The Zamboanga City Hall.
ZAMBOANGA CITY -- The city government will push through with the holding of various activities lined up for the 83rd Charter Day anniversary of this city on February 26 amid the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) scare.
Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar said Friday that she finds no reason to suspend the various activities of the celebration since this city is free from the dreaded disease.
Salazar said she is constantly coordinating with the different concerned agencies, which are updating her on the prevailing situation.
“So far the city is very safe. Despite travel to China by some residents, they are all in good health based on monitoring by DOH (Department of Health) and CHO (City Health Office),” Salazar said.
Dr. Dulce Amor Miravite said although there are indeed Zamboangueños who recently traveled to China, her office has traced their whereabouts and they are under monitoring.
“But even if they visited China, they are asymptomatic. They do not feel sick, they don’t have a cough or fever and they are advised to have home quarantine and to avoid crowded places. As soon as they have signs and symptoms, they have to contact us so we will be able to facilitate treatment,” Miravite said.
Thousands of residents and visitors are set to attend the various activities lined up for the Charter Day anniversary celebration on February 26, dubbed as “Dia de Zamboanga.”
However, Salazar said it will also depend on the prevailing situation and as the need arises.
“We still have so many days to prepare, if the situation calls for suspension then we might (suspend) but for now it is still a go,” she said.
Malacañang has declared February 26 as a special non-working day in this city to enable the residents to fittingly celebrate the Charter Day anniversary.
While this city is not canceling the activities, the provinces of Zamboanga Sibugay and Basilan have canceled the activities lined up for the “Araw ng Sibugay” and Pakarajaan Festival, respectively.
Zamboanga Sibugay Gov. Wilter Yap Palma announced Friday that the Araw ng Sibugay on February 24 will be highlighted by the inauguration of the PHP50 million dialysis center while all other activities have been canceled.
The dialysis center is located in a 482 square meters lot inside the Zamboanga Sibugay Provincial Hospital.
Basilan Gov. Hadjiman Hataman-Salliman said they have also canceled all the activities lined up for the Pakarajaan Festival on March 7 but will commemorate the founding anniversary of the province with a duwa’a (community prayer) and tree planting. (PNA)
