President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today stepped in to ensure that the price and size of pan de sal remain unchanged.

During a visit to the General Milling Corp. (GMC) plant in Pasig, the President met with members of the flour milling industry and got their assurance of a steady supply of flour and wheat in the country.

The President said the Philippine Association of Flour Millers and the Chamber of Flour Millers Association also assured her that they would not raise the prices of the commodity.

She also said the Philippine Federation of Bakers Association, which has some 10, 000 members nationwide, also made their pledge to keep the price and size of pan de sal unchanged as part of their commitment to the consumer. October, incidentally, is consumer Welfare Month.

The President also said the Philippine Flour Miller Merchants Association assured her that they do not foresee a shortage of flour and wheat in the market.

"Sabi kasi sa media, P1.50 na ang pan de sal. Hindi ito totoo, piso pa rin ang pan de sal sa karaniwang sukat (According to the media, pan de sal now costs P1.50 each. This is not true, It remains at P1 each at its regular size)," the President said after the meeting.

The President said that although the price of flour in the domestic market slightly increased last July and the price of wheat increased following last year’s dry spell in North America and floods in Europe, this year is a new beginning for the industry.

She said the price of wheat is expected go down following the good harvest this year.

The President noted that if raising prices becomes inevitable, the groups promised her that they would first confer with the government.

With the President during the GMC plant visit were Trade and Industry Secretary Manuel Roxas II, Trade Undersecretary Adrian Cristobal, Leonardo Figueroa and Luisito Chavez of the Philippine Federation of bakers Association, Alfonso Uy, Carmelo Sison and Amado Guranggo of the Chamber of Philippine Flour Millers, GMC Executive Director Romeo Sangalang, GMC Corporate Affairs Director Ric Pinca and GMC Director Jojo Dumlao.

GMC is the nation’s bigger flour miller. The combined capacities of its Lapu-Lapu and Ugong flourmills aggregate 55, 500 sacks a day. It produces a wide variety of high-quality flour products, from bakery to noodle flour. Its clients range from large-scale food manufacturers and bakery chains to household end-users.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today congratulated the police for the arrest of a member of the notorious Red Vigilante Gang of kidnappers, killers and robbers, and two other suspects in a kidnapping with murder case.

The President dropped by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group office in Camp Crame, headquarters of the Philippine National Police, to personally congratulate the officers and men responsible for the latest successful strikes against notorious groups and individuals.

Presented to the President during her brief visit to the office of the CIDG head, Chief Superintendent Eduardo Matillano, were

Lorenzo Hidalgo, a member of the Red Vigilante Group believed involved in kidnapping, murder and robbery cases for the past three years;

Josephine Beredo and Sotero Gamab alias "Turing" who were linked to the kidnapping and murder of Ronaldo Taming, whose body was recovered two days after he went missing.

According to the police, Hidalgo was arrested through the strength of two warrants of arrest for kidnapping with murder issued by Judge Teodulo Ronquillo of the Municipal Trial Court of San Miguel, Bulacan. No bail was set for Hidalgo.

According to Deputy Director Police Supt. Charlemagne Alejandrino, the Red Vigilante Group has been linked to the kidnapping for ransom of father and son Julio and Julius Alejo of Bongabon, Nueva Ecija in October last year; the murder of Talavera ex-barangay captain Romy Ferrer and the kidnapping and murder of Michael Nuera, Florentino Pablo, Ferardo Pablo, Geronimo Andres, Dindo Fernando and Manolo Santos of Gapan, Nueva Ecija whose bodies were found dumped in San Miguel, Bulacan.

The group was also responsible for the kidnapping of a Pangasinan businessman and the abduction and murder of two Munoz, Nueva Ecija residents.

In the case of the two other suspects, the police said Taming’s brother Rogelio sought police assistance last October 8 after Beredo came to his Makati City residence asking for P20, 000 in exchange for the safe return of his brother.

Police Supt. Paterno Orduna, who worked on the case, immediately tasked operatives to follow up the lead and coordinate their movement with the Police Anti-Crime Emergency Response (PACER) and the Batangas Provincial Police Office.

Orduna said Ronaldo, who drives a Starex van was reportedly hired by a certain "Abet (later known as Albert Oliman) last October 7 for a trip to Batangas City. Since then, nothing was heard of him until Beredo went to the Taming residence in Makati demanding the amount.

In her statement, Beredo said Abet and Ronald were to meet Turing in Batangas City. She claimed that Abet is a drug courier who purposely took the trip to Batangas to deliver P20, 000 worth of shabu to Turing.

Beredo further said that during the delivery by Abet and Ronald, Turing was not satisfied with the quality of the stuff delivered. Turing then demanded that they return his money right away.

Abet who is now the object of a CIDG manhunt, asked that he be allowed to go back to Makati to produce the amount to be reimbursed, leaving behind Ronald, but Turing fumingly said that he’d better go fast "or else Ronald would not be seen alive again.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today called on the nation to conserve energy as tension in the Middle East continued to grow.

In her remarks during a visit to a flour mill in Pasig City, the President said that the people should use oil and oil products wisely.

"Magtipid sa paggamit sa mga produkto ng gasoline (Let us use oil products wisely). Let us try to plan our trips and go for car pools," the President said.

Besides, the President said, carpooling "decongest our streets and reduce air pollution."

The President said one of her important priorities is to prevent a rise in transport fare prices.

She said she continues to confer with members of the transport industry to thwart fare increases.

The President assured that the Metro Rail Transit, the Light Rail Transit and the Philippine National Railways would not raise their transportation fees.

The Chief Executive also assured that she has asked local government executives to put off any planned increases for terminal and parking fees because these are normally passed on to the passengers.

She also said that dialogues continue among the Department of Trade and Industry, the National Price Coordinating Council and manufacturers of prime commodities to ensure a steady supply of products as well as minimize increases in prices.

"Habang pinapanatili nating matatag ang mga presyo, gagawin din nating lahat ang nararapat upang pigilan ang sinuman nagsasamantala sa mga pangamba ng ating kababayan (while we are ensuring steady prices, we will also do all to prevent those who might take advantage of the fears of our countrymen)," she said.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo last night stressed the need for a strong republic to reduce the poverty incidence not only in Quezon City but the whole of the Philippines.

Speaking at the first-ever Gawad Parangal sponsored by the city government of Quezon City at the Celebrity Sports Complex, the President said a strong republic needs strong institutions that have an effective governance, from the local government to the bureaucracy.

The President also expressed the belief that the relationship between the Presidency and Congress should not be adversarial and that horse trading should not be used to pass the needed laws of the present administrations.

The President led in presenting medals and special citations to a former President, a national scientist, a former education minister, a chess grandmaster and a former chief of staff-turned defense secretary who were among those chosen as Quezon City’s outstanding citizens. The presentation of awards was the culminating activity for the celebration of Quezon City’s 63^rd foundation anniversary Friday night.

Leading the list of awardees was former President Corazon Aquino, who was unfortunately not around to accept her award. The former President was cited for her contribution in the area of government service.

Mrs. Aquino, who is residing at 55 Times Street, was cited by President Macapagal-Arroyo as having done a lot for the country up to the present.

The President said Mrs. Aquino is still giving her advice, specially on how to take care of the overseas Filipino workers in the Middle East, in case war breaks out

The President, assisted by Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmone, Jr. and Vice Mayor Herbert Bautista, presented the Gawad Parangal to nine other awardees namely: Rosa Rosal for social work, Gina Lopez, community service; Justice Milagros German, judiciary; Dr. Fe del Mundo, medicine; Dr. Onofre Corpuz, education; Eugene Torre, sports; Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes, military service; Mel Tiangco, mass media; and Dr. Reynaldo Punongbayan, science and technology.

The awardees, all Quezon City residents, were cied for their invaluable contribution in the task of enhancing not only the city’s growth and development but in propelling the nation to progress,

The President also presented a special citation to business tycoon Henry Sy, who has been named as Quezon City’s biggest employer and taxpayer, in recognition of his contribution to the economic growth of the city.

Our position on this issue has already been made clear. While we are hoping for a peaceful resolution, we are preparing for any contingency affecting our nationals in the Middle East."

I just had a dialogue with bakers, flour millers and dealers of wheat this morning. I am anxious about the rising price of pan de sal. They assured me the problem is not as bad as it seems.

Flour prices have actually gone up in the local market since July this year, when the supply of wheat in the world market started to go down in the face of increasing world demand for the commodity.

But the Philippine Association of Flour Millers and the Chamber of Flour Millers Association have just assured the government that the supply of flour is more than adequate to meet demand. They further committed that they will not increase the price of flour until the end of October. The Philippine Federation of Baker Association, with its 10,000 members, have also expressed their solidarity with consumers and the government.

The flour millers and the bakers will be in close coordination with the DTI and assess the situation after October.

The dealers of flour represented by the Philippine Flour Merchants Association see no change at all in the cost of their services due to the adequate supply in the market.

We commend theses different sectors for rising above their interests for the benefit of consumers.

Also this week the price of LPG went up. I know the house wives are burdened by this development. We are doing all we can to mitigate its impact on the public.

As tension rise in the middle east, the prices of oil is also rising. My priority is to hold the line on transport prices. We will also have to work hard to keep down the costs of prime commodities and other critical public services.

We are conducting dialogues with representatives of the transport sector, to stave off, as much as possible, the rise in fares. The LRT, MRT and the Philippine National Railways are not going to increase fares. We are also asking the local governments not to increase terminal or parking fees because these costs are passed on to the riding public.

I think it is high time for everybody to get into energy conservation mode. Let us control our use of gasoline products. Let us try to plan our trips and form car pools. This would also decongest our streets and reduce air pollution. We can save more and it’s better for our health.

The DTI National Price Coordinating Council is in continuing dialogue with manufacturers of prime commodities, to keep the supply and price stable. I would like to thank our manufacturers for their social conscience and their solidarity with the government and the public.

As we try to stabilize prices, we shall undertake all means to stop those who will exploit the situation to the deterrent of the public interest. I can very well understand the worries of our people, which should not be aggravated by hoarding or profiteering.

Nevertheless, I would like to assure everybody that we have more than enough crude oil for our needs. We buy our oil from 15 different countries. The Energy Department is in constant coordination with local oil companies to ensure a steady and stable supply under any adverse circumstance. We will keep a stable inventory of oil products at all times. We will keep alternative sources of oil ready for any contingency.

At the same time, we will not relent in pursuing our most vital development projects. I have set out my priorities for the next six months. Among these are the soft opening of the new NAIA Terminal, the North rail from Metro Manila to Clark that will also run South to Batangas Port, more low cost housing projects, and the promotion of Makati and Roxas Boulevard as prime tourist spots.

I am also focusing on strengthening the domestic economy through the Isang Bayan, Isang Produkto, isang Milyong Piso program that will shore up our small and medium industries. We are also looking forward to the P30 billion Sustainable Logistics Development program based mainly on ro-ro ferry network, to support the agricultural sector and small industries in the countryside. This will also reduce transport costs from Mindanao to Manila and further stabilize food and commodity prices.