Estrada shortens visit to Mindanao

A very tired President Estrada flew back yesterday to Manila after ending his six-day provincial visit to Mindanao.

President Estrada was met at the Villamor Airbase in Pasay City by Executive Secretary Ronaldo Zamora, Defense Secretary Orlando Mercado and National Security Adviser Alexander Aguirre to update him on the latest developments in the pre-dawn bombing attack in the Department of Energy building in Fort Bonifacio, Makati City.

Presidential Spokesman Fernando Barican who was also at Villamor Airbase to welcome back the presidential party told Palace reporters that the Chief Executive was visibly tired from the Mindanao visit.

"He (President) was fine but a little tired because of the long six-day trip. The weather in Mindanao was not good," Barican said.

President Estrada's last sortie yesterday, which was a trip to Siargao Island for the inauguration of government project, was cancelled due to bad weather.

But President Estrada expressed satisfaction in his week-long stay in Mindanao which he described as "fruitful" in terms of seeing for himself that the projects he had previously launched were already in various stages of completion.

The President said he is heartened to see the progress of Mindanao for the past one-and-a-half years of his administration, which made him more determined to fulfill its potential as the country's "food basket."

"This is a challenge to me. If my predecessors failed to make Mindanao a food basket, I'll do it. This is a challenge," the President vowed.

The President said he would fly next to Visayas for a similar week-long stay by next week and probably hold office also on the presidential yacht in Cebu City.

While in Mindanao, the President released P6 billion for the implementation of the Davao Integrated Development Program and P5.72 million for the five-year program for SOCSKSARGEN (South Cotabato-Sultan Kudarat-Saranggani-Gen. Santos).

The President first flew to Gen. Santos City last Saturday, the first stop of his Mindanao sorties, then to Sulu, Butuan, Caraga and Bukidnon.