THE Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has conferred to the City of Zamboanga the “Gawad Tanglaw sa Pandemya: Award for the Most Functional coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) Task Force in Region 9 (Zamboanga Peninsula).”

The Regional Assessment Team led by the DILG has given this city a rating of 86.5 percent, an ideal score, for functionality in Covid-19 response.

Dr. Elmeir Jade Apolinarii, City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office and Zamboanga City Task Force Covid-19 chief implementer, received the award and ceremonial check of P50,000 from DILG Regional Director Paisal Abutazil, Office of Civil Defense Director Manuel Ochotorena and DILG City Director Ginagene Vano-Uy.

The awarding ceremony was held Tuesday, April 20, in Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur.

Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar thanked all agencies concerned for their efforts in Covid-19 response.

“Amidst the rising cases and the tag on Zamboanga as a high-risk area for Covid-19 in the region, we feel encouraged by this functionality rating as this gives us the zeal to carry on and do what we have to do to keep our people safe and protected from Covid-19,” Salazar said. (SunStar Zamboanga)