Arroyo to hold Cabinet meeting in Eastern Samar

MANILA, Philippines - President Arroyo will visit Eastern Samar on Tuesday to highlight the province's tourism potentials and to map out anti-poverty strategies for the island. According to Malacañang, Arroyo will hold the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Cabinet meeting at The Surf Camp in Guiuan town Tuesday afternoon. There, she will promote surfing and beach tourism in Calicoan Island, some 20 minutes away by motorized boat from Guiuan proper, the Palace statement said. Guiuan Mayor Annaliza Kwan and Atty. Miguel Go, owner of The Surf Camp, will welcome Arroyo and her Cabinet officials. Arroyo is also scheduled to hold a media interaction in the evening and stay overnight in the resort before proceeding to Bacolod City Wednesday. Calicoan Island is among the country’s top surfing attractions. It boasts of long white-sand beaches, lagoons, forests, caves and wetlands. Before proceeding to Guiuan, Arroyo will visit the towns of Arteche and Balangiga Tuesday morning. She will inaugurate the Catumsan-Aguinaldo farm-to-market road project in Arteche, located in the nort-eastern part of the province. She will get a briefing on the project from Arteche Mayor Rolando Evardone, Eastern Samar Rep. Teodulo Coquilla, Catumsan village chief Alice Mejica and Aguinaldo village head Felix Derilo. Arroyo will also conduct an aerial inspection of the construction and rehabilitation of stretches of the Arteche road network project, linking Eastern, Western and Northern Samar. She had instructed the Department of Public Works and Highways to allocate P311 million for eight road projects in Eastern Samar, and P562 million for nine road projects in Northern Samar to complete the Samar Circumferential Road Network. From Arteche town, she will proceed to Balangiga town to lead the wreath-laying ceremony at the statue of Capt. Valeriano Abanador in commemoration of the "Balangiga Massacre" on Sept. 28, 1901. Road network inspection Before proceeding to Eastern Samar, the President will inspect ongoing infrastructure projects in Lope de Vega town in Northern Samar province on Monday. Arroyo will arrive at the Calbayog City Airport at 2 p.m., then motor to the town and conduct windshield inspection of the Catarman-Calbayog via Lope de Vega Road. The Catarman-Calbayog-Lope de Vega Road project spans 47.33 kilometers and costs P643.72 million. Upon her arrival at the Lope de Vega municipal hall, she will receive a briefing on the town’s ongoing and proposed infrastructure projects. She will also be briefed on other Northern Samar infrastructure projects, including the proposed rehabilitation of the 44.25-km. San Isidro-Lope De Vega Road that will cost P1.243 billion. - GMANews.TV