Arroyo schedules 50th visit to Pampanga

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo will visit Pampanga province Wednesday - the 50th time so far this year - this time to inspect a dredging project. A Malacañang statement Tuesday night said the dredging involves the Sapang Maragul-Antipolo River by the Mt. Pinatubo Rehabilitation Project Management Office (MPR-PMO). The Palace said Mrs. Arroyo will take a five-minute boat ride from the Masantol wharf to the dredging site, adding the project is due for completion Dec. 16. "The Sapang Maragul-Antipolog River is one of the tributaries that serve as outlets for Macabebe and Masantol. Dredging will speed up the water flow," the Palace said. Macabebe and Masantol are in the province's fourth district. The visit further bolsters speculation Mrs. Arroyo will run for congresswoman in her home province in 2010, while her allies push to shift to a parliamentary form of government. Under a parliamentary form of government, Mrs. Arroyo can run for Prime Minister. However, Mrs. Arroyo has so far kept mum on her political plans. - GMANews.TV