Lawmaker initiates second leg of security plan

HOUSE Deputy Speaker for Mindanao Ma. Isabelle Climaco-Salazar has put in place the second leg of the Human Security and Disaster Preparedness Caravan, a security plan that will link all the 37 villages in Zamboanga City’s west coast to respond to emergencies.

Climaco-Salazar is the first district congresswoman of Zamboanga City, which covers the 37 villages in the west coast.

The program is a follow-through of the Barangay Emergency Network Group or Beng, Salazar’s nickname.

Climaco-Salazar started the program over a year ago with the distribution of L-300 vehicles to each of the barangays under her jurisdiction and the conduct of numerous trainings on security and disaster response.

“We empower the barangays by providing them with equipment vital to their patrolling in their areas of jurisdiction. These are measures that we deem very important in resolving crimes in the district and in the city,” she said

The lawmaker believes that while her efforts are only complementary to that of the City Government, she has already coordinated the security concerns with concerned agencies so that those in the government forces will be given enough support to carry out their duties for the security of the people of Zamboanga City.

Climaco-Salazar is set to distribute communication equipment and will institutionalize a security plan that shall serve as framework for those in the first district.

“I am very grateful to all our colleagues in the barangays for its proactive concern when emergencies happen in the areas. I recall how our L-300 vehicles responded to transport some patients when a big fire happened near Mayor Vitaliano Agan Avenue last year, they were there to help the victims and were on alert to be able to respond to the needs of the people,” she added. (Bong Garcia)