28 Cabinet men to lead pro-poor programs

MANILA, Philippines – Twenty-eight Cabinet secretaries will go out of their respective offices on June 12 to lead pro-poor programs of the government in commemoration of the 110th anniversary of Philippine independence.

Aside from assisting in the simultaneous flag raising and wreath laying activities, President Arroyo has tasked her Cabinet to lead pro-poor programs in different parts of the country.

With this year’s theme “Republic Service, tungo sa ganap na kalayaan at kaunlaran,” programs for the marginalized and the poor like health and social services, including infrastructure development programs; microfinance and livelihood will be brought to all regions.

The President will lead the celebration at the Rizal Park. Vice President Noli de Castro will lead the flag raising ceremony at the Emilio Aguinaldo Shrine in Kawit, Cavite where he will also open a housing fair.

In Metro Manila, Presidential Management Staff Secretary Cerge Remonde will lead the awarding of microfinance loans and give scholarships to seminars on entrepreneurship.

Metro Manila Development Authority Chairman Bayani Fernando will lead the cleaning of esteros in Metro Manila. He will also inaugurate a new condominium-hotel in Metro Manila and lead a feeding program in Divisoria.

Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro will inaugurate the new hardware of the Department of National Defense as part of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization program. He will also lead in road clearing and dredging in Smokey Mountain in Tondo, Manila.

Social Welfare Secretary Esperanza Cabral, meanwhile, was tasked to distribute conditional cash transfer funds to family beneficiaries and lead a supplemental feeding program, and conduct a brain quiz for out-of-school youth in Payatas.

Education Secretary Jesli Lapus will launch educational programs and assess the knowledge, skills and work experience of school dropouts and out-of-school youth in Sta. Mesa, Manila.

In Region 1, Pubic Works Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane will announce the road and infrastructure maintenance plan in Candon, Ilocos Sur.

Incoming Cabinet Secretary Silvestre Bello will award two scholarships each to five provinces in Cagayan Valley. Bello will also inaugurate the new Department of Agriculture central office in Ilagan, Isabela.

Presidential Adviser on Constituency Affairs Ed Pamintuan will open the historic Pamintuan House – the site of the first anniversary celebration of the Republika Filipina in Pampanga.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita will distribute 300 bikes for the Bike to School program of the government in Taal, Batangas.

Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap will lead the FIELDS (fertilizer, irrigation, education, loans, dryers and other post harvest facilities) and seeds caravan in San Isidro, Nueva Ecija.

Environment Secretary Lito Atienza will distribute 17,000 land titles to farmers. He will also distribute free patent certificates and lot allocations and special patents to qualified farm occupants. In addition, the secretary will also lead the cleaning of the Laguna de Bay and tree-planting activity in Mt. Makiling in Los Baños, Laguna.

Outgoing Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye will award the winners of the feature writing contest on the contributions of modern day heroes in Calapan, Mindoro.

Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano will be in Naga to open the Grassroots Entrepreneurship and Employment in Tourism Program.

In Visayas, Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes will open a caravan showcasing a biofuel project in Bacolod City.

Technical Education and Skills Development Authority Secretary Buboy Syjuco will distribute training vouchers in Sta. Barbara, Iloilo and inaugurate a trainees fair for Japan.

Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez will be in Jaro, Iloilo to implement a rehabilitation program for minor drug abusers, while Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Sergio Apostol will lead a pro-poor program in Leyte.