President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today applauded the victory of Enzo Pastor, the 20-year-old winner of the 2002 Asian Formula Renault Championship, saying the Philippines is very proud of his achievement.

Pastor, along with Mark Goddard, the Asian Formula 3 Managing Director and champion of the Asian F3 2002, paid the President a courtesy call in Malacaņang this morning.

The two brought along their champion F3 cars and trophies and showed these to the President.

"We are very proud of you," the President told Pastor, who is set to leave for Macau today for another race.

Accompanying Pastor during the call on the President were his parents, Tomas Pastor, president of Colby Ventures and promote of F3 in the Philippines, Remedios Pastor, vice president of Colby Ventures, and Ed Pena, chairman of F3.

Pastor ruled the Subic International Raceway inside the Subic Bay Freeport, the seventh leg of the 2002 Asian Formula Challenge, Asia’s first truly international championship for Formula 3 and Formula Renault Cars.

The sixth leg was held at the Johor Circuit in Malaysia, where the 20-year-old Pastor ruled Rounds 11 and 12 to overtake the erstwhile leader, Franky Cheng of China, in the Asian Formula Renault Series.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today lauded the victory of Lt. Col. Antonio Taguibao of the Presidential Security Group (PSG) for successfully defending his World Title in Powerlifting Championships for the third time last October 10 and 11 in Cordoba, Argentina.

The President described Taguibao as a world-class Filipino for bringing honor to the country. Taguibao serves as a veterinarian of the PSG’s K-9 unit,

As reward, the President is bestowing Taguibao with P200,000 as prize and P100, 000 to the PSG as bonus. "Para tuluy-tuloy ang panalo mo (so that your victory will continue)," she said.

In this year’s competition, Taguibao defended his World Masters title in the flyweight category (bodyweight from 114 pounds and below) to become World Champion for the third consecutive year.

Meanwhile, Taguibao’s teammate Renato Dio won third place overall in the lightweight category (bodyweight from 165-181.5 lbs.). Dio improved his sixth place overall standing in last year’s World Masters Powerlifting Championship in Saskatchewan, Canada.

Two years ago, Taguibao won three gold medals and one bronze in the 2000 World Masters Powerlifting Championships in Ustinad Labem in the Czech Republic in October 2000.

Taguibao won two gold medals in the Master A Category (40-49 years old) by lifting 165 kg in the squat event and 190 kg in the deadlift. He won a third gold with a total lift of 435 kg. He won the bronze with a lift of 80 kg in the bench press.

The Czech competition was the first international tournament participated in by the Powerlifting Association of the Philippines, which is supported by the Philippine Sports Commission and the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

A year later, Taguibao defended his world title when he brought honors to the PSG and to the country for winning the gold medal in all four events of the flyweight (114 lbs.) category in the 2001 World Masters Powerlifting Championship in Saskatchewan, Canada in October 2001.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, during the regular Cabinet meeting today, approved several measures aimed at strengthening the country’s disaster response mechanism.

The President directed the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC), chaired by Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes, to draft a presidential issuance updating the NDCC’s implementation of contingency plans that would incorporate the consequences of terrorist-initiated incidents.

Reyes cited the bombings that rocked the island resort of Bali, Indonesia, stressing that through the way it was carried out, one can deduce that it was carefully planned and timed to maximize the number of casualties.

To cope with an incident of similar magnitude, Secretary Reyes recommended the following measures that will improve the current system of handling such a disaster:

• To minimize confusion and chaos during emergency situations, local disaster coordinating councils (DCCs) should familiarize themselves, to include the local Philippine National Police (PNP) and Bureau of Fire Protection units under them, with operational procedures of the NDCC incident command system;

• Local DCCs should improve law enforcement within the incident area through the local police, auxiliaries and AFP units in the area;

• Local DCCs should strengthen their damage and needs assessment capability for post-disaster rapid assessment activities which shall be the basis for prioritizing needed resources;

• Local DCCs should mobilize emergency relief operations in accordance with the initial results of a rapid damage and needs assessment;

• Local chief executives should create an area coordination center in all local government units (LGUs). This will be a permanent facility that can also serve as emergency operations;

• Local DCCs should ensure the availability of temporary evacuation centers and transportation for hauling of evacuees, basic services for the evacuees and victims to include psycho-social care services, emergency medical service units for deployment during emergencies, and communication lines between the incident command posts and the area coordinating center (ACC); and

• Local DCCs should develop search and rescue capabilities and maintain linkages with volunteers response groups for possible deployment during emergencies.

In the event of a partial or complete incapacity of the local government, or the magnitude is beyond its capability to handle, the national command system takes over, Reyes said.

According to the NDCC chairman, the recommended measures are also aimed at enhancing the implementation of the government’s pillars of policy and action.

Malacaņang today denied reports that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has given the go-signal for her Cabinet secretaries interested in running for senator in the 2004 national elections to start campaigning now.

In an interview, Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said on the contrary the President has called on her Cabinet secretaries to give full attention to their priority projects.

"Sa katunayan, gusto nang Pangulo na asikasuhin muna ng mga Cabinet officials yong mga priority projects na dapat ipatupad at huwag munang pag-isipan itong eleksiyon total malayo pa naman iyan (The truth is that the President wants the Cabinet officials to work on their priority projects and not to think of the elections which are still far)," Bunye said.

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

"We have repeatedly denied that there will be a major revamp to be implemented November 30," Bunye said.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Jose Lina, Jr. reported to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and the Cabinet today that pilot-testing for the Gabay sa Mamamayan Aksyon (GMA) Center has been done successfully in 35 barangays in the National Capitol Region.

In his report to the Cabinet, Lina said the full implementation of the project, which seeks to establish information and action centers in every barangay nationwide, will start in January 2003 and be completed by June, 2003, with all barangays having a GMA Center.

The GMA Centers, ordered established through Executive Order 130 which was issued on September 30, 2002, ensure the people immediate access to information on government services such as livelihood and job opportunities, peace and order and public safety, health and sanitation, education and social welfare, agricultural support services, infrastructure development, environmental management and sports development.

The GMA Centers also ensure fast and efficient delivery of government services as the barangay residents and leaders themselves serve as frontliners in the provision of information and delivery of services.

The GMA Centers thus constitute a vital component of the President’s campaign to win the war against poverty.

In his briefing for the Cabinet during its regular meeting this morning, Lina said the pre-implementation and piloting phase for the project is being conducted from September to December, 2002.

The GMA Centers are to be headed by the Punong Barangay or barangay head as executive officer. He will be assisted by the Barangay Kagawad or councilmen and the chairman of the Sangguniang Kabataan as head information action officers for the various government services.

The local government units in every town, city and province are expected to provide administrative, technical and financial assistance to the GMA Centers.

The national government would provide the GMA Centers with technical assistance through training, and ensure the supply of agency brochures and other reference materials responsive to the information needs of community residents.

The partner agencies for the various government services are:

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has certified as urgent the anti-terror bill to show the government’s firm resolve to win in the fight against violence and terrorism in the country.

In a statement, Presidential Spokesman Rigoberto Tiglao said that the certification of the anti-terror bill as urgent was made in response to the growing menace of terrorism not just inside the country but also in the entire civilized community of nations.

"Terrorism respects neither race nor religion. It knows no boundaries. It follows no laws and respects no Constitution," Tiglao said.

Tiglao said that at the end of the day, what would count is how to protect our children, our homes and our communities.

He said that the President is confident that the legislators can craft a law which will not only address the problem of terrorism but also would take into consideration the rights of persons who we are trying to protect.

In another development, Tiglao said the amnesty proposal being worked out by the Cabinet is a sincere effort of the government to welcome back to the mainstream of society those who have been misled into joining "a useless and futile campaign" to bring about a new order in our country.

"Many of these misguided Filipinos are tired of fighting and want to return home to their families," Tiglao said.

He said that the administration has been seriously implementing reforms that address the roots of their grievances.

Presidential Spokesperson Rigoberto Tiglao today said President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has accepted with regrets the resignation of Dante Ang as his Presidential Consultant on Public Relations.

"The President wishes him good luck in his business interests and she hopes that Mr. Ang’s business interests would redound to the benefit of the economy," Tiglao said in a press briefing in Malacanang.

According to Tiglao, Ang resigned from his government post out of delicadeza. "And the President appreciates that kind of response from his consultant," Tiglao said.

"And we have a press secretary who handles the President’s publicity needs," he said.

Tiglao clarified that Ang would like to have time to cleanse his name.

"Ang gusto niya ituloy-tuloy na ito (He wants to continue this up to the end)," Tiglao said.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today lauded the Philippine Coast Guard, the Philippine Navy, the Philippine National Police and civilian volunteers for their swift action to recover the survivors and remaining casualties in the plane crash in Manila Bay.

The President motored to the PCG headquarters this afternoon after her regular Cabinet meeting in Malacaņang to personally observe the search and rescue operations for victims of the Laoag International Airlines crash and get a briefing from Rear Admiral Reuben Lista, Coast Guard chief, on the status of retrieval operations.

Lista informed the President that early this morning, three more bodies were recovered by Philippine Navy frogmen. Lista also said a total of 16 fatalities have been identified and two other victims remained nameless.

Lista also told the President that a total of 15 survivors were accounted for and one passenger, an Australian, was still missing.

Lista assured the President that the PCG, the PNP, Navy frogmen and civilian volunteers are still working to recover the missing Australian national.

After the briefing, the President met with Cherrie Ann Mata to console her and express her deepest condolences over the death of her husband, passenger Jefferson Mata.

President also gave Mrs. Mata, who has been married for only nine months, a Mass card and financial assistance.

She also handed over three Mass cards to Australian Ambassador Ruth Pierce and expressed her condolences over the death of Australian nationals.

From the PCG headquarters, the President motored to La Funeraria Oro in Sampaloc, Manila and visited the wake of another plane crash victim, Joaquin Padilla, an engineer of the Department of Public Works and Highway assigned in Batanes, and Normita Mata.