The recent natural disasters that struck the country have prompted President Arroyo to scrap her day off and instead work full time to supervise the massive relief and rehabilitation efforts around the country.

In what was supposed to be private time with her family, the President Sunday visited the provinces of Nueva Ecija and her native Pampanga to distribute relief goods and check on infrastructure projects damaged by the recent storms.

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said the President has not taken time off from work since tropical storm “Ondoy” battered Metro Manila and surrounding provinces last September 26. This was followed by typhoon “Pepeng” that ravaged northern Luzon Saturday.

With the large trail of destruction left by Pepeng, Remonde said the President is expected to devote her time this week on relief and rehabilitation of storm-hit communities as well as protecting the economy from any potential damage caused by the disasters.

“Our President still works even on Sundays. She visited the storm victims in Nueva Ecija and extended relief goods. Afterwards, she went to Pampanga to comfort the families affected by the storm,” Remonde said.

In Gabaldon, Nueva Ecija, the President launched “Damayang Apat na Piso,” a new program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development that will benefit the country’s poor. She also distributed cash assistance to hundreds of poor families on the condition they will send their children to school and undergo health checkups.

From Nueva Ecija, the President traveled to flood-stricken Guagua, Pampanga and ordered the immediate repair of some roads and river dikes.