MANILA, Feb. 20 (PNA) — Malacanang is not pushing through in holding the 28th anniversary celebration of the EDSA People Power Revolution on February 25 at the Palace grounds and the President will instead visit calamity affected areas.
In a statement, Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma Jr. said the President met Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa last Monday and conveyed his decision to revisit calamity areas before he leaves for his official visit to Malaysia on 27-28 February.
“Considering that the theme for this year’s celebration is ‘Kapit-Bisig Tungo sa Pagbangon’, the President said it was important to rally the people in the calamity-affected areas to rekindle the spirit of EDSA People Power in building back better communities,” Coloma said.
Coloma said that the traditional “Salubungan” or commemoration of the meeting between the civilian and military participants of EDSA People Power will be held on Tuesday morning at the Cebu provincial capitol grounds.
Cebu was chosen as venue because the province was the bulwark of the opposition to the dictatorship during the martial law regime. It was in Cebu City where Mrs. Corazon Aquino was staying when the military broke ranks from President Marcos on February 22, 1986.
The President also plans to revisit Leyte and Eastern Samar to see the progress of government’s recovery and rehabilitation efforts there.
He may also visit Bohol which was devastated by an earthquake last October, Coloma said. The President may also proceed to Davao Oriental to assess reconstruction works following the devastation of super-typhoon Pablo in December 2011, he added.
The EDSA People Power Commission (EPPC) will issue the final program of events for the EDSA anniversary commemoration. (PNA/Xinhua)