Pres. Arroyo here for a two-day visit

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will visit Cebu today and tomorrow for several important engagements.

At 11 a.m. today, the chief executive will deliver her keynote speech before some 2,500 barangay officials who will gather for the 8th National Convention of the Liga ng mga Barangay at the grand ballroom of the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel.

Expected to be with the President are some Cabinet officials like Cabinet Secretary Ricardo Saludo, Tourism Secretary Joseph "Ace" Durano, Cabinet Officer for Regional Development in Central Visayas Cerge Remonde, Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla, Presidential Management Staff Arthur Yap and Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Peter Favila.

During the opening ceremonies, Mayor Tomas Osmeña will give his welcome remarks. After Osmeña, Liga ng mga Barangay national president James Marty Lim will also give his message.

Before giving her address, Arroyo will witness the awarding of 10 certificates of scholarship under the Ladderized Education Program, six checks under the Micro-Finance Program of Postal Bank and the memorandum of agreement signing between Honda Phils., Technical Education Skills Development Authority and the Liga ng mga Barangay on the "Mekaniko sa Bawat Barangay" project.

At 12:15 p.m., after delivering her message at the convention, the President will proceed to the Provincial Capitol to lead the unveiling of the marker at the Capitol grounds, beside the flagpole, to commemorate her oath taking as president of the republic on June 30, 2004.

A reception party hosted by Cebu governor Gwendolyn Garcia will follow at the Capitol Social Hall. The governor will be celebrating her 51st birthday today.

There will also be a program in which she will confer the Presidential Award and Citation to Korea Electric Philippines Corporation chairman and chief executive officer Joon-Ho Han, witness the conferment of citation to CEMEX president Jaime de Jaro and witness the memorandum of agreement signing between the

Cebu provincial government and KEPCO Phils. The company will undertake the province's barangay electrification project.

At around 1:30 p.m., the President will motor to Parklane International Hotel for the Couples for Christ-Gawad Kalinga Cebu Congress.

Tony Meloto, national executive director of Gawad Kalinga, will give the welcome remarks and overview of the program. After which, the President will witness the awarding/recognition of GK partners and heroes (around 50 groups and individuals).

Arroyo is also expected to go to Badian with Garcia and other guests of the governor for her overnight birthday celebration.

On Friday, she will also lead the inauguration and unveiling of the bus terminal and public market of Danao City. She is also expected to go to the residence of Danao City mayor Ramon Durano III where she is invited to have a brunch before she left for Mactan Benito Ebuen Airbase in Lapu-Lapu City for her flight to Manila. - Wenna A. Berondo