Monday, April 28, 2008 GMA to launch new projects, dine with media in 2-day visit to Cebu
PRESIDENT Arroyo is in town for a two-day visit to promote her roll-on roll-off (Roro) program, inaugurate a company building and sign the University of the Philippines (UP) charter.
Arroyo is expected to arrive at 1:45 p.m. in Bogo City for the unveiling of the Polambato Port Marker.
It is also there that Arroyo, Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia, Bogo City Mayor Celestino Martinez Jr., Rep. Benhur Salimbangon (Cebu, 4th district), Cebu Port Authority General Manager Angelo Verdan and others will welcome Roro passengers from Masbate.
The P75-million Polam-bato port is 82.40 meters with two ramps and 9.20 meters wide. It is located three kilometers away from the national highway.
The Polambato port, strategically located in northern Cebu, is pegged as a vital point for trade and commerce with the neighboring provinces of Leyte and Masbate.
Arroyo issued Executive Order 170 in 2003 creating the Roro system, also known as “nautical highway,” because Roro vessels are considered extensions of national highways.
EO 170-A provides that DPWH and LGUs shall give adequate road access to the roro system to link municipal, provincial and national roads.
The President will formally launch today the Central Nautical Highway through a caravan that will start at the Bulan port in Sorsogon, Masbate City. The caravan will then hit the ports of Cauayan, Masbate and Bogo City.
Tomorrow, Arroyo’s caravan will be in Bohol and will proceed to the Provinces of Camiguin and Misamis Oriental.
After the activity in Bogo City, Arroyo will fly to San Fernando, particularly at the Taiheiyo Cement Phils. Inc., to inaugurate a silo. Arroyo will lead the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
The President will then have a snack with 50 chosen employees from Taiheiyo at the company cafeteria.
Taiheiyo has been awarded by the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry as Employer of the Year and also garnered the Business for Environment Award.
Dinner will be with Cebu and Manila-based media at the Malacañang sa Sugbo.
Tomorrow, the President will sign into law the UP Charter at the UP in the Visayas Cebu College. UP is celebrating its centennial this year.
Witnessing the signing will be UPVCC Dean Enrique Avila, Governor Garcia and Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña.
Sen. Francis Pangilinan, a principal sponsor of the UP charter, is also expected to attend, along with UP President Emerlinda Roman and members of the UP Board of Regents.
The new charter names UP as the “National University.”
It also allows P100 million more funding, above the regular appropriation, for every year in the next five years.
The charter also grants flexibility to allow a fair compensation package and for the university to develop assets. (JGA)
