Gloria Arroyo goes on sentimental journey

House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (File Photo by GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE / Philippine Daily Inquirer)

In the last few months of her reign as Speaker of the House of Representatives, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has embarked on a “sentimental journey” around the country, her office said on Sunday.

“The Speaker has been going on ‘sentimental journey’ revisiting the priority projects during her presidency to check on their status and determine how she can further provide support, and improve their condition before leaving her post as Speaker,” Arroyo’s camp said in a statement.

Over the weekend, the former President visited Naga City in Cebu province to inspect the P1.2-billion expansion and rehabilitation of the Cebu South Road project, which she prioritized during her administration.

Arroyo’s term as Pampanga representative ends in May.

Rumors

Though rumors have floated about her possible appointment to a Cabinet position, the former President has repeatedly denied she’s angling for any new post.

“I am not chasing after any position. I am done,” she told Manila residents in January on a visit to a depressed community at Parola in Binondo and Tondo.

“I only want to run after your hearts so you will remember me when I step down from my post,” she said then.

Arroyo, however, has a penchant for changing her mind.

For months, she had denied interest in becoming Speaker before she and her allies staged the coup that led to the ouster of Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez in July last year.

Landslide win

During her Cebu visit, Arroyo recalled implementing major projects in the province “to express her gratitude toward the Cebuanos who gave her a landslide in the 2004 elections.”

“I’d like to take this opportunity again to continue, before I end my political life, to see what happened to the things that we did,” she said.

She also lauded the people of Naga City for their efforts to continuously develop their city.

“It’s very beautiful. There are some projects that I did when I was President, and when I went back to them, they have been neglected. Not this one,” she said.

The rehabilitation and expansion of the Cebu South Road was inaugurated in 2006, connecting southern Cebu to Cebu City, the central business area of the province, as well as Mactan Cebu International Airport. —DJ Yap