PGMA to open 29th Masskara in Bacolod plaza today
BACOLOD CITY -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will be the special guest of the 29thMasskara Opening Ceremony which will be held at the Bacolod City public plaza today.
No less than the President reportedly chose the venue of the opening ceremony despite the appeal from the city government that it will held in the New Government Center, for convenience and security purposes.
Prior to the President's decision there was a conflict on where the opening ceremony will be held -- the public plaza or government center -- but the Presidential Management Staff (PMS) led by Ruby Plagata informed Vice-Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson on Monday's meeting at Business Inn Hotel that the president preferred the plaza because for how many years the activity was done there.
Mayor Evelio Leonardia announced before that there was already a confirmation of the president's presence during the opening ceremony in the New Government Center but lately it was changed because of the report that no less than Bacolod Lone District Representative Monico Puentevella, Leonardia's strong rival, called up the president and appealed to hold the ceremony in the plaza and not in new edifice which he considered as the "center of corruption".
Many of Leonardia's allies were dismayed after knowing that the congressman is behind the president's change of mind. It cannot be denied also that Puentevella is one of the supporters and trusted ally of President Arroyo.
But Puentevella said in his press statement that maybe the president realized that it should not be done there because of some issues and graft cases filed against the city officials in the Ombudsman as regards to the construction of the multi-million structure.
"The city should respect the decision of the President," Puentevella said.
Sayson, when asked of his comment, said issues are always there and he believed that the president was already briefed of the real situation in the city, especially the issue in the government center. He believes the decision of the president in choosing the public plaza is not because of the recent issues but because she felt it is the best place for her and they also respect that.
"The Bacolod City government lead by Mayor Evelio Leonardia wanted only the best for the President like for example when the weather is not good, the president's personal necessities, safety etc., these are all considered by them because as what they explained before, government center can cater all these but still it's up for her to decide," Sayson added.
President Arroyo will arrive at the New Bacolod Silay Airport at 9:30 a.m. After that she will do the groundbreaking of the new 10 km. access road from Silay airport to Bacolod and proceed to the Bacolod City public plaza for the opening of the 29thMasskara. On lunchtime, she will proceed to Convergy's for ribbon-cutting.
The president will stay overnight in the city and will meet with city and provincial officials as well as the congressmen in Western Visayas through a private meeting. The group of sugar cooperatives and sugar planters are also seeking an audience from the president but it was not announced publicly.
Vice-Mayor Sayson said, if given a chance, will raise to President Arroyo the issue on cooperatives versus Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), lowering price of sugar, ethanol project and power supply.