Feed school kids, Arroyo tells cops

MANILA, Philippines—President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo directed the Philippine National Police (PNP) to use their savings to provide breakfast for daycare, pre-school, and grade one students in schools near police camps.

Arroyo issued the order in a speech during graduation rites at the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) in Silang town, Cavite province on Thursday, as she reiterated her directives for government agencies to tighten their belts and cut wasteful spending to pour more money for social services.

“You graduates are lucky because you have jobs waiting for you. In return, I am instructing all police camps, including the PNPA, to spend part of your savings to provide breakfast to the day care, pre-school, and grade one children in the school nearest your camp,” she said.

“The government must also continue to come to the rescue of the poorest among us with targeted subsidies of food, fuel, and rice. To fund all these, cut government waste,” she said.

“On the part of government, we must live within our means and run a lean and efficient government, this includes fiscal prudence on the part of every agency, including the PNPA,” she said.–Joel Guinto, INQUIRER.net