Big companies see how current fiscal and economic policies are keeping the Philippines buoyant.
“The Philippines is relatively better off …our growth may have gone slightly down but because of the economic astuteness of our President and the fiscal policies she has implemented, including sound banking policies, we are not as badly affected as 2/3 of the world’s economy,” said Teresita Sy Coson, President of the SM Group of Companies.
Sy Coson, who sits as chief executive officer of Banco de Oro and China Bank, said problems would always persist but the Chinese people, like her, believe that problems are also opportunities.
“We should continue supporting our government by intensifying our investments in the country,”said Sy Coson, “we must draw our strength in numbers and pool our efforts and resources together so we will make a difference.”
Sy Coson made the statement during the 27th Biennial Convention of the Federation of Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. (FFCCCII) where President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was guest of honor.
She prodded her colleagues to adopt projects that could generate jobs to weaken the impact brought about by the global recession.
Fil-Chinese federation to help government build schools
The Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc. (FFCCCII) will be assisting government to build schools.
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo will donate P35 million from the Presidential Social Fund (PSF) to FFCCCII for its school buildings projects.
“You have to put the money into building more elementary classrooms to reduce the current student to classroom ratio of 100 to 1 classrooms in one shift to 50 to 1 classroom in two shifts,” the President said
The President praised the FFCCCII for being the longest and largest ethnic-based group that has remained so cohesive and united while thoroughly accumulating itself in Philippine culture and tradition.
She authorized FFCCCII through Executive Order No. 284 to hold fund-raising programs for its Operation Barrio Schools Project.
FFCCCII has helped construct 4,000 schoolbuildings (of two classrooms) and 8,000 classrooms.
The Federation is targeting to construct 11,000 classrooms more for schoolchildren.
PGMA pushes for production of healthy, affordable veggie foods
To help mitigate the effects of the global economic slowdown, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is pushing for the large-scale processing and manufacture of nutritious and affordable vegetable-based foodstuff such as noodles, bread, burger patties, meatless sausages, cookies and juices for the consuming public, especially the poorest.
The President will inaugurate the Benguet Vegetable Processing Center in Benguet State University (BSU), in La Trinidad on Tuesday, April 7, together with Presidential Management Staff Secretary Hermogenes Esperon Jr., Benguet Governor Nestor Fongwan, BSU President Rogelio Colting, and members and representatives of the Inter-Agency Group under the Veggie Noodles Project.
Esperon, who inspected the center recently in preparation for its opening, said the first floor is already completed and it houses the processing and laboratory rooms, cold storage room, quality analytical room, training and demonstration areas, loading and unloading areas and several other production facilities.
He said the acquisition of various food processing equipment and other facilities will boost the production of veggie-enriched products, especially noodles and pasta, which increased from 2,200 packs per month to 19,008 packs per month.
According to Esperon, this processing center is an integral part of BSU’s Benguet Vegetable Processing Center (BVPC) Project, which aims to develop quality foods from fresh agricultural produce, and commercialize the production of vegetable-based products, including noodles.
President Arroyo has infused a P10-million financial assistance from her Social Fund in March 2008 to jumpstart this 3-year project, instructing BSU to concentrate first on the development and commercial production and distribution of veggie noodles. This paved the way for the creation of the Veggie Noodles Project, which is part of the BVPC Project, to provide cheaper, yet nutritious alternative foodstuff as well as reduce post-harvest losses and wastage and improve the income of vegetable farmers.
To ensure the success of the project, an Inter-Agency Group was formed led by the DOST-Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) with members that include PMS, DSWD, DA, BSU, DTI, Benguet Provincial Government, and the private sector, mainly represented by the Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship (PCE), food and beverage company RFM Food Corporation, and Liwayway Marketing Corporation, maker of OISHI snack products.
The project involves small-scale processors and noodle adoptors all over the country and other government agencies like NFA and PIA for widespread production of veggie noodles, as well as for assistance in product distribution and promotion. The veggie-based noodles are distributed through the Tindahan Natin (TN) outlets to reach as many consumers as possible, especially the poor communities.
As the Veggie Noodles Project’s first commercial-scale product, RFM’s “Proud Harvest” squash-enriched pancit canton noodles was launched in July last year with the assistance of the members of the Inter-Agency group, especially the DOST-FNRI, which provided the squash noodle technology. RFM marketed the products in key commercial markets and TN outlets in CAR, Regions I, II, IV, and NCR, in coordination with the NFA and DSWD. As of January this year, NFA reported that 77% or 10,363 packs of the initial delivery were already sold to TN outlets. The RFM, on the other hand, sold 6,795 bundles (12 packs/bundle) in different markets as of February this year and its sales have been increasing.
Today, the Benguet Vegetable Processing Center has already developed 23 variants of canton noodles at an annual capacity of 10,560 kilograms, 21 variants of instant noodles at 5,280 kgs. for market trial, 15 variants of pastas at 6,000 packs, 4 variants of siomai wrappers at 6,000 pieces, 21 variants of cookies at 14,400 packs, 20 variants of breads at 3,000 packs, 7 variants of veggie powder and mixes at 1,200 packs, 2 variants of meatless burger patties, sausages at 600 packs, 27 variants of purees, and one variant of veggie-fruit herb juice drink at 60 liters.
Under contract growing agreements, it has purchased assorted vegetables from farmer suppliers of Benguet, Nueva Vizcaya, Nueva Ecija, Cagayan, Pangasinan, La Union and Ilocos, thus, improving farmers’ income.
Following the President’s directive, the project is working with noodle adoptors nationwide to produce veggie noodles using FNRI’s existing technologies. FNRI has signed MOAs with 44 noodle adoptors who have already started commercial production as of December 2008.
BSU and PCE are currently developing a business template in veggie noodle production as part of the inter-agency group’s plan to identify and assist potential adaptors such as existing and new micro, small and medium enterprises, who are looking to venture into this industry. (PMS-Information and Communication Office)
Local officials, residents urged to back efforts to mitigate adverse effects of climate change
Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro—President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today lauded the local officials and residents of this coastal community for their active participation in mitigating the adverse impact of climate change.
The highest compliance of this coastal town in Republic Act (RA) 9003, otherwise known as the Ecological Solid Waste Management of 2000, is an example that other communities should imitate and adopt to achieve the government’s goal of zero basura.
The occasion was the joint briefings on solid waste management and climate change held at the pavilion of the Apo Reef Natural Park here.
“Congratulations to all of you. It is indeed great that through your effective implementation of the solid waste management program, we would be able to protect and save the country’s marine and natural resources, like this,” she said.
Records showed that the Mimaropa Region, to which this province belongs, has190 operational Materials Recovery Facilities (MRF) in the region’s 1,457 barangays. This is equivalent to 13 percent compliance rate of the MRF program, which is higher than the national average of only six percent.
Occidental Mindoro, on the other hand, has 52 operational MRF’s out of 162 barangays or a compliance rate of 31.5 percent. Not included in the compliance rate assessment were five of the five composting facilities in the province.
Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Lito Atienza said Occidental Mindoro’s 31.5 percent compliance is the highest among all the provinces visited by the President.
The Sablayan community has 10 operational MRFs out of 22 barangays or a compliance rate of 45.5 percent, the highest rate among all communities nationwide.
“That’s great, higher than Metro Manila,” the President said.
To underscore this community’s standing as role model of the MRF program, the President, through the DENR, will provide one set of charcoal briquetting machine for bio-degradable waste and another set of plastic melt for non-biodegradable materials.
Sablayan Mayor Godofredo B. Mintu thanked the President for her support to his community as he vowed to intensify their solid waste management program at the barangay level.
“Maraming salamat sa lahat ng suporta ninyo sa amin. Umasa kayo na ang bayan ng Sablayan ay higit na pag-iibayuhin ang pangangalaga sa ating kalikasan,” Mintu said, addressing the President.
The Chief Executive, likewise, reminded the LGUs to set up MRFs instead of sanitary landfill. “If there is no sanitary landfill in the area, then put up a big MRF,” she added.
Remonde: Holy Week will become even more meaningful with Abu’s hostages release
Press Secretary Cerge M. Remonde today expressed earnest hopes the Abu Sayyaf terrorists will help make the Holy Week observance next week more meaningful by freeing their two remaining hostages, following their release of Mary Jean Lacaba, a Filipina volunteer worker of the International Committee of the Red cross (ICRC).
The two other ICRC hostages -- Andreas Notter, a Swiss national and Eugenio Vagni, an Italian medical doctor – are still held by the terrorists in Sulu.
Remonde made his wishful remark in a radio interview over RMN-DZXL with Ely Saludar who noted that something sensational usually happens on Good Friday every year, and hopefully this year it will be the release of Notter and Vagni.
On Lacaba’s release, Remonde said “God is really great” and hopefully the crisis in Mindanao created by the kidnapping of the ICRC workers will finally be resolved and the repetitive kidnapping for ransom is comprehensively addressed.
He assured the government remains focused on the release of Notter and Vagni but stressed the urgent need to root out terrorism and kidnapping in Mindanao.
The Press Secretary said it may not be proper now to talk about future actions but the government will have to take a tougher stance and adopt more stringent measures against terrorists to prevent future similar kidnapping incidents.
He stressed, however, that Malacañang is correct in policy to leave the task and responsibility of negotiating with terrorists to local officials who know better and are more familiar with the situation on the ground, with the military and the police providing them proper support.
In a related development, National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales said the government is now also tracking down the movements of foreign terrorists after reports on the involvement of a Singaporean terrorist in the hostage crisis in Sulu has been confirmed.
Gonzales, in similar radio interview, indicated that there are other "international terrorists” in other parts of the country, including Sulu and Basilan. He said there could be some 20 suspected foreign nationals affiliated with the Indonesia-based Jemaah Islamiyah terror network, the regional arm of Osama bin Laden’s al-Qaeda network.
”I can only say the JI and Abu Sayyaf have a formal tie-up,” he added.
Sen. Richard Gordon earlier said the man claiming to be Albader Parad turned out to be a Singaporean terrorist who speaks fluent English, which was why he doubted if he was really Parad.
Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno informed Gordon the Singaporean terrorist is believed to be Mawiya, who has ties with the JI and has been hiding for years now in southern Philippines.
Puno: 'Calibrated pressure' forces Abu Sayyaf to free Lacaba
In a press briefing at the Philippine National Police (PNP) national headquarters in Camp Crame, Puno said he hoped that the kidnappers would also release soon the two other hostages -– Swiss Andreas Notter and Italian Eugenio Vagni.
“The (Abu Sayyaf) that is left there is now numbering about half of what they used to be. They apparently are suffering from a depletion of many of their resources, so I would think that the efforts of our uniformed personnel on the ground are starting to bear fruit,” Puno said.
He was referring to what security officials termed as “calibrated pressure” on the kidnappers.
Government forces have re-cordoned off the bandits and their hostages after a limited military pullout over the weekend.
He praised the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) soldiers and the policemen who have been cordoning off the bandits.
“I believe that the release was a result of the changed environment for the kidnappers in Sulu and... that it encourages everyone to proceed with the same course of action (of negotiations) because it has been shown and proven to be useful in trying to convince the kidnappers that the only course of action for them is to release the hostages to the safety of the authorities and their families,” said Puno.
Puno said AFP Western Mindanao Command chief Lt. Gen. Nelson Allaga turned over Lacaba to the ICRC and to her family Friday morning after a medical check-up and initial debriefing. He said the ICRC made an appeal that Lacaba be given a private time with her family.
“The major policy really, upon instructions of the President, is to ensure the safety of the hostages and take no precipitate actions which will endanger them or may put them in graver danger than they are now,” said Teodoro.
AFP chief Gen. Alexander Yano said they are allowing the peaceful measure of security and freedom of the hostages to prosper. However, he said there is a need also to maintain the calibrated response they are effecting on the ground.
DENR-6 readies emergency employment projects
FMS OIC Regional Technical Dir. Livino Duran said they have identified the Upland Development Program and the Bantay Gubat projects in line with the government’s Comprehensive Livelihood Emergency Employment Program (CLEEP).
Duran said they have allocated 2,479 hectares, targeting one hectare per beneficiary, who will be tasked to develop the area according to components, like reforestation, assisted natural regeneration, or agro-forestry.
The priority beneficiaries for the Upland Development Project will be those coming from poor upland and coastal households who will gain income through planting of cash crops, jobs in nursery production, planting and maintenance of reforestation and mangrove projects, and planting fruit trees.
These volunteers, as DENR calls them, will be given mobilization fund of 15 percent while clearing their lands, and then the next 60 percent upon actual development work, and then the remaining amount as the work progresses, which totals to P15,000 per hectare.
This way, Duran said, the volunteers feel their stake in forest protection, while earning a living.
For the Bantay Gubat Project, DENR-6 targets 1,960 volunteers, with an allowance of P3,000 per month, to conduct monitoring, enforcement and advocacy related to natural resources laws.
Duran said they are now posting announcements for applicants in various municipalities and they are set to process an initial 161 volunteers, gradually increasing till June 2009, to reach the 1,920 target volunteers.
He also said that they are urgently facilitating immediate work for those volunteers because of the need of jobs for the poor and because many portions of the region have suffered from environmental degradation brought by Typhoon Frank.
The national target for employment generation for Upland Development and Bantay Gubat is 110,429.
These projects are under DENR’s Green Collar Jobs that do not only intend to provide jobs to poor upland population but also to address climate change with people’s participation (PIA-6/ESS)
Transport strike fizzles out
Manila, April 3 - The transport strike set on Friday by the Alliance of Concerned Transport Organizations (ACTO) protesting the substantial increase in traffic violation fines fizzled out as it was hardly felt by commuters, especially in Metro Manila, authorities said.
Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Bayani Fernando said that in Manila, traffic remained normal in major thoroughfares, including Taft Avenue, where passenger jeepneys continued to ply their routes.
Similarly, there were no reports of passengers being stranded in eastern and southern Metro Manila.
Aside from the non-participation of other transport groups such as the Federation of Jeepney Drivers and Operators Association of the Philippines (FEJODAP), Pasang Masda and the militant Pagkakaisa ng Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Opereytors Nationwide (PISTON), authorities also attributed this to the end of classes which means lesser number of students in the streets waiting for a ride.
PISTON secretary general George San Mateo said while the group shared the stand of ACTO, resorting to a strike at this time was premature.
San Mateo said that they would first utilize legal means such as asking the Senate for an investigation into the matter. "We want this to go through the process."
The MMDA and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) deployed buses and service vehicles to ferry passengers who might get stranded by the strike.
The strike was planned in protest of the new scheme contained in Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) Order 2008-039 hiking penalties for traffic violations such as disregarding traffic signs that would result to a fine of P5,277, an increase of P5,000 from the previous P277.
The new order also imposes higher penalties for the following violations: driving without license, P1,500; driving with an expired license, P400; failure to carry a license, P200; possessing a fake driver’s license, P2,000; conviction in a crime using a motor vehicle, P3,000; hiring unlicensed conductor of a motor vehicle for hire, P2,000.
If the driver is also the owner of the subject motor vehicle, he will have to pay P4,000.
The non-use of seatbelt and illegal parking now carry a P1,000, P3,000 and P5,000 fine for the first, second, and third offenses, respectively. (PNA)
2 investors keen on acquiring Aplaya-General Santos retired plants
Prospects are good for the sale of the 108-megawatt (MW) Aplaya and 22.3-MW General Santos diesel power plant package if the enthusiasm of the two investor groups who attended yesterday’s (01 April 2009) pre-bid conference for the decommissioned power facilities is any gauge.
Following the standard process in all its bidding exercises, the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation (PSALM) conducted the pre-bid conference to allow the two Filipino participants to raise queries and clarify issues on PSALM’s Bidding Procedures for the retired power plants. Both groups did not disappoint as they asked questions that ranged from financing arrangements to dismantling modes. The investors were asked to write down their queries to ensure these would be adequately addressed by PSALM.
After the Holy Week respite, the two participants will continue to conduct their respective due diligence on the two Mindanao-based plants, the deadline of which is on 11 May 2009. The second round of bidding for the Aplaya-General Santos package is on 13 May 2009.
When it was first opened on 03 September 2008, the bidding for the retired power facilities was declared a failure because only one bidder submitted the documentary requirements.
The Aplaya diesel plant in Misamis Oriental consists of six 18-MW units that were commissioned between 1979 and 1982. The General Santos Diesel Power Plant in South Cotabato, on the other hand, comprises three 7.44-MW turbines that ran on either bunker or diesel fuel.
Ikalawang distrito sa Oriental Mindoro, inuulan ng proyekto
Ang isang mabuting ama, itinitiyak na naibibigay niya sa kanyang mga anak ang
kanilang mga pangunahing pangangailangan at isinisiguradong maayos ang buhay ng mga ito.
Bilang Ama ng Lalawigan, ito ang pangunahing tungkulin at responsibilidad na tinututukan ni Gobernador Arnan C. Panaligan.
Ika-20 ng Marso, muli, personal na inalam ng Gobernador ang tunay na sitwasyon ng kanyang mga anak – ang mga mamamayan mula sa limang magkakalayong barangay sa tatlong magkakaibang bayan sa ikalawang distrito ng lalawigan.
Ang Barangay Masaguisi ay isa sa coastal barangays ng bayan ng Bongabong. Karamihan sa may 2,000 mamamayang naninirahan dito ay pangingisda ang
pangunahing ikinabubuhay.
“Napakalaking pasasalamat po naming lahat na mga taga-Brgy. Masaguisi, dahil hindi po nag-atubili si Gobernador Arnan na ipagkaloob sa amin ang kahilingan naming pagpopondo nang P579,402.00 para maipatapos ang may P3.9 M sea wall dito sa aming barangay. Ito po ngayon ang nagsisilbi naming proteksyon lalo na kung may bagyo at malalakas na alon na nagbabanta pong sumira sa aming mga kabahayan,” ayon kay Masaguisi Brgy.. Capt. Ramon Ferias, Sr.
Isang proyektong magkakasamang ipinatupad ng DSWD-World Bank-KALAHI CIDSS, Pamahalaang Panlalawigan ng Oriental Mindoro, Pamahalaang Bayan ng Bongabong at Barangay Masaguisi, ang sea-wall ay may habang 182 metro, taas na apat na metro at lapad na pitong metro.
Pinangunahan nina Gobernador Arnan, 2nd District Board Member Ferdinand Thomas
Soller, Mayor Hercules Umali, DSWD Regional Director Violeta A. Cruz, at Assistant Regional Director Annie Mendoza ang ribbon cutting ceremonies ng nabanggit na proyekto kasunod ang simpleng programa para sa inagurasyon nito.
Dinaluhan ang gawain ng mga opisyal ng Sangguniang Barangay ng Masaguisi, mga guro at mag-aaral ng Masaguisi National High School at iba pang paaralan sa barangay, mga opisyal at kawani ng DSWD KALAHI-CIDSS, iba pang mga ahensya ng lokal na pamahalaan at Pamahalaang Panlalawigan at mga opisyal at mamamayan ng iba pang barangay ng Bongabong.
“Naging matagumpay ang pagpapatapos ng mahalagang proyektong ito dahil sa naging maayos ang koordinasyon at pagtutulungan ng Pamahalaang Panlalawigan, Pamahalaang Bayan ng Bongabong at ng Pamahalaang Barangay ng Masaguisi. Maliban din sa matibay na proteksyon ng inyong barangay laban sa pagtabag ng lupa
dulot ng malalaking alon, maaari pa ninyong i-develop ang seawall na ito bilang isang magandang tourism site, tulad sa Baywalk sa Roxas Boulevard,” pagbibigay-diin ng Gobernador sa gawain.
“Magsisilbing kongkretong alaala ang seawall na ito ng naging pagsasama-sama at pagkakaisa ng mga taga-Masaguisi na siyang nagtulung-tulong upang matapos nang mas maaga pa sa oras na itinakda ang nabanggit na proyekto,” ayon kay Director Cruz.
Ayon naman kay Mayor Umali, mula sa 11 barangay sa kanyang bayan na naghangad makakuha ng proyekto, ang Brgy. Masaguisi ang nagtagumpay na makakuha nito. Hinikayat niya ang mga taga-rito na alagaan at ingatan ang nabanggit na proyekto na bunga ng pagod at hirap ng mga taong boluntaryong nagtrabaho upang matapos ito.
Kasunod nito, pinuntahan ang Recognition Day sa Roxas Gymnasium.
Dito, binigyang-diin ng Gobernador ang mga mumunting bata mula sa 41 day care centers ng Roxas na noo’y nagdaraos ng kanilang Mass
Sa kanyang maikling pananalita, sinabi ng gobernador ang kahalagahan ng day care centers sa paghuhubog ng mga kabataan bilang bahagi ng Early Childhood Care Development Program ng Pamahalaang Panlalawigan. Dito, aniya, unang nahahasa ang galing at talino ng mga kabataan.
Kabilang pa sa mga programa ng Pamahalaang Panlalawigan na nagtataguyod ng pangangalaga sa mga kabataan ang programang pang-nutrisyon na nagtitiyak sa
pagkakaroon ng maayos na kalusugan ng mga bata.
Naging pagkakataon din ang oksayon upang ipagkaloob ni Gobernador Arnan, saksi sina Bokal Soller, Roxas Mayor Jackson Dy, mga opisyal ng Pamahalaang Bayan at mga barangay, ang P100,000 sa Barangay Bagumbayan, sa pangunguna ni Brgy. Captain Benny Mabunga para sa pagpapagawa ng kanilang Children’s Playground.
“Maraming-maraming salamat po Governor sa pagbibigay ninyo sa amin ng kailangan
naming pondo para maipagawa ang aming Children’s Playground na hindi lamang po mga taga-Barangay Bagumbayan, kundi maging lahat ng mga kabataan ng bayan ng Roxas ang makikinabang,” ang taus-pusong paabot ni Kapitan Mabunga sa okasyon.
Alas-dos y medya ng hapon ng araw ding iyon, pinuntahan ng Gobernador ang ikatlong barangay - ang Barangay Victoria.
Dito, ipinagkaloob ng Gobernador ang P50,000 halaga ng tulong puhunan para sa palay trading project ng samahang Kasanayang Pangkabuhayan ng Nagkakaisang Barangay Victoria o KAPANNABVIC, sa pangunguna ng pangulo nitong si Ginang Teresa Montesa, at kinabibilangan ng 36 na mga myembro.
Naging saksi sa gawain sina Bokal Soller, Mayor Dy, Victoria Barangay Officials, sa pangunguna ni Brgy. Capt. Gemar Montesa, LIKHA-Ka Project Management Officer Lorelein Sevilla, mga opisyal ng iba pang barangay ng Roxas, at mga mamamayan ng Barangay Victoria
Taus-pusong pasasalamat ang paabot nina Kapitan Montesa at Ginang Montesa sa anila’y napakalaking tulong na kaloob sa kanila ng pamunuan ni Gobernador Arnan.
Alas-tres kwarenta ng hapon nang marating ng Gobernador ang ika-apat na barangay para sa araw na iyon – ang Barangay Orconuma, sa bayan ng Bongabong.
Dito pinangunahan ng Gobernador ang ribbon cutting ceremonies para sa bagong tanggapan at tianggian ng Rural Improvement Club (RIC) – Orconuma Chapter na kasalukuyang may 101 myembro.
Kasunod nito, pinangunahan din ng Gobernador ang panunumpa sa katungkulan ng mga opisyal ng iba’t ibang mga samahan sa Bongabong, sa pangunguna nina RIC Orconuma Chapter President Hedy T. Custodio, Mina De Oro Lakas Kababaihan President Gng. Norma Garabiag at MAREBEMCO General Manager Manuel Portugal at CRECOM Chairman MAREBEMCO Gng. Ester G. Fernandez.
Dito, hinikayat ng Gobernador ang lahat na patatagin ang kani-kanilang samahan at itiniyak na lagi siyang kaisa ng mga ito sa pagtataguyod ng kaunlaran ng kanilang mga samahan at ng bayan ng Bongabong.
Alas-singko kinse nang hapon nang marating ng Gobernador ang huling barangay sa araw na iyon ang Barangay Malamig, sa bayan ng Gloria.
Sa Margarito Matibag Memorial Hall ng Malamig National High School, nadatnan nina Gobernador Arnan at Bokal Soller ang daan-daang mga taga-Barangay Malamig, sa pangunguna ni Malamig Brgy. Capt. Cruzaldo Mabolo at mga opisyal ng barangay at ng bayan na noo’y nagsasagawa ng kanilang Barangay Assembly.
Sa ngalan ng kanyang mga ka-barangay, ipinaabot ni Kapitan Mabolo ang kanilang
taus-pusong pasasalamat sa paglalaan sa kanila ng panahon ng Gobernador at ang patuloy niyang pagkakaloob ng mga mahahalagang proyekto at programang lubos na kinakailangan ng kanilang barangay.
Naging pagkakataon naman ang Gawain upang mailahad ng Gobernador ang pinakamahahalagang proyekto ng kanyang pamunuan, hindi lamang para sa bayan ng Gloria, kundi maging sa buong lalawigan.
Limang barangay sa tatlong bayan sa loob ng isang araw.
Mula sa pagsikat ng araw hanggang sa paglubog nito, sinisikap na maabot ng Gobernador ang lahat nang 426 barangay ng lalawigan upang kahit sa tig-kakaunting oras man lamang, personal niyang makita ang kalagayan ng kanyang mga nasasakupan, maipagkaloob ang kanilang mga pangunahing pangangailangan, marinig ang kanilang mga suliranin at hinaing, at makapagbigay ng mga tulong at suporta sa paglutas ng mga suliraning ito – mga gawaing nagpapakita at nagpapatunay sa kanyang pagiging isang responsable at maaasahang Ama ng mga Mindoreño, Ama ng lalawigan ng Oriental Mindoro. (PIA-Calapan City/PIO)
