GMA graces church events, gives scholarship vouchers

CEBU, Philippines - President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo yesterday kept herself busy by joining some Church-organized events, including the handing over of more than P1 million worth of scholarship vouchers to children of indigent families under Caritas-Cebu.

The chief executive made an hour-long stop at Caritas-Cebu and the grounds of the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral and joined the Church officials led by Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Vidal in a feeding program, turn over of scholarship vouchers and inspection of a health center.

Arroyo first distributed 125 scholarship vouchers to children of indigent families chosen by Caritas under the Training for Work Scholarship Program (TWSP) of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

Roger Peyuan of TESDA said the 125 recipients belong to the second batch as the first batch already received their scholarship vouchers during the birthday of Vidal last month.

The scholarship program is worth P1.8 million and the recipient has the choice of course from welding, computer literacy, and hotel and restaurant related courses.

After the giving of the certificates of commitment for the scholars, Arroyo initiated the feeding of 500 indigent children from five parishes within the province.

The President also inspected a portion of the two-storey Commission on Health Center, which is run by the Archdiocese. She donated P900,000 from the Presidential Social Fund for the construction of the building.

Arroyo then proceeded to the newly-improved plaza of the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral that has been “face lifted” in preparation for the jubilee celebration of the Archdiocese of Cebu on April 28.

“The plaza is a witness to history of Cebu, it is the courtyard of the Queen, the Immaculate Concepcion, it is but proper to develop it,” Vidal said.

The prelate thanked the provincial and national governments, as well as private benefactors for shouldering the costs.

Also present during the affair were Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, fourth district Rep. Benhur Salimbangon, sixth district Rep. Nerissa Soon-Ruiz, and Cebu City north district Rep. Raul del Mar. — Ferliza C. Contratista/WAB   (THE FREEMAN)