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Tuesday, September 27, 2005
Arroyo says RP on the rebound
By Lino dela Cruz
Iligan Correspondent
ILIGAN CITY -- Despite what she described as "political noise", President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo cited the economic gains of her administration and said the country posted a growth rate of 4.8 percent, which is higher than that of Malaysia and Taiwan.
Arroyo who was here for a brief visit said that despite of the "political noise", the Social Weather Station (SWS) survey showed that poverty was down at 49 percent from 57 percent and the unemployment rate was reduced to 7.7 percent from 8.8 percent.
With these gains, the President said she would start the 2nd phase of reforms, which will tackle the oil price increases, taxes, terrorism, and the creation of between 4 to 6 million jobs, apart from the regular infrastructure programs.
Arroyo said she is hopeful that the Global Steel Industries International (GSII), formerly National Steel Corp. (NSC), would expand and go back to full employment of the more than 2,000 steel workers who lost their jobs with the closure of NSC.
"This should be the key to the return of this city to its golden age" she said referring to the past decades when this city was dubbed industrial city of the south because of several industrial plants, which were then operating here.
One of the projects, which Arroyo hopes to implement, is the completion of the Iligan-Bukidnon road that will connect this city to Bukidnon province, which she hopes to spur agri-business activities.
Arroyo said she has initially given P5 million to Representative Alipio Badelles through the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for the completion of the said project.
The President asked the acting Secretary of Agrarian Reform Nasser Pangandaman and Iligan City mayor Lawrence Cruz to allocate funds as their respective counterpart for the said project.
(September 27, 2005 issue)
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