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Govs
give PGMA ovation for her SONA
and social payback programs
President
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo received a rousing ovation from the
governors during her 7th State of the Nation Address last
July 23, especially when she cited the accomplishments of
her social payback programs.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, during the joint session
to mark the opening of the 14th Congress, cited the accomplishments
of her administration in terms of projects and programs that
would let the people feel the fruits of an improving economy
and the path to her vision of a modern and globally competitive
Philippines.
She said her goal is for the Philippines to join the circle
of First World nations in the next two decades.
Stressing
that infrastructure is the backbone not only of peace and
security but more importantly of a modern nation, the President
said the government has been investing hundreds of billions
of pesos in physical and human infrastructure.
She said the next three years will see record levels of well
thought out and generous investment for the following priority
areas: physical, intellectual, legal and security infrastructure;
stronger and wider social safety nets such as cheap but quality
medicine, low-cost housing, quality education, teachers and
books, more scholarships and English proficiency training;
and achieving a long-lasting peace in Mindanao, anti-terrorism
campaign and in putting a stop to human rights abuses.
In
spreading the economic development throughout the entire region,
away from imperial Manila, the President said her blueprint
for building a future, the Super Regions are well on their
way to development with the needed infrastructures almost
in place.
The President enumerated the various projects already completed
or in various stages of development in the Super Regions.
She said two executive departments – Agrarian Reform
(DAR) and Agriculture (DA) – would devote 30 percent
of their budgets for the development of Mindanao as the Agribusiness
Center in the South.
Among
the major infrastructure projects in Mindanao are the Dapitan-Dakak,
Sibuco-Siraway-Sioco-Baliguin, Dinagat Island Network, Manay-Mati,
Maguindanao-Lebak roads.
“We want better airports, new bridges and ample energy
for Mindanao’s rising economy,” she said.
The
President said the Dipolog, Cotabato and Pagadian airports
would be improved this year.
She also said that in Central Philippines, the tourism Super
Region, there is a need to “protect its natural wonders
and provide the means to travel to those wonders.”
For Boracay, “the leading overall destinations,”
the Kalibo airport is now an international terminal while
the Aklan-Libertad Pandan Road would connect Boracay to the
natural park in northwest Panay Peninsula.
“Meanwhile, we are improving other Panay roads—the
Iloilo-Santa Barbara Road and Metro Iloilo Radial road would
be completed in 2009, she said.
The President said that in Guimaras, the road from Jordan
to Sibunag Ro-Ro would be built in 2009. The Puerto Princesa-Taytay
road was opened last March.
The
Taytay-El Nido road was also opened last March while the Puerto
Princes-Bataraza road is set for completion in December 2009.
More roads and airports, as well as seaports, are being upgraded
and constructed in the Visayas in a move to link the islands.
These include the Bohol Circumferential Road, Maasin Ro-Ro
port, and Jagna Ro-Ro port.
For the Bicol region, the President mentioned the Bicol River
Basin and Watershed Project funded by the World Bank.
She said that for North Luzon to become an agribusiness center
in the north, a total of 1,000 kilometers of farm-to-market
roads are programmed for construction. Of this number, 200
kilometers have already been completed.
The Halsema Highway from Mt. Data to Bontoc and Tabuk-Tinglayan
Road are under construction, while airports are being built
in Baler and Batanes.
The Poro Point international terminal is being built while
the Bangui Bay Wind Power Project is being expanded.
For the Urban Beltway, “our top magnet for industry
and investment,” the President said that the Subic-Clark
Tarlac Express Road is in its final stages of construction
while the Clark airport now has an approach control radar.
The Coastal Road is being constructed while the NLEX-SLEX
interconnection project is ongoing.
The President said it is her “ardent wish that the vision
that I have outlined will be fully achieved when I step down.”
“It is my unshakable resolve that the fundamentals of
this vision will be permanently rooted, its progress well
advanced and its direction firmly fixed with our reforms already
bearing fruit,” the President said.
She added that her successor, whoever he or she is, would
have an “easier time of it as I did.” (OPS with
AJSanchez)
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Govs give PGMA an ovation for her SONA and social
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