"Alam ko na matutupad ang aking pangarap na maiahon ang aking pamilya sa tulong ng pamahalaan (I know that government help can make my dream to give my family a better life come true)."

Donato C. Aquino, Jr., of Victoria, Laguna, is only one of the tens of thousands of farmers nationwide who are benefiting from the implementation of the Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act (AFMA) under the administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

"Simula pa lang nang mag-apply ako bilang farmer-beneficiary ay naramdaman ko na iyon at ngayon nga ay nag-uumpisa na ang pagginhawa namin sa buhay (Since I applied as farmer-beneficiary, our way of life began improving)," Aquino said.

He noted the government’s aggressiveness in carrying out projects on communal irrigation and water supply, electrification, post-harvest facilities, solar drying, rice production and milling, livestock production and farm-to-market roads.

True enough, the government has allocated some P37.2 billion for AFMA programs and projects for this year alone.

Of the total, P22.3 billion came from the General Appropriations Act and P14.9 billion, from the Land Bank of the Philippines (LandBank) and the Development Bank of the Philippines

A Presidential Management Staff (PMS) report showed that as of April 30, some P2.369 billion have been loaned out to 94,195 farmers through the LandBank and the Quedancor credit and guarantee programs.

The PMS report focused on accomplishments made vis-ā-vis the commitments made by the President in her State of the Nation Address (SONA) in July 2001.

During the first four months of 2002, the government has established three livestock auction markets and upgraded two biogas digesters; conducted 118 training sessions benefiting 4,492 agricultural workers; participated in the Foodex Japan trade fair and conducted 14 local trade fairs, 14 market matching and three market assessment activities.

In research and development (R&D), AFMA funds went to 11 ongoing national R&D projects, provided scholarships and upgraded 20 R&D facilities.

"Our cooperative was provided technical assistance for our corn harvest requirement, moisture meter, and technologically-advanced corn dryer," said Rodolfo Santos III, a farmer from San Miguel, Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon.

"Kasabay ng agricultural modernization, inaasahan din naming mapapabuti ang kabuhayan ng mas maraming magsasaka (With agricultural modernization, we look forward to more farmers getting the best in life)," Santos said.

Last year, the government allocated P29.75 billion and used some P24.21 billion for AFMA projects and programs. This was done immediately after President Macapagal-Arroyo took over the reins of government from former President Joseph Estrada in January 20.

Of the used AFMA funds, P9.17 billion went to loans given to 232,342 farmers. Part of the money also went to the crop insurances of 35,868 farmers and guaranteed loans of 36,016 farmers.

The PMS report said P4.64 billion went to irrigation projects that watered 17,378 new hectares of farmlands and rehabilitated 61,664 hectares more nationwide.

About P4.4 billion bankrolled the formation of three business alliances among 40 farmer-cooperatives; the conduct of market matching for a for 78 cooperatives; the launching of an Internet-based marketing network; and the conduct of 24 trade fairs, 13 trade missions and exhibits and eight farmers’ congresses.

Some P2.65 billion went to the construction of farm-to-market roads, 1,310 of which have been completed and 1,185 are ongoing; and the establishment of a mariculture park in Samal, Davao City.

Another P1.04 billion supported the programs of 49 research and development (R&D) networks and 11 R&D centers and provided 72 degree and 108 non-degree R&D scholarships.

The purchase and distribution of post harvest machineries and the construction of 576 post harvest facilities totaled P760 million.

Jury Manunggal, 38, farmer from Kilangan, Pagalungan, Maguindanao, lauded the opening of the Malitubog-Maridagao irrigation project late last year.

"Ngayong tapos na ito, makakatanim na kami ng palay. Ito ay magsisilbing puhunan namin habang may buhay, pati na ang susunod naming mga salinlahi (With the completion of the irrigation project, we can start planting rice. This will be our investment for life. Moreover, the next generation will benefit from it)," Manunggal said.

The PMS report said the President’s commitment to create a million jobs in the agriculture sector is on schedule.

As of April, a total of 872,000 jobs have been created, including 232,000 in AFMA-related programs and projects.

SAN FERNANDO, La Union – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said the current Balikatan exercise in Basilan will definitely end on July 31, 2002.

The President told local and Metro Manila media representatives during dinner last night that the American soldiers participating in the Balikatan exercise can now go down to the company level where previously their training operations were limited to the battalion headquarters level.

The President said she received a message from United States President George W. Bush giving clearance to the Americans forces to get closer to the combat lines with the Filipino soldiers for training purposes.

Once the current military exercise ends in July, another Balikatan program would be scheduled, the President disclosed. The site for the new war games, however, will still have to be to be determined, she added.

The clearance from President Bush for US soldiers to conduct training maneuvers in the company level and start another Balikatan security and defense exercise was relayed to the President by US Ambassador Francis Ricciardone during the joint meeting of the Regional Development Council-Regional Peace and Order Council meeting here yesterday.

The President also said Mr. Bush and the Americans were very happy that the Abu Sayyaf problem has virtually ended, with the successful military campaign against an Abu Sayyaf band led by spokesman and chieftain Abu Sabaya at 4:30 a.m. yesterday off the coast of Sibuco, Zamboanga del Norte

According to the President, sophisticated US war materiel and equipment like spy planes and night-vision goggles helped Filipino troops in tracking the movements of the Abu Sayyaf.

The President also disclosed that the leader of the Special Warfare Group (SWAG) responsible for the downfall of Abu Sabaya and the capture of four of his companions, Deputy Brigade Commander Ariel Querubin, was from Bauang, La Union,.

LUBAO, Pampanga – For the First Family, their relatives, friends and supporters, all roads to the presidential hometown of Lubao, Pampanga on Monday, June 24.

The reason: Presidential son and Pampanga Vice Governor Juan Miguel "Mikey" M. Arroyo, 33, will tie the knot with beauteous Maria Angelica A. Montenegro, 27.

The wedding rites will be held at the Saint Augustine (or San Agustin) Church in Barangay San Nicolas, only a few hundred meters away from the municipal building of Lubao, the only town that produced two Philippine Presidents.

The wedding is historic for the First Family not only because of its setting but also because they are giving away their eldest son who, on wedding day, is not just the duly-elected Vice Governor but also the acting governor of Pampanga in the absence of Gov. Manuel "Lito" Lapid who is in the United States.

The wedding is also historic because it brings together the incumbent President, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, the bridegroom’s mother, and two former Presidents of the Republic – Corazon C. Aquino and Fidel V. Ramos – together with other prominent godparents like Manila Bulletin Chairman Dr. Emilio T. Yap – in the first such event to happen in Saint Augustine Church in Lubao, some 120 kilometers or an hour’s drive from Manila.

Made of brick, sand and stones mixed with egg albumen, the Saint Augustine Church is said to be the oldest church in Pampanga and the second oldest church in the Philippines, according to Mrs. Anita Salalila Limson whose father Miguel, a prominent tailor of the town, made one of the first pants of the late President Diosdado Mapacapal.

A marker placed by the Philippine Historical Commission (now the National Historical Institute) and donated by Judge Pedro Bautista and his wife, Atty. Lourdes P. Macapagal-Bautista, showed that the church was founded in 1572 in Sta. Catalina near its present site. Thirty years later, or in 1602, the church moved to its present site, an entire block of about one hectare bounded by San Nicolas I Street, San Nicolas II Street and Sta. Lucia Street which leads to big fish farms and the nearby town of Sasmuan (formerly Sexmoan)

The chief architect of the Saint Augustine Church was Fr. Antonio Herrera.

The colorful history of church includes its having served as the seat of the revolution against Spain in 1898 when it was occupied by the "revolucionarios." The following year in 1899, following the defeat of the Spanish armada in Manila Bay by Commodore George Dewey, the church was converted into a hospital by the American troops.

The Saint Augustine Church was destroyed by shelling of the Japanese troops during the war in 1942. Full restoration was undertaken in 1949 to 1952 under the leadership of the parish priest, Fr. Melencio Garcia.

Many famous natives of Lubao like President Diosdado Macapagal, and his brother-in-law, actor and former Ambassador Rogelio de la Rosa, and his actor-brother Jaime de la Rosa attended Mass at the Saint Augustine Church.

Unknown to many, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s father, President Diosdado Macapagal, was also baptized in the Saint Augustine Church. The young Macapagal, who was born on September 28, 1910 through midwife Escolastica Romero, was brought to the church by his parents Urbano and Romana Dadong for the baptism rites conducted by Fr. Francisco de la Banda on October 12, 1910 when he was only about a month old. Leading the sponsors then was one Angel Javier.

Cong Dadong’s baptism was recorded as the fourth entry on Page 38 of the Church’s Baptismal Book 32 by the parish priest, Fr. Pedro Diez.

Cong Dadong, who eventually became known as the "Poor Boy from Lubao" for his unprecedented feat, conquered extreme poverty to finish his education with highest honors, became bar topnotcher in 1936 and got his doctor of laws and doctor of economics from the University of Sto. Tomas. He was elected in 1949 as congressman of Pampanga and was reelected for a second term. In 1957, he was elected president of the Liberal Party and in 1961 he was elected as the fifth President of the Philippines in 1961 after his unsuccessful senatorial bid. After his presidency, he served as President of the 1971 Constitutional Convention. His term, which ended in 1965, was capped by his signing into law on August 8, 1963 of the Agricultural Land Reform Code which ended the centuries-old tenancy system in the country.

United States President George W. Bush has hailed President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo following the reported killing of Aldam Tilao alias Abu Sabaya in a clash with the Navy’s Special Warfare Group in the waters a kilometer off Mantibo Point, Sibuco, Zamboanga del Norte Friday.

Abu Sabaya was the leader and spokesman of the terrorist Abu Sayyaf group that abducted American missionary couple Martin and Gracia Burnham in a resort in Palawan last year.

According to wire reports, Bush said President Macapagal-Arroyo "did the world a great service."

In his speech in Orlando, Florida, Bush cited the President "for being tough and firm and strong to help rid the world of this particular threat."

"I want to congratulate the President of the Philippines. I appreciate her leadership and her strength," he said.

"(The Abu Sayyaf) kidnapped. They killed. And today, their leader met his maker. Thanks to one of our coalition partners," he added.

"It goes to show that by assembling a vast coalition of freedom-loving countries, that when we work together and are strong and are diligent, we can succeed. And that’s what’s going to happen," he stressed.

US Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld also welcomed the development and praised Philippine officials "for their continued battle against terrorism in their nation."

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today outlined four principles she said represented the national consensus in the search for lasting and meaningful peace throughout the country.

In her keynote speech during the 2^nd Mindanao Budget Summit at the EDSA Shangri-la Hotel in Mandaluyong City, the President said the "ultimate objective should be both peace and development," one working simultaneously with the other.

"A second principle is that our framework should be based on constitutionality, national sovereignty, and territorial integrity," she said.

The third principle is the recognition of Philippine society as a multi-ethnic one.

Thus, all efforts to gain peace "should be founded on social justice for all and the institutionalized accommodation of ethnic traditions, Christian and Muslim, Chinese and Spanish, Tagalog and Cebuano," she added.

The President noted a fourth operational principle: "In our search for peace, there is no role for terrorism or inhuman brutality."

She said such acts should be universally condemned and addressed decisively.

She told her audience, composed of Mindanao’s leaders, that the government, in dealing with terrorism and criminal activity in some areas of southern Philippines, has always banked on the principle "that all reasonable efforts must be exerted to safeguard the lives of innocent victims, such as hostages."

"But when it becomes necessary to use our police and military forces, we must extend them full moral and material support, for their lives are at stake," she urged the Mindanao officials.

In her speech, the President also called the meeting between her and Mindanao officials "a great day," coming at the heels of the reported killing of notorious Abu Sayyaf leader and spokesman Aldam Tilao a.k.a. Abu Sabaya in a clash with the Navy’s Special Warfare Group off the coast of Sibuco, Zamboanga del Norte Friday.

"I think the Lord planned this day. I think the Lord wants me to use this occasion to reaffirm today our determination to enforce law and order," she said.

"The people must be safe in their homes and places of work. They must be safe not only in the cities but in the farms in the hinterlands," she added.

"The Abu Sayyaf is virtually finished. We must not stop until we account for all of them," she stressed, as she renewed this commitment before the Mindanao leaders, the people they represent, and the people of the whole of Mindanao.

She also resolved to further "strengthen the capability and discipline of our military and police forces," as she took time to once again praise the troops "who stand heavy fire on land or at sea" and "who stand guard in far away detachments."

"We shall upgrade the high quality of soldiering we already have. We shall put the police back in the high regard of the public. We shall modernize equipment and facilities," she said.

The President also cited the big help of American troops participating in the ongoing RP-US joint Balikatan 02-1 exercises in Mindanao. "We shall continue to train with our foreign allies," she said.

She reiterated her government’s resolve to wipe out the problem of poverty in Mindanao, and elsewhere in the country.

"Our problem in Mindanao is rooted in economic exclusion. The axis of poverty is often crossed by the axis of terrorism," she said.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has directed Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes to "keep the Marine battalion in the Socsargen (South Cotabato-Saranggani-Gen. Santos City) area" to help hunt down escaped Pentagon kidnap gang leader Faisal Marohombsar.

In her speech before the 2^nd Mindanao Budget Summit at Edsa Shangri-La Hotel in Mandaluyong, the President said "we will hunt him down."

She said "the Marine battalion was supposed to be moved out of Socsargen and brought to Sulu to help catch the rest of the Abu Sayyaf," in stepped-up operations following the reported killing of Abu Sayyaf leader and spokesman Aldam Tilao alias Abu Sabaya.

She stressed that her administration would strengthen law and order "because we want to free our people from the tyranny of lawlessness and terrorism."

On Marohombsar’s escape, the President said she has told Interior and Local Government Secretary Jose Lina, General Leandro Mendoza and incoming Philippine National Police chief Deputy Director General Hermogenes Ebdane that "they must immediately discharge the guards who were in-charge of guarding the Pentagon Gang leader, aside from charging them criminally."

She said Ebdane has accepted the challenge of eliminating kidnapping within one year. "He has put his job on the line in his promise to comply with that challenge," she said.

The President made a similar proposal for the Pasay City policemen who botched a hostage-taking drama that involved a four-year old boy.

"I feel the move they made transferring the policemen of Pasay City and putting them all under training is good but it’s weak. They should have dismissed immediately the ones who were directly involved," she added.

"That is going to be our new ethic in the drive for peace and order," she said.

"Anybody who makes a blunder will be discharged as well as charged immediately," she stressed, adding that Mendoza and Ebdane have vowed to account for the fugitives.

In efforts to strengthen law and order, the President said she was not speaking only of the rich and privileged.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today noted the importance of putting the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East Asean Growth Area (BIMP EAGA) back on track.

But the President noted that enhanced security cooperation between and among member countries of the regional trading group was imperative to restore investor confidence in the area.

In her speech keynoting the 2^nd Mindanao Business Summit at the EDSA Shangri-la in Mandaluyong City, the President cited the crucial role of the trilateral agreement on security recently signed between the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia.

"The trilateral agreement should strengthen border controls to enable the country signatories to apprehend criminals and terrorists plying our common waters," she said.

She recounted that when she and Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad witnessed the signing of the pact in Kuala Lumpur, the Prime Minister urged immediate action on strengthening the border patrols of the three country signatories.

She said she had also discussed the same topic with Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes.

"We should work out immediately the joint patrols with our two neighboring countries (Malaysia and Indonesia) so that we could prevent another hijacking of tugboats the way it happened a few days ago," she added.

In her speech, the President hoped that the travel tax exemption extension she allowed until 2004 would further increase the mobility of people in the Asean region.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) is a regional development grouping composed of the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei Darussalam, Thailand, Singapore, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and Myanmar.

In a recent report to Malacaņang, the Presidential Management Staff (PMS) said the government is on schedule in ably setting up the mechanisms, structures and policies to revitalize the BIMP-EAGA.

Besides spurring regional investments, trading and tourism, the BIMP-EAGA is proving itself as a venue to promote Mindanao and Palawan as the country’s gateway to the Asean region.

The PMS report, which outlined the accomplishment of commitments President Macapagal-Arroyo made during her July 2001 State of the Nation Address, reported the operation of various air and sea routes linking Mindanao and Palawan to trade and tourism centers in the BIMP-EAGA.

Since last year, the Mindanao Economic Development Council (Medco) and other state agencies have pushed confidence building measures with BIMP-EAGA counterparts that led to the opening of air and sea passenger and cargo services between Davao and Menado; Zamboanga, Tawi-Tawi, Sabah and Sandakan; Zamboanga, Tawi-Tawi, and Tawau; and Manila and Brunei Darussalam.

Officials are in talks for the use of Brunei’s Muara Port as a transshipment point.

At the same time, business linkages and arrangements have been completed between and among the Brunei Malay Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Maguindanao Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Business Council of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

There are similar discussions with Malaysian investors on ventures in oil palm production and extraction in mainland Mindanao.

Other ongoing trade talks are on the BIMP-EAGA-China and North Asia Relations that include the establishment of an Asean Promotion Center in Seoul, South Korea and the EAGA food supply network for China and North Asia.

A request has also been submitted to extend until 2004 the Uniform Port Tariff Agreement between the Philippines and Brunei.

The PMS report noted that government has pursued joint tourism marketing and promotions through familiarization tours and the development of joint tourism packages.

It has also expanded exchange programs through technical training through the BIMP-EAGA-sponsored Vocational Exchange Program. A group of Indonesian students recently completed the program.

Further, BIMP-EAGA officials have entered into a memorandum of agreement (MOA) that harmonized customs, immigration, quarantine and security (CIQS) rules and policies.

The MOA created a CIQS Inter-Agency Committee and a One-Stop Action Center for CIQS.

More importantly, the BIMP-EAGA has brought about increased cooperation in border security between and among the BIMP member-countries.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today said she expects to discuss with United States President George W. Bush, who she said would call her up tonight, the future of the joint RP-US Balikatan military exercises.

"Tonight, President Bush will call me up about many things, But I’m sure the Balikatan will be part of it," the President said.

In her speech before the 2^nd Mindanao Budget Summit at Edsa Shangri-La Hotel in Mandaluyong City, the President said the Balikatan 02-1 would end on July 31 as scheduled, but she had instructed Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes and Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Roy Cimatu to work out the details of the next Balikatan in the Mutual Defense Board meeting in Hawaii on Thursday.

"I told Gen. Cimatu and Secretary Reyes to make sure that it goes down the line," the President said.

"I’ve already said that even through each other’s officials, that while the military training portion of Balikatan 02-1 will end on July 31, we shall start the next Balikatan immediately because the Mutual Defense Board is meeting on Thursday," she said.

"So by the time that July 31 comes, I hope that they have the next Balikatan already worked out," she added.

The President said unlike Balikatan 02-1, she wanted the next one to be more geographically spread out.

"As a result of the clamor from people all over the country, this time, the Balikatan will be more geographically spread out unlike this Balikatan, which upon my request, had been concentrated in Basilan," she said.

The President said she would inaugurate the Basilan Airport, which was renovated by the American Seabees, before July 1 to highlight the many contributions of the foreign troops.