PGMA Promises Government Aid During PRISAA Opening

NAGA CITY, April 20 (PNA) --- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today promised to undertake more approaches to lessen the impact of the global economic crisis on the country.

The President spoke to a jam-packed crowd attending the grand opening ceremonies of the National Private Schools Athletics Association (PRISAA) Games at the University of Nueva Caceres Sports Palace.

PRISAA is the national organization of athletes from private colleges and universities. Some 3,500 athletes, coaches, and sports officials from 360 universities and colleges of the country's 17 regions will vie for top honors in various sports competitions during this year's meet.

President Arroyo said the government shall create more scholarships to allow more families to send their children to schools.

She also underscored the significance of the activity, saying that sports is an important tool/component in youth development.

Before her keynote address at the PRISAA opening ceremonies, President Arroyo told a group of local newsmen here that her administration is continuously pursuing initiatives to make health care services become more accessible.

She said her administration has been seriously encouraging the public to become members of the Philhealth.

Under its health program, the government also makes available low-priced medicines especially in far-flung towns and barangays.

The President said apart from these projects, the government sees to it that government hospitals are equipped with better medical facilities.

She mentioned about the newest heart-lung-kidney center at the Bicol Training Hospital in Legazpi City that the government helped established.

The provision of medical apparatus and the establishment of such center are aimed at converting all primary hospitals in the provinces into secondary hospitals.

Other than the government's program on health, President Arroyo also mentioned the government's fiscal stimulus strategy that will speed up implementation of various infrastructure projects that will create more jobs for the people.

She added that more than 600 individuals in Bikol who have lost their jobs because of the current financial crisis will benefit from the government's Paglikhang Trabaho program.

Also an integral part of the employment and livelihood program is the hunger mitigation program which caters to the marginalized sector through the implementation of food-for-schools program, provision of subsidized NFA rice to the poorest of the poor, and the formulation of strategies to reduce the cost of production of rice including the expeditious and inexpensive system of delivery of the cereal.

On education, Mrs. Arroyo said she had ordered the abolition of all school fees and uniform requirements in Grade I to encourage more children to enroll and go to school.

Under the same education program, a "Pantawid Pamilya" project is being implemented wherein marginalized families are being extended with financial assistance on condition that their children will attend their classes everyday and benefit from the services being delivered by rural health units.

Mrs. Arroyo also briefed the local media on the newly implemented Comprehensive Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program (CLEEP) in Bikol which she said would help the displaced workers find new jobs or source of income.

Under the CLEEP, all national government offices are ordered to contribute 1.5 percent of their annual budget to support the region's different activities to generate employment. (PNA)