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Monday, January 19, 2004
P60M for Cebu City; not for votes: Arroyo
By Karen M. Flores and Linette C. Ramos
CEBU -- There was a promise that there would be no politics in President Arroyo's visit to Cebu Sunday, but there was talk of that anyway, and millions in pesos promised to the Cebu City Government and the Cebu Archdiocese.
President Arroyo squeezed into a day meant to watch the Sinulog grand parade not only three "informal talks" with three groups of "friends" that included politicians, but also a visit to Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal and a meeting with military and police officials.
She offered Cebu City officials at least P60 million worth of infrastructure projects.
Rep. Antonio Cuenco (Cebu City, south) said the President assured local officials of the release of the second tranche of their Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) for 2003.
He stressed, though, that the P60 million is not a special pledge but part of the regular releases for all members of Congress under the General Appropriations Act.
"And it should not be misconstrued as a vote-buying spree by the President," said Cuenco.
Anti-drugs
The President also ordered the immediate release of P10 million to help fund the Drug Rehabilitation and After Care Center in Cebu City.
Cuenco said the money will go directly to the Department of Public Works and Highways.
President Arroyo made the announcement in her meeting with city and barangay officials at the Cebu City Sports Complex, shortly after she arrived at half past noon Sunday.
Later, Rep. Raul del Mar said that President Arroyo asked Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) Chairman Efraim Genuino to join her in her meeting with Cardinal Vidal during her 30-minute visit to his residence.
Although there was no amount mentioned, del Mar said Arroyo promised to help facilitate the release of aid from the Pagcor for the archdiocese's drug rehabilitation program.
President Arroyo also joined at least 15,000 Cebuanos at the grandstand to watch the performance of some of the 50 dancing contingents in the grand parade.
"It's beautiful, lovely. Now, everybody could see that Sinulog is not just a local activity but a national event with various dancing delegations from other provinces. That is why I accepted the invitation of the city officials," Arroyo told reporters Sunday.
No speech
She added that she preferred not to attend Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal's Pontifical Mass at the Basilica del Sto. Niņo Sunday dawn because she did not want to disturb the solemnity of the event.
"The City Government invited me here. I am here because this is a fiesta. I have high respect for religious festivals and I don't want that my whole entourage will disrupt the mass so I just came to attend the program instead of the mass," she said in Cebuano.
Accompanied by daughter Luli and members of the Lakas ticket, Arroyo joined city officials at the VIP area at the grandstand to watch 11 delegations of local government units.
Sinulog 2004 executive director Ricky Ballesteros said they arranged the schedule of the dancing contingents in such a way that the President will witness the performance of the delegations coming from other provinces.
Other than the acknowledgement of her presence, Arroyo did not have any other role in the parade that could disrupt the program, like delivering a speech.
"Before, I used to attend just the mass but now that I am President, I think it will be difficult for me to go because my security will surely disrupt everything. But at least I am able to make it here in the program. To everyone, Pit Seņor!" she said in Cebuano.
NPA, Cabinet
Sinulog 2004 overall chairman Michael Rama said everything went on as scheduled and planned since the President did not request to be allowed to deliver a speech and her security group did not cross the parade route.
President Arroyo managed to greet the spectators on her way to the waiting vehicles before leaving the grandstand shortly before 3 p.m.
On politics, del Mar and Cuenco said in a phone interview that there was little mention about the local scene.
In Manila, however, the congressmen said Arroyo told them and her "circle of friends," more than 20 of whom gathered at the Mactan air base to see her off at 5 p.m., that a Cabinet revamp can be expected before the campaign period starts next month.
Cuenco said the President was "emphatic" about wanting to transfer Local Government Secretary Joey Lina to the Department of Justice.
Meanwhile, former senator Heherson Alvarez, who has been speaking out against Lakas when he was excluded from the senatorial ticket, will be offered either the Department of Agriculture or the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
Right season
In the local scene, Cuenco and del Mar said Arroyo reported to them that there is no problem in Cebu City, while there is a "little complication" in the province.
But Cuenco said Arroyo is still "confident" the groups of Vice Gov. John Gregory Osmeņa, former congressman Celestino Martinez Jr. and Capitol consultant Gwendolyn Garcia are still committed to support her.
This, despite Arroyo's refusal to take a stand on whom she will endorse.
Cebu Gov. Pablo Garcia, who met Arroyo at the Waterfront Hotel Mactan shortly after her arrival, said no decisions were made during the meeting, as it was mostly "assessment."
Politics just had to come up because "it's the season," Garcia said. "When priests congregate, they talk about God. When politicians congregate, politics is bound to come up," he said further.
Arroyo arrived at about 10:30 a.m., some 30 minutes behind the schedule that was revised at least twice in the last 24 hours.
Full day
Before proceeding to the Cebu City Sports Center, she attended a briefing on the security situation by the PNP, as well as a short meeting with Garcia and Mandaue City Mayor Thadeo Ouano.
Police Regional Office 7 Director Rolando Garcia said they were told to make sure that rebels cannot extort from candidates during the election season.
Garcia said the meeting was informal and sudden. The President merely wanted to be briefed on the local peace and order.
At the sports center, she met briefly with Cebu City barangay captains when she arrived during lunch break.
She watched a few presentations when the program resumed and then motored to Vidal's residence.
Before finally departing at past 5 p.m. for Manila, she met with her "circle of friends" for about an hour just to "chat" at the Mactan air base reception area.
It was there where the impending Cabinet revamp was mentioned.
(January 19, 2004 issue)
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