Editor's Note: Re-posts to clarify only one dolphin released in paragraph 9.
SINACABAN, Misamis Occidental—President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo opened her first official day for 2009 with a sortie across Mindanao localities known to be her political bailiwicks, handing out livelihood support bounties, and surrounded herself with known allies.
Ms Arroyo arrived mid-morning at the Ozamiz city airport then transferred to a chopper that took her to Sominot, Zamboanga del Sur. She was clad in jeans and floral blouse, wore sunglasses and stood on aqua slippers with inch-thick soles.
After brief welcome rites by local officials, she went to nearby Midsalip town where she inspected an unpaved road and distributed checks for livelihood support funds to several local organizations.
From Midsalip, she flew to Tambulig town and from there motored to the village of Tiaman in nearby Bonifacio town, Misamis Occidental for a ceremonial launch of a P15-million 6.5-kilometer irrigation system expected to serve over 2,000 hectares of rice lands when completed in six months.
Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap said government is keen on setting up new and rehabilitating old irrigation systems in order to sustain agricultural productivity and improve food security.
Next stop for the President was the Misamis Occidental Aquamarine Park (MOAP) where she joined Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Rod Smith and Misamis Occidental Gov. Loreto Leo Ocampos, who is also president of the League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP), in inaugurating a marine finfish hatchery project.
Funded partly by Australian aid, the project is intended to boost aquaculture production in the region and diversify the economic base of the province's largely coconut industry-dependent economy.
From the hatchery, Arroyo was joined by Smith and Ocampos in spending private time snorkeling and scuba-diving at the Dolphin Island and Wildlife Sanctuary, a facility located 15 minutes off shore.
At Dolphin Island, Arroyo released into the wild Liberty, one of two dolphins rescued by fisherfolk and rehabilitated at the facility.
From there, she proceeded to Tangub City, known for its Christmas Symbols Festival, to grace its closing rites.
Her trip in Misamis Occidental Monday was her fourth since she assumed office. The province has been a major political base for Arroyo.
Its top politicians, Ocampos and former governor Ernie Clarete who is currently Plaridel town mayor, were among the first Mindanao local leaders to declare their support for the ouster of then President Joseph Estrada.
Both rallied the People Power Coalition senatorial slate to an impressive finish in 2001, delivered a wide margin of presidential votes in 2004, and managed a good showing of the administration bets in the 2007 senatorial race.
Ocampos himself was in the forefront of bringing in local officials into Arroyo's circle, especially as president of the LPP.
From being Estrada loyalists, the couple Antonio and Aurora Cerilles converted into Arroyo's camp in 2007, delivering a 13-0 result in the senatorial race.
Arroyo has laid out sorties in localities in Mindanao's western and northern regions until Jan. 8.
On Tuesday, after inauguration rites for a P161-million public market in Ozamiz City funded by the Asian Development Bank, the President is scheduled to fly to Lanao del Sur where a full Cabinet meeting is slated.
