Argao at 400

PRESIDENT Arroyo has designated Argao, Cebu Mayor Edsel Galeos as a consultant for the National Government’s water projects, impressed as she was by the southern town’s irrigation scheme.

Arroyo, who visited Argao last May 19, saw the system that, for only P300,000, has benefited about 80 families without using any electricity.

“The President was very impressed with this because as you know this is part of the government’s program, especially that we are confronted with the global food crisis and we are trying to enhance food production,” Presidential Management Staff Chief Cerge Remonde said.

“So, she has immediately ordered the National Irrigation Administration to go to Argao to study the Galeos model. She has appointed Mayor Galeos as a national consultant for small irrigation projects,” Remonde said.

Galeos can no longer receive a separate salary as consultant because he is already a government official, but as an incentive, President Arroyo will give Argao town P20,000 per small irrigation project that the mayor can help create elsewhere in the country.

“But what is more important here is that once again, we in Cebu have shown the way. And that makes us very proud as Cebuanos. Necessity is really the mother of invention,” Remonde, who hails from Argao, also said.

Also at present, Galeos is constructing the Diosdado Macapagal Sports Complex in Argao, which he wants to finish before the town’s fiesta in September. (EOB/Sun.Star Cebu)