Magandang araw po sa inyong lahat.

Sa ating hangaring maitayo ang isang malakas at matatag na Republika, dapat nating palakasin at patatagin ang  partnership ng iba't-ibang sektor ng ating lipunan.  Kabilang na rito ang ugnayan ng national government at local government units, ng Ehekutibo, Lehislatura, ng kapulisan at komunidad. 

Sa aking pagdalo sa General Assembly ng League of Municipalities of the Philippines noong Huwebes, binigyang-diin ko ang mahalagang papel na ginagampanan ng ating mga mayors para maging mapayapa at mabilis na umunlad ang ating bansa.  Ang ating Republika ay lubos na umaasa sa kanilang mga pagsisikap dahil sila ang direktang nakikipag-ugnayan sa mga mamamayan.  Ang kredibilidad ng gobyerno at pananaw ng mga tao sa matapat na pamamahala ay naka-atang higit sa lahat sa kanilang mga balikat. 

Kaya, natutuwa ako na sa ginanap nilang pagpupulong, sama-sama nilang binalangkas ang maaari nilang gawin upang ipatupad ang mga programang tutugon sa kahirapan, lilikha ng mga gawaing pang-kaunlaran at magpapasigla ng ating ekonomiya.  Pinagtibay nila ang mga plano para mapanatili ang kapayapaan at itaguyod ang sapat na pagkain, trabaho, pabahay at edukasyon sa kanilang mga nasasakupan.  Ang mga ito ay angkop na pagkilos bilang suporta sa ating mga pambansang adhikain.

Isang halimbawa nito ang kanilang panukalang magpatupad ng Municipal Identification System.  Naglaan na rin sila ng salapi para maka-likha ng intelligence network na susubaybay sa mga kahina-hinalang kaganapan at kilos ng mga tao sa kanilang lugar.  Ako ay nagagalak na kusang-loob nilang pinag-iibayo ang ating laban kontra sa krimen at terorismo on the ground in our communities. 

Natutuwa rin ako sa magandang samahan ng Executive at Legislative branches ng ating pamahalaan.  Ang pinakahuling patunay nito ay ang limang bagong batas na aking nilagdaan.  Isa rito ay tahasang makakatulong sa pagpapalago ng ekonomiya sa kanayunan, ang Batas Republika Bilang 9178, o Magna Carta for Barangay Business Enterprises. 

Pasisiglahin nito ang pagtatayo ng maliliit na negosyo sa mga barangay, hindi sila kailangang magbayad ng income tax.  Magandang dagdag ito sa ating programang "Isang Bayan, Isang Produkto, Isang Milyong Piso" na naglalayong palawakin ang small and medium-scale enterprises sa ating mga lungsod at bayan.

Ang partisipasyon naman ng komunidad sa ating anti-terrorism plan ay napakahalaga para mas maging epektibo ang ating pagpapatupad ng batas. 

Marami sa mga tagumpay ng police operations nitong mga huling buwan ay bunga ng bugso ng impormasyong binigay ng mga mamamayan tungkol sa kasamaang nagaganap sa kanilang paligid -- mula sa pagkapatay sa mga kidnapper na tulad ni Faisal Marohombsar at Rolando Patinio hanggang sa pagkahuli sa mga suspek sa pagbomba sa Kidapawan at Zamboanga.

Sa ating 10-Point Police-Community Anti-Terrorism Plan, ang mga mamamayan ay hinihikayat na maging alerto at kaagad i-report sa mga awtoridad ang mga kahina-hinalang tao, bagahe o iba pang bagay na kanilang mapapansin.   Ang mga may-ari ng mga establisiyimento naman ay hinihimok na pahusayin pa ang kanilang seguridad at siyasating mabuti ang mga pumapasok at kanilang dala-dalahan sa mga gusali.  Ang mga sectoral organization naman, tulad ng NGO's, mga grupo ng simbahan, at mga asosasyong sibiko, ay inaasahang tutulong para ipabatid sa mga mamamayan kung papano nila haharapin ang anumang banta ng krimen o terorismo.

Malaki rin ang maitutulong ng mga local government units, mga barangay, at lalung-lalo na ang mga mamamayan sa ating kampanya laban sa graft and corruption. 

Maaari ninyong i-monitor ang pagpapatupad ng mga proyekto ng gobyerno, tulad ng imprastruktura, at siguraduhin na walang iregularidad o anomalyang nagaganap dito.  Maaari rin ninyong isumbong ang mga nagtratrabaho sa pamahalaan na nagpapayaman sa kanilang tungkulin at namumuhay ng marangya, kagaya nang ipinag-utos kong lifestyle check sa matataas na opisyal ng aking administrasyon.   Tiyakin lamang ninyo na mayroon kayong matibay na ebidensiya para suportahan ang inyong alegasyon nang sa ganoon ay hindi ito maging maliwanag na paninira lamang.

Ang ganitong mga pagka-kasama at pakikipag-ugnayan ang kinakailangan ng ating matatag na Republikang Pilipinas.  Ito ay isang Republika na may mga epektibong institusyon para protektahan ang mahihina.  Ang isang matatag na Republika ay may mapagkaka-tiwalaang pagpapatupad ng mga batas para tiyakin ang katarungan para sa lahat.  Ang isang matatag na Republika ay may masiglang kultura na pananagutan ng bawa't isa upang ang bawa't mamamayan ay maging mahalagang bahagi ng ating pagiging isang bansa. 

Ganyan ang pangarap nating malakas at matatag na Republikang Pilipinas.  Kaya, palakasin at patatagin natin ang ating samahan upang makamit natin ang pangarap na iyan.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today congratulated the top five Bayer Young Environmental Envoys, who, based on the presentation and defense of their respective action plans, were proclaimed winners during awards night held at the Heritage Hotel on September 23, 2002.

The President, during a courtesy call in Malacanang, wished these five young envoys good luck when they embark on an educational trip to Germany from November 17 to 23. They were accompanied to Malacanang by Senator Loren Legarda-Leviste.

Together with their counterparts from Thailand, Singapore and India, these envoys will have the opportunity to observe environmental best practices in a highly developed country like Germany.

The Bayer Young Environmental Envoy Program originated in Thailand in 1995 under the auspices of the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific and a group of companies operating in Thailand.

Bayer Thai has always been a major supporter of the program that seeks to educate the youth in the global efforts to save and protect the environment.

Owing to its success, the project expanded to an international level. In 2001, Bayer Philippines decided to adopt the same project in the country.

Bayer Philippines and Luntiang Pilipinas program established a joint project in cooperation with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to look for qualified applicants for environmental envoys.

Applicants were required to submit their resumes and write an essay on "My personal contribution to the environment and how it has made a difference" in no more than 500 words.

During their call on the Palace, the five envoys presented to the President their action plans, while at the same time sought her endorsement that these be implemented in their respective localities with the help of their governors.

Bonar Laureto from the Central Mindanao University in Musuan, Bukidnon presented his action plan on non-industrial solid waste segregation program.

Shenna Rhea Maranguit of the University of the Immaculate Conception in Davao City expounded on her Sagip watershed action plan, while Jennifer Orbeso of the Universidad de Santa Isabel in Naga City, explained her "three year development plan for Universidad de Santa Isabel Ecological Park.

LOS BAŅOS, Laguna—The Guardians Philippines Anti-Crime Organization Incorporated (GPI) today expressed full support for President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her administration during the First National Congress of the GPI held at the Philippine Council of Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD) complex here.

The GPI, through its national president Bernard Corela, presented a signed manifesto of support to the President.

The manifesto declared the group’s unequivocal support for the President’s programs and projects, including those that address poverty and efforts to lift the Filipino nation and its people.

"Maraming salamat sa inyong suporta (Thank you for your support)," the President said in her speech.

The President said she believes in the sincerity of the Guardians efforts to bring peace and prosperity to the nation.

"The various activities you have undertaken this year indicate your mission of relevance and involvement in nation-building," she said.

The President noted that the Guardians have come a long way since its inception years ago.

She further noted that times have changed so much in such a short time as information technology has rapidly succeeded in changing lifestyle.

"Kailangan natin ng bagong paraan ng pagsugpo sa krimen at lalong kailangan natin ng bagong pananaw para sa lahat ng mga nagnanais sumali sa laban sa kriminalidad. Kaya pinupuri ko kayo sa inyong pagkukusang makipagtulungan upang magapi ang terorismo at ibang uri ng krimen sa bansa (We need new ways of combating crimes and, more so, new ideas for those who wish to join the fight against criminality. I praise you all for your voluntary support to eradicate terrorism and other forms of criminality)," she said.

She enjoined the leaders of the group to inspire their members to take on the challenges of responsible citizenship.

"I know and I hope and I’m confident that you will inspire the rest of your colleagues who are all over the country and even all over the world along the road of responsible citizenship," the President said.

The President also noted the Guardians advocacy of democracy, unity, peace, stability and progress. "These are the very same aspirations of a strong Philippine Republic. Democracy, through strong institution of representation. Peace, through strong institutions of conflict resolution and stability, through strong institutions of justice," she said.

Meanwhile, the President said she is designating retired Police Gen. Nestorio Gualberto (former Chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group), to draw proposals and necessary papers for the conduct of orientation seminars and trainings for Guardian members.

The seminar, dealing with aspects of counterterrorism, is to be handled by the PNP.

"Bagamat tapos na ang career niya bilang police, inaasahan ko pa rin na hindi pa tapos ang kanyang papel sa aking administrasyon. Meron pa siyang second career na inaasahan kong makatulong sa aking pagbuo ng matatag na Republika ng Pilipinas," ( Although his career as a policeman is over, I still hope he still has a role to play in my administration. He still has a new career, and that is, help me build a strong Republic), the President said.

The President praised Gualberto for successfully apprehending the syndicates behind fake videos and raiding illegal video factories just before he retired.

"I said to him, what a fitting curtain call for your police career," she said.

The President recalled that her office made available a P1 Million loan for the group’s livelihood programs.

"Our strong Republic requires the efforts of all citizens to fortify the economy and win the war against terrorism and poverty. Nasa pagkakaisa at pagtutulungan ang katatagan ng republika kaya salamat na narito kayo. Palagay ko gusto kong asahan na ang ibig sabihin nito ay sinasamahan ninyo ako parati. Magtayo tayo ng malakas at matatag na Republika ng Pilipias," (The strength of a Republic is in our unity and your support, and for this, I thank you. It’s my hope that your support means you are with me. Be with me always. Let us build a strong and firm Republic), she said.

The President was welcomed at the ocassion by Laguna Governor Teresita Lazaro, Los Banos Mayor Cesar Perez, Laguna Rep. Joaquin Chipeco (2^nd district), Calamba City Mayor Severino Lara, guardians Grand Master Founder Liborio Jangao, GPI International Chairman Nestorio Gualberto, GPI National Adviser Major Gen. Alberto Braganza, Southern Luzon Commander Major Gen. Roy Kyamko and Philipine National Police Region 4-A Director Enrique Galang.