President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today thanked the people for the peaceful Sangguniang Kabataan and Barangay elections yesterday in the country.

In a nationwide radio interview this morning, the President expressed the hope that the same peaceful and happy atmosphere will prevail when the elections postponed in other parts of the country are finally conducted.

The President congratulated all those who won in the elections and exhorted them to work hard for the welfare of the Filipino people.

She noted that the barangay represents the primary structure of government, adding that "it is a must that barangay officials should help make our Republic strong."

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today said that she is glad that majority of the groups that comprise the civil society, except for the communists, are behind her administration.

In a radio interview this morning, the President said in a strong republic, the civil society must also be vibrant and its job is to help build the nation.

"Yong kanilang swords, maging hammers, to build rather than to destroy, iyon ang kanilang trabaho (Their swords should be turned into hammers so that they can build rather than destroy, that is their function)," the President said.

After a meeting in Malacanang Monday, the mainstream civil society group, Kongreso ng Mamamayang Pilipino (KOMPIL) expressed its continued support for the President’s reform agenda, particularly those that have to do with good governance, new politics and social reforms.

In a statement issued after their audience with the President, KOMPIL said that contrary to reports, it has not withdrawn its support for the government’s reform agenda.

The President said that despite the expression of support by the civil society in her administration, there are still a lot of problems that have to be resolved, like peace and order, how to be competitive in the world market, and how to ensure that consumers will continue to enjoy lower electricity rates.

When asked about what the government is doing to prevent an increase in water rates, the President said that like in the power sector, the problem in the water sector is also financing.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today formally assumed, in a concurrent capacity, the post of foreign secretary that was vacated by the resignation of Vice President Teofisto Guingona, Jr.

As her first official function as foreign secretary, the President presided over a meeting this morning in Malacanang with officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

The President, chief architect of the country’s foreign policy, will remain as the DFA chief until such time that she can designate a replacement for Guingona.

According to the President, Guingona was still the DFA secretary until Monday, July 15, the date when his resignation takes effect, although he bade goodbye to his staff at the DFA last Friday, or three days earlier.

The President said that although the special search committee that she formed to scout for Guingona’s replacement has announced that it already has a short list of nominees to the post, she has yet to receive such a short list.

She also said that she has not given a deadline for the special search committee headed by Victoria Garchitorena, former head of the Presidential Management Staff (PMS), to submit the list.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has directed Administrator Melchor Rosales of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), who is also executive director of the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC), to form a committee that would seek a comprehensive solution to the perennial flooding in Metro Manila, Region I and Region 3.

In a nationwide radio interview this morning, the Chief Executive said she issued the directive to Rosales following her surprise inspection Monday of the flooded barangays in Hermosa, Bataan, where she also distributed relief goods and other government assistance to flood victims.

The President said she will soon meet with the local officials of Metropolitan Manila to tackle its perennial problems of floods, traffic and garbage.

On the flood-prone areas in the metropolis such as Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, and Valenzuela (Camanava), the President said, the flood problem in these places will soon be solved because of the construction of the Camanava dike which will start in October this year.

Only the other parts of Metro Manila, and some provinces of Regions 1 (Ilocos) and 3 (Central Luzon) that must be given similar solutions and planning to prevent, if not completely eliminate, the perennial flooding of these places, the President said.

During her inspection trip to the flooded barangays in Hermosa, the President said, she also directed Public Works and Highways Secretary Simeon Datumanong to transfer the desiltation or dredging project from its present site at the middle of the Almacen River to the river’s mouth in Barangay Almacen.

"Dapat ilipat ang desiltation (project) sa mouth of the river, hindi doon sa gitna ng ilog (Thre disiltation project should be transferred to the mouth of the river instead of at its present location at the middle of the river)", she said.

As her first official act as concurrent foreign secretary, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today stressed the eight-point realities in regional and international development that would shape the foreign policy of her administration.

In a press briefing this afternoon, his first as press secretary and presidential spokesman, Ignacio "Toting" Bunye said the President reiterated her 8-point foreign policy guidelines during a meeting with senior officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs held this morning in Malacanang State Dining Room.

Bunye said the President’s foreign policy is essentially anchored on the realities of having to deal with the world’s great powers like the United States, Japan and China.

The President, according to Bunye, is also looking forward "to touching base" with the leaders of the major European countries where the Philippines has strong cultural, economic and diplomatic ties.

Bunye said that during the meeting with DFA officials, the President also mentioned that the cornerstone of the country’s foreign policy is to really strengthen the role of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) "not just in terms of economic but also in terms of other arrangements that would include security matters."

Before the meeting, the President issued a memorandum detailing the working arrangement between Malacanang and the DFA covering administrative work while she is heading the foreign affairs portfolio, Bunye said.

In this connection, Bunye said the President has designated a coordinating official in the person of Cecille Rebong, presently the acting chief of the Presidential Protocol and Presidential Assistant on Foreign Affairs.

"So, she (Rebong) will be the coordinator between the Palace and the DFA," Bunye said.

The President, Bunye said, also appointed Ambassador Delia Albert, a career DFA official, as foreign affairs undersecretary. Albert, former Philippine envoy to Australia, is currently the DFA assistant secretary for policy planning and coordination.

The eight realities in the regional and international environment that would guide the President’s foreign policy are as follows:

As her first official act as concurrent foreign secretary, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today stressed the eight-point realities in regional and international development that would shape the foreign policy of her administration.

In a press briefing this afternoon, his first as press secretary and presidential spokesman, Ignacio "Toting" Bunye said the President reiterated her 8-point foreign policy guidelines during a meeting with senior officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs held this morning in Malacanang State Dining Room.

Bunye said the President’s foreign policy is essentially anchored on the realities of having to deal with the world’s great powers like the United States, Japan and China.

The President, according to Bunye, is also looking forward "to touching base" with the leaders of the major European countries where the Philippines has strong cultural, economic and diplomatic ties.

Bunye said that during the meeting with DFA officials, the President also mentioned that the cornerstone of the country’s foreign policy is to really strengthen the role of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) "not just in terms of economic but also in terms of other arrangements that would include security matters."

Before the meeting, the President issued a memorandum detailing the working arrangement between Malacanang and the DFA covering administrative work while she is heading the foreign affairs portfolio, Bunye said.

In this connection, Bunye said the President has designated a coordinating official in the person of Cecille Rebong, presently the acting chief of the Presidential Protocol and Presidential Assistant on Foreign Affairs.

"So, she (Rebong) will be the coordinator between the Palace and the DFA," Bunye said.

The President, Bunye said, also appointed Ambassador Delia Albert, a career DFA official, as foreign affairs undersecretary. Albert, former Philippine envoy to Australia, is currently the DFA assistant secretary for policy planning and coordination.

The eight realities in the regional and international environment that would guide the President’s foreign policy are as follows: