MINALABAC, Camarines Sur -- Congressman Dato Arroyo has been awaiting for a request assistance from the Bicol Medical Center (BMC) here even though he said he was once turned down once.

        Declining to elaborate on details, Arroyo said that one time he offered his assistance to the BMC but was rejected which made him decide to just wait for them (BMC management) to ask him for whatever help to provide.

        He said that he still made efforts to help the BMC when he requested last year from the Office of the President P1-million assistance.

        Arroyo said that he now focuses on efforts in his district to provide his constituents cheaper medicines in his medical program there.

        He explained that being one of the concerns of his term he supported the passage of the bill that provided environment for accessible and cheaper medicine to the poor.

        Arroyo expressed optimism it would pass in the bicameral committee and becomes a law after the congressional processes.

        He said he has three priority thrusts in his district that included Tubig (Water), Kalsada (Road) and Oportunidad (Opportunity).

        Arroyo said an initial P15 million have been released to start construction of barangay roads and added that he is also concerned about the rehabilitation of the Andaya Highway that had claimed lives last year because of bad road condition.

        “I would ask for the developments of the rehabilitation of the Andaya Highway. It seemed that some portions are still in bad condition,” he said.

        Arroyo announced that the feasibility study on the proposed irrigation dam that would benefit rice farmers in the towns of Libmanan and Cabusao, one of his priority projects under the Tubig thrust, has been finished and that it is now being reviewed by the Department of Agriculture and National Irrigation Administration.

        He said a technical working group has been organized to study and evaluate the irrigation dam that would replace the existing motor-driven pump that rendered irrigation services for rice farmers unaffordable.

        Speaking before farmer-beneficiaries from his district, Arroyo said he has initiated to solicit from government sources some provisions to provide opportunities for his constituents that included farm-input grants.

        On Wednesday, the congressman led the distribution of 500 sacks of certified palay seeds to farmers in eight of the 10-town first district of Camarines Sur.

        Jose Dayao, regional executive director of the DA here, explained that the distribution of free certified palay seeds is part of the Calamity Assistance and Rehabilitation Efforts (Care) program.

        Dayao said the DA selection of the eight municipalities under the Care program was based on the reports of the agriculture technicians while the individual beneficiaries were selected by the mayors.