Arroyo to preside over 1st Cabinet meeting in 2009

MANILA, Philippines - Iligan City will be the venue of the first Cabinet meeting of 2009 to be presided over by President Arroyo Tuesday. A Malacañang statement said the meeting will be held at the Macaraeg-Macapagal Ancestral House in Buru-un village in Timoga, Iligan City. Topping the agenda of the Cabinet meeting is the government's economic resiliency plan, specifically on the importance of putting in place vital infrastructures that are necessary for the country to weather the global economic crisis. Likewise to be tackled is government's comprehensive livelihood and emergency programs intended to help people cope with the effects of the global economic slowdown. Another topic to be discussed is the Mindanao peace process, particularly the Social Integration Program for Returnees. This will include updates on the peace talks and development efforts for the achievement of a long-lasting peace in Mindanao. At 6 p.m., Arroyo will motor to the evacuation center at the Tubod Elementary School to visit some 700 families displaced by the Jan. 2 flash floods that hit Iligan City. Gingoog and Cagayan de Oro Cities also suffered flash floods triggered by heavy rains last Friday. Meanwhile, Arroyo will inaugurate Tuesday the newly rehabilitated public mall in Ozamiz City. Assisted by Ozamiz City Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog Sr. and city councilors, she will lead the ribbon-cutting and marker-unveiling rites formally opening the mall to the public. The Ozamiz City Public Mall, formerly the Ozamiz City Public Market, underwent improvement and is now a two-story public market that provides convenient facilities to market goers. - GMANews.TV