PGMA orders DepEd to fund classroom construction
BGY. MANUALI, Porac, Pampanga -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Tuesday instructed Education Secretary Jesli Lapus to provide funding for the construction of a two-classroom school building here.
The Chief Executive issued the instruction during a site inspection for the new school building. She also told the Lapus to source personnel who would work as teachers from this remote village.
In an interview, Lapus said that funds were readily available for the construction of the school building.
He said the P1.2-million needed to put up the two classrooms would be processed so that construction could start immediately.
The classrooms, measuring 7x7 meters each, would soon provide a suitable learning venue for elementary school students.
Also joining the President were DepEd Region III Director Mario Ramirez and local government officials led by Pampanga Rep. Carmelo Lazatin, CORD 3 Ed Pamintuan, Presidential Management Staff Director General Hermogenes Esperon and Manuali Barangay Captain Fernando de Leon.
PGMA fulfills promise to Aeta girl
PORAC, Pampanga -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo arrived on Tuesday in Barangay Diaz to announce the start of construction for a school building.
Five months ago, Mrs. Arroyo promised Joan Duya, a 14-year-old Aeta girl she would get her wish. The girl had meekly asked her for a school building to be constructed right in this remote barangay so that she and other children would not have to walk three kilometers of rough hilly terrain just to get an education.
Now the President arrived to tell the girl she is making good on her promise.
"Maraming salamat po. Dahil po sa inyo, may tatayo nang eskwelahan dito sa amin," Duya told the President.
Most of those present could not help but shed tears of joy at the sight of the president gently cradling the crying but happy girl while telling her everything was going to be alright.
The school building, to be built at a cost of P1-million, would house two new classrooms. Once completed, the classrooms will be the 100,000th and 100,001st built by Mrs. Arroyo since she assumed office in 2001.
Aside from the classrooms, the president also promised the residents that by December electricity would be flowing to their homes.
A series of photovoltaic cells would soon be put up in their area to harness the power of the sun and provide enough electricity to light up homes in the barangay.
PGMA to visit Taguig and
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is scheduled to visit Taguig, where she will be updated on plans to rid Napindan Channel of obstructions that cause flooding in Metro Manila.
From Taguig, she proceeds to
Her first destination is the Senior Citizen Park in Barangay Napindan, Taguig City, where she will be received by Taguig City Mayor Freddie Tinga, Congressman Henry Duenas Jr. (2nd District, Taguig), General Manager Ed Manda of the Laguna Lake Development Authority, Dr. Renato Solidum of the Philippine Volcanology and Seismology, and Napindan Barangay Chairman Mario Esguerra.
She will be briefed by Mayor Tinga on the disaster mitigation on housing and waterways, along with LLDA General Manager Manda and Vice President Noli de Castro.
To attend the event are 200 residents of Barangay Napindan and nearby barangays, LGU officials and staff and the Mayors of Taytay and Cainta, Rizal.
She will then proceed to Barangay Bagong Ilog Elementary School in Pasig City where she will be received by Pasig City Lone District Congressman Roman Romulo, Pasig City Mayor Robert Eusebio Jr., General Manager Federico Laxa of the National Housing Authority, Bagong Ilog Barangay Chairman Ferdinand Avis, Pineda Barangay Chairman Henry Lacuna and Bagong Ilog Elementary School Principal Dalisay Santos.
Mayor Eusebio will deliver the welcome remarks while Cong. Romulo will present an overview of the CELA project after which the President is expected to interview two beneficiaries on how the project has benefited them.
The President then awards the CELAs to 177 beneficiaries from Barangay Pineda and 215 from Barangay Bagong Ilog. The first certificate of priority (1965) was signed by her father, the late President Diosdado Macapagal while the first MOA was executed in 2001 for Barangay Pineda under her administration.
An estimated crowd of 500 composed of beneficiaries, LGUs, government partners, teachers and nearby residents and the Presidential Commission on Urban Poor (PCUP) Commissioner Percival Chavez and PNR Board Chairman Mike Defensor are expected to attend.
Palace to ask Atienza’s explanation on
Malacañang will ask Environment Secretary Lito Atienza to explain his decision allowing a big mining project to be put up in
In a press briefing on Tuesday morning, Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said the President will ask Atienza to justify the issuance of an ECC (Environmental Compliance Certificate) by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ (DENR) to a Norwegian-based company to mine
Government officials of
The officials are also asking DENR to respect the 25-year mining moratorium in the province.
When asked if Atienza’s action violates the policy of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in environment conservation and protection, Remonde said the government needs to strike a balance between development and the protection of environment. That’s why, he added, the palace would ask Atienza to explain himself.
Palace will help Z Gorres
Malacanang vowed to extend all necessary assistance to International Boxing Federation (IBF) super flyweight champion Z “The Dream” Gorres, who met an accident after winning the non-title fight against Luis Melendez on Saturday night in
Press Secretary Cerge Remonde told a media briefing in the
He said that like pound-for-pound boxing icon Manny Pacquiao, Gorres was also one of the pride of the country.
”The government is willing to give him (Gorres) any assistance that he deserve which is in accordance of law and definitely we want to take care of them because we want to produce more Manny Pacquiao in the future,” Remonde said.
Gorres, who hails from
Gorres was immediately rushed to
Remonde assured the Gorres’ family of the government’s assistance they will need.
Meanwhile, Remonde also said that the Palace was coordinating with the Philippine Sport Commission (PSC) for the preparation of giving Pacquiao a “heroes welcome” when he arrives on Friday.
Remonde said that Pacquiao was now considered one of the great boxers in the world after snatching his 7th title in defeating Miguel Cotto.
