ZAMBOANGA CITY, July 27 (PNA) – Mayor Ma. Isabelle Climaco-Salazar on Monday expressed her heartfelt gratitude to President Benigno Simeon Aquino III for his concern to this city.
Salazar said she is very thankful that President Aquino personally supervised the government offensive against the members of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) during the 21-day September 2013 siege.
President Aquino stayed at Camp Basilio Navarro for at least two weeks as the government forces pursued the MNLF intruders.
Camp Basilio Navarro, which is located in Barangay Upper Calarian, this city, houses the Western Mindanao Command’s headquarters.
The President was here during the siege together with four of his Cabinet members namely, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas, Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman, and Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson.
Salazar noted that President Aquino had even designated Singson to head the implementation of the Zamboanga City Roadmap to Reconstruction and Recovery (Z3R) program.
The Z3R is aimed at rehabilitating the areas affected during the 21-day September 2013 siege.
President Aquino has allocated PhP3.5 billion for the Z3R, which is steadily moving forward. (PNA)