Saturday, February 25, 2006

PGMA to Grace Gensan Charter Day Celeb

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (Julius Valmores / 25 February) President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is set to grace the 67th Foundation Anniversary of General Santos City on Monday.

City Mayor Jun Acharon said he invited the President when she was here last month en route to Koronadal City.

"I asked her if she could be our guest of honor during this year's Kalilangan Festival and the city's foundation nnniversary, and she responded affirmatively," the mayor said.

But Arroyo may change her schedule because of the political situation in Manila. She declared Friday the whole country under state of emergency following a failed coup attempt by rightist soldiers and violent anti-government protests in Manila.

Acharon expressed his support to the President thanking her for her effort in negotiating with the government of Indonesia about the extension of the bilateral fishing agreement that will have an impact on the fishing industry of the city.

He also called on militant groups here to be calm and respectful and if possible set aside their plans of staging protest rally while the President is around.

"Let's set aside too much politics and work for the betterment of the Generals instead. The President has contributed much in the development of GenSan not only in this fishing agreement but also in the expansion of the fish port, among other things."

The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was inked Wednesday by representatives of the two countries, Agriculture Secretary Domingo Panganiban for the government of the Philippines and Minister Freddy Numberi for the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries of the Republic of Indonesia.

Acharon also delivered his state of the city address, which focused mainly on the various efforts of the city government for the previous year vis-à-vis the opening of the 67th Foundation Anniversary and Kalilangan Festival. (Zamboanga Journal)

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