GMA Visits Cagayan De Oro City In Mindanao

President Gloria Arroyo hands over 11 patrol car keys to Chief Superintendent Florante Baguio, regional police chief, during a ceremony Monday 28 Aug 2006 in Cagayan de Oro City. Below, the President, assisted by Rep. Constantino Jaraula, gives a P5-million check to Estralla Abid Babao, the regional education chief, for scholarship of poor students. (Dante Sudaria)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (Mike Banos / 28 Aug) President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo visited Cagayan de Oro City on Monday and inaugurated the P125-million SM City shopping complex.

Arroyo also led local government officials in the ceremonial hand-over of 11 patrol cars to the regional police. Her visit coincided with the city’s celebration of the local saint.

“The President's visit, which coincided with our fiesta, was a great boost to the city government's drive to showcase Cagayan de Oro as a beautiful and peaceful place to live and invest to the global community,” Vicente Emano, the mayor of Cagayan de Oro, told the Mindanao Examiner.

Arroyo, he said, also witnessed the Lambagohan Festival fluvial parade at the Cagayan de Oro River aboard the River Cruise Restaurant.

"It is a great pride and honor for the Cagayanons to have no less than the President of the country as our guest during the city fiesta celebration," Emano said.

The president assisted by Cagayan de Oro Rep. Constantino Jaraula, also handed over P5-million to the Department of Education in Northern Mindanao for scholarship of poor school children.