Ali G. Macabalang
MARAWI CITY— Lanao del Sur Gov. Mamintal "Bombit" Alonto Adiong Jr. made the fiesta of Wao town more festive with the distribution last Thursday of 27,000 health-insurance cards to the residents, saying it is his administration’s gift to them.
Dozens of the recipients, mostly in tears of joy, took turns in hugging the governor during the ceremony, Provincial Information Officer Nasser Ganda reported yesterday.
The card entitles the holder to at least 30 percent discount on hospitalization bills payable under the provincial government’s health program, Ganda said.
The health program, which Adiong launched upon assumption of office last year, had earlier distributed more than 60,000 insurance cards to residents of the other towns of Lanao del Sur.
The program costs the provincial government P3 million in monthly subsidy.
The same program complements the countryside health-care program of President Arroyo, Ganda said.
Governor Adiong graced the Wao town fiesta as guest of honor, towing with him most of the 38 mayors of Lanao del Sur and other local officials.
In their speeches, Governor Adiong and the mayors renewed their allegiance to the Arroyo administration which, they said, has given much attention and projects to Mindanao more than those of the previous administration.
"President Arroyo is assured of our full backing all the time, especially in the face of the protests caused by the testimony of Rodolfo Lozada Jr. in the Senate probe on the aborted ZTE-NBN deal," Ganda quoted Governor Adiong as saying.
Meanwhile, Muslim NGOs in Mindanao have also aired support for the President amid the controversy, said Datu Aladdin I. Ampatuan, assistant secretary for Muslim concerns
Ampatuan, a chairman of an NGO in Maguindanao, said he has conducted meetings in Davao City and General Santos City with leaders of other Muslim NGOs. During the meetings, common sympathy for President Arroyo was felt among the 50 Muslim NGOs that participated in the meetings.
The leaders have declared that they are supporting President Arroyo, he said.
Some Manila-based groups have renewed their call for her resignation in the face of the ZTE-NBN controversy.
Interviewed via mobile phone, Hadji Abdullah Dalidig, chairman of the Marawi-based multi-sectoral movement for peace and development, said star witness Lozada should be fully protected and given the chance to help investigators unearth all facts about the scrapped ZTE-NBN deal.
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