Arroyo to visit Misamis Occidental fishing capital

MANILA, Philippines - President Arroyo will visit the fishing capital of Misamis Occidental province Thursday to distribute government "assistance" there, Malacañang said late Wednesday. A Palace statement said Arroyo will head for Baliangao town to lead national government agencies in bringing basic social services directly to indigent residents. It said Arroyo will first have a one-on-one interview over radio station dxOC in Ozamiz City, then fly to the fishing capital. Upon her arrival at the Baliangao School of Fisheries in Misom village, she will meet with Misamis Occidental Gov. Loreto Leo Ocampos, Baliangao Mayor Haneya Theresa Yap-Chiong, Misamis Occidental Rep. Marina Clarete, Philippine National Police (PNP) Provincial Director Supt. Leanilo Cabug, Baliangao School of Fisheries Principal Lolita Daque, and Misom village captain Ernesto Ambalong. After spearheading the medical and dental mission, she will distribute 1,237 access cards and cash cards to selected elderly and qualified beneficiaries of Baliangao. The access cards were part of the ongoing project of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) under its Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) while the cash cards are under the Tulong kay Lolo t-Lola program. She will also turn-over 10 bags of hybrid rice seeds, 20 bags of certified rice seeds and 10 bags of hybrid corn seeds from the Department of Agriculture (DA) to the leaders of the farmers organizations of Baliangao. Also, she will distribute 10,000 Tilapia fingerlings from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) to the leaders of fishermen groups, 43 land patents under the Handog Titulo Program of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and 22 certificates of land ownership awards (CLOAS) from the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR).