GMA here today for meet on "supra regions" project

President Gloria Arroyo is expected here in Cebu today primarily for a joint Cabinet and Regional Development Council meeting on the proposed creation of four "supra regions" in the country and partly to inspect the progress of the ongoing construction works of the Cebu International Convention Center at its project site in the North Reclamation Area.

In a news briefing conducted by Philippine Information Agency, Assistant Secretary Joe Capadocia said Arroyo is bringing all 44 Cabinet secretaries for a joint meeting with the five "critical members" of the RDC-executive committee, and all the governors and mayors of the participating regions.

The meeting here in Cebu is the third of four joint Cabinet and RDC meetings outside Metro Manila, specifically for the consultation with the stakeholders for the proposed creation of Central Philippines Supra Region together with the local chief executives of Regions 4-B, 5, 6, 7 and 8.

The participants of tomorrow's joint meeting are expected to reach around 80 at the Malacañang sa Sugbu from 10 a.m. to 12 noon.

Arroyo is expected to deliver an opening statement to reveal her policies and programs to be followed with a presentation on the economic, socio-demographic profile of the region among others by Economic and Development Secretary Romulo Neri, this will be followed by discussions and consultations on the proposed Central Philippines Supra Region.

Capadocia said Arroyo wanted to generate "as much strategic information" on her proposal to divide the country into four multi-regional investment and development areas out of the existing 13 political regions, the reason why she has these series of meetings and consultations before her slated State of the Nation Address on July 24.

The first meeting was conducted in Cauayan, Isabela, for the Northern Luzon Supra Region three weeks ago.

During the second of the series of joint meetings held in Malacañang last June 29 for the Metro Luzon or Urban Grid Supra Region, Arroyo reportedly pledged P75 billion for each of the supra -region, as revealed by RDC-7 chairman, Gov. George Arnaiz of Negros Oriental in the council meeting of the body last June 30.

Arroyo is scheduled to stay here overnight and will fly to Cotabato tomorrow for another joint meeting on the proposed creation of Mindanao Supra Region. This is to complete the four series meetings on the supra-regions proposal.

The joint meeting for the Southern Philippines Supra Region was originally scheduled on Tuesday but Arroyo wanted "to rush things up" so she may be able to get vital data several weeks prior to the delivery of her SONA.

Arroyo is expected to arrive in the airport at around 9:30 a.m. and will inspect the CICC briefly before proceeding to the presidential residence in the south as Arroyo wanted "to update herself on the preparations being done" in relation to the Cebu hosting of the 12th Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit this December.

Arroyo wanted to see the progress in the construction of the CICC.

After the consultation at the Malacañang sa Sugbu, there will be presentation in relation to the ASEAN summit preparations. - Cristina C. Birondo