President inaugurates projects in Argao town

CEBU - The heavy downpour did not stop President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo from going through all her scheduled events yesterday and went far south to the town of Argao and inaugurated the sports and cultural complex named in honor of her father.

The President Diosdado Macapagal Sports and Cultural Center has been dubbed by Rep. Pablo P. Garcia of the 2nd District as the most beautiful sports complex in the province.

The facility sits on a 3,215 square meter property. It also has 20 stalls that would be rented out for commercial purposes and has a sitting capacity of 5,000.

There is also a 2,700-square-meter parking area.

Considered one of the crown jewels of Argao, the sports and cultural center was the venue for all activities of the recently-concluded 400th year celebration of the town.

Today, it is used for aerobic exercise sessions, ballroom dancing sessions, athletic meets, large meetings and cultural presentations.

With the sports and cultural center, economic activity in the town is expected to improve, said the town mayor.

“Dako g’yud ug tabang ning center sa economic activity diri sa Argao. With this, there is a big possibility that Argao will soon become a city,” Mayor Edsel Galeos said.

The President also signed Executive Order 710 yesterday. This is for the Farmer Scientist Training Program, a pet project of Dr. Romulo Davide that is now benefiting more than 2,000 farmers in Argao alone and hundreds of thousands more all over the country.

With this program, farmers get training under experts and scientists to develop their technical and scientific capabilities to grow corn and other crops utilizing appropriate farming technologies.

Moreover, the research and extension capabilities of Local Government Units and state colleges and universities can now render better services in their areas of responsibilities.

“Farmer Scientist Training Program is the foundation of food production program of the Philippines. It is designed to liberate poor farmers from the bondage of poverty,” Dr. Davide said.

President Arroyo also inaugurated the Argao Broadband Network. Argao is the 1st municipality on the Philippines to implement full automation for all government transactions.

With ABN, barangays will be enjoying free internet and voice communication through Voice Over Internet Protocol that would allow them to make free calls to the US and Canada as well as enjoy free internet connection in any part of the municipality.

Pres. Arroyo also gave the Argawanons with a brand new P9.4M fire truck which also spurred more volunteers to undergo fire safety training drills.

After the short program at the cultural center, the president proceeded to Cebu State College of Science and Technology and led the groundbreaking of the P9.1M, two-storey eight-classroom academic building where P5M was given from the President’s Social Fund. — Niña Chrismae G. Sumacot/NLQ (THE FREEMAN)