PGMA orders DPWH to fast track major 2nd district works
Work faster. If possible, work 24/7.
Such were the orders of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo who was in town yesterday to check on vital infrastructure works in the Second District of Iloilo.
Accompanied by the district’s power couple, Secretary Augusto Boboy Syjuco and wife, Second District Representative Judy Jalbuena Syjuco, it was to be both a business and pleasure trip.
Albeit only a two-hour Presidential visit, every minute was seemingly well spent for President Arroyo and the Syjucos.
Festive was the mood since the arrival at the new Iloilo airport as the route towards the project sites visited were lined with exuberant schoolchildren. Locals also waved to the convoy of vehicles while cheers were heard the minute President Arroyo, Secretary and Congresswoman Syjuco showed up.
First official stop was the town of Pavia, Iloilo where a brief project update was given to the President. It was to be the Iloilo Flood Control Project that merited the President’s visit with the Pavia component located along Barangay Anilao here.
The project is aimed at mitigating the flood damage and inundation alongside the creation of a more sustainable urban community and of providing safer living conditions in the barangays covered.
Current physical accomplishment stands at 86.5% or 4.93# ahead of work schedule. Total project affected families are 505 with about 99% said to have been relocated to government-facilitated resettlement sites.
Meantime, a longer stay happened at the Alimodian visit of President Arroyo where she spoke to the audience comprised of schoolchildren, barangay and municipal officials and residents. President Arroyo led the groundbreaking ceremony for the rehabilitation of the 150 linear meter Nichols Bridge. A priority program of Malacañang, Nichols Bridge is the sole link of 17 barangys to the town proper. The Nichols Bridge was destroyed during Typhoon Frank.
On the lighter side of the visit, President Arroyo spent a moment with the schoolchildren who performed several “Rondalla” numbers. The President requested a photo-opportunity with the delighted students while parents proudly stood by and watched.
“Salamat President Arroyo… Salamat Tito Boboy Syjuco… Salamat Congresswoman Judy Syjuco,” came the repeated message of locals to the Presidential party.