Japanese envoy: Zamboanga is beautiful, safe city

A JAPANESE Envoy was surprised to see Zamboanga as a beautiful and safe city contrary to information he received about the peace and order situation of this place.

Makoto Iyori, Minister for Economic Affairs at the Embassy of Japan, and a delegation from the Japanese Embassy visited Zamboanga City for the first time on Thursday, April 25, but found this city to be a “very beautiful city”.

“Seeing is believing and I am here in Zamboanga and I feel very safe. Zamboanga is a very cozy city and some of us would want to go to Sta. Cruz Island to enjoy the beach,” Iyori said.

Iyori and party paid courtesy to Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar in City Hall upon arrival here on Thursday.

He said prior to his coming to the city to inaugurate two projects here, he was warned about safety and security in Zamboanga.

The official said the reports were proven wrong when he landed in the city.

“Zamboanga is a very beautiful city and I want to come back again soon,” he said.

Iyori and his delegation unveiled two of the numerous projects implemented in this city as part of the Japanese government’s assistance to help in the development of Zamboanga and entire Mindanao.

The projects included the four-classroom building at the Tictapul Elementary School and a mobile clinic for the Zamboanga City Medical Center (ZCMC). (Bong Garcia/SunStar Philippines)