Catanauan Central Elementary School, Quezon
11 March 2013

After his visit in a coco water plant in Candelaria, President Benigno S. Aquino III met with local leaders and the community held in Barangay Tagbacan Ibaba, Catanauan, Quezon province.

An estimated crowd of 5,000 from the 12 towns in Bondoc Peninsula gathered in the grounds of Catanauan Central Elementary School. It was composed of farmers, women’s groups, youth, vegetable harvesters, and fisher folks.

In his message, the President cited the efforts made by his administration in uplifting the coconut industry of the country over the past 2 years. For 2011, the export of coco water jumped to over 16 million liters, an 800 percent increase compared to the 1.81 million liters in 2010 and the 484,000 liters in 2009.

He added that more than 7,200 sitios all over the country have been given electricity, including the 149 sitios in Quezon province, in a span of 2 years and 9 months.

President Aquino also mentioned the P15 billion savings made by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) that is being used for infrastructure projects such as the Lucena Diversion Talao-Talao Port Road that will lessen travel time of goods and products going to Talao-Talao port.

“Oras naman na matapos ang halos animnapung kilometrong extension ng SLEX na magmumula sa Batangas hanggang sa Lucena, ang dating apat na oras na kalbaryo ng mga motorista, magiging isang oras na lang. Ang malawakang epekto nito: mas mabilis na biyahe ng komersyo’t produkto, mas matiwasay na pagpasok ng mga turista lalo na tuwing Pahiyas Festival, at ang tiyak na pag-unlad ng inyong probinsya. Bukod dito, may kabuuang labing-anim na farm-to-market road projects din tayo sa Calauag, Gumaca, Quezon at Tagcawayan na magpapabilis din sa arangkada ng pag-asenso ng ating mga magsasaka,” the President said.

He added that the government also allotted P82 million to complete the 18 irrigation projects for the 1,100 hectares of land for farmers in Burdeos, Polillo, Infanta, Tiaong, Pagbilao, Tayabas, Mauban, Perez, San Francisco, Guinayangan and Lucena.

“Patunay ang mga ito na ang linyang, ‘Kung walang corrupt, walang mahirap,’ ay hindi lamang salita, kundi may kaakibat na gawa,” President Aquino ended.