Arroyo orders release of P1.5 billion for education and infra projects
Iloilo City -- President Arroyo has ordered the release of a total of P1.5 billion to fund government projects on education and infrastructure.
Speaking before a crowd of about 500 Saturday morning in Concepcion town, Mrs. Arroyo announced that she ordered Department of Budget and Management secretary Romulo Neri to release P500 million to fund the construction of irrigation and farm-to-market roads nationwide.
Over at the centennial celebrations of Central Philippine University in the afternoon, the President also told a jampacked crowd at the Rose Memorial auditorium that she has also ordered the release of P1 billion so that public elementary and high school students from crowded schools can now be enrolled in private schools.
At the same time, she seized upon the opportunity to gain support for the Expanded Value Added Tax, which is expected to be raised to 12% if the conditions under the law are met.
"With more taxes, we can have more roads and irrigation projects," the President said during a media interaction.
Arroyo arrived in Iloilo City around 9 a.m. Saturday, January 28. From the airport, she flew by chopper to Concepcion, a coastal town located about 111 kilometers from the City. After the media interaction, she proceeded to Guimbal town in southern Iloilo, where she also inaugurated several projects. From Guimbal, she proceeded to CPU. On Sunday, the President heared mass at the San Jose parish for the opening of the annual Diangyang Festival, after which she departed for Manila.
Agrarian Reform Secretary Nasser Pangandaman, who accompanied the President in Concepcion, said that the P500 million will go to the National Irrigation Administration and for the construction of more farm-to-market roads in the upland areas.
We found out that we still have unreleased amounts from last year, so we will be using them to build more roads, he said.
Arroyo, Pangandaman, Social Welfare Secretary Lualhati Pablo, and chief of staff Mike Defensor flew to Concepcion Saturday morning to inaugurate the Ajuy-Concepcion road and the Agnaga-Calamigan-ADB-ARC farm-to-market road; distribute titles under the Gawad Kalinga project; and other anti-poverty projects under the Kalahi-CIDSS program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
She also said that Iloilo province, which she considers among the country's top rice granaries, will benefit much from the release of half a billion for irrigation projects.
"So with improved irrigation systems, Iloilo will be number one in rice production," she stressed. At present, Nueva Ecija is the country's top rice producer mainly because it has an efficient irrigation system.
"And this is what makes the difference between Iloilo and Nueva Ecija," Mrs. Arroyo pointed out.
In CPU, the President noted that there is overcrowding in public schools, while there is a surplus of facilities, especially classrooms, in private schools.
With an initial allocation of P500 million each for public elementary and high school students, they can now present vouchers when enrolling in private institutions.
She also bared a ladderized system of education in vocational schools, whereby those with vocational degrees can now have these accredited in order for them to earn college degrees. "This is to increase the country's competitiveness."
"Because I know how much you value a college degree," she added in her short address, punctuated by cheers coming from the alumni of CPU.