President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today praised the Mandaue City government today for its efforts to help the national government minimize expenses in line with its ongoing austerity program.

In a simple signing ceremony at the foot of the Marcelo Fernan bridge, the President expressed her gratitude to Mandaue City Mayor Thadeo Ouano for accepting the maintenance of a major national highway in order to boost savings for the national coffers.

The President witnessed the signing of a Memorandum Of Agreement (MOA) between Ouano and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Florante Soriquez.

In the signed MOA, Mandaue City will maintain and beautify the United Nations (UN) and A.C. Cortez Avenues.

"What are we doing here? Mandaue City is helping the national government save money, Mandaue City will turn over the maintenance of this highway, as you approach the bridge so this is now the city road approach," said the President in her brief speech.

Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Angelo Reyes, Press Secretary and concurrent Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye, Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano, Government Media chief Secretary Cerge Remonde and Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia also witnessed the ceremonial MOA signing.

Earlier, the Chief Executive attended a meeting with some Visayas – Mindanao local executives, headed by Cordova Mayor Arleigh Sitoy and Southern Leyte Governor Rosette Lerias, to discuss the LGU-initiated roll-on-roll-off (RO-RO) terminals in the region to be named as Road-RORO Terminal System (RRTS).

The RRTS project will serve as parallel backbone to the President’s initiated RORO Strong Nautical Highway.

The RRTS is expected to reduce by 20 to 30 percent the transportation costs in support of the 10-point agenda of the President, more specifically the decongestion of Metro Manila.