Mayor Alejandrino calls on Gov. Pineda. Photo courtesy of Pampanga PIO
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO — Or the apple of the governor’s eye.
Last week’s picture of Arayat Mayor Emmanuel “Bon” Alejandrino alongside Gov. Lilia G. Pineda as she handed out financial assistance of P10,000 each to 41 informal settlers displaced from Arnedo Dike is but the latest manifestation of the keen interest the governor has taken on the town.
This, immediately following the provincial government grant of some P7 million for the rehabilitation of the town hall and the construction of a new police station.
During his courtesy call at the Capitol also last week, Alejandrino presented to Pineda the “sorry state” of the municipal hall and the “easily flooded” grounds on which it stands.
“While the construction of the municipio is already on-going, our budget is not enough for its completion,” Alejandrino told the governor.
Pineda approved P5 million for the town hall along with the upgrading and landscaping of its grounds.
An additional P2 million was allotted for the construction of a new police station, with the governor putting in a new police patrol vehicle, for bonus.
“Annually, we provide budgetary allocation for infrastructure projects in each municipality for their pet projects,” Pineda said.
“It is good that you also pay attention to the improvement of your municipal hall. Knowing that this is the center of the town, it should reflect the kind of service you render to the people,” the governor told the mayor.
PSAU satellite campus
Arayat looms as the site of the first satellite campus of the Pampanga State Agricultural University (PSAU).
This in recognition of the need to fully develop the potential of the town for agricultural development.
“Many people in Arayat are farmers who own hectares of lands planted to rice, corn and other crops. We can offer agriculture courses to their children to increase their productivity,” said Pineda. “And at the same time motivate them to promote farming and thus, preserve the agricultural lands of the town.”
Pineda said she had talked to the management of PSAU on the establishment of PSAU-Arayat campus.
Alejandrino’s immediate response was a lot for the construction of the school building at the back of the municipal hall.
The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) granted permission to the provincial government to construct satellite campuses of public colleges and universities in remote towns in the province to expand educational opportunities to the youth.
CHED has assured the province of assistance in the funding and operations of the satellite campuses.
The provincial government under Pineda has established satellite campuses of the Don Honorio Ventura Technological State University in Porac and Sto. Tomas towns, and is in the process of building one in Lubao.
Pineda has also initiated the establishment of the Mawaque campus of the Mabalacat Community College to serve the youth of the resettlement areas.
Tourism potential
The iconic symbol of Pampanga – Mount Arayat – has never been far from the mind of the governor in every consideration of the potentials of the province for tourism development.
Just last February, Pineda expressed the intention of the provincial government to acquire the management of the Mount Arayat National Park in Barangay San Juan Baño during a visit here.
The governor was saddened with the “state of dilapidation and disorder” of the park, learning that the Department of Environment and National Resources had stopped the operation of the park after victims of Typhoon Ondoy squatted in the area.
Romel Santiago, DENR community environment and national resources officer, complained of informal settlers inside the national park “but we cannot get rid of them without a relocation that is why we cannot develop the area.”
With the support of the National Housing Authority and the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the provincial government initiated the construction of 117 houses for those displaced by the landslides caused by Typhoon Ondoy.
At his call to the governor, Alejandrino said he is in the process of negotiation with a foreign investor for a possible public-private partnership (PPP) to develop the full potential of the Mount Arayat National Park as main tourist destination in Central Luzon.
The governor readily gave the mayor her total support and vowed to help facilitate the resettlement of all informal settlers still living in the park.
“The governor has been fully supportive of all our programs for our town. We are truly grateful,” said a grateful Alejandrino. “We can only repay that with greater service to our people.”
