The civil society group Kongreso ng Mamamayang Pilipino (KOMPIL) today srtressed it remains supportive of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s reform agenda, particularly those that have to do with good governance, new politics and social reform.

KOMPIL, in a statement made shortly after a dialogue with the President at the State Dining Room in Malacanang, said it "has not withdrawn support" for the government’s reform agenda, contrary to speculations.

"Transparency, good governance, public accountability, social justice is the spirit of People Power 2. The challenge is to cascade these to the basic sectors and reassure a public grown weary of political strife and prevent actions of some groups that will derail the people’s agenda," KOMPIL said.

During the meeting, the President assured KOMPIL members that her government has no plan to recruit Ronaldo Puno and Jimmy Policarpio, into her administration.

With regards to the choice of the next foreign affairs secretary, KOMPIL acknowledged the President’s prerogative to decide on who would be the next DFA secretary even as they expressed their objections to the appointment of Sen. Blas Ople to the post.

"We put the matter to rest even as we remain vigilant as certain quarters will surely continue their attempts to try and inflict these persons, and others of the same probity, on the public once again," KOMPIL added.

Among those who attended the dialogue with the President were members of the KOMPIL Council of Leaders and Convenors Chito Gascon, Karen Tanada, Miguel Perez-Rubio, Jeannete Dumo, Evelyn Kilayko, Bobbit Librojo, dan Songco, Eero Brillantes, Teddy Lopez, and Melita Cruz.

HERMOSA, Bataan – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today personally distributed relief goods and other government assistance to some 5,558 families or 24,757 individuals of the 16 barangays of Hermosa affected by floods due to the intermittent monsoon rains that hit the area.

The Chief Executive distributed the goods shortly after her arrival at 1:05 p.m. at the Hermosa Elementary School here.

She was welcomed by Hermosa Mayor Efren Cuz and other local officials as well the evacuees who were extremely happy to see her set foot at the Hermosa school grounds.

Elated by the warm reception, the President shook hands with them. She then instructed Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Juliano Soliman and Mayor Cruz to ensure that evacuees get their share of the relief goods.

Later, the President, together with Health Secretary Manuel Dayrit, Soliman and other local officials, joined the evacuees for lunch.

After lunch, the President inspected two of the 16 flooded areas-- Barangay Almacen and Barangay Daungan.

She rode in an amphibian truck during the inspection.

Earlier, Mayor Cruz said that 16 out of 23 barangays of the town were directly affected by floods due to the continuous heavy rains spawned by storms Inday, Florita, Gloria and Hambalos.

The 16 barangays affected by the floods and rains include Almacen, Pulo, Saba, Cataning, Daungan, Burgos, Mubuco, Sto. Cristo, JRC Mandama, Balsic, Bacong, Bamban, Culis, Palihan, and A. Rivera.

The evacuees are now housed in Almacen Elementary School, Almacen Barangay Hall ang Cataning Chapel.

Damage to agricultural crops and production was estimated at P17.3 million; for livestocksP P517,000 and fisheries P4 million in.

Former Muntinlupa Congressman Ignacio "Toting" Bunye will formally assume the post of press secretary and presidential spokesman tomorrow.

He will be officially sworn in by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in ceremonies to be held July 19 in Malacanang.

Bunye, who will take over from Acting Press Secretary Silvestre Afable, Jr., will remain as presidential spokesman until October when Roberto Tiglao will reassume the post. Tiglao will also assume the post of chief of staff under the Office of the President upon his return from Japan.

Before he joined politics in l986, Bunye had been a reporter of DZMT, the radio station of the old Manila Times, and later as reporter of the Daily Star.

A lawyer by profession, Bunye has served in various executive positions at the Ayala group of companies, including as assistant vice president of the Ayala Investment and Development Corporation and the Bank of the Philippine Islands.

When former President Corazon Aquino took over power after the downfall of former President Ferdinand Marcos in l986, Bunye was designated officer-in-charge of the municipality of Muntinlupa.

He became the duly elected mayor of Muntinlupa from l988 to l995. As Muntinlupa mayor, Bunye served as chairman of the then Metropolitan Manila Authority in a concurrent capacity, from l991-1992.

In l995, Bunye was again reelected as mayor of Muntinlupa for his last three-year term. During his 12-year stewardship, Muntinlupa metamorphosed from a fifth-class municipality into a highly-urbanized city.

Adopting proven corporate practices that he gained from working in the private sector, Bunye streamlined operations and cut red tape, thus making Muntinlupa City a business-friendly community which is what it is today.

Toward the end of his term as mayor, Bunye laid the foundation for the establishment of the Ospital ng Muntinlupa through the acquisition of a five-hectare lot within the Filinvest Corporate City, which is also the site of the future Civic Center Complex.

Barred by law to seek a fourth consecutive term as mayor, Bunye ran for Congress in l998 and became the first Congressman from the lone district of Muntinlupa City.

In Congress, Bunye continued to champion the cause of local governments, especially in providing them with greater fiscal autonomy.

Originally a member of the minority, Bunye became one of the fiscalizers of the 11^th Congress. But with the change of leadership toward the end of the 11^th Congress, he became the Senior Deputy Majority Floor Leader.

A valedictorian during his elementary and secondary education, Bunye finished both his AB in Political Science and Bachelor of Laws from the Ateneo de Manila. He had a Masters in Management from the Asian Institute of Management.

Bunye, who is a lifetime member of the National Press Club, has written a number of articles published in the Daily Star, including a four-part series entitled "War Vignettes," a first-person account of events immediately after the Tet Offensive in South Vietnam in l968.

He also wrote a one-hour documentary entitled "The Other War," a first person account of the activities of the Philippine Civic Action Group in Tay Ninh, South Vietnam. The documentary was broadcast in l967 by radio station DZMT.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today made a surprise visit to the Commonwealth Market in Quezon City to ensure that concerned government agencies are conscientiously monitoring the prices of basic commodities.

The President went straight to the market from the Batasang Pambansa grounds, where the presidential helicopter landed after an unscheduled visit to Hermosa, Bataan.

Accompanied by Trade and Industry Secretary Manuel Roxas II, Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte, Jr. and Market Administrator Jose Mari Hilario, the President took her time in inquiring on the prices of basic goods.

She inquired on the change of prices of vegetables from Baguio City before and after the torrential rains hit Metro Manila and Central and Southern Luzon.

Vegetable vendor Roly Mopal graciously explained to the President that the prices of vegetables from the summer capital have increased slightly last week, but have gone back to their original and lower prices.

Baguio pechay, Mopal cited, has gone back to P40 per kilo from P50 per kilo.

The President also checked on the prices of rice.

At the VMS Rice Center and Gen. Merchandise, the President inquired on the prices of the staple and was glad to hear that prices remain the same as before the rains came.

Regular rice was priced at P19/kg, P20/kg, and P21/kg while the well-milled variety stood at P23/kg.

The President also looked into the prices of fish and meat products and was glad to learn that the prices have gone back to their level before the rains started.