Arroyo visits two Cebu RoRo ports

CEBU, Philippines — Former president and House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo visited Cebu yesterday in her final days as speaker.

Arroyo visited two of the RORO (roll-on, roll-off) ports in southern Cebu built during her stint as the country’s president. These ports are the ones in Taloot, Argao, Cebu and Liloan port, in Santander town.

During a media briefing, the Maritime Industry Authority reported that as a result of her initiatives, a total of 19 new missionary RORO routes were established in different parts of the country this year.

Four of the 19 are already operational while 15 are just waiting for the arrival of the ships that will service the routes.

It was also revealed that nine more new missionary routes will be opened based on the recommendation of the shipping Industry.

Arroyo said she is happy that the RORO project has been revived by the present administration and that she is extremely delighted and honored to have helped in lowering the cost of goods, boosting tourism and facilitating travel around the country.

The RORO system was established when Arroyo was president in 2003.

There are currently 140 RORO routes all over the country servicing millions of passengers and cargo handlers.

Arroyo recalled that she got the idea of putting up a RORO system based on the old study of the Asian Development Bank wherein the system can help lowering the cost of agricultural products.

"At first, agricultural products lang yong karga, then later on may mga pasahero na. I am so happy that through the RORO system, we were able to boost tourism in the country aside from lowering the price of goods," Arroyo said.

Arroyo, whose term as congresswoman ends on June 30, said that she will be writing her memoirs, which will surely make her busy.

She added that she will act as consultant of the Pampanga provincial government.

She thanked the Cebuanos for their unwavering support to her from being a senator, vice president, president and as speaker of the House.

Also during her visit to Argao, she administered the oath taking of re-elected Cebu Second District Representative Wilfredo Caminero and re-elected Cebu Second District Provincial Board Member Jose Mari "Tata "Salvador.  (FREEMAN)