President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today conferred the 2002 Chino Roces Freedom Award on journalist Amando Doronila, the Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG), Fr. Romeo Intengan, S.J. and businessman Guillermo Luz.

Government officials, members of the civil society as well as relatives, friends and associates of the late publisher and street parliamentarian attended the ceremonies held at the Manila Polo Club.

The occasion coincided with the 14^th death anniversary of Joaquin P. Roces, whom everybody called Chino or Tatay.

In presenting the award to Doronila, the Joaquin "Chino" P. Roces Foundation cited the editor-columnist for the high professional integrity and keen sense of perspective he brings to the discussion of public issues.

Doronila, who began his career in journalism in 1953, rising from reporter to columnist to editor, was detained during martial law for his strongly independent-minded writings.

He has also published several papers and books, including the current bestseller, "The Fall of Joseph Estrada."

FLAG was cited for championing the legal cause of the poor and the oppressed with revolutionary zeal and courage.

Founded by the late Senator Jose W. Diokno, FLAG "has been a quiet yet purposeful, vigorous and ceaseless revolution, one committed to the empowerment of the poor and the oppressed so that they may participate more meaningfully in the decisions and policies that affect their lives."

Atty. Pablito Sanidad received the award in behalf of FLAG.

Fr. Romeo Intengan was cited for dedicating his life to the fight for freedom, human rights and social justice.

Fr. Intengan, who is a surgeon, teacher, and democracy activist, was cited for living a mission of life, faith and social reform.

The priest faced his most dangerous challenge as a leader of the underground Philippine Democratic Socialist Party (PDSP) during the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos.

He is now the Philippine Provincial Superior of the Society of Jesus. He is also a member of the Constitutional Transition Committee, organized originally to see to the smooth transfer of the presidency from Joseph Estrada to President Macapagal-Arroyo.

For his part, Guillermo Luz was cited for enlisting the business community in the cause of socio-political reform.

For over 15 year now, Luz has been speaking for the business community as executive director of the Makati Business Club and has taken his espousal further by undertaking a lead role as secretary general of the National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL).

The board of trustees of the Roces Foundation is composed of Chairman Jorge Sarmiento, Vice Chairman Fernando Peņa, and members Luz Lopez, Jose Ricarfort, Salvador Rivera, Chit Roces, Edgardo Roces, Regina R. Paterno, Simon R. Paterno, Firmo Tripon and Jose Velez.

Malacaņang today stressed the importance of a strong and effective Barangay Intelligence Network in maintaining law and order and ensuring security, particularly in far-flung villages susceptible to terrorist attacks.

Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Eduardo Ermita said there was a need for the people to bond together, pool their resources and fully support the government’s bid to crush terrorists and criminals.

In a radio interview, Ermita said the people’s cooperation -- especially in relaying reliable information on the movements of terrorist, criminal and rebel groups to the military and the police – was a must to ensure local and national security.

He said Congress had allotted funds to firm up the Barangay Intelligence Network for counter-insurgency operations.

Ermita was reacting to last Saturday’s attack on a police station in Lopez, Quezon by elements of the communist New People’s Army, which was classified by the United States as a global terrorist organization.

He said the peace talks with the National Democratic Front (NDF), political arm of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), remained suspended.

But the government panel, he said, completed a draft of the final peace agreement that would be presented to the NDF panel at the possible resumption of the talks.

The draft had twice passed the Cabinet Oversight Committee. Hopefully, it would pass the muster of the committee that would review the draft again this week, Ermita added.

He hinted that the recent attacks of the NPA, the armed component of the CPP, could be a strategy to strengthen their position when the peace talks continue.

He, however, hoped that the government and the NDF would finally agree to implementing a peace process.

The Presidential Anti-Graft Commission (PAGC) is expected to submit not later than 60 days its report on the claims of Public Estates Authority (PEA) Director Sulficio Tagud, Jr. that the construction of the Central Boulevard in the reclamation area in Pasay City was overpriced.

Press Secretary Ignacio R. Bunye today said President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo had directed PAGC Chairman Dario Rama "to expedite the investigation of Director Tagud’s allegations and to submit his recommendations not later than 60 days."

In his regular media briefing, Bunye also shrugged off side issues being raised on the concern, saying what was vital was to determine if the cost of building the road was more than what was required.

He further said that there was little need to check on the lifestyle of PEA officials as all government workers, from top to bottom, are expected to live within their means.

Earlier, he noted that the P1-billion loan the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) granted to PEA involved the "construction and completion of horizontal development of the Manila Bay reclamation project, including PEA properties in Central Business Park 1-A."

He said Tagud’s allegation covered only a part of this development effort, stressing that the GSIS-PEA loan agreement was "separate and distinct from the construction arrangements between PEA and contractor JD Legaspi Construction."

He added that the GSIS-PEA loan agreement went through established procedures and were favorably endorsed by the National Economic and Development Authority, Department of Finance and the Office of the Deputy Executive Secretary for Legal Affairs.

PEA general manager Benjamin Cariņo also denied Tagud’s claims, saying that there had been no overprice and no corrupt transactions related to the road construction.

"Our arithmetic and ethics and are clear and above board," Cariņo said.

Meanwhile, Bunye said that Public Works and Highways Secretary Simeon A. Datumanong, lately named as Officer-in-Charge of PEA, had "exhorted PEA employees to extend their full cooperation to the PAGC."

The Department of Energy (DOE) today urged consumers, particularly motorists, to start conserving fuel in the face of a looming crisis in the Middle East that could affect the world’s price and supply of oil.

In a press briefing in Malacaņang this afternoon, Energy Secretary Vicente S. Perez appealed to consumers to adopt prudent measures to conserve fuel.

During the press briefing, Perez spelled out the features of the DOE’s fuel conservation campaign dubbed as "Sa Bawat Patak na Matitipid Mo, Kalusugan, Kapaligiran, Kaunlaran Katumbas Nito."

Perez said consumers are the "best gas saving device" because their driving technique is the most important single element in determining the fuel economy of any motor vehicle.

He said that studies made by the department showed that a careful driver can get a least 30 percent more mileage than the average driver, and 50 percent more than a wasteful driver.

The government has put in place the necessary measures to address the possible impact of the US-Iraq conflict. "It is only proper for the public to also do their share including simple acts of conserving gas," Perez said.

According to Perez, the country’s dependence on oil as fuel has been significantly reduced over the years.

In particular, he said, imported oil’s contribution to the power generation mix has substantially dropped to only 11.75 percent as of July this year.

"But oil is still an important energy source especially in the transportation sector. Thus, there is a need for the public to be more prudent and judicious in oil consumption," Perez said.

Perez said that the government needs the cooperation of everyone in the judicious use of energy. "Saving for the worst of times is one the best values Filipinos have," he said.

Perez said the government and the public should prepare for any eventuality in case a full-blown crisis erupts between the US and Iraq.

During her inspection visit to the Malampaya offshore platform in Palawan over the weekend, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said that the Philippines is prepared for any contingency that may arise in the case of a Middle East crisis brought about by the refusal of Iraq to comply with UN Security Council resolutions,

The President said we are in a better situation than during the previous Middle East crisis but nonetheless, we must still plan ahead because we are still dependent on imported oil for transportation needs.

The DOE’s gas saving tips for motorists are as follows:

• Fill your fuel tank in the morning when it is cool. Never fill your tank to the brim to allow for fuel expansion.

• Avoid fuel spillage. Keep the fuel cap tightened to prevent fuel loss through evaporation or spillage.

• Minimize vehicle loads. Transporting unnecessary weight in your car will cause it to add 10 percent to fuel consumption.

• Follow a regular preventive maintenance program to prevent major breakdowns. A poorly maintained car can use up to 25 percent more fuel.

• Drive off immediately after starting but at a low speed. The engine will warm up faster and lubricate better.

• Do not let the motor idle for unnecessarily long periods. Turn off the engine whenever possible. It takes less gasoline to restart the car than to let it idle for prolonged periods. Generally, there is no need to press the accelerator down to restart a warm engine.

• The most efficient speed is between 75 and 90 kilometers per hour (kph). On a highway, maintain a steady speed. Tests conducted have indicated a 25 percent improvement in fuel economy when speeds are reduced from 120 to 80 kph.

Perez also urged motorists to plan their trips or driving in order to save on gas.

Press Secretary Ignacio R. Bunye today denounced the reported confiscation of tabloid newspapers, saying the government did not authorize this.

"Malacaņang is committed to press freedom and will neither allow nor tolerate any attack on such freedom," Bunye said in his regular press briefing.

Bunye stressed the reported seizure "is not an authorized action."

"If the alleged victims want to press charges against those responsible, by all means, they should do so," Bunye added.

Reports said still unidentified individuals have seized numerous issues of the daily tabloid Banat.

Meanwhile, Bunye stressed anew that there is no Executive Order purportedly signed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ordering the abolition of the National Printing Office (NPO).

"What surprises us is that despite several clarifications, the reports persist that there is an executive order decreeing the abolition, when in fact, there is no such executive order," Bunye said.

"In other words, somebody is spreading a false information that this is now a fait accompli, an executive order has been signed decreeing abolition of such office," Bunye added.

Budget Secretary Emilia Boncodin earlier said that the Presidential Commission on Effective Governance, which she chairs, is undertaking a review on the viability and operations of the NPO.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will preside over the first Joint National Security Council (NSC)-Cabinet meeting on Tuesday (October 1) to discuss the implications to the country of a possible outbreak of conflict in the Middle East.

National Security Adviser Roilo Golez said the meeting would also likely take up the positive measures the government has drawn and would implement in such a crisis situation.

The President assured the people last Thursday (Sept. 26) in General Luna town, Surigao del Norte that the government had been preparing measures to counter problems the country might face once the United States carries out its threat to attack Iraq which continued to shrug off resolutions of the United Nations.

Golez said the joint NSC-Cabinet meeting at Malacanang would be attended by other members of the NSC, to include former Presidents Fidel Ramos and Corazon Aquino, House Speaker Jose de Venecia, Jr., Senate President Franklin Drilon and chairmen of the congressional committees on foreign relations, defense and security and public order.

He said the NSC would present a security overview of the Iraqi situation.

Other discussions would revolve on the country’s foreign policy and the contingency plans being laid out for overseas Filipino workers (OFW) in at least nine countries in and around Iraq by the Department of Foreign Affairs; the situation’s economic impact, by the National Economic and Development Authority; and the oil supply/price contingency plans, by the Department of Energy.

"We are preparing for a possible Iraqi war," the President said in a luncheon meeting with the media in Surigao del Norte.

As this developed, Middle East Preparedness Team leader retired Gen. Roy Cimatu had been regularly in touch with the President, briefing her on recent developments on the Iraqi crisis.

Among the plans for OFWs is their evacuation to safer grounds in countries around Iraq, Cimatu earlier said.

This afternoon, Energy Secretary Vicente Perez briefed Malacaņang reporters on the country’s oil inventory that has increased to 62 days.

The National Security Council membership includes Vice President Teofisto Guingona, Jr., Senate President Drilon, Speaker de Venecia, the Senate President Pro-Tempore, three Deputy Speakers, Senate Majority Leader, House Majority Leader, Senate Minority Leader, House Minority Leader;

Executive Secretary Alberto G. Romulo, National Security Director General Roilo Golez, Secretary of National Defense Angelo T. Reyes, Secretary of Justice Hernando B. Perez, Secretary of Interior and Local Government Jose D. Lina, Jr., and Secretary of Labor and Employment Patricia A. Sto. Tomas.

Malacanang today called on all sectors to uphold the law in the case involving Manila Congressman Mark Jimenez who is facing extradition proceedings in connection with his alleged crimes in the United States.

"It would be to everybody’s interest if we were simply to uphold the rule of law. No more, no less," Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesman Ignacio R. Bunye said in his regular press briefing this afternoon.

In reacting to reports that the House of Representatives has taken steps to thwart the execution of the decision of the Supreme Court on the case, Bunye said that the law should "apply uniformly to everyone, regardless of his station in life."

Earlier, Bunye said that Congressman Jimenez could seek a reconsideration of the high court’s en banc ruling revoking the bail granted to him by a Manila Regional Trial Court.

Jimenez was given 15 days to file a motion for reconsideration of the SC’s decision.