Wednesday, July 02, 2008 GMA to visit, have lunch with kin
GRIEVING families of the victims of the Princess of the Stars tragedy will have President Arroyo in their company in Cebu City at noon today, where she will offer a mass and have lunch with them.
The President will also check the services being provided to the families at the Cebu City Government’s action center at the Cebu City Sports Center (CCSC).
City officials will brief the President on the relief operations and the progress on the identification of the 149 bodies that have arrived here.
Security will be tighter than usual at the action center. City officials have also met with representatives from agencies detailed there and with the Presidential Security Group (PSG) regarding arrangements for the President’s visit today.
Visitors
Vice Mayor Michael Rama also talked to relatives at the action center and asked them to bear with the tightened security today because they are expecting “visitors.”
Rama did not tell them who was dropping by but asked them to understand if security measures are tighter than what they are used to. He said the same was for the volunteers who were at the action center.
He asked relatives to limit the number of family members at the CCSC and not to bring too many items if they did not want to get stuck in thorough bag inspections.
Before her visit to the CCSC, the President will be at the Mactan Benito Ebuen Air Base (MBEAB) for the celebration of the 61st founding anniversary of the Philippine Air Force (PAF).
The President is expected to arrive at MBEAB at around 10 a.m. to address the PAF officials and personnel and recognize airmen for their efforts in the search, rescue and relief operations in the recent typhoon Frank.
The anniversary parade was supposed to be held at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City but was transferred to MBEAB in time for the President’s visit to Cebu City.
Flower drop
During the ceremony, PAF helicopters will drop flowers in memory of the victims of the Sulpicio Lines Inc. vessel’s sinking off Sibuyan Island in Romblon Province last June 22.
The flower drop will be done simultaneously in MBEAB and in San Fernando town in Romblon, where the vessel sank.
Presidential Management Staff Director General Cerge Remonde, who visited the victims’ relatives here last week, and Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro will accompany the President.
Councilor Sylvan Jakosalem said the President decided to come to Cebu to personally condole with the victims’ families and to see to it that they are getting sufficient assistance from government agencies.
“City officials will brief the President on what has been done to help the families, then she will personally check all the help desks at the sports center before proceeding with the mass to be offered for the victims,” he told Sun.Star Cebu.
Arroyo will also distribute packed meals to the victims, according to Philippine Information Agency (PIA) 7 officials. (LCR/MEA)
