President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today ordered the filing of appropriate charges against three bureau directors and 38 employees of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for their alleged involvement in the more than P139-million vehicle repair anomaly.

The President, who motored to the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) office in Quezon City, also ordered the suspension of the three officials beginning today.

"These bureau directors must be at the top of the list of respondents and they must be suspended or put under preventive suspension," the President said.

President Macapagal-Arroyo likewise asked Government Corporate Counsel Amado Valdez to be in charge of the prosecution against the three DPWH officials.

She expressed the hope that her order would serve as strong signal to others who would think that they could get away with wrongdoings even if they are Presidential appointees.

According to her, the DPWH is made up of good men and women she do not want the majority, who are good, to be tarnished by the few who are bad, adding that "the higher they go, the harder they fall."

"They have to think twice and they have to behave," the President said.

A report obtained from the DPWH identified the three bureau directors as Emily Tanquintic, Director III, Controllership and Finance Management; Bert Paborito, Director III, Administrative and Manpower; and Florendo Arias, Director III, Bureau of Equipment.

Last January 9, DPWH Secretary Simeon Datumanong created a committee to investigate reports about the alleged anomaly in vehicle repairs.

On June 23, 2002, the committee chaired by lawyer Lorenzo Sulaik, disclosed the involvement of 41 employees of the department, reaching up to the level of bureau directors.

These employees, according to the report, are assigned with the Bureau of Equipment, Controllership and Financial Management Service and Administrative and Manpower Management Services.

As of June 2002, the cost of repairs under question was more than P139 million.

Financial relief and a lot of savings. These are but two of the most important things many residents of Metro Manila and nearby provinces now enjoy with plunging power rates.

"I used to budget P1,700 from my measly income to pay my monthly power bill. Last June and July, I was relieved to find out that my electric bills went down to P1,200 and P1,000, respectively," says Myrna Rodriguez, a government employee who lives in Kamuning, Quezon City.

"I could use the savings for more important things like more food on our table, small home repairs, new clothes for the children or a first-aid kit," echoes Francis Apoderado of Sta. Cruz, Manila whose P2,000 electric bill in June went down by over P500 in July.

Rodriguez and Apoderado are but only two of the many persons who are glad the government has taken a fearless stand in cutting down the costs of power.

Baby Cayaba, a newshen, exclaims: "Thanks to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, everyone’s future is becoming brighter."

Cayaba narrates that she and husband Cris could not believe their eyes when they saw their July power bill. "It was all of P1,080. In June, it was P1,800 and in May, P2,500."

A Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) report shows that the year-on-year inflation in July 2002 has slowed down to 2.6 percent from 3.0 percent in June 2002.

Inflation is the increase in the volume of money or credit relative to available goods resulting in a substantial and continuing rise in the general price level.

The BSP says the continuous drop in the inflation rate is mainly due to the 3.9-percent dip in electric bills associated with the cut in purchased power adjustment (PPA) costs.

The report notes that the power rate reductions has brought down inflation in the National Capital Region and in areas outside Metro Manila.

In Metro Manila, inflation decelerated to 2.9 percent in July 2002. The average electricity bill went down by 6.1 percent in July from the level a month ago.

In areas outside Metro Manila, year-on-year inflation was lower at 2.5 percent in July. Electricity bills in these areas also dropped at the average rate of 2.0 percent from the previous month.

Virginia Aquino of Taytay, Rizal and Lolita Narcasi of General Mariano Alvarez in Cavite share a common observation. Both are in the "untiring" business of dipping their hands on money matters in so far as looking after their families is concerned.

Aquino and Narcasi look forward to increasing their assets, perhaps a washing machine, a small refrigerator or a colored 14-inch television to grace their humble homes. Of course, they will use their power bill "savings."

Maximo Agustin of Pulilan, Bulacan, with his "extra money," hopes to buy a few pieces of aluminum roofing and plywood "to make his house more livable." Agustin’s power bill went down to P700 in July from over P1,000 in May.

Aquino, Narcasi and Agustin are from outside Metro Manila. But they are within reach of President Macapagal-Arroyo’s bid to provide the people, particularly the urban poor, more ways to enjoy the benefits of a productive life and a secure environment.

A report from the Department of Energy shows that an additional 1,513 barangays nationwide have been provided electricity as of mid-July.

Energy Secretary Vicente Perez, Jr. says the electrification program is designed to encourage more economic activity in rural areas and create more jobs for Filipinos, a basic component of President Macapagal-Arroyo’s agenda to win the war against poverty within the decade.

Since electricity is a vital component of economic development, the President has vowed, in her first State of the Nation Address (SONA) in July 2001, to "light up" four unenergized barangays daily for a year.

Perez says the accelerated O-Ilaw Electrification program has provided power to 522 barangays in Luzon, 598 barangays in the Visayas and 393 barangays in Mindanao.

In her second SONA delivered before the joint session of Congress last July 22, the President has stressed that the people’s electric bills have been "a pet concern for the moment. I think about it all the time."

She has stressed that the Philippines used to be have the second most expensive power rates in Asia. "Now we have gone down to 6^th ... the first fruit of a comprehensive ten-point plan we have put in place to reduce power costs."

MINALIN, Pampanga – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today motored to Barangay San Francisco in this town to personally condole and sympathize with the family of Adelina Cunanan, one of the two Filipina caregivers who died in a Palestinian bomb attack in northern Israel last Sunday.

The President informed Pablo and Ines Lagunilla, parents of Cunanan, that she would not be able to visit the family when the remains of victim arrive this Friday. She said she will be in Virac, Catanduanes on that day.

The President, who transferred to one of her escort vehicles when she reached the town proper, braved the floods and rough road in going to a chapel in Barangay San Francisco, which is near the house of Cunanan’s parent.

In the barangay chapel, which was flooded, the President talked to the family of Cunanan and assured them that all possible assistance from concerned government agencies will be extended to them.

The President personally handed her cash assistance of P50,000 to Ines Lagunilla, the mother of Cunanan.

The President also informed the bereaved parents that since Cunanan is a documented worker, she is covered by the Institute of National Insurance of Israel. The family of the Cunanan will be entitled to full insurance benefits from the Israeli institution.

CLARK SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONE, Mabalacat, Pampanga—President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today stressed that democracy in the Philippines should be ensured so that investments, that would provide jobs to Filipinos, will keep on coming to the country.

In her remarks at the special meeting of the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) of Region 3 held here, the President said the meeting was very timely in the wake of the call by exiled communist leader Jose Maria Sison for the New People’s Army (NPA) to launch attacks against the government.

During the meeting, the President was presented with the insurgency problem in Central Luzon.

After being informed that some new barangay officials in Region 3 are communists, the President ordered concerned government agencies to find out the reasons why they won in the last barangay elections.

The President congratulated the people of Pampanga, her home province, for not electing any communists in the July 15 barangay polls.

We are commenting on a matter that is still developing.

Mrs. Acsa Ramirez was presented to the President last August 2, as someone under investigation by the NBI in connection with money laundering case at LBP branch at Binangonan.

As of this time, Mrs. Ramirez has not yet been charged nor has she been cleared by the NBI.

The President has ordered the NBI to expedite its investigation and let the evidence settle this controversy.