Wednesday, July 23, 2008 Rites, meetings with reps, shipping industry players to keep GMA busy in Cebu
PRESIDENT Arroyo will meet today with selected shipping owners and officials of government agencies that have something to do with shipping regulations reportedly to discuss industry concerns.
Her two-day visit in Cebu will also include the unveiling of a public school in Lapu-Lapu City, inauguration of the Plaza Sugbo and the Doña Eva Macaraeg-Macapagal session hall at the Cebu City Hall, and meeting with Visayas congressmen at the Malacañang sa Sugbo.
The President will lead the unveiling of nine newly constructed classrooms and a covered court at the Gun-ob National High School. These facilities were donated by philanthropist Ramon Chiu, who is celebrating his 85th birthday today.
Because of Chiu’s assistance, Gun-ob National High School saw an increase of its student population after the construction of the first 11 classrooms donated in 2002.
Noting that the student-teacher ratio was steadily increasing, Chiu offered to make his donation.
Meeting with reps
After the Gun-ob activity, the President will head to the Malacañang sa Sugbo for lunch with members of the House of Representatives from the south. She will also have dinner with Visayas congressmen.
Right after lunch with the congressmen, Arroyo will meet with owners of big shipping companies and officials of shipping associations.
In a notice signed by Transportation and Communications Secretary Leandro Mendoza, those invited were shipping owners Daniel Lacson and Joy Maitim of the Philippine Liners Shipping Association (PLSA), Benson Go of the United Trampers Association of the Philippines (UTAP), Enrique “Endika” Aboitiz of Aboitiz Transport System (ATS), Naresh Potty of Maritime Container Cargo, Doris Magsaysay-Ho of the National Marine Corporation, Emil Tiu of Solid Shipping Corporation, Jun Tagud of Negros Navigation Corporation, Jovy Go of Oceanic Container Liners Inc., and Roberto Gothong of Gothong Southern Lines Inc.
Ben Gothong of Carlos A. Gothong Lines Inc., Kenneth Sy of Trans Asia Shipping Lines, Chester Cokaliong of Cokaliong Shipping Lines, Lucio Lim of Lite Shipping Corporation, Eduardo Gonzales of Marine Techniques Inc., Christopher Pastrana of Philharbor Ferries; and Sulpicio Lines owners Victoria, Carlos, Edgar and Jordan Go were also invited.
Officials from the Cebu Port Authority, Philippine Ports Authority, Philippine Coast Guard, and Maritime Industry Authority have also been invited.
A shipping owner who requested anonymity said they will discuss the problems hounding the country’s shipping industry.
Second day
On the second day of her Cebu visit, President Arroyo will lead the inauguration of the Plaza Sugbo and the Doña Eva Macaraeg-Macapagal session hall at the Cebu City Hall.
Arroyo will lead the ribbon-cutting of the opening of the Plaza Sugbo and then lead the unveiling of the marker of the legislative building’s new session hall.
The new Plaza Sugbo is the area fronting the old Cebu City Hall that is now developed into a plaza by the Cebu City Government with the assistance of the Philippine Tourism Authority.
Renovation of the Cebu City Legislative Building started in March 2006.
The new session hall of the legislative building is named after the president’s mother, Doña Eva Macaraeg-Macapagal.
The activities at the Cebu City Hall were initially scheduled for today but had to be moved, citing changes in the President’s schedule.
Vice Mayor Michael Rama said the Presidential Management Staff (PMS) requested that the inauguration be held tomorrow instead of today.
The change in the schedule gave city officials more time to complete aesthetic enhancements at the new building, including a gallery that will feature photos of all former city mayors and the landscaping at the Plaza Sugbu.
Arroyo is expected to be in City Hall at 10 a.m. tomorrow.
She will also be delivering a message during a short program at the Legislative Building lobby. (EOB/EPB/LCR)
