President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said today the birth of Jesus Christ carries with it the importance of addressing the housing problem so much so that her administration has seen to it that providing shelter to the poor is one of the top eight priority programs of the administration.

Speaking before a multitude of El Shaddai members during the charismatic group’s 19^th Christmas Overnight Family Reunion held at Amvel Business Park in Paranaque City, the President said Jesus Christ was born in a manger, symbolizing how important housing program is to any government.

According to the President, housing has been an age-old problem that has to be addressed with the dedication and cooperation of all, especially between the local and national governments.

The President said her administration’s target for housing for the urban poor has been met satisfactorily but there is still much to be desired.

For the government workers’ sector, the President said they would soon be beneficiaries of affordable housing projects -- where the lot is free since these are government lands and only the development costs will be shouldered by the beneficiaries. The President added that the housing loans carry only 9% interest per annum.

The President remarked that she believes what Bro. Mike Velarde, Servant-leader of El Shaddai, said in an earlier message to the group that despite the hardships and difficulties that confront the country, with the care of Yahweh El Shaddai, "we will overcome."

"I believe that so long as we are true to our covenant with the Lord, makakamtan natin ang kaunlaran sa 2003 (we can achieve progress in 2003)," the President said.

The President’s speech was focused on housing and could have touched the heart of the El Shaddai members, prompting them to applaud the Chief Executive a dozen of times.

The El Shaddai members become more jubilant when the President announced that the government supports the housing project of the charismatic group.

Mark Jimenez’ statements only confirm what we have known all along. That he is not a man of his word. And that everything that he has said and done are calculated to prevent his extradition to the United States. He is obviously a desperate man in the face of certain prosecution. The government sees through Jimenez’ ploys and will take the necessary steps to extradite him if he does not leave voluntarily as he has promised.

There is no more legal impediment to his extradition because of the recent Supreme Court decision.

Re: Ceasefire: