TRENDS (24 May 2010)

PGMA to inaugurate new boundary road in Dupax, Nueva Viscaya

Dupax, Nueva Vizcaya (24 May) -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will inaugurate today (Monday, May 24) the newly-paved Bitnong-Belance-Nueva Vizcaya junction national road, a 13.193-kilometer road, as part of her legacy projects to the country.

Upon her arrival there, the chief Executive will be met by Dupax del Norte Mayor Antonio Palugod, Belance Parish Priest Fr. Florentino Daynos and the Belance barangay chairmen.

The President will then board an open type jeep for the drive thru.

During the program, Nueva Vizcaya Governor Maria Luisa Cuaresma will deliver the welcome remarks to be followed by a message from Bishop Ramon Villena and a project briefing by Public Works and Highways Secretary Victor Domingo.

The newly-paved road costs P330 million and was started on November 8, 2008 and completed on April 30, 2010 or two months ahead of its target date of June 22, 2010.

Belance is an agriculture-rich community with a cool climate all year-round that is conducive to farming and planting of fruits, vegetables and root crops like citrus, cabbage, lettuce, yacon, ginger, sweet potato and others.

The road will not just help farmers deliver their produce to the market but will also trigger economic activities particularly vegetable and fruit trading in the municipalities of Bambang, Aritao, Bayombong and Solano.

The province's improved access road will also reduce travel time and will pave the way for opening new opportunities for Barangay Belance like transport, retail and commerce and generate jobs due to the inflow of new investments.

Around 1,000 barangay residents and government officials are expected to attend the inauguration.


Palace grateful for PGMA’s positive comments from CBCP

Manila (24 May) -- Malacañang thanked the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) for being appreciative of the efforts exerted by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to uplift the lives of Filipinos through enhancements introduced by her government in the fields of livelihood, infrastructure and economic stability.

In his regular press briefing aired over state-run dzRB yesterday afternoon (May 23), Deputy Spokesperson Gary Olivar said aside from the above-mentioned achievements the President is also known for her anti-poverty and quality education advocacy which had been an integral part of her administration's programs and projects since she assumed power.

"We are grateful for the positive comments about the President which were reported from the members of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines about her achievements in livelihood protection, infrastructure and macro-economic stability," Olivar said.

"While many bishops criticized her about poverty, Bishop Jaucian commended her anti-poverty program to which we might add that self-rated poverty under the President has come down to its lowest point since the end of the Marcos era or 43 percent last quarter," he added.

The 13-member CBCP cited yesterday the accomplishments of President Arroyo's administration since she became President in 2001.

The CBCP is composed of Pampanga Auxiliary Bishop Virgilio David, Auxiliary Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo, Jaro, Iloilo Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, Tagbilaran Bishop Leonardo Medroso, Iligan Bishop Elenito Galido, Cubao Bishop Honesto Ongtioco, Dumaguete Bishop John Du, Batanes Bishop Camilo Gregorio, Bangued Bishop Leopoldo Jaucian, Basilan Bishop Martin Jumoad, Palawan Bishop Pedro Arigo, Malolos Bishop Jose Oliveros, and Cagayan de Oro Archbishop Antonio Ledesma.

Olivar said that while several bishops criticized her on several occasions including her failure to address environmental issues and illiteracy, there were those who stood up and took notice of her education and scholarship program.

"Other bishops criticized her about illiteracy, but Bishop Domoan praised her scholarship program in his province," Olivar said.

He pointed out that the President "has done more than any of her predecessors in the basic areas of more classrooms, more textbooks, more teacher-training and more scholarships."

He also said that while the President is cognizant about the growing number of Filipinos and how the educational system must be upgraded to be in tune with this reality, "a whole new educational strategy is required which is now being introduced by the Task Force on Philippine Education which she created and it will be the centerpiece of her legislative agenda in the 15th Congress."

On the environment, Olivar noted that the President had already been devoting half a day every Friday to discuss with stakeholders ways and means on how to clean up the environment and through her efforts, the Philippines now "leads the region in the global advocacy against climate change."

According to Olivar another bishop accused the President of destroying the democratic system," but this is nonsense."

"All the coup attempts against her were put down with ordinary powers, the violence of local politicians that is the real threat to grassroots press freedom and democracy was met with limited martial law in Maguindanao and a first time ever commission on private armies, elections were automated, judges are not muzzled, and the press is free enough and ungracious enough to talk even about subjects like her breast implants," Olivar stressed.

"The President may have some personal qualities that some people dislike, including some of the bishops but her record in office speaks loudest for her and will be vindicated by history," Olivar concluded.