PGMA calls on youth to ensure free and fair elections
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BATAC, Ilocos Norte – President Gloria Macagapal-Arroyo today called on the youth to be more involved in the
“civic life of the nation” by working together to ensure an honest, free and fair elections in May.
In her speech marking the launch of government projects aimed at modernizing agriculture in Region I at the
Mariano Marcos State University here this morning, the President said she is determined to pass to the new
government “a new Philippines, one that is ready to bring our nation to first world status in the 20 years.”
“But to do that, free and fair elections are important and you the students need to get involved in a positive way in
the civic life of the nation that is why I felt that for a regional tour, I must have a visit to a school and I chose
MMSU,” the President told some 1,500 students, faculty and staff of the university.
The President called on the youth “to encourage a no guns no violence campaign” to curb the culture of violence
existing in society.
“I think it is the young people who can do this campaign so we can try to change the culture of violence,” the
President said.
“Young people of this region and all of the youth of the land, we your elders, count on you to be bold not for your
selves only but for others, for your family, your friends that generations after you and for our beloved Philippines,”
she added.
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PGMA inaugurates Sarrat Bridge in Ilocos Norte
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SARRAT, Ilocos Norte – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo inaugurated this morning the P576.843-million
Sarrat Bridge here that is expected to spur economic growth and progress by cutting down travel time to and
from the municipality.
Joining the President for the ribbon-cutting, marker unveiling and ceremonial drive-through to formally open
bridge operations to the public were Ilocos Norte governor Michael Keon, 1st District Rep. Roque Ablan, Jr.,
Sarrat Mayor Edito Balintona and Public Works and Highways Secretary Victor Domingo.
Domingo, in his project briefing to the Chief Executive, said that this “symbol of love” from the President now
connects Sarrat to the eastern towns of Ilocos Norte as well as the province of Apayao.
“So now, people (from these areas) can now do their shopping in the Sarrat-Solsona-Laoag-San Nicolas
areas,” Domingo said.
Jose Depasupil, a 50-year old former warehouse manager of TOYO Construction firm, one of the companies
involved in the construction of the Sarrat bridge, said that with the completion of this bridge, he can now go back
to his former job as a jeepney driver plying the Sarrat-Dingras route.
He said that with the Sarrat bridge finally open, he is assured of good earnings from ferrying commuters
because trips that used to take one hour can now be taken in just five minutes.
“Mas malaki ang kita dahil mas mabilis na ang biyahe,” he said.
Eddie Claro, meanwhile said that his job as barangay captain is now much easier because he can “watch over”
his constituents more efficiently since travel time between the towns is shorter.
The 45-year old resident of San Jose also expressed gratitude that the value of land in his area has risen due to
the “infrastructure development” that naturally accompanies big ticket infrastructure projects.
The Sarrat Bridge, which measures 520-meters long and is 10-spans wide, is one of four long-span bridges
constructed under the President’s Bridge Program for Northern Luzon. The other three bridges are the
Amburayan and Quirino bridges in Ilocos Sur and the Kaling bridge in Benguet.
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Icban sets modest goal as Press Secretary
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The putative Press secretary has set a modest goal for himself, and that is to facilitate the flow of information.
In reply to a question thrown by a reporter, Crispulo Icban Jr., editor-in-chief of the Manila Bulletin, said he will do
his best to discharge the duties and responsibilities of the office, although, he hastened to add, he is more
comfortable behind a news desk.
“I’m only on loan from the Bulletin,” Icban told the journalists, mostly members of the Malacanang Press Corps.
“Five months, and then I will take my place among you once again.”
Icban had just dropped by the office of Undersecretary Romeo Junia for an informal chat when reporters and
cameramen came in droves for an “ambush interview.”
According to Icban, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo had asked him to join her administration the day after the
death of Press Secretary Cerge Remonde on Tuesday, Jan. 19. He said he would take a leave of absence from
his job to take on the government position.
Icban is expected to take his oath of office on Monday, after the nine-day mourning period for the late Cabinet
member will have elapsed.
He told reporters that he will hold briefings only after Cabinet meetings. On other days, he explained, Gary Olivar,
Charito Planas, and Ricardo Saludo, the three spokespersons, will take over.
Asked what can he hope to accomplish in five months, Icban said his job is to inform the public of the current
administration’s accomplishments, with the media serving as conduit. He acknowledged the fact that the
President suffers from a low popularity rating, but history, he said, will make the final determination of her
effectiveness as a leader.
Icban graduated in 1954, with a bachelor’s degree in English, magna cum laude, at the University of the
Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City.
He was editor-in-chief of the Philippine Collegian, the university’s student paper.
Upon graduation, he joined the Manila Times as general assistant in the editorial department, then as reporter
covering the Department of Foreign Affairs, and, finally, as editorial writer. He was named news editor, a position
he held until the paper was closed down in 1972, following the declaration of martial law.
Two years later, Icban joined the Manila Bulletin as consultant to the publisher and later as news editor. He
became editor-in-chief on Nov. 25, 2003.
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Palace confident Comelec can do job
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Malacanang joined the Commission on Elections today in assuring that the country’s first automated elections
in May will be a success.
In a phone patch interview with Malacanang reporters this afternoon, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said
measures are being undertaken to ensure the orderly conduct of the polls in the wake of fears of a possible
failure.
“There are fallback measures in case of malfunction (of the machines) in some remote areas,” he said.
Comelec chairman Jose Melo, according to Ermita, has already given his assurance that all possible kinks are
being ironed out.
“We will just have to take his word for it. We share Comelec’s optimism that this can be undertaken without too
much problem. Elections can continue in an orderly manner,” he said.
Although some of the poll machines have yet to be delivered, Ermita said the Comelec is confident that all of the
82,000 machines will be delivered next month.
Ermita said he will also meet with Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes to discuss the problem of possible power
outages.
He said that he has to get an assurance from the energy secretary that there will be no power failure during the
polls.
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PGMA launches nationwide tour to review major infra projects
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BATAC, Ilocos Norte – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo began today a nationwide tour to review her
administration’s estimated P1-trillion investment in infrastructure aimed at creating jobs and improving the living
standard of Filipinos.
“I am touring each region to review our legacy of accomplishments, and I am glad we are starting this review
here at the Mariano Marcos State University,” the President said.
President Arroyo unveiled the “super regions” concept in her 2006 State of the Nation Address (SONA), when it
seemed government income would outpace expenditures.
The President was at MMSU to launch agriculture modernization in Region I.
The budget deficit went down to P12 billion in 2007, from P64.8 billion in 2006.
In 2008 and 2009, however, the prices of oil and all other commodities went up, resulting in the deficit
ballooning to record highs. Unfazed, the President pushed through with the construction of key roads, bridges,
airports and seaports to stimulate economic growth and to “keep the country in step with the rest of its Asian
neighbors.”
The President also wanted to complete all the major infrastructure projects started during her presidency by
June this year.
As defined by Executive Order 561, the five “super regions” are North Luzon Agribusiness Quadrangle (for
agribusiness), the Luzon Urban Beltway (for infrastructure and logistics), Central Philippines (for tourism),
Mindanao (for agribusiness), and the Cyberservices Corridor (for information and communications technology).
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