TANZA, Cavite – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today launched the "Pabahay para sa Pamilyang Pilipino" inside a 72-hectare master- planned community for socialized, low-cost and mid-cost housing at Grosvenor Place here.

The President arrived here at exactly 10:00 a.m. and was welcomed by Cavite Governor Erineo "Ayong" Maliksi; Rep. Gilbert Remulla (Second District, Cavite); Secretary Marita Jimenez who is Cabinet Officer for Regional Development (CORD) in Cavite; Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) Chairman Michael Defensor; James L. Go, chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Robinsons Homes; and Frederick D. Go, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Robinsons Homes.

The President also led the ceremonial planting of trees in the planned community before unveiling the marker for the housing project.

She was also given a briefing by Frederick D. Go and Marilu Alferez, senior vice president and general manager of Robinsons Homes, on the new project that will benefit low and middle-income groups.

During the briefing, the President congratulated James Go for the company’s success and for winning the Outstanding Developers of the Year Award last year.

The President later inspected the models for socialized housing units that would benefit at least 5,500 families.

In a meeting with the local officials after the inspection and launching of the housing project, the President had an informal meeting with some of the mayors and other local officials of Cavite on her ongoing One Town, One Product, One Million Peso project to help municipalities improve and develop livelihood programs through small and medium enterprises (SME).

She also turned over a check for P1 million to Tanza Mayor Raymundo del Rosario to support the SME and livelihood programs in his municipality

Among the mayors present during the meeting in Tanza were Elpidio Gonzaga of Dasmarinas;  Walter Echevaria of General Mariano Alvarez; and Roy Loyola of Carmona.

Grosvenor Place is a joint venture of Robinsons Homes, Inc. and Engineering Equipment Inc. Realty Corp. It is being developed and managed by Robinsons Homes Inc., a subsidiary of Robinsons Land Corp., founded by its chairman emeritus John Gokongwei, Jr.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today lauded the youth leaders of the Philippines and the other member-economies of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), extolling them to further enhance cooperation among the countries.

The youth leaders paid the President a courtesy call in Malacanang this afternoon before proceeding to convene the Fourth APEC Future Leaders’ Forum.

"I’m very honored to have you here today," the President told the participants.

The conference, organized by the University of Asia and the Pacific School of Management, has the theme "Challenges and Opportunities for Business, Government and Social Sector Partnerships in Building Civil Society."

The conference proper will be held starting today until November 13 at the UA&P campus in Ortigas, Pasig while fellowship activities will be held on November 14 and 15 at Subic Bay, Zambales.

Leading the participants were Dean Jose Rene Gayo of the UA&P School of Management; Haresh Daswani, president of the Asia-Pacific Association for Student Exchange; (APASE) and Stephen Gan, former president of APASE.

During her trip to the APEC summit in Los Cabos, Mexico, the President was able to accomplish her mission to further the Philippines’ interest in the forum.

Malacanang today said there has been a consensus to approve the proposal to issue a new presidential amnesty proclamation but certain procedural matters are still being threshed out.

In his regular press briefing this afternoon, Press Secretary Ignacio R. Bunye said the consensus on the need for a new amnesty proclamation was arrived at in today’s meeting of the executive committee of the Cabinet Oversight Committee on Internal Security chaired by Executive Secretary Alberto Romulo.

Bunye said that in an earlier meeting, the National Amnesty Commission (NAC) reported that there are some 2,600 applicants for amnesty but their applications could not be acted upon because of the absence of a new amnesty proclamation.

According to Bunye, of the total amnesty applicants, some 1,500 are active members of the New People’s Army (NPA) while the rest belong to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and other rebel groups.

"The proposal is to extend the proclamation period by one year from effectivity of a new proclamation that will be signed by the President," Bunye said.

Bunye explained that the previous declaration by the government and other foreign countries that the NPA is a terrorist organization would not pose a problem.

He said the government would have to make a distinction between the group and the individual members who want to avail themselves of the proposed amnesty program.

"In other words, mere membership in this organization, which has been identified as a terrorist group by the EU and other countries, will not disqualify the individual members from applying," Bunye said.

In an earlier interview, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Eduardo Ermita said that any presidential proclamation that would extend amnesty to members of the rebel groups would have to be submitted to both houses of Congress for concurrence.

Ermita explained that there are now a total of 2,603 applications for amnesty that the NAC could not act on because there is no applicable amnesty proclamation.

The last amnesty proclamation, issued during the term of former President Joseph Estrada, expired last August 2001, Ermita said.

Ermita said the Cabinet would deliberate on what kind of amnesty would be offered, whether it would be general, conditional or selective, as well as when it will take effect and for how long.

On the report that the CPP-NPA has scuttled the peace process with the government, Ermita said that the government side has not received any official communication in this regard from Luis Jalandoni, official negotiator of the National Democratic Front, the political arm of the CPP-NPA.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has continued to have trust and confidence in Finance Secretary Jose Isidro Camacho, Malacanang said today as it continued to brush aside reports that there is an impending Cabinet shakeup.

In his press briefing this afternoon, Bunye said that although the President respects the opinion expressed by some legislators, the position of Camacho is one of trust and confidence.

"And Mr. Camacho continues to enjoy the trust and confidence of the President," Bunye said.

Some senators, including one coming from the administration party, have called for the resignation of Camacho for his alleged failure to curb the ballooning budget deficit.

When asked why the President herself has not personally issued a denial on the Camacho case, Bunye said "that’s the reason why we’re here. We’re authorized to issue statements for and on behalf of the President."

Bunye also continued to categorically deny that there is going to be a major revamp in the Cabinet.

He said that former Senator Ernesto Herrera, who was mentioned as a replacement for Labor and Employment Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas, has specifically denied in a radio interview that he was offered the post of Sto. Tomas in the supposed revamp.

Bunye also reiterated his earlier statement that the President has given a general instruction to the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission (PAGC) to conduct a lifestyle check on government officials.

"I welcome working with (Presidential Spokesman) Secretary (Rigoberto) Tiglao."

Thus said, Press Secretary Ignacio R. Bunye when asked by members of the Malacanang Press Corps how he will delineate his working relationship with Tiglao, who is now back to his position as Presidential Spokesman, during a briefing this afternoon at Malacanang.

Bunye said he has a high regard for Tiglao and "we both feel that we are working for the same President."

He said that as government officials, they are part of the same team working under the Macapagal-Arroyo administration.

Bunye emphasized that working with Tiglao, as far as coordination is concerned, "is not really a problem."

"But what happened, as you know, Secretary Tiglao came in on Octber 23^rd and on October 24^th, I left for the United States. So, we hardly had time to really get to talk to one another during that period," Bunye explained.

"But now that we’re back, hopefully for a longer period, then all these coordination matters could be threshed out," he added.

Bunye stressed that he is now working full time as Press Secretary and as such he is mandated to act as information officer of the national leadership and the national government.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today ordered the Air Transportation Office to conduct a speedy investigation into the crash of a Laoag Air Fokker plane in Manila Bay.

The President issued the order immediately upon learning of the air tragedy this morning.

Before noon, after attending a scheduled engagement in Tanza, Cavite, to inaugurate a housing project for the poor and middle-income, the President asked to be driven directly to the San Juan de Dios Hospital in Pasay City to console the plane crash survivors.

Later in the afternoon, after attending another previously scheduled engagement in Malacaņang, the President proceeded to the Ospital ng Maynila, where some of the other survivors and victims were taken by rescuers.

Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said the President has also asked the Air Transport Office, the Philippine Coast Guard and Philippine Navy to intensify their search and rescue operations.

During her visit to the San Juan de Dios Hospital, the President consoled passenger Nemia Castillejos, flight attendant Adhika Espinosa and another passenger who survived the plane crash.