Arroyo Graces 8th Sibugay Day Opening

PJTremedal

Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay – Amidst the morning heat, people from all walks of life gathered in the capitol stage to witness the arrival of the her Excellency President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to grace the opening of the 8^th Founding Day of Zamboanga Sibugay province.

The president after visiting the towns of Talusan and Mabuhay in Olutangga Island, 30 kilometers from the capital town of Ipil, her presidential chopper land at the Ipil Airport of which she and her party lays the capsule marking the start of the project to improve the said airport.

The airport has an existing 800 meter runway. Phase 1 of its improvement project will involve a 400 meter runway extension at a cost of 45 million, next month an additional 40-m will be released under Phase II project.

The presidential visit was the first to this young province, Zamboanga Sibugay became the country’s 79^th chartered province under Republic Act No. 8973 authored by Governor George Hofer, M.D. himself during his congress days, thru a referendum and plebiscite, Sibugaynons approved it on February 22, 2001. Zamboanga Sibugay is the former third congressional district of Zamboanga del Sur.

During the president’s visit, 100 PGMA scholarship grant for students were released and 75 certificates of commitment for those who were enrolled in the Tek-Bok provider program of TESDA, and 787-T worth of livelihood assistance packages including funds for skill training for the town of Alicia, Tungawan and Ipil.

Arroyo also distributed KALAHI-CIDSS assisted projects for the five Tungawan town Barangays namely; Timbabuan-665T, Libertad-470T, Masao-470T,Sisay-570T, and Mlungon-590T.

Another 10-M check was also given to the provincial government to fund farm to market roads for the 10 municipality of Zamboanga Sibugay and other funding source for the improvement of the number one rubber producing province of the country.

"Presidents arroyo’s provision of various livelihood projects, agricultural implements, and farm to market roads will definitely spur economic activities and help Sibugaynons bring their produce faster at greatly reduced costs to the nearest market". Gov. Hofer said.

Meanwhile, in her message, President Arroyo conveyed to the Sibugaynons her warmest congratulations to the 8^th founding day of Zamboanga Sibugay. “By working together, helping each other both the local government and the national government, we can strengthen our goals, we have to be optimistic and bed committed for our people benefits.” The President said.