President Arroyo Sunday cancelled another day off and traveled to Bataan and Pampanga to inspect public schools and distribute microfinance aid to small businessmen.

The President, who usually skips work every Sunday to spend private time with her family, mingled with communities in Mariveles, Bataan, and Floridablanca, Pampanga, apparently to bring her government closer to the people.

Her first stop was the launch of the new Information Hub in Mariveles National High School-Poblacion meant to improve computer literacy among students. The students of Mariveles high school received 65 new computers donated by Buhay Party-Rep. Carissa Coscuella.

The computer project in Mariveles was part of the P14.6 million program initiated by Bataan Rep. Alberto Garcia sought to provide computers to students and allow them to connect to the Internet. Five hundred computer units, which include laptops, wi-fi routers and printers, will be distributed to the 13 other public high schools.

The President said her government hopes to establish computer laboratories in every public high school in line with improving the quality of education.

Afterwards, the President distributed Certificates of Award for computers to all public high schools participating in the iHub project. The second district of Bataan has a student population of 23,966 and a teaching force of 769 as of April 2009.

From Bataan, the President traveled to Floridablanca, Pampanga to check the facilities of several public schools and extend farm equipment as well as microfinance aid to some beneficiaries.

The President visited San Roque Elementary School to inspect the school’s newly built fences to ensure a “more secure learning atmosphere via a fenced in campus.”

Other schools inspected by the President were San Antonio Central Elementary School in Barangay San Antonio, the San Isidro Elementary School, Purok 3 in Barangay San Isidro, and the Mabical Elementary School in Barangay Mabical.

Aside from the school inspections, the President distributed microfinance loan assistance checks to small businessmen in Floridablanca after visiting the home-based chicharon business owned and managed by Laddy David, a beneficiary of microfinance.