GMA inaugurates Pampanga projects

MEXICO, Pampanga , Philippines  – President Arroyo was again in her home province yesterday afternoon, this time to inaugurate a bridge in this town, a public market in Arayat, and a hospital in Bacolor.

First in her itinerary was the inauguration of the P112-million San Jose Malino-Anao bridge across the Abacan river which will cut travel time to Nueva Ecija as its route bypasses the congested section of the Gapan-San Fernando-Olongapo road.

After unveiling a marker at the bridge, the President led a ceremonial drive through the 120.80 lineal meter span of the four-lane bridge which is about 7.32 meters wide. The bridge has concrete approaches with grouted rip-rap and concrete canal, river training works and a 1.4 km. access road.

Construction of the four-span bridge started in February last year and will be completed next month.

The President later proceeded to the inauguration of the P47.7-million new Arayat public market in Barangay Mangga Catutud in Arayat. After unveiling the market’s marker, the President had a snack of halo-halo with officers of the Arayat Market Vendors’ Association.

The new concrete public market has a total land area of 2,000 square meters and has 220 stalls, including 85 in the dry section and 135 in the wet section.

Arayat Mayor Luis Espino said the new market will “boost local economy” as local folk would no longer buy their needs from markets in neighboring towns.

From Arayat, the President and her party motored to Barangay Cabambangan in Bacolor where she was briefed on the proposed construction of the Ricardo P. Rodrigues Memorial Hospital and was updated on the government’s Bacolor Rehabilitation Plan.

Almost all barangays in Bacolor were buried by lahar flows in the aftermath of Mt. Pinatubo’s eruption in 1991.

The President led in the groundbreaking ceremonies for the hospital by laying a time capsule in one of the building’s foundations.        – With Ric Sapnu