after my third term.”

This was the message of Mayor Celso Lobregat to all kagawad or councilmen of the city’s 98 barangays during the 15^th General Assembly of the Federaccion de Barangay Kagawad de Zamboanga (FEBARKAZA) last Sunday, June24, at the Garden Orchid Hotel.

Citing the assembly’s theme, “El Fuerza, El Unidad El Bien del Cumunidad,” (the force, the unity for the good of the community) Lobregat recounted the political scenario in Zamboanga City on January 2, 2004 when his mother, then Mayor Maria L. Lobregat, died.

He said decisions had to be made and after series of consultations the political void created by Ma’am Caling’s death was filled up and in just a few hours before the deadline for the filing of candidacy for the May 2004 elections the party (LDP) had remained intact with him, Beng Climaco and Erbie Fabian in the forefront, and won the elections together with the majority of the councilors.

Since 1998, Lobregat said, he together with Erbie and Beng and other city officials aim for one goal and that is the strength. “Ese el fuerza del de aton team. I hope and pray this strength, this force, this unity will continue even after my third term,” Lobregat stressed.

Meanwhile, the chief executive emphasized that the plans and programs of government lie in the hands of the administration, even in the national scene. “When we talk about plans and programs of government, you cannot disassociate them from administration. That is the reality of governance.”

He said the plans and programs of government are of those who are sitting in the administration. “I am talking about reality and the reality is, we are in the administration and we are the one implementing the plans and programs of government.

Present during the FEBARKAZA assembly were House Deputy Speaker and District 1 Rep. Beng Climaco-Salazar, Vice Mayor Cesar Iturralde, Councilors Myra Paz Valderrosa-Abubakar, Mike Alavar, Nonong Guingona, Eddie Saavedra, Rudy Lim and Mel Sadain.  (JPA/VL/CIO/PIA9-ZBST)