PGMA assures: No Pinoy to ever go hungry again
ESPERANZA, Agusan del Sur (18 October) -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo assured here Wednesday that her administration will do everything to ensure that no Filipino will experience hunger again in the near future.
In an impromptu speech highlighting the observance of the National Week for Overcoming Extreme Poverty, the President said she wants this agricultural and aquacultural town of Agusan del Sur to be the model in the national government's war against poverty.
"I decided to observe the National Week for Overcoming Extreme Poverty here because I want Agusan del Sur to be the national model in our war against poverty," she said in the vernacular.
Coming from Camiguin province where she graced the 28th Lanzones Festival, the President flew here to personally turn over some important agricultural projects and health services facilities.
The Chief Executive led the inaugural rites and ribbon cutting of the P30 million newly-built Esperanza Medicare Community Hospital and officially turned over the supervision to Hospital Chief Eliza Gunay. Construction of the hospital was begun on Feb. 2, 2003 and completed only last October.
The 78-bed hospital is one of the priority projects of then Gov. Adolph Edward Plaza.
Assisting the President in the ribbon-cutting were Agusan del Sur Gov. Maria Valentina Plaza, Lone District Rep. Rodrigo Plaza, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) vice president Edward Plaza, Esperanza Mayor Leonida Manpatilan, National Anti-Poverty Commission Assistant Secretary Maya Santos, and Barangay Poblacion Chairperson Flordeliza Calderon.
After the inaugural rites, the President turned over a P63-million check to Governor Plaza for the construction of farm-to-market roads and the rehabilitation and improvement of agricultural infrastructures.
She also turned over the hybrid seed corn, hybrid malunggay seedlings, rice and corn thresher, and hand tractor to the Mahagkot Farmers Association.
The President then awarded the certificate to operate Botika ng Bayan to Esperanza Mayor Manpatilan while the certificate to operate the Botika ng Barangay was given to Barangay Chairperson Calderon.
She also awarded 100 Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) scholarship vouchers, 10 units of sewing machines, 10 goats for the Act for Peace Program of the province to all rebel returnees, and 10 cows for the Baka Alang sa Kauswagan ng Agusan del Norte (BAKAS) program and hybrid seedlings of fruit bearing trees for the Program on Reform and Utilization of Trees in Agusan del Sur (PRUTAS). (OPS) [top]