The use of the term "Mindanao Czar" is not accurate.

Administrative Order 45 covers very specific programs some of which have no reference to Mindanao, such as the overseas Filipino workers bond, housing for overseas Filipino workers, and establishment of a seafarers welfare program.

These are the specific programs which VP Teofisto Guingona Jr. agreed to oversee.

The term "Czar" does not appear anywhere in the administrative order and its use is entirely my own interpretation.

The clarification is being made to forestall any possible misinterpretation of the scope of new responsibilities being attached to the Office of the Vice President.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today ordered the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission (PAGC) to investigate and prosecute all those found to be culpable in the five contracts of the Philippine International Air Terminals Corporation (PIATCO) on the construction of the Terminal 3 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), which the Executive Department’s legal offices have found to be null and void.

The President, who issued this statement during the 2002 Golden Shell Awards in Malacaņang, said the Office of the Solicitor General and the DOJ have determined that all five agreements covering the NAIA Terminal 3, most of which are contracted in previous administrations, are null and void.

"I cannot honor contracts which the Executive Branch’s legal offices have concluded are null and void. I, therefore, order the Department of Justice and the PAGC to investigation any anomalies and prosecute all those found culpable in connection with the NAIA contract," the President said.

The President, however, said that despite all of the problems involving the PIATCO contracts, she guarantees that the new airport will be opened.

"I’m assuring our people, our travelers, our exporters (that) my administration will open the terminal even if it requires invoking the whole powers of the presidency under the Constitution," she said.

She added that the new airport would be safe, secure and smoothly functioning, a world-class airport.

She said the PIATCO issue is not just a simple problem but a test-case of the integrity and efficiency of the Republic in building the infrastructure the nation requires.

"An international airport is any nation’s gateway to the world, the first contact of foreigners to the Philippine Republic, especially those foreigners who have not been in contact with the wonderful exports of the Philippine economy, those foreigners who have not had the benefit of enjoying Philippine export products," the President said.

The President further noted that it is not only a matter of opening the new airport but making sure that it is a world-class airport that operates without any hitches at all and without a slightest risk to travelers.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today challenged the critics of Justice Secretary Hernando Perez to bring up their charges against the Cabinet member to the Office of the Ombudsman, the proper office that would address their evidence, if there were any.

The President made this statement during the 2002 Golden Shell Awards at the Ceremonial Hall in Malacanang.

"I appeal to his accuser, rather than filing your charges in the media, file it with the Office of the Ombudsman. Submit your documents and speed up the investigation," the President said.

She noted that the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission is also doing its own investigation.

The President earlier authorized Secretary Perez to go on a 30-day leave in order for him to focus on refuting the accusations made against him in the House of Representatives by the congressman from Manila.

She earlier said that she expects Perez’s accuser, Rep. Mark Jimenez, to prove to the people within this 30-day period that his action isn’t just a political game or a strategy to evade extradition proceedings against him.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has designated 8,100 hectares in Monkayo, Compostela Valley as mineral reservation, being an environmentally critical area thereby not eligible for direct mining operations by private individuals or entities.

Under Proclamation No. 297, the President also declared that mining operations in the mineral reservation can only be undertaken by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) directly, subject to payment of just compensation that may be due to the legitimate and existing claimants, or through a qualified contractor, subject to existing rights.

The President also directed the DENR to formulate and issue the appropriate guidelines, including the establishment of an environmental and social fund, to implement the conversion of the 8,100 hectares into a mineral reservation.

The proclamation is pursuant to the Philippine Mining Act of 1995 which states that the Chief Executive may, upon recommendation of the Director of Mines and Geosciences, through the DENR Secretary, and when the national interest so requires, establish mineral reservations where mining operations shall be undertaken directly by the DENR or through a contractor.

The proclamation is aimed at maintaining a rational and orderly balance between socio-economic growth and environmental protection, the President said.

The 8,100 hectares are part of an area excluded in Proclamation No. 369, series of 1931, which declared that certain tracts of public land situated in the then provinces of Davao, Agusan and Surigao, with an area of approximately 1,927,400 hectares, are not for settlement and disposition.

The President said that since 1983 when gold deposits were found within the said 8,100 hectares located in Monkayo, Compostela Valley, unregulated small-to-medium scale mining operations have been undertaken causing serious environmental, health, and peace and order problems.

The declaration of the 8,100 hectares of land as mineral reservation, according to the President, is in the national interest to prevent the further degradation of the environment and to resolve the health and peace and order problems spawned by the unregulated mining operations in the area.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today designated former Police General Miguel Coronel as head of the Anti-Smuggling Intelligence and Investigation Center that is tasked to handle the smuggling that takes place outside of the Bureau of Customs area.

The Chief Executive made the announcement during her speech at the 10^th Golden Shell Awards and Top Export Performers Award held this morning at Malacaņang’s Ceremonial Hall.

The President described Coronel as a "very reputable man with that sterling reputation for integrity."

"He (Coronel) will be the head of the new Anti-Smuggling Intelligence and Investigation Center, and with their combined efforts, the goal is to increase tax and customs revenues to reduce the deficit and reduce the interest rates that you, the exporters, have to pay," she told the awardees.

Prior to his appointment, Coronel was Executive Director of the Dangerous Drugs Board and the National Drug Law Enforcement and Prevention Coordinating Center (DEP Center), which was created through Executive Order No. 61 issued on January 15, 1999.

DEP Center was specifically tasked to orchestrate and consolidate the drug law enforcement and prevention efforts of the national government agencies, local government units and non-government organizations for a more effective anti-drug campaign.

A native of Pampanga, Coronel earned his Bachelor of Science degree at the Philippine Military Academy and graduated No. 5 out of 65 graduates in 1970. He took up his Master of Arts in Economics at the University of the Philippines School of Economics in 1975 and Master of Arts in Political Science in 1972 also at the UP College of Arts and Sciences.

Among the awards he received include The Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) 1986 Award from Jaycees International and Gerry Roxas Foundation, PMA Cavalier Award for 1992 as an Outstanding Alumnus (Staff Function), Anvil Award from the Public Relations Society of the Philippines, and Kalayaan Award 1987.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today lauded the accomplishments of Philippine exporters, saying they contribute immensely to the growth of the economy as well as project the good image of the Filipino workers to the world.

In her keynote speech at the 10^th Golden Shell Awards and Top Export Performers Award at the Ceremonial Hall in Malacaņang, the President said the Filipino and Philippine-resident exporters deserve credit for an 8.8 percent growth in exports despite a fairly flat overall growth in exporters worldwide.

"Your accomplishment, I would say, is the triumph of Filipino expertise in management, design and production. Your expertise is the reason why our designs and products are in such demand abroad," the President said.

The President noted that the 10^th Golden Shell awardees were able to achieve their outstanding accomplishments despite of the long-drawn challenges the world is confronting.

"Their success in the face of adversity may be attributed not only to their resilience and versatility, but to their individual competence," she said, adding that the market-friendly policies the national government is putting in place to cushion the impact of the current crisis also helped.

The President said these market friendly policies of the government include tariff and incentives rationalization, lowering of interest rates, relaxation of stringent requirements to access financing programs and loan restructuring.

She said the government would continue relaxing access to financing programs for small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

"We have given banks incentives and policy signals to fund the SMEs," she said.

The President also said the government is committed to long-term structural reforms to ensure continued strength in domestic demand, bolstering the diversification of the Gross Domestic Product and enlivening the climate for investment – both for the investment for the domestic market and for exports.

The Chief Executive also said the passage of the Special Asset Management Company bill, now in the bicameral committee in Congress, will free up more bank resources for exports and other projects that the government is not in a fiscal position to fund.

"This bill is not meant to just bail out banks. It is meant, first and foremost, to liquefy their assets to ease up credit and help borrowers get back into business," she said.

The President also noted another new bill, which would make agricultural land acceptable as bank collateral and remove the rigidity of the second round land transfers under the Agrarian Reform program.

She also assured that the government is committed to sustain economic and political measures to counter the effects of global recession and terrorism.

She noted that government continues to protect national interest by making common causes with foreign countries where those interests materially overlap.

"We don’t know when or where in the whole world terror will strike again but we are doing everything to thwart its attempts or mitigate its effects," she said.

"These measures – economic, political, security -- are all designed to make the Philippines a safe and desirable place for business, a safe and desirable place for exports. Let’s not forget that sound macroeconomic management go side by side with good governance practices including leadership by example, transparency and the integrity of transactions," the President added.

This year’s Golden Shell awardees are: (Manufacturing Excellence) Arden Classic Inc., Calfurn Manufacturing Philippines, Las Palmas Furniture, Inc., L & T International, Remcor Industrial Manufacturing Inc., (Countryside Development Citation) Calfurn Manufacturing Philippines, (Rising Star Citation) ABS Gen. International Corp., Jupiter Systems Inc. (Special Citation for Ecologically-Sound Production System) Mt. Kitanglad Agri-Ventures Inc., (Special Recognition for International Designers) Ann T. Pamintuan, president of The Gilded Expressions and Kenneth Cobonpue, president of Interior Crafts of the Islands Inc.

Meanwhile, the top sectoral performers for exports are (Microelectronics) Intel Technology Philippines Inc., (Motor Vehicle parts and components) Yazaki-Torres Manufacturing Inc., (Wearables excluding garments) S.S. Ventures International Inc., (Home Furnishings) Florentino III International Inc., (Holiday Decors and Giftware) Neoart Corp. (Food Products) Dole Philippines Inc., (Marine Products) HJR International Corp., (Construction Materials) Apo Cement Corp. (Garments) Leader Garments Corp.

Bagging the Gold Award for Exports is Intel Technology Philippines Inc. while Fujitsu Computer Products Corp. of the Philippines took the Silver Award and Philips Semiconductors Phils. Inc. got the Bronze Award.