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| 17 SEPTEMBER 2007 | ||
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| 17 SEPTEMBER 2007 | ||
| PGMA inaugurates tourism hub in Zambo Sur |
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PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur - President
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo inaugurated today the Agro-Tourism and Heritage
Complex here aimed at making Zamboanga del Sur a tourism hub in southwestern
Mindanao. The event, which coincided with the 55th anniversary celebration of Zamboanga del Sur, was highlighted by the unveiling of the Megayon Monument through the dropping of the blue cloth. Megayon is a Subanen word for unity which is the goal of the provincial leadership headed by Gov. Aurora Cerilles to forge a genuine and harmonious relationship among the people of Zamboanga del Sur. The President was welcomed by Governor Cerilles, Pagadian City Mayor Samuel S. Co, 1st District Congressman Victor J. Yu, 2nd District Congressman Antonio H. Cerilles and Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri. At the airport, the President had a photo opportunity with the officers of the local carrier South East Asian Airlines (SEAIR), which made an inaugural flight to this city. SEAIR now flies Cebu-Pagadian-Cebu every Monday and Thursday. Upon arrival at the provincial government center in Dao, Pagadian City, she cut the ribbon that signaled the formal opening of the Agro-Tourism and Heritage Complex and unveiled the Megayon Monument. At the Agro-Tourism Heritage Complex, the President presented a Certificate of Award worth P20 million to Governor Cerilles and Bayog, Zamboanga del Sur Mayor Mary Ann Cartalla for the rehabilitation of the Bobuan-Datagan-Matina-ao Balukbahan-Sigacad Bayog farm-to-market road under the Mindanao Rural Improvement Project. She turned over the symbolic key of responsibility and Certificate of Award on the P25.291-million communal irrigation system of Balongating and Canunan Guipos, Zamboanga del Sur to Bienvenido Baymesa, Board Chairman of the BALOCAN Irrigators Association. The President then gave the symbolic key of responsibility and Certificate of Award on the P12.505-million farm-to-market road from Balongating-Goling Guipos, Zamboanga del Sur as funded by the Department of Agrarian (DAR) and the Japan Bank International Cooperation (JBIC) to Barangay Captain Erlinda Candia of Barangay Goling, Guipos, Zamboanga del Sur. She also released a check in the amount of P2.227 million, representing the last tranche for the concreting of the Kagawasan-Tabina Road in Dimataling, Zamboanga del Sur to Governor Cerilles. Also, the Chief Executive banged the ceremonial gong that officially declared the opening of the "Biyahe Na Sa Zambo Sur and the Megayon Festival." During the anniversary rites, the Teatro Sinunday presented Subanon Welcome dances (Sot and T'halok). The President then toured and visited the booth of Lapuyan municipality, one of the 26 booths participating in the Megayon Festival. The exhibitor-municipality is part of the One-Town, One-Product (OTOP) project of the Arroyo administration. The "Biyahe Na Sa Zambo Sur" is an annual exposition showcasing the tourism attractions of the constituent local government units of the Zamboanga Peninsula. The Megayon Festival is a meaningful celebration of peace and solidarity which features the age-old traditions and customs of the people of Zamboanga del Sur. |
| PGMA allocates P200-M more for airport expansion in Pagadian to accommodate bigger planes |
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PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur—President
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo announced today that a P200-million allocation has
been included in the 2008 budget for the construction of the runway
extension of the airport in this city. "Gusto nato ang mas maayo nga airport sa Pagadian. So, your request for the construction of the runway extension to accommodate bigger planes has been given fund allocation and another P30 million has been realigned from last year's budget for this runway extension project. “An additional P200 million for the runway extension has been incorporated in the 2008 budget,” she said during the 55th Zamboanga del Sur anniversary celebration held at the provincial government center in Dao, this city. She congratulated Zamboanga del Sur Gov. Aurora Cerilles for the ongoing construction of a medical center in this province and also greeted her on her 58th birthday. The President said she had instructed Public Works and Highways Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane to immediately release P30 million for the construction of the Pagadian-Zamboanga Road, the longest road in the area that forms part of the Bagadian-Buug section. As part of the government's infrastructure project, she told the Zamboanguenos that P55 million is still available for the ongoing construction of farm-to-market roads from Dumalinao to Pagadian City and 20 percent of the P47 million remains available also for the farm-to-market road project for Tukuran while a P5 million rehabilitation fund has been allocated for the farm-to-market roads in Dumingag, Sominot, San Pablo, Midsalip and Pitogo, and P30 million for farm-to-market roads in Bayog, Kumalarang, Margosatubig, Tigbao and Sagun. She noted that next year, 12,000 classrooms will be built in the whole country along with 2,000 kilometers of national roads. She said that the national government will spend P116 billion for infrastructure projects and P8 billion to bring water to 111,000 hectares of farmland, of which P2.4 billion has been set aside for Mindanao. Of the P6-billion allocated to build or repair 5,000 kilometers of farm-to-market roads, another P2 billion will go to Mindanao. "The state of our economy at this 55th anniversary of Zamboanga del Sur brings hope and excitement, our growth is the highest in a generation while revenue is now on track and we will make job creation strong,” the President said. |
| PGMA wants residents to work on gov't projects |
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PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur - President
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo instructed government agencies today to comply with
Republic Act No. 6685 giving priority to residents of areas where government
projects are being undertaken. The President said it is imperative to simultaneously address the issues of generating employment from public works projects and making them transparent. "I hereby instruct the agencies to comply with R.A. 6685,” she said in her speech at the 55th Zamboanga del Sur anniversary celebration at the provincial government complex in Barangay Dao here. R.A. 6685, according to the President, requires contractors to hire workers from among the residents of the province, town or barangay where the project is to be undertaken. She said the twin objectives of generating jobs and instilling transparency in infrastructure projects can be met if beneficiaries themselves are the ones given the jobs. "For the citizens and their government, this is a mutually beneficial partnership,” the President said. She pointed out that the people can get paid and thereby directly partake of the infrastructure spending while the government benefits not only from quality workmanship of stakeholders but also ensure that work meets specifications and timetable. The President noted that the people will then have sweat and equity on government investment even as they earn from the public works construction “which are essentially a reimbursement for the taxes they pay.” She added that it would tap the bayanihan spirit of the people which has been “the animating force behind civic enterprises in the communities.” "Most important, honorable work by ordinary people will make contractors honor their commitments. This is the kind of people power we need, one that marshals grassroots industry to bring integrity to government projects,” she stressed. |
| PGMA assures completion of Zambo Norte road project |
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DIPOLOG CITY, Zamboanga del Norte -- President
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo assured today that the P1.326-billion
Sibuco-Siraway-Siocon-Baliguian (SSSB) Road project in this province would
be finished as scheduled in 2009 to bring development and prevent the access
of terrorists in the area. In a media interaction following the inauguration of the Zamboanga del Norte Medical Center here, the President said the road project would now be undertaken by the Engineering Brigade of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) since the private contractors of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) are shying away due to the presence of lawless elements in the area. "Because this is really a very poor and very remote area, maybe it should not be given to the private contractors because they are afraid of going there. It is a missionary area. If necessary, we will assign the Engineering Brigade to be the one to carry it out," she explained. The President said she would apprise Public Works and Highways Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane of this development. She said the road network area is where American Gracia Burnham was rescued by government troops and where her captor, then Abu Sayyaf chief Abu Sabaya, was killed back in 2002. "That is the area that we want to bring development because the poverty and the isolation make it easy for them to hide these lawless elements," the President pointed out. The road network is part of the 20 priority road projects that the government is improving, rehabilitating or constructing by 2010. Once finished, the road network project is expected to improve the peace and order, socio-economic, and cultural linkages in Zamboanga del Norte by providing access to the centers of agricultural, industrial, fishing, commercial and tourism activities. The province's agricultural products include cacao and cassava, aside from the coconut oil mill in Sirawai town which is being shipped to key cities in the country via Siocon town or this city. The road project which traverses the towns of Sibuco, Sirawai, Siocon and Baliguian in Zamboanga del Norte is part of the President's concept of spurring development in the super regions through the rehabilitation and establishment of road and sea networks. |
| PGMA inspects urgent Dapitan City - Dakak Road widening project |
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DAPITAN CITY, Zamboanga del Norte---On the last
leg of her three-city visit of the Zamboanga Peninsula, President Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo motored here this afternoon to inspect the P42.8-million
Dapitan City-Dakak Road widening project. From Pagadian City where she inaugurated several infrastructure projects and graced the Megayon Festival celebration, the President flew to Dipolog City to inaugurate a hospital, and then proceeded to Dapitan City onwards to Dakak, all in a day. Riding on the presidential car, the President motored through the 1.40-kilometer length of the national highway that is undergoing widening works. The two-phased road project is expected to boost the economic stability and attract more tourists to the area, known for its rich marine resources, agricultural products and beautiful beaches. Once completed, the road is expected to make it easier for the people to transport their products as it could be used an alternate route to nearby municipalities of Rizal and Sibutad, Zamboanga del Norte. The road widening project entails two phases: the Dapitan City-Dakak Road and the Dapitan-Dakak-Rizal Coastal Loop Road. Tonight, the President would have dinner with local officials and the media at the world-class Dakak Park and Beach Resort. |
| Half-priced medicines top PGMA agenda in her state visit to India in October |
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DIPOLOG CITY, Zamboanga del Norte -- President
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said here today that half-priced medicines would
reach more Filipinos, particularly the less privileged ones, when she
pushes through with her state visit to India on Oct. 4-5. The President announced this during the media interaction after she inaugurated the Zamboanga del Norte Medical Center in this capital city this afternoon. "My number one agenda there (visit to India) is precisely to spread the availability of half-priced medicines to our local governments and also to our private sector," the President said. For 2008, the President said the national government is allotting about P370 million to the Department of Health (DOH) for the purchase of half-priced medicines for distribution to local government units and government hospitals nationwide. At the same time, the President said P1 billion has been allocated to the Philippine International Trading Corporation (PITC) for the purchase of half-priced medicines from India next year. She said about 4,000 more Botika ng Barangay and Botika ng Bayan would be established this year throughout the country so more people, especially in the rural areas, can avail themselves of half-priced medicines. By next year, the President said a total of 15,000 Botikas would be available nationwide. President Arroyo also clarified that the purchase and importation of half-priced medicines is not a monopoly of the PITC. "Anybody who wants to buy half-priced medicines from India can do so even without going through PITC," she said. The President invited members of the drug industry to take the opportunity to buy half-priced medicines from India during her state visit there. What is important, the President said, is that half-priced medicines reach out to more Filipinos, particularly the less privileged. "Dapat siguraduhin nating malusog ang ating mga pamilya upang makapaghanap-buhay ang mga magulang, makapag-aral ang mga bata, at makapagpundar ng magandang bukas ang lahat ng mamamayan," the President said. During her state visit to India, the President said she would also work out possible air agreements with India for the domestic carriers such as the Philippine Air Lines (PAL), Cebu Pacific, Air Philippines and Asian Spirit. "Hopefully they can take advantage of the air rights that India is giving us," she said. The President said she would also entice other big ticket investments and take advantage of India's pioneering technology in jathropa, a diesel fuel substitute. She added that jathropa’s massive propagation in the country “is one of our contributions to help avert climate change and stop harmful emissions” from further destroying the ozone layer. "India and China already are the biggest countries (in terms of population) and the fastest growing economies in the world. We really should not be left behind from their radar screen," the President said. |
