GMA vows to help ready the next administration

CEBU, Philippines - President Gloria Arroyo yesterday assured that her administration shall pass on to the new leaders the forward march of progress so that the new president shall hit the ground running for a smooth transition of a new government.

“The Comelec shall be free from any political interference and shall be independent,” she said.

Arroyo, in her speech during the Philippine Councilors League, said that she trusts the Commission on Elections to count the votes of the people.

The president also lauded Cebu’s very own Cebu-Citizens’ Involvement and Maturation in People’s Empowerment and Liberation for being a watchdog during elections as she encouraged other volunteer group to replicate what C-CIMPEL has done in watching the people’s votes.

The president also thanked the councilors all over the country for their continued support for her administration.

Arroyo also thanked them for helping the government in its efforts to combat climate change.

The president added that the Philippines is number nine in the list of most vulnerable countries in the world when it comes to natural disasters.

But she said that country is emitting only 1.6 tons per capita of carbon against the six tons per capita of the world.“We are good neighbors, we are good citizens of the world. We are mitigating the effects of climate change,” the president said.

Later yesterday night, the president had dinner with some members of Cebu media at Maribago Bluewater Resort in Lapu-Lapu City.

Arroyo also had dinner with Cebu media last February 22, 2010 in Malapascua Island, Daanbantayan town, Cebu, where she also went diving. — Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon/BRP   (FREEMAN NEWS)