In spite of "political noise" coming from the opposition in its calls for her to resign amid poll fraud charges, the President cited the economic gains of her administration as proof that it was time to start the next stage of reforms apart from the government’s regular infrastructure programs.
During a brief visit to the city, Mrs. Arroyo reported the country had posted a growth rate of 4.8 percent this year, higher than that of Malaysia and Taiwan.
The President also noted a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey that reported the poverty level has dropped from 57 percent to 49 percent, while the unemployment rate was reduced from 8.8 percent to 7.7 percent.
As part of its industrial reforms, the President she said was hopeful that the Global Steel Industries International (GSII), formerly National Steel Corp., would expand and go back to full employment of more than 2,000 steel workers who lost their jobs with the closure of NSC.
"This should be the key to the return of this city to its golden age," she said referring to the past decades when this city was dubbed the "industrial city of the south" because of several industrial plants which were then operating here.
One of the projects Mrs. Arroyo hopes to implement here is the completion of the Iligan-Bukidnon road that will connect this city to Bukidnon province which she hopes will spur agribusiness activities.
The President said she had initially given P5 million to Rep. Alipio Badelles through the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for the completion of the project.
The President also asked acting Agrarian Reform Secretary Nasser Pangandaman and Iligan City Mayor Lawrence Cruz to allocate funds as the respective counterparts for the project.
While here, the President called on the people not to be afraid of the current political turbulence and urged them to pray with her, saying prayers to God and the angels had been protecting her from "wickedness and snares of the devil."
The President cited a common prayer to Saint Michael the Archangel, who she said happened to be a patron saint of Malacañang as well as Iligan City, where she unveiled the marker as heritage house at the Macaraeg-Macapagal residence in Timoga, Buru-un town.
The prayer asks Saint Michael "to defend us in battle; be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil."
"May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do thou O Prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God, cast into hell, Satan and all the other evil spirits, who prowl through the world, seeking the ruin of souls," said Mrs. Arroyo, a devout Catholic.
The President reiterated that it was time to move forward and set aside politics for national progress.
She said she was happy that fewer Filipinos considered themselves poor and vowed to continue to work for them.
In her speech, the President also acknowledged the presence of newly appointed Southern Command chief Lt. Gen. Edilberto Adan, whose appointment created a furor because Mrs. Arroyo apparently disregarded the recommendation of the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ board of generals to promote Maj. Gen. Samuel Bagasin to the position.
She said Adan and the other generals would be in charge of the peace and order situation in Mindanao. — Lino dela Cruz, Aurea Calica