Oathtakings keep GMA busy during last trip to Cebu

CEBU, Philippines -   Two days before she leaves the country’s highest elective post, President Gloria Arroyo yesterday inaugurated another of her projects here in Cebu, the Macapagal-Gullas Fish Port in barangay Tanke, Talisay City, and at the same time administered the oath of office of reelectionist first district Rep. Eduardo Gullas and the rest of Alayon Party candidates of the first district.

Arroyo, dressed in a short-sleeved orange blouse and orange pants arrived at 1:30 p.m. yesterday at the new fish port on a chopper from Bohol.

In her speech shortly after she cut the ceremonial ribbon, Arroyo, in Cebuano, thanked Cebuanos for their support to her administration, and said it was her last visit to the province during her presidency. 

The outgoing president also thanked the construction workers for helping in the project, which already ate up about P130 million of the P246 million projected cost.

The ceremony was held at the new fish market building, which Gullas said, will be where fish vendors from Talisay City and the rest of the Cebu province can do business once it becomes operational.

Gullas said they are now into the second phase of the project which includes the extension of the causeway. He explained that the 190-meter extension which will add to the 160-meter existing one will “hopefully” make the new port become the next stopping point for roll on/roll off ships and other bigger marine vehicles.

Gullas said the project, which was initially meant to be just a port, has already included a fish market for vendors of Talisay City who were shooed away by outgoing Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña at the height of his rift with Gullas when he started laying claim a portion of the South Road Properties.

It was in the late 2006 when the construction of the first phase of the Macapagal-Gullas Fish Port had started. There is no time frame yet when it is going to be completed and operational.

Meanwhile, Gullas has also assured that the city is set to reclaim 100 hectares of the neighboring seawater to accommodate the economic activity in the area which he expects to grow once the port functions. This reclaimed lot will become the city’s “economic zone,” he said.

Arroyo also administered the oath of office of Gullas and the rest of the successful Alayon Party candidates in the whole first district before leaving for Mandaue City to swear in reelected Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia.

Garcia, head of the One Cebu Party, yesterday made a pledge to all local government officials from the component cities down to the barangays of her support and to ensure that resources of the provincial government shall be allocated where most needed by the weak and the needy.   One Cebu was then supporting the presidential bid of Lakas-Kampi-CMD standard bearer Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jr., who only finished third in Cebu in the presidential race.

Teary-eyed Arroyo received a lot of thanks from Garcia in her inaugural speech during the mass oath taking of One Cebu newly-elected and reelected local officials.

Arroyo, who arrived at the Cebu International Convention Center in a red glittering suit was seen smiling and teary-eyed as the provincial government showed an audio-visual presentation of her various visits to Cebu for the past six years.

Played to the background song “The Journey” by Lea Salonga, the AVP showed Arroyo inaugurating various infrastructure projects such as roads, school buildings, bridges, among others together with the governor and some local officials.

“We are a grateful people. Six years ago, you honored us greatly by taking your oath here. But more importantly, beyond that power symbol, you have, for the past six years, contributed generously and in ways visible and concrete, to Cebu’s dream of progress and prosperity,” the governor said in her speech.

In previous interviews with the Cebu press, Arroyo herself could not exactly determine the volume of projects she has given to Cebu where she got an overwhelming majority of more than one million votes in the 2004 national and local elections.

“All I know is that I have provided projects for Cebu more than any presidents combined,” said Arroyo.

“To us, you will always be our adopted Sugbuanon. Our pinalanggang igsoon nga Sugbuanon,” said the governor to Arroyo in her inaugural speech, “as you end your term, as you take on a new challenges, we thank you for your service, and wish you Godspeed.”

She added that One Cebu prevailed against the long-standing and deeply ingrained political lines that divided Cebu as well as against those who not content with political lines sought to draw real and physical boundaries across our territory.

Arroyo also administered the oathtaking of the governor’s father, re-elected Second District Rep. Pablo Garcia and her brother, re-elected third District Rep. Pablo John Garcia as well as newly-elected Sixth District Rep. Luigi Quisumbing and Fourth District Rep. Benhur Salimbangon. After the oathtaking of the congressmen, Arroyo left CICC for another engagement. —/BRP (FREEMAN NEWS)