US envoy calls on Mayor Beng

ZAMBOANGA CITY - City Hall yesterday rolled out a red carpet welcome for newly installed United States Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg, who was visiting Mindanao, Zamboanga City in particular for the first time.

Ambassador Goldberg together with Gloria Steele of the United States Assistance for International Development (USAID) arrived in City Hall shortly before noontime for a brief meeting with Mayor Beng Climaco.

During the meeting, Mayor Climaco briefed the ambassador about Zamboanga’s recovery and rehabilitation efforts anchored on the Zamboanga City Roadmap to Recovery and Reconstruction (Z3R) under the Build Back Better strategy.

Climaco likewise presented to the ambassador a serigraph of City Hall created by Zamboangueño artist Rameer Tawasil.

Meanwhile, the mayor also reiterated to the new envoy some concerns she raised during the time of Ambassador Harry Thomas  which she said would greatly help in the development efforts in the city and that of the neighboring areas in Mindanao.

These included the request for assistance on the rehabilitation/asphalting of the Airport runway which is also being utilized by American planes/jets as landing site; request for assistance in calibrating airport security and CCTV system; possible training of our 98 Barangays for a Comprehensive Security and Disaster Response Plan; request for provision of technical expertise to fully activate our City Command Center  (911 System) for emergency response and possible programs and partnerships with the City Government thru the USAID and other agencies of the US Government to sustain the livelihood of Internally Displaced and other programs.

“Over the years, the support of your government has been an integral part of the development in Mindanao. Our administration puts premium on Security, Health and Education programs and these priorities also form part of your agenda,” the mayor said. (Sheila Covarrubias)