THIS WEEK’S MILESTONES: Jan. 13 – 19, 2019

Jan. 16, 2007

A memorandum of understanding was signed between the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System and officials of China CAMC Engineering Co. for the P9.65-billion bulk water supply project, which would tap Candaba Swamp for irrigation and household water in Metro Manila and the provinces of Pampanga and Bulacan.

The project, located at Candaba town in Pampanga, aimed to produce 600 million liters of potable water per day.

The water treatment plant, designed to collect and filter floodwaters, was seen to help farming and fishing production in Pampanga and Bulacan.

Jan. 17, 2015

Some 200,000 people welcomed Pope Francis as he arrived at Daniel Z. Romualdez International Airport in Tacloban City, capital of Leyte province, during his four-day visit to the Philippines.

The trip to Leyte was cut short due to the expected landfall of a tropical storm in nearby Eastern Samar province in the afternoon.

Pope Francis, known as a pope of many surprises, officiated a Mass at the airport, reportedly the first time the pontiff celebrated Mass in stormy weather.

The Pope then went to Palo town to bless Pope Francis Center for the Poor, a shelter for orphans and the elderly, from his popemobile.

The P60-million Vatican-funded center located in the Archbishop’s Palace served as an evacuation center for those displaced by Supertyphoon “Yolanda” (international name: Haiyan) in 2013 and Typhoon “Ruby” (international name: Hagupit) in 2014.

The Pope also had a brief luncheon meeting with typhoon survivors.

Compiled by Kathleen de Villa, Inquirer Research