PGMA ORDERS DPWH TO FAST TRACK
PRECENTACION-CARAMOAN COASTAL ROAD PROJECT

LEGAZPI CITY– President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has directed Thursday (August 13) the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to expedite the completion of the Presentacion-Caramoan coastal road in Camarines Sur province.

The President, who was scheduled to visit Caramoan, deferred the road inspection due to inclement weather. She instead proceeded to her scheduled visit to this city to inaugurate the re-opening of the tolling facility of Legaspi Oil (LegOil) Company in barangay Arimbay.

Upon landing at the Legazpi Airport, the President was briefed by DPWH Undersecretary Rafael Yabut on the status of the Presentacion-Caramoan costal road project.

President Arroyo directed Yabut to expedite the completion of the project, particularly the Caramoan road leading to San Vicente roll-on-roll-off (RoRo) port that will connect the mainland of Caramoan peninsula to Catanduanes.

According to the President, she will inspect the Caramoan road project in September this year to oversee the development of her priority project in the province.

The Presentacion-Caramoan road is expected to link the nine barangays in between the two towns.

The proposed road project is anticipated to open new income opportunities and spur the socio-economic development by providing people the means to transport livestock and agricultural products to commercial centers. It is also designed to serve as an access to the RoRo ferry port in Caramoan going to the island province of Catanduanes. (PIA V Release)

PGMA MEETS COCO INDUSTRY STAKEHOLDERS IN BICOL

LEGAZPI CITY— Instead of the usual presidential speech, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo opted to personally meet several beneficiaries of the government’s program to rehabilitate the coconut industry in Bicol.

The President earlier said, she would want to know the impact of the program on the lives of ordinary folks.

At the re-opening of the Legaspi Oil (LegOil) Company, President Arroyo called four beneficiaries over and asked them how the project benefited them.

According to Jesus Arranza, president and chief executive officer of the Coconut Industry Fund Oil Mills Group (CIIF), about P64 million was spent to rehabilitate the coconut industry.

He said the money was used to nurseries and buy millions of seedlings. Through this effort, the government was able to revive the coconut industry in Bicol.

The four beneficiaries were trader Efren Olmedillo of Pulangi town, coconut farmer Gladwin Navera from Guinobatan, Truck Pump Operator Roque Ceroma and plant worker Arvin Banańa.Olmedillo personally thanked the President for her paramount concern and support to the coconut farmers.

He said the money provided by her administration has enabled farmers to plant coconut again. In response, the President said it is her responsibility to help people improve their lives.

For his part Navera said that with the recovery of the coconut industry in Albay, he is now selling 1,600 kilos of copra every 45 days.

Ceroma and Banańa, who both work for the LegOil said the plant is generating employment opportunities for people.

President Arroyo explained that the recovery of the coconut industry in Bicol means new economic ventures, higher end coconut products to sell in both local and international markets, and employment opportunities for Bicolanos. (PIA V Release)