P48 million Budget for Butuan Bridge Rehab

The Magsaysay bridge which connects Davao, Surigao, and Agusan del Sur to Butuan City is now under rehabilitation. Allotted budget amounted to P48,161,187.83 which main objective is to strengthen its sub-structures.  The rehabilitation is estimated to be completed in 300 days.

The 50-year old bridge is believed to be the oldest bridge in Northeastern and Northern Mindanao regions.

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Butuan Has A New Mayor

Last night, COMELEC has proclaimed Dr. Ferdinand Amante, Jr. as the new mayor of Butuan City.  This is surprising considering that the Plazas had been dominating the Butuan political arena for so long.  Who would have thought that the recent May 10, 2010 elections would force the Plazas to step down from City Hall for earning 56,763 votes only?  Dr. Amante won by 8,900 votes.

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Erap was in Butuan!

Here's an article I just got from ABS-CBN News. Read on:

To the immense surprise of customers, former President Joseph Ejercito Estrada visited a local Jollibee fast food chain in Agusan del Norte Thursday.

Estrada had just arrived in the region to continue his nationwide goodwill tour called "Lakbay Pasasalamat", when he decided to stop at Gaisano Mall in Butuan City and eat at a Jollibee outlet, a statement said. The awed crowd reportedly took pictures with the former president, who was eating a 2-piece Chickenjoy meal.

Margeux Salcedo, Estrada's spokesperson, said in an interview that the incident was a rare occurence. "He does not usually [eat at fast food chains] at all, it was so hard for him to eat, actually because dinudumog siya ng tao," she said.

Salcedo added that the group only decided to eat at Jollibee because one of Estrada's "Lakbay" companions, Mrs. Gina de Venecia, wife of former House Speaker Jose de Venecia, mentioned that she was hungry and wanted a Chickenjoy.

The Jollibee restaurant was also filled with other bigwigs, all companions of Estrada during his campaign, including Atty. Adel Tamano, Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, former Senate President Ernesto Maceda, and actor Rez Cortez.

Salcedo said the "Lakbay Pasasalamat" is Estrada's way of thanking fans who supported him through thick and thin. "When he was in jail in Tanay for six years, he promised himself na kung makakalabas siya, he'll go around and thank his supporters. It is for [former] Pres. Estrada to thank the Filipino masses for never forgetting him even if he was incarcerated, even if he was accused [of plunder, graft, and corruption]," she said.

Estrada and his escorts visited the Butuan municipal hall during his tour. Their motorcade, however, a regular feature of the "Lakbay Pasasalamat" where Estrada throws out candies to the crowd, had to be canceled because of the rains.

Estrada and his escorts are set to visit Surigao after touring Butuan.

i might not be able to go home on all saints' day..

i'll be writing the 2nd part of my post entitled, "my recent journey", next time.

for now, i am in great dilemma. i received an office order just this afternoon that I will be part of a team organized for the special audit of a controversial agency. (for now, the media has not smelled blood on it yet. thank God!). audit period is on october 6 - 17 and november 3 -7, 2008.

that means, my scheduled trip to surigao city via butuan city on all saint's day is at risk. it might not push through.. huhuhu! what am i gonna do? whaaaaa!!!

let's wait and see!!! :)