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| 26 MARCH 2008 | . | |
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| 26 MARCH 2008 | . | |
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PGMA cites Elorde and Pacquiao as role models of the youth |
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President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo cited last night the late boxing legend
Gabriel "Flash" Elorde for being instrumental in the meteoric rise in boxing
history of newly-crowned World Boxing Council (WBC) super- featherweight
champion Manny Pacquiao. In her speech keynoting ceremonies leading to Pacquiao's entry into the prestigious Elorde Hall of Fame at the Centennial Hall of the Manila Hotel, the President said Elorde's boxing gym has provided the training ground for Pacquiao and other boxing athletes to hone their skills and be given a chance to rise out of poverty. "Ang kanyang gym, yung Flash Elorde Gym, ay nagbigay ng simula sa napakaraming boksingerong Filipino, kabilang dito si Manny Pacquiao," the President said. "In other words, before there was Manny Pacquiao, there was Flash Elorde," she added. The President pointed out that because of the friendship and camaraderie born out of training under Elorde, the late boxing legend and Pacquiao developed similarities worth emulating by the youth. "Both (Elorde and Pacquiao) have a lot in common: knockout punches, unwielding spirit, both hail from humble beginnings, both remain humble even when fame and fortune had blessed them, both put the Philippines on the sports map, both are worthy role models of our youth," the President stressed. She said that both men also had the same fervent wish to help their fellow boxers become better athletes and bring glory and prestige to the country by participating and winning in world boxing competitions. The President pledged to do her best to see to it that this dream becomes a reality. "Our government is helping develop their talents by providing the poorest families with better opportunities to put food on the table, to attend school and to hone whatever skill they possess, whether it’s boxing, accounting, English speaking," the President said. "Ito ang pangarap ni Flash Elorde para sa ating mga kababayan at parating sinasabi ni Manny Pacquiao sa akin, ito rin ang pangarap niya para sa kapwa Filipino," she added. Elorde was the longest-reigning world junior lightweight champion and the toast of the boxing world from 1960 to 1967. The extraordinary feat, which made Elorde one of the world's greatest boxers of all time, earned for him a niche in the International Boxing Hall of Fame – the first Filipino to be so honored after pre-war legend Pancho Villa. Pacquiao, on the other hand, holds the distinction of being the very first Asian to hold titles in three different weight categories--the world super-featherweight, flyweight, and junior-featherweight. He wrested the WBC crown by split decision from Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez on March 16 in Las Vegas. Pacquiao becomes the first Elorde Hall of Famer after successfully fulfilling the body's stringent requirement of being awarded the Boxer of the Year Award for seven years. |
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| Elorde, Pacquiao serve as inspirations to develop more world-class Filipino boxers – PGMA |
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The outstanding achievements of boxing legends Gabriel "Flash" Elorde and
Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao serve as inspirations for the country to produce
"more and more world-class" Filipino boxers, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
said last night. In her speech keynoting ceremonies leading to the induction of Pacquiao into the prestigious Elorde Hall of Fame at the Manila Hotel’s Centennial Hall, the President said that the numerous awards bestowed on Elorde, Pacquiao and the myriad of other Filipino boxing greats prove that the Filipino has what it takes to become a champion. "That's why yung leadership example ni Manny Pacquiao at saka ni Flash Elorde at yung mga ibang awardees sa araw na ito really inspires us to put in stronger effort to develop more and more world-class boxers,” she said. The President added that she had directed Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chair Butch Ramirez to step up boxing training for Filipino pugilists because "this is one sport where we can compete globally even in the Olympics." "Kaya ang aking utos kay PSC chairman Butch Ramirez ay ma-train ang ating mga boxers sa mga Olympics, talagang no-holds-barred, talagang all the best training they can get, we will give it to them because they are our hope for gold (medals) in the Beijing Olympics," the President said. Elorde was the longest-reigning world junior lightweight champion and the toast of the boxing world from 1960 to 1967. The extraordinary feat, which made Elorde one of the world's greatest boxers of all time, earned for him a niche in the International Boxing Hall of Fame – the first Filipino to be so honored after pre-war legend Pancho Villa. Pacquiao, on the other hand, holds the distinction of being the very first Asian to hold titles in three different weight categories -- the world super-featherweight, flyweight, and junior-featherweight. Pacquiao, who wrested the World Boxing Council (WBC) super-featherweight crown by split decision from Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez on March 16 in Las Vegas, becomes the first Elorde Hall of Famer after successfully fulfilling the body's stringent requirement of being awarded the Boxer of the Year Award for seven years. The other 2007 boxer-of-the-year awardees last night were International Boxing Federation (IBF) flyweight champion Nonito Donaire, World Boxing Organization (WBO) bantamweight titleholder Gerry Peñalosa, IBF minimum weight titlist Florante Condes and WBO minimum weight king Donnie Nietes. |
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President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s Speech
at the 2008 Philippine Development Forum
(PDF) Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga March 26, 2008 |
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It is my pleasure to join you in our constantly productive and insightful
dialogue on Philippine development. 2007 was the best year for the Philippine economy in over 30 years. Economic growth was 7.3 percent; a million new jobs were created; and foreign investments have been strong. We have been cited by London as the “offshore destination of the year” and by the International Data Corporation as the top global outsourcing destination after India. Our billion-dollar investment club includes Texas Instruments with its 1.6- billion dollar wafer fabrication facility under construction; Hanjin with two shipyards. One up and one coming costing $3.7 billion total, which makes us the fourth biggest shipyard in the world; Marubeni, Tokyo Electric and AEA which have invested billions of dollars in our power sector. They join the ranks of Intel and Proctor and Gamble, to name but a few of our major investors. Just this month, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) lauded our economic growth, the substantial reduction in our budget deficit, low inflation and the improvement in consumer confidence. The IMF highlighted in particular our fine central bank for smoothening foreign exchange fluctuations as the peso touched an eight-year high against the dollar in recent months. During this time, the country has built its foreign exchange reserves to a record high. 2008 holds real promise for a different reason. Not only do we expect to sustain our growth, but as a result of our total economic overhaul, we are well-positioned to weather a global economic slowdown which, unfortunately, will affect all of us – something which I will discuss in greater detail in a few moments. The real story for 2008 is that our macroeconomic fundamentals are stronger than ever due to tough choices we have made on boosting revenues, cracking down on tax cheats, bringing reform to our revenue collection and modernizing our banking and financial sector. We have reformed our budget to be in balance way ahead of the medium-term plan schedule of 2010. Last year, our deficit was only P12 billion, the lowest in a decade and far below the ceiling of P63 billion. Revenues were up 16 percent from 2006. Seven years ago, no one thought we could do it, but we have. There will be no rest. We are continuing the pace of progress that has succeeded in strengthening our economy. The maturity in our economy has brought with it a new confidence that forms the foundation of sustained economic growth moving forward. We are at a tipping point. I’m confident that the Philippines will tip forward in pursuit of reaching the status of First-World within a generation. Our strengthened economic fortunes come none too soon. As we are all aware, there are clouds on the economic horizon that we must guard against. The global economy is facing significant challenges. The slowing of the economies in North America and Europe is top of mind in our calculations to protect our own economy. To that end, we have developed a program that includes: first, to ensure a surge in investments in people and infrastructure; second, to ensure that we continue to pursue anti-corruption initiatives and to cut red tape; and third, to blunt the global rise in the cost of energy by providing targeted relief to the poorest among us who suffer the most from the high global price of energy. These global forces are putting more strain on our working poor as prices for commodities like rice and fuel increase. We are a price-sensitive nation. So while our macroeconomics are strong, the benefits are still working their down more slowly than we want to lift up our citizens who live and work payroll to payroll. We need a strong middle class to become a strong modern nation. We are working to soften the blow from the current global economic challenges to those working hardest to make it to the middle class. The best thing we can do in the short term is to provide responsible, targeted relief to those most in need. The best thing we can do for the remainder of my term until I step down n 2010 is to stay focused on further economic reforms while providing peace, order and stability. Our last two years will be dedicated to one main objective: invest, invest and invest some more in the nation. The national budget which I signed a few weeks ago provides a roadmap for realizing our priorities in 2008 and for the remainder of my term. It should provide you with a sense of our priorities and our thinking about the future of our nation. First, the budget reflects our values and policy priorities for investing in our people. This budget invests in what we call the three ‘E’s.’ They’re the essential building blocks of a nation, namely, the economy, education and the environment. Every Filipino wants a good job, food on the table, sound education for their children and a healthy environment with clean air, clean water and clean land Second, this budget represents another important step in the economic development of the Philippines – namely, fiscal discipline. We have the strongest economy in over thirty years as a result of the tough reforms we have made to break the cycle of despair which has held our nation back for so many years. Part of the plan includes a march toward a balanced budget for the first time in many years. Lastly, this budget proves once again that members of Congress from both the House and the Senate and all parties can come together to work with the executive branch to get things done for the nation. Political noise need not interfere with economic progress and reform. This budget helps make that point. The people are tired of partisan wrangling and want all of us to do our job – which is to work for the interest of the people, keeping the nation strong and stable, and always moving forward. Overall, the budget provides a buffer to mitigate the pain of a deteriorating global economy and the accompanying rise in prices which affects food and transportation the most. Most importantly, it is a budget dedicated to investing in the vital physical and human infrastructure to continue to modernize our nation. Roads, bridges and ports along with education and healthcare build up the foundation of he nation and make us more competitive. The issue of corruption that has plagued our nation for several generations is an issue we take seriously. As an economist, I know that first and foremost, a strong economy is an economy that is transparent and free from corruption. This budget invests more and more to clean up the culture of corruption that has plagued this nation for generations. To fix the corruption that still plagues our nation, I have called on Congress to pass a comprehensive anti-corruption reform act in 2008. On our part, we will hold officials accountable if they are found to be corrupt after due process. Let the chips fall where they may as investigations are concluded and friend and foe alike are brought to account for their actions in the proper courts. With its budget doubled since 2002, the country’s primary anti-corruption body, the Office of the Ombudsman, has hired several dozen prosecutors and investigators, and trained them better. As a result, the Ombudsman’s conviction rate has hit nearly 60%, from just 6% historically. We have undertaken an effort to curb graft through criminal justice, administrative controls and procedural reforms. Just to name an example, we established the Procurement Transparency Group to make sure that biddings for projects will be above board. The group is partnership between the government and civil society. At present, this independent group is monitoring 40 priority projects. To apply the same government-civil society synergy to revenue generation, yesterday I instructed the Department of Finance (DOF) to form watchdog bodies for the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and Bureau of Customs (BOC) with private sector and civil society participation to monitor tax collection and big BIR and Customs cases. While we have accomplished much, more remains to be done. We plan to work hard the next two years until the day our term ends in 2010 to fulfill our Philippine reform agenda. This includes legislative efforts to improve our banking and finance system; to strengthen our tax collection and continue to broaden our tax payer base; and crack down on corruption and red tape. We will fight for the economy, education and the environment, to feed the poor, improve job creation and do everything in our power to mitigate the global forces increasing the price of commodities like oil and rice. Our use of official development assistance will necessarily be guided by the three E’s of our priority thrusts, as well as our need to adjust foreign exchange flows to avoid excessive upward pressure on the peso. We ask our creditor community to work with us on standardizing ODA loan conditionalities. We will likewise apply the targeted spending of ODA. For health related projects, foreign borrowings shall focus on upgrading primary hospitals to secondary, half-priced medicines and health insurance. I have recommended to particular ODA lenders that loans for environmental protection be assigned to reforestation. For education, we prioritize early childhood education, grade school classrooms, vocational education, high school and college scholarships, teacher training in English, and graduate courses in science, technology and engineering. We are bullish on our economy, optimistic about our future and committed to being a force for good for our nation. Thank you all for your commitment to the Philippines. |
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| RP assured of 1.5 million metric tons of rice supply from Vietnam annually |
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CLARK FREEPORT ZONE, Pampanga – The Philippines is assured of 1.5 million
metric tons of rice imports annually from Vietnam starting this year,
barring natural disasters and harvest losses in that country. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo witnessed today the exchange of documents between the two countries on the three-year agreement on the sidelines of the Philippine Reform Agenda Forum organized by the World Bank (WB) at the Fontana Conference Center here. The Memorandum of Agreement on (MOA) was earlier signed by Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap and Vietnamese Industry and Trade Minister Yu Huy Hoang. Yap said the agreement on the country’s rice imports from Vietnam would help beef up the National Food Authority’s (NFA) stockpile and guarantee enough stock of the commodity amid the tightening of rice supply in the world market. The rice supply agreement between the two member-countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) states that the “Vietnamese government agrees to sell, unless under circumstances of natural disaster and harvest loss, and the Philippines agrees to buy up to 1.5 million metric tons of Vietnamese white rice annually starting 2008, subject to market and production conditions and to terms allowable under applicable laws of both countries. Both countries agreed to take “strict measures” to stop illegal rice trading between the two countries. The Vietnam Southern Food Corp. and the NFA are the agencies of their respective governments authorized to implement the terms of the MOA, which will be in effect for three years. It will be automatically renewed for another three years, unless terminated by either of the parties through diplomatic channels six months prior to the intended date of termination. Vietnam and the Philippines signed the agreement “in order to ensure that the rice market is stable in both countries and to cushion the adverse effects of climate change, pest infestation, drought, floods and other calamities that are being experienced and may hereafter be experienced by the ASEAN countries.” |
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| President to visit Butuan City tomorrow to inspect CARAGA rice stockpile |
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BUTUAN CITY -- In a bid to disprove a purported rice shortage, President
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is set to visit this city in the South tomorrow
(Thursday) to inspect the rice stockpile of the National Food Authority (NFA),
said to be enough to sustain the CARAGA Region's demand for the food staple. According to NFA-Butuan officer-in-charge Gil Pepito Paqueo, the rice supply for the whole region, which includes Butuan and Surigao Cities, Agusan del Norte and del Sur, Surigao del Norte and del Sur and Dinagat Island, is more than enough for the need of the region. Paqueo said that for CY 2008, the NFA is importing 1.18 million bags of rice valued at P1.54 billion for the food security and market stabilization requirements of the CARAGA Region. He said the rice, which will be imported from Vietnam, is expected to augment the rice production of the region. Paqueo said at least 138,000 bags of the imported rice valued at around P179.4 million are intended for the food requirements of Butuan City and Agusan del Norte. Upon her arrival here Thursday, the President will proceed to the NFA warehouse in Libertad, where she will witness the unloading and re-packing of some 6,000 bags of rice transported in 12 trucks from NFA-Surigao and Cagayan de Oro Cities. These rice stocks are part of the regular and continuing rice buffer stock buildup for the food security and market stabilization requirements of Butuan City and Agusan del Norte. Within the next five days and every two weeks after that until September of this year, NFA-Butuan will be transferring an additional 10,000 bags of rice from NFA-Surigao, brought in through international maritime vessels from Vietnam. With this rice importation augmenting the rice production of the region, the rice needs of the people of CARAGA is now secured, Paqueo said. |
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| P1-B earmarked for environmentally sustainable transport projects |
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LIPA CITY, Batangas -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ordered today the
Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) to allocate P1
billion from the Special Vehicle Control Fund for environmentally
sustainable transport-related projects such as alternative fuel. The President made the announcement while driving through the newly paved Stage II (Phase I) of the Southern Tagalog Arterial Road (STAR) that will eventually link Batangas City to the Southern Luzon Expressway (SLEX). Earlier, the President graced the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the STAR’s soft opening and waved the green flag to signal the start of the convoy that ran through the 19.74-kilometer stretch from the Tambo interchange in Lipa City to the Balagtas interchange in Batangas City. She then drove through the 20-kilometer Stage II of the road project aboard a bus powered by compressed natural gas (CNG), one of the alternative fuels that the President wants the DOTC to develop for the use of public transport. Riding with her were DOTC Secretary Leandro Mendoza and his son, Batangas Rep. Mark Llandro Mendoza (4th District); Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos-Recto and former Sen. Ralph Recto; Batangas Rep. Eileen Ermita-Buhain (1st District); AGIP Partylist Rep. Mickey Briones, and Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) chair Thompson Lantion. “Against the backdrop of rising oil prices and climate change, the government has a long-term solution to oil price shocks in the form of an indigenous fuel supply that’s easy on the pocket and not hard on the environment,” the President said as she pointed out that the price of CNG costs only about half that of diesel fuel. “We will rev up this program so this initial fleet of 11 Green Cabs will expand that it will end up the template of a modern bus system,” she said. “I ask the leaders of this tripartite initiative (Department of Energy, Shell and bus companies) under the supervision of the DOTC to step on the gas and full speed ahead,” she added. “And in order to help do this, I directed (DOTC) Secretary (Leandro) Mendoza to allocate P1 billion from the Special Vehicle Pollution Control Fund to fund environmentally sustainable transport projects such as alternative fuels, such as CNG and LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) – a lot of the taxis that are ahead of us (in the convoy) are LPG-run – and LPG for public transport,” the President told the local officials and media members whom she had invited to ride with her in one of the five CNG buses. She pointed out that “with this P1 billion that Larry Mendoza will allocate, we hope to help transport groups earn higher income in the face of spiraling fuel prices, and we hope to decrease greenhouse gas emissions, and we hope therefore to promote clean air.” The President, who was wearing a brown pants ensemble and golden open-toed espradilles, outlined her working plan for the summer, thus: “I was telling the guys who were with me in Baguio (during the Holy Week), my summer plans are to crisscross the archipelago and to inaugurate like what we are doing now, and inspect, infrastructure projects because the Presidency is an outdoor activity.” “And if you want to cover me, bring lots of sunblock,” she said, addressing the media group with her. Along the way, the President was cheered by Batanguenos who trooped to the two interchanges along the presidential route. At the Malainen interchange, the President noted from her right window seat the big crowd that came to see her drive through the newly paved highway. Standing up and motioning the driver to slow down, the President waved to the crowd from the door of the bus, to acknowledge the cheers of the people and the placards proclaiming: “We Love You, GMA”; “Proyekto Mo, Susi ng Progreso”; “Patuloy Ka Naming Kaagapay sa Pag-unlad”; and the like. At the Balagtas interchange, the President alighted and pressed flesh of wellwishers in the waiting crowd. She thanked the Batangas local governments for the Manifesto of Support to her administration before boarding the presidential chopper for her next engagement today at the Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga. |
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| SC ruling upholding Neri claim to “privilege” a “triumph of the rule of law,” says Palace |
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Malacañang described today as a triumph of the rule of law the Supreme Court
decision declaring that former Economic Planning Secretary Romulo Neri
validly invoked Executive Privilege when he refused to answer questions
about his conversation with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as part of a
Senate investigation into the national broadband network deal. This was how Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita responded to a question during his weekly press conference this afternoon on whether he considered the favorable ruling of the Supreme court and the sudden illness of former President Corazon C. Aquino “a matter of luck” for the administration. Ermita said Malacañang is not considering the High Court decision upholding Neri in invoking Executive Privilege as their victory because what the administration only did was to follow the rule of law. “We are governed by the rule of law, we cannot do things beyond that,” Ermita said, noting that the positive ruling of the Supreme Court on the petition filed by Secretary Neri would inspire the administration to steer the country to move forward and face other problems affecting the people’s livelihood. “I can only say that this development, hopefully, will redound to the benefit of the greater majority and the improvement of the political situation so that we can move forward,” Ermita said, adding that with the advent of the rising prices of rice, crude oil in the world market, and other basic commodities, the Filipino people need to be united and help the government in finding ways to resolve these woes. On Tuesday, Supreme Court Spokesman Jose Midas Marquez said the Senate under the Supreme Court decision granting the petition of Neri can still invite him to testify in its hearing but cannot ask on the three particular questions related to his conversation with the President regarding the $329- million NBN contract. “Let the rule of law prevail,” Ermita said as he admitted that Malacañang is very happy over the Supreme Court ruling. |
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| PGMA vows to pursue program to improve banking system, fight against corruption |
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CLARK FREEPORT ZONE, Pampanga—President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo vowed today
that her administration will continue working hard to further improve the
banking and finance system, strengthen tax collection and broaden its tax
base, and reduce, if not eliminate, corruption and red tape. The President made this pronouncement during the 2008 Philippines Development Forum this afternoon at the Fontana Convention Center here. Among those who attended the forum were Cabinet members, top businessmen, foreign creditors and donor countries. To cushion the impact of recent global challenges on the Philippines, her administration has laid out programs to sustain the inflow of investments, invest heavily in human and physical infrastructure, strengthen anti-corruption initiatives and cut red tape, and blunt the blow of rising cost of energy, including rice in the world market, particularly to the poor, the President said. "And I thank the World Bank for your interest in our targeted relief to the poorest of the poor," she said. While foreign creditors and donor countries congratulated the Philippines for achieving a respectable economic growth, the President said much remains to be done, including the wise utilization of Official Development Assistance (ODA) to push the country's priority thrusts. "While we have accomplished more, more remains to be done. We plan to work hard the next two years until the day our term ends in 2010 to fulfill our Philippine Reform Agenda. This includes legislative efforts to improve our banking and finance system, strengthen our tax collection and continue to broaden our taxpayer base; and crack down on corruption and red tape," she said. The President stressed the use of ODA would be prioritized to further improve the economy, education and the environment (3 E’s) as well as provide more jobs and vital services to improve the plight of the poor. "We will fight for the economy, education and the environment. We will fight to feed the poor, improve job creation, and do everything in our power to mitigate the global forces increasing the price of commodities like oil and rice," she said. On the fiscal front, the President said there is a need to adjust foreign exchange flows to avoid excessive upward pressure on the peso. "That's why we have been prepaying our foreign debts to the extent that we don't lose money on the penalties and that's why we're also relying increasingly on the domestic bond market," she said. The President also asked foreign creditors to help standardize conditionalities attached to development assistance packages. "We ask our creditor community to work with us on standardizing ODA loan conditionalities. We will likewise apply the targeted spending for ODA. And as I say this to our creditor community, I'm also reminding our Cabinet members where they should put their project proposals," the President said. For instance, she said, borrowings for health related projects should focus on upgrading primary hospitals to secondary; on budget support for half-priced medicines and health insurance. "I have recommended also to particular ODA lenders and donors, for instance, New Zealand, that assistance for environmental protection be concentrated on reforestation," she said. The President said she would also hold a Cabinet meeting in Camarines Sur in May to help realize another important environmental project, the World Bank-assisted Bicol River Basin project. For education, the President said to be prioritized are early childhood education, grade school classrooms, vocational education, high school and college scholarships, teacher training in English, and graduate courses in science, technology and engineering. She thanked international donors and creditors for their commitment in helping the Philippines achieve its goals. "We are bullish on our economy. We're optimistic about our future. We're committed to being a force for good for our nation. And you indeed, our international creditor and donor community are a great contribution to that force for good for our nation," she said. |
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| PGMA distributes goodies in Pampanga town |
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STA. ANA, Pampanga - President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo led today the
groundbreaking for a two-storey, four-classroom school building and the
distribution of numerous social-service packages to improve the plight of
Pampanga residents. The President, who arrived here this afternoon, was welcomed by thousands of her provincemates and pupils when she led the capsule-laying at the site of the P4-million school building at the Sta. Ana Elementary School. Among the officials present were Education Secretary Jesli Lapus, Public Works and Highways Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane, DepEd Undersecretary Ramon Bacani, 3rd District Rep. Aurelio Gonzales, and Sta. Ana Mayor Rommel Concepcion. After the simple groundbreaking ceremony, the President led the distribution of 20 "Buntis Kits" containing multivitamins and other items for pregnant women, five certificates to operate Tindahan Natin outlets, and a P125,000 check for micro-financing projects of the Self-Employment Assistance-Kaunlaran Association of Barangay Sta. Lucia here. The President also awarded a P2.6-million four-wheel tractor, and distributed 14 "Galing Mekaniko Ako" and 14 "Galing Masahista Ako" kits for the 14 barangays of Sta. Ana. School children in Sta. Ana also received 25 grocery bags under the Department of Education (DepEd) School Feeding Program and 100 rice packs under the Food for School Program. The residents also received 5,000 grocery packs, 2,592 PhilHealth cards and 100 cavans of rice for 474 families in three Agrarian Reform Communities (ARCs). The President also handed out 25 Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) scholarship certificates for each of Pampanga’s 20 towns and two cities. After the distribution program, the President thanked Mrs. Elea Concepcion, the mother of Mayor Concepcion, who gave her a blown-up picture of the President at six or seven years old during a visit of her father, the late President Diosdado Macapagal. |
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| PGMA orders DPWH to speed up completion of “STAR” Expressway to Batangas City |
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LIPA CITY, Batangas – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo urged today the
Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to fast-track the completion
of the Southern Tagalog Arterial Road (STAR) so it could reach the Batangas
Port earlier than the scheduled completion date next year. “Sana mas maaga,” the President urged DPWH Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane when told by the latter that the project is scheduled for completion next year. Ebdane briefed the President at the interchange here about the ongoing P24-billion infrastructure project that will link the Southern Luzon Expressway (SLEX) to the STAR whose southernmost stretch in Batangas City practically links Luzon to the Visayas and Mindanao via the Batangas Port in Batangas Bay. President Arroyo – who stressed that the STAR is a “katas ng EVAT (expanded value added tax)” which former Sen. Ralph Recto of Batangas had helped put in place -- congratulated everyone involved in the project, including the contractor, F.F. Cruz. The Chief Executive, who ordered an infrastructure surge in January, added that she wants travel along the STAR to be “seamless” to alleviate the growing road traffic in the area. The President enthused about the expected decrease in travel time, saying that this will redound to the benefit not only of the transport sector, the commuting public, and the factories located in the industrial parks here, but will also ensure fresher farm produce reaching the markets. All those taking the RORO (“roll on-roll off” ships) to the southern Philippines via the Strong Republic Nautical Highway will also benefit, the President enthused further. Stage I of the STAR stretches over 22.16 kilometers from the Sto. Tomas Interchange to the Tambo Interchange; while Stage II from Tambo to the Batangas Interchange is 19.74 kilometers long. From the former travel time of 45 minutes, the total 41.9-kilometer stretch could now be traveled in only 15 minutes. Also attending the soft opening of the Stage II of the STAR were Transportation Secretary Leandro Mendoza; Presidential Assistant for Region IV-A Mely Jabola; Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos Recto who came with husband, former Sen. Ralph Recto; Representatives Eileen Ermita-Buhain (1st District), Victoria Reyes (3rd Dist.) and Mark Llandro Mendoza (4th Dist.); STAR Tollway Corp. president Melvin Nazareno and chairman Mark Dumol; the fourth-district mayors, namely, Mayor Remegio Hernandez of Ibaan, Ruben Guce of San Jose, Danilo Mindanao of San Juan, Victor Portugal Jr. of Taysan, Prudencio Gutierrez Rorrez of P. Garcia, Felipe Marquez of Rosario, and Oscar Gozos of Lipa City; and Ofelia Inciong, the President’s political officer in Batangas. |
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