The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board has approved 12 projects worth P33.7 billion to boost agricultural productivity; support health, education and social services; and improve infrastructure in Metro Manila and the countryside.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is the chairman of the NEDA Board.

The President had stressed the importance of speeding up the delivery of social services and fast-tracking the implementation of critical infrastructure projects to build a strong Republic in her State of the Nation Address last July.

The P10.8-billion Agno River Integrated Irrigation Project led the list of approved projects.

The project is expected to provide year-round water supply to irrigate some 70,800 hectares and raise the output of paddy rice and diversified crops in Pangasinan and Tarlac.

This would make farming highly competitive and profitable and would increase per capita income, upgrade the living standards of the people and create jobs in Central Luzon.

The Agno irrigation project covered the repair of the San Roque diversion weir and intake; the construction of the re-regulating pond with a capacity of 4.6 million cubic meters; construction of a canal at the right bank of the Agno River to supply existing service areas of the Agno River Irrigation System (ARIS); and the construction of siphon across Agno River that will link the main canal of lower ARIS.

The NEDA Board also approved the P4.52-billion Pasig-Marikina Channel Improvement Project Phase I, which aims to alleviate the living and sanitary conditions in Metro Manila due to massive flooding caused by the overflowing of the Pasig-Marikina River.

Experience showed that flooding had resulted in severe damage to lives, properties and infrastructure.

The project would lessen the overflowing of Pasig River at times of heavy discharge by increasing the river’s conveyance capacity.

The riverbank would be elevated with the erection of some 18.2 kilometers of parapet wall and 17.6 kilometers of revetment walls, and the dredging and excavation of about 7,000 cubic meters of riverbed deposits from the Del Pan Bridge to the Napindin Channel.

The project would further include the repair of about ten kilometers of damaged stretches of existing river walls to prevent erosion and the collapse of riverbanks.

Also in the pipeline is the implementation of the P3.4-billion Agrarian Reform Community Development Project-Phase II, which aims to significantly raise household incomes and the quality of life of target agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs).

The NEDA Board said the project would improve productive assets, rural infrastructure and access to key support services.

The project has three components: community development and capability building; rural infrastructure; and agriculture and enterprise development and rural credit financing.

Lately, President Macapagal-Arroyo called on banks and government financial institutions to help fund projects of small and medium enterprises, particularly those under the government’s "One Town-One Project" program.

Another project, the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Social Fund for Peace Development worth P2.53 billion, aimed to reduce poverty and help build sustainable peace in the ARMM.

The project involved interventions for socio-economic development of target communities, the implementation of infrastructure of regional strategic significance, and peace and advocacy at various levels.

It would cover 2,800 barangays in 94 towns in the ARMM’s five provinces -- Sulu, Basilan, Tawi-Tawi, Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur, including Marawi City.

Other projects approved were the General Santos Fishing Port Complex Expansion/Improvement Project worth P1.52 billion; Bago River Irrigation System Rehabilitation and Improvement Project, P1.52 billion; 26th Tranche Increased Food Production Program, P610 million; Upgrading the Inter-Urban Highway System, P3.4 billion;

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today lauded the Malampaya Deep Water Gas to Power Project, a joint venture of multinational conglomerates and government corporations, for capturing a major United Nations award for sustainable development during the World Summit on the Environment held recently in Johannesburg, South Africa.

The President, who met with officials of the joint venture partners and project associates during a courtesy call in Malacaņang, said that the recognition is a great honor for the Philippines.

"We’re very honored with this award," the President said.

The President noted that the Malampaya Gas to Power project shows that the government can undertake a joint venture with the private sector that would have a great economic impact, as well as positive effect on the environment.

Members of the joint venture undertook a reenactment of the awarding ceremonies at the Music Room of the Palace.

Jeremy Cliff, managing director of Shell Philippines Exploration B.V., operator of the joint venture, presented the award to the President. "It looks really humble but it’s very meaningful for us all," Cliff said.

Cliff said the award recognizes the Malampaya project’s program for natural gas development using a sustainable management framework that ensures the economic, environmental and social acceptability of a large-scale industrial venture in the Philippines.

This is being achieved through a partnership among the government, local communities, and local and international non-governmental organizations.

The project is a joint venture of Shell, Chevron-Texaco, and Philippine National Oil Company-Exploration Corporation (PNOC-EC).

Those who attended the meeting were Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Heherson Alvarez, Shell Philippines country chairman Eliseo Santiago, Shell Philippines Exploration B.V. business development manager Mike Wooton, Texaco philippines President and Chief Finance Officer Therry Brebion, PNOC-EC president Rufino Barasang, Karl Cotbell of Texaco; Federico Lopez of First Gas, Batangas Gov. Hermilando Mandanas and British Ambassador Paul Diamond.

The award was given by the International Chamber of Commerce/United Nations Environment Progamme (UNEP).

ICC, a business organization, is the largest private sector association in the world. UNEP is the environment agency of the United Nations. This is the second year they have joined forces to recognize the sustainable development achievements of companies around the world.

The Malampaya project was among the 10 that were selected as winners from more than 120 entries from 37 countries.

This year’s winning entrants covered the range of industrial activity – from farming of organic cotton to sustainable forestry practices, natural gas extraction and recycling programs.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today wished the 218-member Team Philippines good luck and cheered them on to do battle in the 14^th Asian Games in Busan, South Korea and bring home as many gold, silver and bronze medals as they can.

During a sendoff ceremony held at the Heroes Hall of Malacaņang, the President expressed hope that the Philippine delegation would surpass the number of medals they won in the 1998 Asiad.

Thomas Carrasco, chef d’ mission to the Busan Asian Games, presented the Philippine Flag to the President during the ceremony and introduced the members of the Philippine contingent by batches.

The President also received the official jacket of the Philippine delegation from Eric Buhain, chairman of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).

The athletes will compete in various events during the quadrennial event, including archery, aquatic games, badminton, baseball, basketball, billiards, rowing, sailing, fencing, sepak takraw, soft tennis, table tennis, wrestling, wushu, and aikido.

The Philippine athletes will be leaving the country by batches in the next few days to participate in the14^th Asian Games scheduled to run from September 29 to October 14 in Busan, South Korea.

The Palace sendoff comes less than a week after the President agreed to augment the PSC coffers with P50 million from the President’s Social Fund. The augmentation fund will be directed to the Asian Games campaign as well as for the PSC’s other commitments.

The Malacaņang affair also comes two days after Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin gave his best wishes and blessings to the sports delegation.

The country’s top Filipino-Chinese businessmen, known as taipans for being the captains of Philippine business, have agreed to participate in the government’s socialized housing program.

In her luncheon meeting with John Gokongwei, Henry Sy, Andrew Gotianum, and representatives of George Ty and Alfonso Yuchengco in Malacaņang, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo encouraged them to help develop idle and supposed to be privatized government properties for housing for government employees, specially for teachers, soldiers and policemen.

In a press briefing in Malacaņang, Finance Secretary Jose Isidro Camacho, who was present in the meeting, said that the luncheon did not discuss generalities or motherhood statements.

"We talked about specific ideas and specific projects and we were very happy with the response that the government is getting from the taipans," Camacho said.

According to Camacho, the President urged the taipans, in particular, to invest in the development of the Philippine government villages where idle government lands or those that are supposed to be privatized could be developed as real estate properties.

"Through this mechanism, we hope we would be able to deliver housing units at affordable prices through the combination of different inputs from different parties from government and the private sector," Camacho said.

Camacho stressed that the multiplier effect of housing to the total economy is about 11 percent, adding that with related industries, like labor, gravel and metal and other construction materials, the multiplier effect would total about 14 to 21 percent.

The government will also minimize bureaucratic red tape to encourage the Filipino-Chinese businessmen to go into the government’s socialized housing program, Camacho said.

"We are also looking at the possibility of using government to be able to bring down the cost of construction materials" Camacho pointed out.

From the private sector, the contribution to the program would be their financial resources, their capitals, and theirs management skills, and their access to technology on housing.

Saying that she was just following the example of former President Fidel Ramos when he asked the taipans to develop a world-class airport, the President this time asked them to help the government in its housing program, Camacho said.

United States President George W. Bush today thanked President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo "for her government’s strong support for the US approach on Iraq," a White House statement said.

President Bush called up President Macapagal-Arroyo and the two leaders discussed "counterterrorism efforts around the world, including in Southeast Asia," said White House spokesman Ari Fleischer.

In an official statement released Tuesday, President Macapagal-Arroyo said the "Philippines supports the case brought by the US against Iraq before the United Nations Security Council," adding that the council should give the charges most urgent and serious consideration.

She said the Philippines has full confidence in the council, which "will act in accord with the imperatives of world peace and security and find the most expeditious way, the most effective way to serve these imperatives."

She also said her administration "reaffirms its commitment to the global war against terrorism," believing that "the world will never be secure unless terrorist lairs are exposed and destroyed."

A group of Filipino-Chinese businessmen belonging to the so-called "cream of the crop" of the business community today expressed their confidence that the government under the leadership of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo would be able to get rid of the crime syndicates, particularly the kidnap-for-ransom (KFR) gangs operating in the country.

"I always have confidence in the President," said business and industry tycoon John Gokongwei during a press briefing in Malacaņang.

The President met this afternoon with Gokongwei, Shoe Mart owner Henry Sy, Fil-Estate chief executive officer Andrew Gotianum and representatives of George Ty and Alfonso Yuchengco in Malacanang where they discussed the proposed construction of government villages, a socialized housing project for government employees.

Also present in the meeting were Finance Secretary Jose Isidro Camacho, Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes, Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) Chairman Michael Defensor and Ambassador Tomas Alcantara.

Gotianum, for his part, said that while everybody is concerned about the recent incidents of kidnappings, "at least the government is taking steps."

"They have eliminated seven of the (KFR) gangs. If they continue, we should be able to get rid of them in the next six months," Gotianum said.

On the other hand, Sy said that the business community is looking at the kidnapping incidents as "temporary."

"We look at this crisis as temporary and the country has a lot of potentials. The crisis could be addressed sooner or later," he stressed.

During the briefing with the media, Gokongwei also lauded the President for initiating the government-private sector partnership to provide housing for civil servants using government lands, including idle properties within military camps throughout the country.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today appointed Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) Commissioner Leticia V. Ibay as acting chairperson of the ERC vice Fe Barin, who is resigning to pave the way for her appointment to the Monetary Board.

Barin has been appointed by the President as one of the private sector representatives of the Monetary Board.

Barin will replace Teodoro Montecillo, Monetary Board member representing the private sector. Montecillo served the Monetary Board for a term of six years from August 6, 1996 to August 5, 2002.

Ibay’s involvement in the public sector spans 33 years of government service, majority of which were spent with the Board of Investments. She represented the Philippines in various international fora, including the World Trade Organization, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) as well as the Association of Southeast Nations, among others.

She finished her Bachelor of Laws degree at the Manuel L. Quezon University and graduated cum laude from the Philippine College of Commerce, where she was a dean’s lister.

Ibay is married to Judge Francisco B. Ibay of the Regional Trial Court 135 in Makati with whom she has three children.

Barin obtained her Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of the Philippines in 1956.

Before she became ERC chairperson, Barin held various positions, among them as Secretary to the Monetary Board and Special Assistant to the Governor of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and Assistant Legal Counsel of the Philippine Deposit and Insurance Corporation (PDIC).

The powers and functions of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas are exercised by its Monetary Board, which has seven members appointed by the President of the Republic of the Philippines.