Defensor’s dilemma: How to make good news sell

CEBU CITY — Does President Arroyo need to do rappelling down a dam to provide enough excitement for the media when she inaugurates projects like an irrigation system?

Presidential chief of staff Michael Defensor was thinking out loud and joking, of course, so reporters covering the President here could not help but laugh at the dilemma of one of her closest officials.

Defensor said that as much as the President wants development projects and other "good news" reported as well, he could also understand that they could be boring for the media.

He said he was thinking of ways to make their news more saleable but stressed he would not force the issue anymore and just continue with their work.

"Maybe (I) and (Tourism Secretary) Ace (Durano) should be the ones to climb that dam," Defensor said, referring to the small reservoir irrigation project the President inaugurated in Carcar town.

Yesterday, the embattled President was seen sweating under the scorching heat of the sun and sneezing from the dust as she went from one town to another to inaugurate various projects.

The President inaugurated the Cebu South Road improvement project in Naga town, then the irrigation project and inspected the ongoing construction of the first batch of housing units at the San Pio Village in Barangay Dumlog in Talisay City.

She also led the grand launching of the Marco Polo Hotel in Nivel Hills in the town of Lahug.

The irrigation project in Carcar is one of the priority infrastructure projects of the Arroyo administration to boost the livelihood of hundreds of small rice and vegetable farmers in this municipality.

Construction of the P585.7 million dam project, which was launched by the President in June 2004, was completed seven months ahead of schedule.

The SRIP dam and reservoir is located in Carcar, about 40 kilometers away from Cebu City. The project will irrigate 772 hectares of farmland in 12 barangays in this town.

Besides providing irrigation for surrounding farms, the SRIP reservoir is now a major source of income for the residents here, who are into fish cage culture and other agriculture-related endeavors. — Aurea Calica