A report from the Department of Health regional office disclosed that there were 337 dengue cases admitted in hospitals of Zamboanga Peninsula from January 1-July 9, this year.

Areas with the highest number of cases was Zamboanga City — 284, followed by Zamboanga Sibugay with 19 cases, Zamboanga del Norte, 19, Zamboanga del Sur, 10 and Basilan 5.

Dr. Eldigario D. Gonzales has it all.

Apart from his extension of another term as president of the Western Mindanao State University (WMSU), he got the most prestigious PASUC (Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges) presidency. Hence, for two years (FY 2003-2005), he will lead all SUCs in the country on “systemic reform and strengthening in order to enhance its capacity to respond to national demands and international challenges”, stated Dr. Gonzales in his vision paper entitled “Reinventing SUCs for Globalization: The PASUC response to Philippine Agenda 21” presented during the General Assembly at the Heritage Hotel in Manila last June 24-26, this year. And how? By efficiency and effectiveness, quality and excellence, relevance and responsiveness and access and equity.

If GMA wants to be remembered as a good president, she should stick to her word not to run. I agree with the survey of the business sector in Manila that Gloria Macapagal Arroyo must no longer run as president because she will not win. For her own good, the president should heed the advice of the country’s business leaders and thank them for reminding her not to break her promise to the nation not to run in 2004. If she does break her word and decide to seek election next year, the Filipino people and the world community will no longer take her seriously as a leader worthy of respect and emulation. She will remain in history as having no word of honor.

Generally, politicians are perceived as liars because they make decisions always in their interest and not the people. Things that they say today may not be the same again tomorrow or the next day. We the electorate is sick and tired of officials who are liars. Liars have no right to become leaders. Nobody wants to have as the next president a liar who cannot even respect what he/she has already said to us Filipinos and the world. What good to have someone as candidate for president if we the people cannot take her word for it?

The more stray dogs you catch the more chances you have of winning cash prizes.

Such a new scheme is now being implemented by the city government to draw more cooperation from the people in the barangays in its fight against rabies.

Former mayor Vitaliano Agan disclosed yesterday that he did not receive any relief order from the chairman of the Lakas-NUCD central office removing him as party chairman in Zamboanga City.

“I am still the official Lakas chairman for Zamboanga City. Besides, I fully enjoy the trust and confidence of my partymates,” Agan said in an interview last Monday.

Malaysian authorities are poised to deport some 400 more Filipino illegal migrants within this week, Mayor Maria Clara Lobregat disclosed last Monday.

The 400 Filipinos will be the fifth batch of deportees that will arrive here in Zamboanga City in five weeks time as Malaysian authorities continue to instensify the crackdown against illegal migrants, mostly Filipinos working in their country particularly in the oil-rich state of Sabah.

The Department of Interior and Local Government launches today at 8 a.m. the movement for Righteous Leadership at the Garden Orchid Hotel

Police regional information officer Sr. Supt. Isah Abdullah disclosed that today’s launching involves the distribution of the Holy Bible and Holy Koran to the different Philippine National Police officers, local executives and barangay officials.