GMA visits Pampanga anew

SASMUAN, Pampanga, Philippines – Gov. Eddie Panlilio could only shrug his shoulders over President Arroyo’s latest visit to her district yesterday, and said it bolstered suspicion that she was aiming for a congressional seat.

The visit came a day after her arrival from a working visit to the United States.

“We just have to be prepared in case she runs for Congress in her district,” Panlilio said.

The province’s second district covers the President’s hometown in Lubao.

He said Mrs. Arroyo cannot be trusted to keep her word regarding her political plans for 2010, citing her reneging on a promise made on Rizal Day in 2002 that she would not run for president in 2004.

“We just should not be caught unawares,” he said.

Panlilio’s group has yet to decide on whether to support the possible candidacy of professor Randy David, who earlier announced his intention to challenge Mrs. Arroyo if she decides to run for Congress representing the second district.

Mrs. Arroyo also visited Macabebe town, which is part of the province’s fourth district, to launch the 2009 Stimulus Fund School Building Repair and Construction Program (SFSBRCP) in the town.

“The SFSBRCP forms part of the P10-billion economic stimulus fund allocated in the 2009 General Appropriations Act that aims to perk up the economy in the midst of a worldwide financial crisis,” the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) said.

“Of the P3-billion fund allocated for the SFSBRCP, P50 million will be distributed for the construction, repair and rehabilitation of classrooms in the fourth district of Pampanga that includes the municipalities of Macabebe, Masantol, Apalit, Sto. Tomas, Minalin and San Simon,” PIA said.

The President also distributed certificates of lot assignments to the beneficiaries of the San Antonio Housing Project of board member Catalina Bagasina in Barangay San Antonio in Macabebe.

In Sasmuan, heavy rains prompted the President to cancel her visit to Barangays Sta. Monica and San Pedro. She was supposed to lead in the groundbreaking of a bridge in Sta. Monica and inspect a site for a proposed barangay road upgrading in San Pedro.

The President also inspected the cleanup and de-clogging of the roadside waterways in Barangay San Nicolas by the Organized Youth Stewards of Esteros and Rivers or OYSTERS.

Also in San Nicolas, the President inaugurated the San Nicolas Second Municipal Road concreting project, and then motored to Barangay Sto. Tomas for the launching of the 2009 SFSBRCP in the second district amounting to P60 million.