CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – Former President and now Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (SGMA) went on a final sentimental journey as Speaker in Cebu on Tuesday.
SGMA, who represents Pampanga’s second district in the House, will relinquish her post on June 30.
She visited two of the Roll On Roll Off (RORO) ports in southern Cebu built during her time as President – the Taloot port in Argao and Liloan port in Santander.
After arriving at the port in Santander, she crossed to Dumaguete City via a RORO vessel.
SGMA announced her visit in her Facebook post a few minutes after arriving at the ports naming her visit, “final sentimental journey” as she also gave details on how it went.
In a media briefing, the Marina reported that as a result of her initiatives as Speaker arising from the House’s oversight functions, a total of 19 new missionary RORO routes were established in different parts of the country this year.
Four of the 19 are already operational while 15 are just waiting for the arrival of the ships that will service the routes. It was also announced that nine more new missionary routes will be opened based on the recommendation of the shipping Industry.
SGMA said she is happy that the RORO project has been revived by the present administration and that she is extremely delighted and honored to have helped in lowering the cost of goods, boosting tourism and facilitating travel around the country through the RORO System which she established when she was president in 2003.
There are currently 140 RORO routes all over the country servicing millions of passengers and cargo handlers.
SGMA will be replaced by her son, Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo, as representative of Pampanga’s second district while she will reportedly be a consultant of the provincial government.
