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| 02 FEBRUARY 2008 | . | |
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| 02 FEBRUARY 2008 | . | |
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PGMA orders surge in infras spending as a hedge against U.S. recession |
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PGMA visits Alabang temporary shelter for abused female minors |
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| PGMA orders surge in infras spending as a hedge against U.S. recession |
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President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo dropped today the time capsule for two
infrastructure projects – the first for a C-5 fly-over and the second for a
16-classroom school building – as she ordered a “surge in infrastructure
spending as a firewall against the United States recession.” “Dahil meron tayong slowdown sa America, I am ordering a surge in infrastructure construction,” the President said just before dropping the golden time capsule that signaled the start of the construction of the C-5 Extension Project in Sucat, Paranaque City. President Arroyo added in her short message this morning that “itong fly-over na ito ay magsisumula sana sa Abril, pero kailangang i-‘front load’ natin. Ayaw nating matamaan ang ating ekonomiya ng mga problema ng mga ekonomiya sa ibang bansa.” “Kailangang meron tayong sariling mga activities. Sisimulan na natin ito ngayon, at ito ay bahagi din sa halos tatlong libong kilometro ng mga daan at kalsada na itatayo natin sa taong ito,” the President further revealed. The President’s order for a surge in construction as a hedge against the US recession was also relayed to media by Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesperson Ignacio R. Bunye who said that the President hopes the infra surge will also serve as a “springboard for further growth.” The C-5 Extension Project’s 190-meter flyover portion shall link Pulang Lupa-Las Pinas Road with the soon-to-be-completed Sucat to Multinational Avenue section of Circumferential Road 5 (C-5). The P200-million fly-over, whose construction proper will start by April, will ensure uninterrupted traffic flow both along Sucat Road and C-5, to minimize if not eliminate traffic congestion along Sucat Road and nearby road networks, including the Coastal Road, Roxas Blvd., President Quirino Avenue, the South Luzon Expressway (SLEx), and the vicinity of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). It also aims to serve as an alternate route from the southern part of Metro Manila to Cavite, and vice versa. “Kung maaliwalas ang daan, darating ang puhunan, lalabanan ang kahirapan,” stressed the President in her short message just before dropping the golden time capsule for the road project that is scheduled to be completed by December. The President said the skyway project is just a portion of the 3,000 kilometers of roads to be constructed this year. The President’s second time-capsule laying activity for the day was in Sta. Lucia, Pasig City where a P25-million four-storey school building will be constructed for 3,582 students of the Sta. Lucia High School. Earlier last Thursday, the President announced in her keynote speech at the opening of the First Biennial Education Congress that her administration is going on a “construction season” for 10,000 classrooms this year – starting today, Saturday (Feb. 2). President Arroyo was joined in the Sucat, Paranaque event by Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane and other DPWH officials, Mayor Florencio Bernabe, and El Shaddai’s Brother Mike Velarde whose headquarters is in Paranaque. Meanwhile, the President was joined in the Pasig City groundbreaking activity by Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo, Pasig City Rep. Roman Romulo, Education Secretary Jesli Lapus, Pasig City Mayor Robert Eusebio, and his father, former Pasig City Mayor Vicente Eusebio. |
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| PGMA visits Alabang temporary shelter for abused female minors |
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President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ordered today the
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to locate possible
markets for the products made by close to 200 female minors who are housed
at the DSWD’s Marillac Hills, a pioneering halfway home for abused girls
from all over the country. “Think of something (products) more in demand,” advised the President who motored to the temporary shelter in Alabang, Muntinlupa City after dropping the time capsule that signaled the start of construction for a C-5 fly-over in Sucat, Paranaque City. The temporary home in Alabang houses 166 female minors in especially difficult situations -- young offenders or those in conflict with the law, sexually-abused/exploited girls and unwed mothers, among others. President Arroyo treated the young residents to two-piece chicken lunch packs complete with three-flavor ice cream from three “sorbeteros.” Before the covered court lunch where the “residents” themselves treated the Chief Executive to dances and songs, President Arroyo toured the facilities of the said DSWD complex where she witnessed some of the girls busy sewing -- one of the DSWD’s three “productivity” projects that include cosmetology and baking. The President was also shown the stuffed toys and the pastries that the girls baked, including ‘food for the gods’ containing dates which, according to Social Welfare Secretary Esperanza Cabral, were donated by the Saudi Arabian government. President Arroyo inquired with Marillac head social worker Siony Flores about how birthdays are celebrated, and where the girls go after they leave the home, what schools they go to, what scholarships they avail of, what jobs they enter, and if they still get in touch after they leave the home. Most of the girl residents were in their high school uniforms as the DSWD complex houses the Jose Fabella Memorial High School. Six of the girls had just given birth to their babies as a result of their past abuse. The Marillac “residents” are taken care of by 82 DSWD personnel at a ratio of about two girls per worker. The President was also joined in her lunch treat by Muntinlupa Rep. Ruffy Biazon, Muntinlupa Mayor Aldrin San Pedro, and Puerto Princesa Mayor Edward Hagedorn who was also visiting Marillac when the President’s party arrived. |
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