PNoy set to visit Bacolod Friday

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — President Noynoy Aquino is expected to visit Negros Occidental this Friday (March 4) to meet with top provincial government officials and the business sector.

Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. in his announcement said this will be the president's first visit to the province since the May 2010 elections, when Negrenses gave him a landslide victory.

The Presidential Management Staff met with Marañon last Monday to finalize preparations for Aquino's visit, and will come back today (Wednesday) for the final schedule.

Aquino will be in the province the whole day. His itinerary includes a meeting with the business sector, inauguration of the P102-million extension building of the Teresita L. Jalandoni Provincial Hospital and a visit to Pontevedra town for an activity of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

Frank Carbon, president of the Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said about 300 businessmen are set to meet with Aquino at a multi-sectoral forum in L'Fisher Hotel in this city.

Marañon told The Freeman he will ask Aquino's assistance for the health and agriculture programs of the province, and raise the need for the upgrading of provincial government-run hospitals, especially their equipment, to complement with the Negros Occidental Comprehensive Health Care program.

The governor said he will also ask the president for additional irrigation assistance and farm-to-market roads. Aquino is expected to listen to multi-sectoral concerns during his visit, he said.