Mga mahal kong kababayan, magandang araw po sa inyong lahat.

Mahigit isang linggo na lamang at Pasko na naman. Ito ang natatanging araw na higit nating nadarama ang pagiging malapit sa isa’t-isa, lalo na sa ating pamilya at mga kaibigan. Ito rin ang dahilan kung bakit kadalasan ay nagbibigayan tayo ng regalo bilang simbolo ng ating pasasalamat sa pagsilang ng Anak ng Diyos.

Handang-handa na tayo para maging lubos ang pagmamahalan at pagbibigayan sa darating na Pasko. At muli, idinadalangin natin na sana ay mangibabaw na ang mensahe at espiritu ng Kapaskuhan: "Peace on earth, goodwill towards men".

Tungkulin ko at ng ating pamahalaan na siguruhing maging mapayapa ang pagdiriwang ng dakilang araw na ito. Kaya naman, pinulong ko kamakailan ang mga pinuno ng ating Hukbong Sandatahan at kapulisan upang alamin ang kanilang security preparations para sa Kapaskuhan. Tiniyak sa akin ng ating pulis at military officials ang kanilang kahandaang pangalagaan ang ating kaligtasan mula sa terorismo, krimen at iba pang banta sa peace and order ngayong holiday season.

Sa katunayan, ipinatutupad na ang lahat ng kaugnay dito:

Ang kapulisan ay nakahandang umaksiyon sa dagliang babala para mapangalagaan ang kapakanan ng ating mga kababayan na magtutungo sa Metro Manila para mamili ng mga regalo at handang pagkain sa pagsapit ng Pasko at Bagong Taon.

Dinadagdagan na rin natin ang bilang ng mga pulis na nagbabantay sa MRT, LRT, commercial centers at shopping malls, gayundin sa mga opisina ng gobyerno upang hadlangan ang mga nagnanais samantalahin ang Kapaskuhan para maghasik ng kaguluhan.

Nagpapakalat na rin ng kanilang mga tauhan ang Department of Transportation and Communications sa lahat ng bus terminals para siguruhin na ang mga kumpanya ng bus ay sinusunod ang kanilang prangkisa. Ang mga bus owners ay obligadong higpitan ang kanilang seguridad, kabilang na ang pagsiyasat sa mga dala-dalahan ng mga pasahero bago sila sumakay sa bus.

Nakikipag-ugnayan na ang DOTC sa PNP para sa deployment ng mga pulis sa bus terminals. Inaasahang ang ganitong police visibility ay makakapigil sa sinumang may masamang balak sa kaniyang kapwa.

Binabalaan din natin ang mga operators at drivers ng public utility vehicles na huwag samantalahin ang Christmas rush para sumingil ng labis na pasahe o di kaya’y tumangging magsakay ng pasahero. Maglalagay ang DOTC ng complaint desks sa mga malls para tumanggap ng reklamo at tulungan ang mga pasaherong nabiktima ng mga abusadong tsuper.

Ang katiyakan ng kaligtasan at seguridad ng commuters at mga sasakyan, gayundin ang maayos na daloy ng trapiko ng behikulo at tao sa Kamaynilaan ang isa sa mga layunin ng bagong lunsad na Project M. E. T. R. O.

Sa ilalim ng proyektong ito, limang malalaking lansangan mula sa NAIA ang gagawing salamin ng pangkalahatang kalagayan ng bansa. Ang mga ito ay ang Malacanang Corridor, EDSA Corridor hanggang EDSA Shrine, Taft Corridor hanggang Metropolitan Theater sa Lawton, Roxas Boulevard Corridor hanggang Intramuros, at Ortigas Corridor via C5 hanggang Cybercity.

Ilan sa mga nakalinyang gagawin para dito ang pagpapakalat ng mga pulis bawat 250 meters at magagaling na traffic enforcers, pagtatalaga ng mga lugar na hintuan ng sasakyan at mapagtitindahan, pagsasa-ayos ng daanan ng mga tao at pagtatayo ng METRO Skywalks.

Lilikha rin tayo ng magaganda at malilinis na pook sa paligid ng limang "corridors of urban development." Sa pamamagitan nito, ipapakita natin sa buong mundo na ang Pilipinas ay isang maituturing na world-class destination.

Ang lahat ng mga hakbanging ito ay magtatagumpay lamang kung makikipagtulungan ang mga mamamayan. Marami nang insidente ng krimen ang nalutas dahil mabilis na tumugon ang mga pulis sa mga suplong sa kanila ng publiko.

Ang lahat ng ito ay patunay na nakahanda ang aking administrasyon na labanan ang lahat ng uri ng krimen at terorismo upang pangalagaan ang kapakanan ng ating mga kababayan at mapabuti ang kanilang kalagayan sa buhay. Patuloy natin itong gagawin panahon man ng Kapaskuhan o hindi, may mga banta man sa ating seguridad o wala.

Kaya, isantabi muna natin ang anumang pangamba o kalungkutan at ipagdiwang natin ang nalalapit na Pasko at Bagong Taon nang may kasiyahan at pagtitiwala sa ating kakayahang hubugin ang isang magandang kinbukasan para sa ating lahat.

The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee said it is up for the executive branch "to decide whether the Cheng Yong group can be entrusted to run the country’s premier airport terminal (NAIA III) in light of their conduct in the project."

The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee report also stressed that the executive branch is not duty-bound to honor the contracts with the Philippine International Air Terminals, Inc. (PIATCO) for the construction and operation of Terminal 3 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) because of numerous violations committed by PIATCO in the original agreement and in the amended and restated concession agreement (ARCA).

The report pointed out that erstwhile partners, Cheng Yong Group and Fraport, who under the Piatco contract shall operate NAIA Terminal III, are no longer on speaking terms as can be judged from the hearings.

"The Cheng Yong group is determined to open the Terminal III for business. Fraport, whose technical expertise in operating airports worldwide is established, is unwilling to cooperate further with the Cheng Yongs," the report stressed.

The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee report further pointed out that the Cheng Yong-Fraport relationship at this time poses the question of operational safety and competence which are of primary consideration.

Also, in the probe conducted by three committees of the Senate, led by the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, it was found out that the entire exercise that led to the construction of Terminal 3 "was tainted with anomalies every step of the way."

The Senate report said that while the fact remains that the Terminal 3 project is now "practically completed," the contracts covering the project are void.

The Senate said that the Terminal 3 project is a vivid example of how a good law, in this case the build-operate-transfer (BOT) law, "can be subverted and flouted with impunity when the government agency involved in its implementation is guilty of malicious breach or inexcusable or ignorance in the performance of its duty."

According to the Senate report, the award of the project to PIATCO despite the firm’s inadequate finances created "an anomalous situation" whereby the Cheng Yong Group, which contributed only $16.5 million to PIATCO, obtained control its management over Fraport, its German partner, which poured in $103.5 million in equity and $225 million in loans and guarantees.

"This inverse stockholding ratio puts into question how the Cheng Yong Group has managed to stay in the saddle of PIATCO despite its subordinate contribution," the Senate report said.

Finally, the report said the government does not violate the principle of estoppel if it decides not to honor the Piatco contract.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today outlined government programs that will provide relief for the nation’s workers during these difficult times.

Speaking at this year’s celebration of the 27^th anniversary of the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP), one of the country’s largest labor unions, the President said the government will be setting up National Food Administration (NFA) stationary stores in places where there are many factories. "In this way, the workers can easily have access to low-priced rice."

The President said that NFA will start constructing three NFA stores in Metro Manila, and if there is no problem, it will become 15 in the coming months. "These are not rolling stores. These are stationary NFA stores," the President emphasized.

The President said the labor unions and the NFA have signed a Memorandum of Agreement for them to participate in this project called the "Bigasan Centers."

"Instead of rolling stores, we are offering to the union, in coordination with the TUCP, these Bigasan Centers," the President said.

The President likewise unveiled a program of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) that will implement in work places labor standards and regulations. "We will be more strict on this," the President said.

The Chief Executive said that DOLE has a pilot project with the City of Mandaluyong on ways to help local government units implement these regulations. "Sa ganoon, maiisisiguro na ang kondisyon ng inyong pagtratrabaho ng desente (So that the condition of having a decent work will be ensured)," the President told members of TUCP.

The President said DOLE is finalizing a framework for labor standards on employment to enhance the information dissemination to the small workers, and assure implementation of the standards in companies having more than 10 workers.

The President also informed the labor unions that because they are not asking for higher wages during these critical times, she will make sure that prices of basic commodities remain stable.

The President said her administration is making an effort to maintain medicines at half price for the poor. As of today, there are now 70 hospitals of the Department of Health and three hospitals of local government units, and 270 pharmacies in the barangays selling cheap medicines under the President’s half-price medicine program.

Relative to this, the President proposed to the labor unions who have funds to invest in the half-price medicine program of the government. The President said she will provide a counterpart fund for this kind of investment.

On the Philhealth program of the government, the President said she will instruct the agency concerned to speed up the reimbursement process of health care expenses as long as the documents are complete.

The President said that because of the magnitude of members that enrolled in the Philhealth since she became President, "siyempre nagkaroon ng gusot sa servicing requirement, lalo na iyong reimbursement (so there may be backlogs in servicing requirement, especially in reimbursement)."

On housing, the President expressed the hope that as soon as possible, TUCP could make an institutional arrangement with many real estate developers who are now building mass housing units so that members of TUCP can be given a good housing package.

The President said the process of building nine Pag-IBIG towers has started right in Metro Manila.

The President also disclosed a program of Agriculture Secretary Luis Lorenzo to propagate "tilapia." These efforts – rice and fish at low prices, medicine at half price, stable transportation rates – are being worked out to provide relief for the hardships of workers, the President said.

On electricity, the President gave an assurance that if the Supreme Court’s final decision is to refund the consumers, "I will impose it and I also assure you that electricity will continue to flow to your homes."

This year’s TUCP anniversary celebration revolved around the theme "Strong, Responsive, and Responsible Unions: Key to Ensuring Decent Work," which emphasized the need to build strong unions and to strengthen the trade union movement in the country.

Some 300 local union presidents from all over the country converged at the TUCP headquarters in Diliman, Quezon City to participate in the event.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo assured the public that they should not worry too much during the holiday season and just enjoy themselves with their families because the government is ready and prepared to meet all security contingencies in Metro Manila and in the countryside.

In a radio address this morning, the President said she has met with military and police officials and was informed that all necessary security measures against terrorism, criminality and other threats to peace and order have been put in placed.

"Tungkulin ko at ng ating pamahalaan na siguruhing maging mapayapa ang pagdiriwang ng dakilang araw na ito (It is my duty and our government’s duty to make sure that we celebrate the holiday seasons in all tranquility and festivity)," the President assured.

In truth, the President said, all these security measures have been implemented way ahead of the holidays.

"The 17,000-strong Metro Manila police force is fully prepared to face all types of challenges this coming Christmas and New Year," the President emphasized.

"Ang kapulisan ay nakahandang umaksiyon sa dagliang babala para mapangalagaan ang kapakanan ng ating mga kababayan na magtutungo sa Metro Manila para mamili ng mga regalo at handang pagkain sa pagsapit ng Pasko at Bagong Taon (Our police force are prepared to response in the shortest time possible to any threat against our countrymen who flock to Metro Manila to buy gifts and food for Christmas and New Year)," the President said.

The President said additional policemen have been assigned to guard the MRT, LRT, commercial centers, shopping malls and even government offices to deter those who plan to sow terror and violence during these holiday seasons.

She said that the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) has even assigned additional teams to see to it that bus terminals do their part in assuring the security of their passengers, especially in the inspection of baggage of those traveling to the provinces.

On top of these measures, police visibility, according to the President, will be extensive in bus terminals.

"Binabalaan din natin ang mga operators at drivers ng public utility vehicles na huwag samantalahin ang Christmas rush para sumingil ng labis na pasahe o di kaya’y tumangging magsakay ng pasahero (I am warning operators and drivers of public utility vehicles not to take advantage of the Christmas rush by charging exorbitant fares or refuse to take passengers)," the President said.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo yesterday appointed Mr. Rogelio M. Murga as president of the National Power Corporation (NPC) and Mr. Alan T. Ortiz as president of the National Transmission Corp. (TRANSCO). Both appointments take effect Feb. 1, 2003.

The appointments are in line with the reform program for the electric power sector, designed to improve its efficiency and develop its capability to serve the nation’s electricity requirements. Both appointees have outstanding track records as corporate executives. Their experience and insights in the private sector will be valuable in the implementation of the market-oriented power reform program.

Mr. Murga is a civil engineer who worked with EEI Corp. for more than 30 years, starting as production manager in 1966. He became the company’s president and chief operating officer in 1998 and vice-chairman and director from 1999-2001.