Arroyo opens vital projects in south, bares growth in Muslim Mindanao

February 18, 2010


TARAKA, Lanao del Sur – Received warmly by thousands of young and old villagers here where her late father former President Diosdado Macapagal set foot in 1965, President Arroyo led Wednesday the ground breaking of a P29-million water works system to end the local residents’ dependence to muddy river for drinking water.

The President also formally opened here the P3.5-million public market building she bankrolled through her social fund three years ago to spur what she underscored as agri-business ventures needed to bring the rural town to greater heights.

Ms. Arroyo also broke the ground for a similar P29-million water work system in the nearby Masiu, the hometown of Agrarian Reform Secretary Nasser Pangandaman, who informed here of the "monumental projects” former President Macapagal put up in the two rural towns in 1965.

In her brief speech, the lady chief executive lauded the administrations of Lanao del Sur Governor Mamintal "Bombit" Alonto-Adiong Jr. and his younger brother, Muslim Mindanao acting Regional Governor Ansaruddin A. Adoing, saying that poverty in the Maranao province has been alleviated tremendously.

“I am happy to announce that Lanao del Sur has graduated from being one of the 10 poorest provinces in the country,” Ms. Arroyo said, stirring a resounding applause from thousands of young and old well-wishers and residents.

She said the incumbent local officials should continue to infuse agri-business projects in the province that would not only assure their residents three-square meals daily but also allow them to export agricultural crops to neighboring areas.

Gov. Adiong alongside his brother, the ARMM acting governor and Taraka Mayor Sumagayan, who chairs the provincial mayors’ league, said the President visit would boost the morale of her allies in pushing for the victory of administration candidates in the coming elections.

Mayor Sumagayan said with optimism the President would remain a national leader to keep serving Muslim areas because she will overwhelmingly get elected to a seat Pampanga’s Congressional district and to the House speakership eventually.

"Surely, she will make it in the Pampanga and in the House of Representatives, and her administration candidates will dominate Taraka town, the province of Lanao del Sur and the Muslim Mindanao region in the coming political exercises,” Sumagayan said.

Prior to her visit in Masiu town and here Wednesday, the President also inaugurated some infrastructure projects in Kabuntalan, Maguindanao, another component of the administration’s political bailiwick Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

She also visited the equally pro-administration officials of Sultan Kudarat province led by Rep. Pax Mangudadatu and his son, Governor Suharto “Teng” Mangudadatu.

The President did not speak about politics in her latest Mindanao field sorties, but her local allies said the visits were a “big plus factor” for administration’s national bets led by their standard bearer former Defense Chief Gilbert Teodoro.

Interior and Local Governments Secretary Ronaldo Puno, a staunch campaigner for Teodoro, accompanied the President in Maguindanao where residents still reel from the nightmarish effect of the Nov. 23 massacre of 57 people including 31 journalists. (Ali G. Macabalang)