PGMA releases P50 M for Guimaras rehab
President Gloria Arroyo cuts the ribbon during the
opening of the Petron Library Hub in San Miguel,
Jordan, assisted by (L) Petron Corporation
President Khalid D. Al-Faddagh and Petron
Corporation Chairman and CEO Nicasio I. Alcantara,
Guimaras Congresman-elect JC Rahman Nava and
Guimaras Governor-elect Felipe Nava. (PIA 6)
JORDAN, Guimaras -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo announced here yesterday the allocation of P50 million for the ongoing rehabilitation of Guimaras which was affected by the MT Solar I oil spill last year.
The President made the announcement during the inauguration of the P7-million Petron Library Hub intended to support the educational upliftment and comprehensive human development of school children in this island province.
The President said that the International Oil Compensation Program (IOCP) of Petron Corporation already gave compensation to tourist resorts and fishermen during the first batch of their compensation program.
For the second batch, the President said some 2,000 applicants have submitted their documents that are now being processed.
The President said there are funds for the relief and rehabilitation of Guimaras under the supplemental budget.
"And now, I am very happy to have been able to bring to the province of Guimaras the first P50 million release," the President said.
The President also announced that the Roll-On Roll-Off (RORO) ferry system would soon reach Guimaras from Bacolod City through Sibunay and Jordan going to Iloilo province, which is some 15 minutes by motorboat from here.
The President led the ribbon-cutting and unveiling of the marker of the Petron Library Hub in Barangay San Miguel together with Petron chairman and chief executive Officer Nicasio Alcantara and Petron president Khalid Al-Faddagh.
The library would cater to the 99 public elementary schools in this province through their principals, teachers or administrators who could borrow books and other educational materials in bulk for a period of 30 days.
The library hub is part of the ongoing program of Petron Corporation to help communities in the province after MT Solar I sank between Guimaras Gulf and Negros Occidental last August 11.
The tanker spilled some two million liters of oil that heavily affected 11 coastal barangays in Nueva Valencia town.
Aside from the library hub, the President said that Alcantara quickly obliged to her request to establish computer terminals for the 17 public high schools in the province.
The President was also presented with the Memorandum of Agreement between Petron and the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC) for the establishment of a Mariculture Livelihood Model Farm in Nueva Valencia that would provide fishermen the necessary skills to go into milkfish production.
The President also witnessed the turnover by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) of seed capital for seaweed farming to four Self-Employment Assistance Kabuhayan (SEA-K) associations from Sibunay, San Lorenzo and Nueva Valencia towns.
The seed money is part of Petron's P3-million livelihood program assistance to the DSWD in Guimaras.
The President also witnessed the turnover of Petron's donation to the Department of Education (DepEd) which is a one-storey, four-classroom Tando Multi-Grade School in Barangay Tando, Nueva Valencia as part of its support program for the communities in the province.
The President arrived here from Iloilo with DSWD Secretary Esperanza Cabral, Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap, and DepEd Undersecretary Teodosio Sangil.
(PNA)