Mikey cites accomplishments in first year in office

Pampanga Vice Gov. Juan Miguel "Mikey" Arroyo said he has worked out the release of about P700 million for various infrastructure projects in the province during his first year in office.

The young Arroyo made the disclosure in his accomplishment report to the people of Pampanga as he marks his 34th birthday today and his first year in office in June.

Arroyo said the biggest bulk of the budget, totaling P500 million, is being poured into the desilting and improvement of the Guagua-Pasac River and adjoining waterways to avoid possible big floods and lahar flows, especially during the rainy season.

The presidential son said P88 million of the outlay will go to the improvement of government hospitals in the province to better serve the people of Pam—panga, especially the needy.

He said P87 million has also been set aside for the speedy upgrading of the drainage system in the flood-prone provincial capitol compound in San Fernando City.

Arroyo, who is also spearheading the Mikey Against Poverty (MAP) program and the full operationalization of the Dios—dado Macapagal International Airport in Clark Field, said he has also worked out the release from the national government of P46,142,667 for the construction of farm-to-market roads in several barangays in the towns of Mabalacat, Magalang, Florida—blanca, Guagua, Lubao, Porac, Sta. Rita, Arayat, Mexico, Sta. Ana, San Luis, Candaba, San Simon and Apalit, and Angeles City.

Following the footsteps of his grandfather, the late President Diosdado Macapagal, and his mother, President Arroyo, the young Arroyo said his various projects are all designed to improve the living conditions of the people of Pampanga.

Arroyo, who graduated from the Ateneo de Manila University and the University of California in Berkeley, said he is pursuing the various infrastructure projects with the support of Gov. Manuel Lapid and members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.

The young Arroyo’s other major accomplishments included the approval of the Pampanga Investment Code of 2001 designed to attract more investments, foreign and domestic, in Pampanga and thus, provide more business and employment opportunities to the people.

Arroyo also spearheaded the investigation into the quarrying operations in lahar areas to ensure that the provincial and municipal governments concerned will get the proper revenues for their infrastructure projects and services to the people.

The provincial board, in fact, has adopted unanimously a resolution urging President Arroyo to effect the return of the control and supervision of quarrying in lahar areas from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to the provincial government by repealing Presidential Proclamation No. 66 which former President Joseph Estrada had issued.

Concerned with education and youth development, Arroyo said he has also worked out the release of funds for additional school buildings in Lubao, Floridablanca, Guagua, Sta. Rita and other towns, and assisted many Sangguniang Kabataan projects.

Pampanga being basically an agricultural province, Arroyo said he has launched various programs designed to increase agricultural production and modernize farm techniques.