President Gloria Arroyo and members of her Cabinet will address an Infrastructure and Investment Conference of the Central Philippines Super Region to be attended by 27 governors, 33 mayors and seven congressmen at the new Bacolod-Silay Airport in Silay City today.

The conference will open with a speech from the President to be followed by a presentation of the Central Philippines infrastructure projects by Presidential Management Staff director general Cerge Remonde, Assistant Secretary Jose Capadocia, Office of the Undersecretary for Media Relations OIC, said yesterday.

Transportation and Communications Secretary Leandro Mendoza will discuss the roll-off, roll-on nautical highway and airports of the super region, while Public Works and Highways Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane will give a briefing on the roads and bridges.

Tourism Secretary Ace Durano will speak on capacity expansion in Central Philippines, while four presenters from the hotel and resort industry will discuss the private sector investment for central Philippines.

Also expected at today's conference are Energy Secretary Rafael Lotilla, Budget and Management Secretary Rolando Andaya and National Economic and Development Authority director general Romulo Neri, Capadocia said.

Arroyo will arrive at the Bacolod airport at 10 a.m. today and will hold a brief private meeting there after which she will proceed to the University of Saint La Salle for the Go Negosyo Caravan awarding rites of 10 Most Outstanding Bacolod Entrepreneurs and four Outstanding Bacolod Business Support Organizations.

The entrepreneurs are Josephine Locsin of Tumandok Crafts and Industries, Dianna Lyn Agustin and Ma. Corazon Bitong of BAYO, Olivia Yanson of the Yanson Group of Companies, Jose Ma. Cajili of Chicken House, Cecille del Castillo of Dungganon Bank and the Negros Women For Tomorrow Foundation, James Chua of Foodman, Gov. Joseph Marañon for Mambukal Resort, Roberto Montelibano for GS Foods Inc., Joaquin Torre for Riverside Medical Center and Benjamin Lopue Sr. for the Lopue's Group of Companies.

The outstanding support organizations are the Association of Negros Producers Inc. represented by Mary Ann Colmenares, the IT Focus Team headed by Councilor Jocelle Batapa, Negros Kabisig Livelihood Foundation Inc. led by Dr. Carmen Benares, and the University of Saint La Salle Business Resource Center represented by Elsie Coscolluela.

At least 5,000 high school and college students are expected to attend the caravan and the awarding ceremony to be attended by celebrity entrepreneurs Cito Beltran, Cheryl Cosim, Jolina Magdangal, Roxanne Barcelo, Jack Gaisano, Jay Aldeguer, Gov. Luis Villafuerte, Gaita Fores, Dr. Vicky Belo and Paolo Bediones.

The president will then cut the ribbon at the launching of Bacolod as Philippines' Climate-Friendly City at the USLS campus and view the Electric-Powered Jeepneys to be used in the city.

The E Jeepneys are a project of the Green Renewable Independent Power Producer and Greenpeace

She will then proceed to Silay City at noon for a site inspection of the P4.3 billion New Bacolod (Silay) Airport in Barangay Bagtic that is 98 percent complete, to be followed by the conference on the Central Philippines super region.*CPG

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