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| 19 JUNE 2002 |
| GMA presents awards to 10 top students |
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today lauded this year’s Ten Outstanding Students of the Philippines (TOSP) for their academic excellence, exemplary leadership, and social responsibility anchored on moral values as she personally presented them their respective awards. The President -- assisted by First Gentleman Jose Miguel T. Arroyo, former Trade and Industry Secretary and chairman of the TOSP Executive Committee Jose Concepcion, Jr., National Book Store president Alfredo Ramos, and Chairperson Ester Garcia of the Commission on Higher Education -- handed out the trophies to the young achievers in ceremonies held this morning at Malacaņang’s Ceremonial Hall. The TOSP awardees, who received their awards from the President are the following:
The President offered a token of P20,000 each to the ten young achievers during the awarding ceremonies which coincided with the 141th birth anniversary of Dr. Jose P. Rizal. Concepcion said the culmination of this year’s search brings into focus the importance of the youth in living the fire of idealism and devoting their energies, commitment, and aspirations to the noble task of nation-building. "The TOSP is more than just an award. It has been a continuing commitment to service and excellence for the last 40 years, interrupted only during the period of martial law," he said. Concepcion pointed out that it is TOSP’s mission to "create an atmosphere of lasting inspiration for our youth – our future, who (comprise) 56 percent of the 75 million Filipinos." The TOSP was launched on June 19, 1961, aptly on the 100th birth anniversary of Rizal. It was held continuously until martial law was declared in 1972. In November 1988, RFM Corporation and the Rotary Club of Makati Central, in cooperation with the Department of Education, Culture and Sports, revived the search, and in 1991, it was held under the auspices of the newly-created RFM Foundation. |
| NEDA chief upbeat on RP growth as GMA administration surpasses SONA targets |
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has surpassed the targets she set during her first State of the Nation Address (SONA), according to Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Dante B. Canlas. "The President will have a good story to tell to the people come July when she delivers another SONA," Canlas said in an interview on cable TV recently. Canlas, who also heads the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), said the overall performance in 2001 was very good, with domestic growth posting a 3.4 percent growth, higher than the 3.3 percent government target and the less-than-3 percent growth expectation of the private sector. True to the President Arroyo’s pronouncements in her first SONA, Canlas cited that thousands of beneficiaries have already been identified for enrolment in the National Health Insurance Program, while the cost of commonly purchased medicines is now within reach. "All 73 government hospitals are now stocked with select half-priced quality drugs from parallel drug imports and local manufacturers," he added. In contrast to the rise in the number of jobless persons in 2000, about two million jobs were created as of October 2001, with 1.2 million of these coming from the services sector and 800,000 from the agricultural sector. Canlas said the peace and order situation has improved, with the President giving more focus on terrorism and kidnap-for-ransom activities. He admitted, however, that just one case of kidnapping incident tends to "change the (positive) perception" of the public. The NEDA chief brushed aside fears that the alleged political activities of some officials for the 2004 election would dampen the economic gains. He said the administration has laid a solid economic foundation and noted that the political summit in April showcased platform-based programs rather than personalities. For this year, Canlas predicted that the economy would continue to gather strength brought about by the economic policies that began last year. The country’s farm sector, for example, grew by 3.8 percent in the first quarter of the year due to ample output gains in palay and mango, and stronger upturn in fishery. In 2001, P29 billion was allotted to agricultural modernization, way above the P20-billion budget requirement under the Agricultural and Fisheries Modernization Act (AFMA). He said information technology would be another bright spot in the economy in 2002. The government expects to double the number of call centers in the Philippines to 80 next year from the current number of 40 to transform the country into a call center hub in the Asia Pacific region. The passage of the Electric Power Industry Reform Act, which had been stalled for nine years in Congress, has also sent a good signal to investors, according to Canlas. |
| NEDA, USAID ink pact on governance, health, and environment and energy |
The Philippines and the United States have signed three memoranda of understanding (MOU) that would effectively provide assistance to improve economic governance, the delivery of health and family planning services, and the management of environment and energy in the country. The MOUs would serve as a framework that would guide the US Agency for International Development (USAID) in its activities in the Philippines. Signing for the Philippines were Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Dante Canlas and National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Deputy Director-General Gilbert Llanto. USAID Mission Director Patricia K. Buckles and USAID Deputy Mission Director Francis Donovan signed for the US. In a report, Canlas said "the three MOUs will address major problems in the country and promote the social and economic development of the country." Buckles, on the other hand, noted that the MOUs further strengthened the partnership between the US and the Philippines. She said the US looked forward to moving further ahead in achieving the goals of the administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in reducing poverty and securing peace nationwide. The MOUs stipulate the provision of USAID assistance in: -- Economic governance, whereby more transparent and accountable institutions, policies, and practices; the removal of competitive barriers to the development of infrastructure and trade; and taking advantage of the framework of international trade agreements are expected to be achieved. -- Health and family planning, whereby local government units are given better management of Acquired Immunity Deficiency Syndrome-Tuberculosis-Human Immuno Virus services; greater social acceptance of family planning; and improved policy environment and financing will be given priority. -- Environment, whereby assistance will focus on environmental policy reforms; building institutional capability and mobilizing public and private sector support for improved environmental management with emphasis on more transparent and accountable governance. -- Energy, whereby improved policy environment, increased use of clean and renewable fuels, and reduced vehicle emissions are sought. Under the MOU, the NEDA and USAID agreed to conduct annual high-level bilateral consultations that would review overall program and policy directions, update relevant developments affecting program implementation, and identify new areas or activities eligible for funding. A semestral review of results would be made to monitor the progress of ongoing activities and address any implementation concern. |
| GMA calls on TESDA to help resolve problem on job mismatch |
CALAMBA, Laguna—President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today directed the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to prepare a new curriculum that would help solve the problem of job mismatch by training young people for jobs that are being offered by factories and other employers. In her speech at the commemoration of the 141st birth anniversary of Dr. Jose Rizal at the Liwasang Lungsod here, the President said the so-called lack of employment opportunities is actually a problem of job mismatch. The President said that in most jobs fairs that the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has set up in Metro Manila and in the provinces, there were more job offerings than applicants. "May trabahong naghahanap ng manggagawa, may manggagawa namang naghahanap ng trabaho (There are jobs looking for workers, and there are workers looking for jobs)," the President said, adding that what is needed right now is how to solve this job mismatch. "Napakalaking problema ang job matching (To match jobs is a big problem)," the President said. According to the President, this is one reason why she has reorganized the TESDA, with the appointment of former Quezon Congressman as new TESDA director general. The President also announced that she has appointed former TESDA Director General Lucita Lazo as DOLE undersecretary for reintegration of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs). She said there is a need for this new office to attend to returning OFWs, especially those who are in their forties or near retirement age and who can no longer apply for work in factories. The President said the job of Undersecretary Lazo would be to initiate a program that would provide gainful employment or livelihood activities to returning OFWs. |
| GMA urges healthy investment climate to create more relevant jobs |
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today said her administration would aggressively go on looking for ways to provide every Filipino worker a job he loves to do and a service that investors need to be done. "Hindi tayo titigil na maghanap ng paraan upang dumami muli and trabaho para sa mamamayan… Kailangan din ay bagay ang kakayahan ng manggagawa sa pangangailangan ng mga namumuhunan," she said. But this can only be done in a healthy investment climate where stable peace and order conditions and industrial peace are present, the President said in a speech in Calamba, Laguna where she joined the people in celebrating the 141st birth anniversary of national hero Dr. Jose Rizal. "Iyong dalawang klaseng kapayapaan na iyon ay kailangan para sa trabaho (We need these two classes of peace to create more jobs for the people)," she said. During a luncheon with local officials and members of the media, the President said that after her July 2001 State of the Nation Address, she had set her eyes on revitalizing the economy. She said a lot of programs on the economy are on "automatic pilot." Even the latest country review of the International Monetary Fund expressed belief that the government would hit its economic targets. She noted that while Laguna is booming with industries, it is still beset with an 11-percent unemployment rate. "Gaano pa doon sa ibang lugar? (How then can other places unlike Laguna cope?)," she asked in her speech. She said her administration has been seriously dealing with new forms of enslavement – terrorism and poverty – plaguing society. She added that graft and corruption, political feuds and banditry have aggravated conditions, thus making the nation sink deeper in the pit of poverty. "Hindi tayo titigil hanggang hindi mawawakasan ang karahasan ng mga terorista at mga kriminal (We will not stop until terrorism and criminality have been eradicated)," she stressed. She cited the big help Interior and Local Government Secretary and former Laguna governor Jose Lina, Jr. gave to boost industrial growth in the province and in uplifting the lives of the people. The President also took note of the country’s export growth that reached 20 percent compared to negative growth last year and the rising tourism growth of ten percent month-on-month. "Pero marami pa ring walang trabaho, kaya’t dodoblehin natin ang ating kailangang gawin (But many still do not have jobs, so we will exert more efforts, double it, to have our anti-poverty goals met)," she said. She also lauded the efforts of Luis Lorenzo, Presidential Adviser on One Million Jobs and a native of Laguna, for setting up job fairs nationwide. |
| GMA bares recovery of Indonesian in Sulu |
CALAMBA, Laguna -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today announced the recovery of one of the four Indonesian nationals who were abducted early this week by unidentified armed men from a tugboat off Basilan. The President made this announcement during an informal luncheon meeting with the local and national press, and the local officials of the province of Laguna at the shrine of Dr. Jose P. Rizal here where she was the guest of honor and keynote speaker on the 141st birth anniversary of the national hero. She said the Indonesian hostage victim, identified as Ferdinan Yoel, 35, was recovered in Luuk, Sulu. "They just recovered him now and they still have to debrief him. No details are yet available," the President said during the luncheon. The President said she received the news on the recovery of the Indonesian hostage via a telephone call from Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Gen. Roy Cimatu shortly before the start of the luncheon. Aside from Yoel, those who were abducted were Munku Yacobus Windwatan, Pieter Lerrich and a certain "Zulfifli." She noted that it was also in Luuk where American hostage Jeffrey Schilling was recovered by the military from the hand of the Abu Sayyaf bandits. "The people there are super. I really love them," the President said in reference to the people of Luuk, Sulu. In the last senatorial election, the President even recalled that Luuk delivered a 13-0 vote in favor of her People Power Coalition (PPC) candidates. |
| Bunye tops list of candidates for Press Secretary, says GMA |
CALAMBA, Laguna – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today said former Muntinlupa Mayor Ignacio Bunye is on top of the list of candidates to the position of press secretary. In a luncheon meeting with the local and national media as well as the local officials here, the President said Bunye is the top choice of the search committee in charge of selecting and recommending possible appointments for key positions in her Cabinet. She stressed that she will need Acting Press Secretary Silvestre Afable,Jr. to head the Presidential Management Staff (PMS), adding that she needs somebody to do her strategic thinking. "I need his brains for PMS," the President told media representatives during the informal luncheon meeting. The President explained that she needs Afable at the PMS to design special programs to remove the bottlenecks in agrarian reform, the expansion of urban land reform and for the overseas Filipino workers, among other things. "I need him to do those things but I can’t even demand that of him now because he’s doing all those nitty-gritty work as press secretary," she said. While noting that Afable has other talents, the President pointed out that the Acting Press Secretary is above all a strategist. "Many can be press secretaries but very few can be strategic thinker," the President said in describing Afable’s skills. On the position of the Presidential Spokesman, the President reiterated that Rigoberto Tiglao will retain the same post as soon as he returns from a three-month fellowship in Japan. |
| GMA urges people to unite and rally behind ideals of Jose Rizal |
CALAMBA, Laguna – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today urged the entire Filipino nation to unite and to replicate the ideals of national hero Dr. Jose P. Rizal in the common battle against crimes and poverty in the country. In her speech during the 141st birth anniversary celebration of Rizal here, the President stressed that unity among the Filipinos was the message of Rizal’s own struggle to free the nation from the perceived bad governance of foreign invaders. "These are the ideals instilled to our hearts and minds by our hero Dr. Jose Rizal, for us to unite and free the country," the President said, adding that Rizal was deeply concerned with the ascendancy of a united Filipino nation. According to her, one of the reasons why Rizal became the national hero is because he left us with the legacy of nationhood, of being one race, one people. "Rizal wanted his countrymen to create a new nation committed to a shared destiny," she said. In making Rizal a contemporary hero, the President called on all Filipinos to draw inspiration from his life and ideals. Prior to her speech, the President offered a wreath at the marker of Rizal’s birthplace in Calamba. To provide more meaning to the commemoration of Rizal’s birth anniversary, Calamba Mayor Severino Lajara prepared birthday gift bags for 1,000 indigent families in Calamba. In an informal luncheon meeting that followed the ceremony, the President lauded the local government of Calamba for successfully maintaining peace and order in the area and providing a good business environment. Among those present in the ceremony were Interior and Local Government Secretary Jose Lina, Jr., Laguna Vice Gov. Dan Fernandez, Laguna Rep. Joaquin Chipeco, Jr, Southern Luzon Command (SOLCOM) chief Maj. Gen. Roy Kyamco and the mayors of all the toward in the province. |
| Gordon asks GMA to extend liberalized policy on visa issuance to Taiwan visitors |
Tourism Secretary Richard Gordon has asked President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to extend a liberalized policy in the issuance of visas to facilitate the entry of visitors from Taiwan. In a memorandum for the President, Gordon said the government’s "progressive liberalization policy" on the air services pact between the country and Taiwan "saw a 12.56 percent increase" in tourist arrivals from Taiwan in 2001. He said the rise in tourist arrivals from Taiwan was a result of the lifting of the suspension of flights of foreign air carriers from Taiwan. He cited statistics that showed the deadlock in the air services agreement in 1998 caused a 24.56-percent decline in arrivals in 1999. In 2000, arrivals dropped to as much as 47.35 percent. In 1998, tourist arrivals from Taiwan totaled 246,370. Two years later, only 75,722 tourist arrivals were recorded. In his memorandum, Gordon proposed that all airlines operating from Taiwan to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) and the Laoag International Airport (LIA) should "be authorized to collect, through a Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO)-designated representative, the visa fee from its passengers with the corresponding official receipt stamped on the passengers’ passports." The tourism secretary also proposed that upon their arrival at the country’s premier airports, passengers from Taiwan should present their passports with the MECO-issued official receipts to the Bureau of Immigration for the issuance of an entry visa. At the same time, passengers should be holders of a passport valid for not less than six months and that the immigration bureau should have the prerogative to refuse entry to passengers in the watch list of passengers who fall in a similar category. Gordon said the government should maximize the potentials of Taiwan as a tourism and investment market. "We hope to regain the standing of Taiwan as one of the Philippines’ top five markets in terms of tourist arrivals by this year," he said. There are 35 regular flights from Taiwan to the NAIA and 10 regular chartered flights to the LIA. |
