Tuesday, May 13, 2008 City searches for 'Pasalubong Center' sites
THE Local Government of Zamboanga under City Mayor Celso Lobregat is currently scouting for locations where it can establish the "Producto de Zamboanga Pasalubong Centers," said Councilor Rogelio Valesco Jr. in an interview earlier.
Except for the area in front of Fort Pilar, no other locations for the "Pasabulong" Center have been identified, Valesco said. He said the locations that will be considered will not only be accessible for foreign and local tourists, but for the residents of the city as well.
"This is already in the drawing board of the Mayor (Lobregat), and I am very happy the ordinance, which I proposed for the establishment of the Pasalubong Center, was approved by the City Council and (with the concurrence of) the Mayor," he said.
The ordinance, establishing the "Producto de Zamboanga Pasalubong Center" was enacted and approved on February 7, 2008, but no exact date for its opening has been set yet.
The Producto de Zamboanga Pasalubong Center is being put up so that local produced or manufactured processed food, merchandise, accessories, souvenir clothing and other products made in Zamboanga will be displayed and sold.
Aside from this, Valesco also wants to strengthen the arts movement in Zamboanga. He says he has been following it up with the National Commission on Culture and Arts (NCCA) as he invites them to conduct an arts convention, where national and local artists can join on an on-the-spot painting session and have an art exhibits in the city.
Valesco is the chair of the City Council's Committee on Torusim. (Paul Alfonse J. Marquez/CO)
