The President visits Negros

Until late Tuesday afternoon, Negrense officials were waiting for word anxiously on whether President Arroyo would push through with her visit to Bacolod City because of typhoon “Pablo.”

But late in the evening, the word was flashed – the visit was on.

Dressed in a light blue dress, the President stepped off her plane and was immediately lionized by a big group of local officials led by Negros Occidental Gov. Isidro Zayco and Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia.

Silay City officials were led by acting Mayor Mark Golez and Marissa Montelibano, wife of Silay City Mayor Jose “Oti” Montelibano who had undergone a quadruple bypass at the St. Luke’s Medical Center in Manila. Members of the Sangguniang Panglungsod made up for the mayor’s absence.

Other greeters included Talisay City Mayor Eric Saratan and members of the city council. So with the local SP and Bacolod City officials and board members.

Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez also accompanied the President. So did Public Works Undersecretary R. Yabut.

There was not much delay at the Bacolod-Silay Airport. A short while after her arrival, the President proceeded to the groundbreaking of the 10.12-kilometer access road to and from the airport via the three cities and ends up at the Circumferential Road.

This will reportedly narrow the travel time from Bacolod to only some 20 minutes instead of the current 30 minutes through the coastal road, which is normally congested.

But the rites were brief. The President did not even deliver an address as is usual with inaugurating a project that costs P1.5 billion when completed.

Rep. Monico Puentevella was among those who welcomed the President at the airport and accompanied her entourage to Bacolod.

From the groundbreaking ceremonies, the President immediately raced to the Bacolod public plaza. She had cancelled the original idea of officially opening the Masskara Festival at the Bacolod Government Center. Apparently, the President did not want to be misunderstood as interfering in the filing of criminal complaints of graft and corruption against Leonardia and members of the city council for the P400-million project.

Workers completed the preparation of the Bacolod plaza until late Tuesday afternoon.

“We are honored to have the President open what we look forward to as the biggest Masskara celebration yet,” said festival director Eli Tajanlangit.

Tajanlangit and his staff introduced new innovations to the festival, which has gained the reputation of being one of the best offerings of Bacolod to the world.

Mayor Leonardia was at the plaza to officially welcome the President. He had gone ahead of the Chief Executive to be on hand to greet her at the plaza where the President formally opened the festival.

Security was very tight at the plaza. But the militant organizations such as Bagong Alyansa Makabayan-Negros scored Bacolod police chief Ronilo Qubrar for imposing a “no permit, no rally” policy at the plaza. Felipe Levy Gelle Jr., Bayan secretary-general, claimed that the police could not stop people from expressing their sentiments and presenting their demands. It is unconstitutional, he told police.

Onstage at the Bacolod Plaza were Mayor Leonardia and members of the city council led by Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson. Rep. Puentevella held aloft an umbrella over the President.

A caravan of 70 vehicles by sugar cooperatives called for the ouster of regional director Rhodita Galanta of the Bureau of Internal Revenue.

The President was flanked by Leonardia, Puentevella, Negros Gov. Isidro Zayco and Rep. Jose Carlos Lacson. Also present was DOTC Assistant Secretary Ricardo Tan.

The Masskara Festival is not just a show of costumes and dances, Leonardia stressed, saying this year’s Masskara shows it is the people’s festival.

The President delivered her address in Hiligaynon and immediately won the hearts of her listeners. And she recounted how she used to visit the festival in the eighties, as with her husband, Mike Arroyo, and her family.

The President also stressed that she was aware of the problems of the sugar industry, pointing out that her family was involved in the industry.

A slight turmoil erupted at the plaza when militants suddenly pulled out streamers and placards to stage their protest against the President. Police Inspector Genteles was slightly injured when he was caught in the scuffle between the rallyists and the police.

From the plaza, the President motored to the Convergys call center at Mandalagan.

The President unexpectedly discussed the financial global mess and how she and the entire government have been preparing to cope with the fallout which includes inflation and financial complications.

The President also served notice that her focus insofar as Negros Occidental was concerned was still on the sugar industry.