Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Arroyo visits ARMM, pledges more support; praises Ampatuan leadership

MAGUINDANAO, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Mar. 31, 2009) - President Gloria Arroyo visited the province of Maguindanao recently for a briefing on the status and efforts of the local Solid Waste Management Program.

Arroyo said that climate change is the greatest threat the world faces today and this prompted her to reorganize the Presidential Task Force on Climate Change (PTFCC) to augment efforts to curb global warming.

The president also proposed the province to adopt a Bioreactor and a Material Recovery Facility (MRF) for each of its municipalities. The machine sorts, and segregates biodegradable and non-biodegradable wastes and processes them into organic fertilizer and converting non-biodegradable wastes into recyclable bricks.

“These waste management facilities are more acceptable than the proposed landfill because they are environment-friendly and helps in addressing the problem on Global Warming,” she said. “This will also give additional income for the local government units because of the organic fertilizer it produces which will also help our farmers.”

Along with Arroyo during the meeting on Solid Waste Management Program were key officials of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), who were also members of the PTFCC, their counterparts in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and ARMM Governor Datu Zaldy Uy Ampatuan, Maguindanao Governor Datu Sajid Ampatuan and former Maguindanao Governor Datu Andal Ampatuan, Sr.

Her visit in the capital town of Shariff Aguak was appreciated by high-ranking officials from the ARMM and the province of Maguindanao. Arroyo pledged more support to the ARMM and praised Ampatuan's leadership.

“This only shows the commitment and full support of the President to the people of Maguindanao and the whole ARMM,” Ampatuan said.

Arroyo also inaugurated the P218-million Provincial Capitol Complex, which includes the P136- million Provincial Capitol building and the P82-million, 3,500-seat capacity Datu Saudi Uy Ampatuan Sports and Social Center which was funded from the Regional Impact Project Fund of the ARMM government, including P25 million from the President’s Social Fund.

Engr. Norie Unas, Maguindanao Provincial Administrator, said the visit was a very significant event to the residents of the locals as it showed Arroyo's concern to peace, progress and development efforts of her government in the ARMM.

“This is a very special day for us here in Maguindanao because no less than the President of the Republic of the Philippines will inaugurate two of the grandest landmarks in the province,” Unas said. (With a report from the ARMM-Bureau of Public Information)

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