ILOILO CITY—President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today expressed her "deep concerns" about the humanitarian crisis affecting Iraqi civilians in the ongoing war in Iraq.

In her speech during a meeting with rice farmers, irrigators’ associations and traders in Panay held this afternoon at the Sarabia Manor Hotel here, the President said that the Philippines is prepared to send peace-keepers and humanitarian workers in areas in Iraq where they can safely help.

The President earlier said that the US-led "coalition of the willing," which the Philippines has supported, should now be transformed into the "coalition for humanitarianism."

She said that she has directed Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas Ople to work with "like-minded" neighbors in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) to establish an Asean consensus on how to conduct the humanitarian assistance in Iraq.

The President said that Asean can join hands with other countries in extending assistance to the Iraqi people at this hour of their need consonant to the emerging thrust of the United Nations.

According to the President, the Philippines’ offer of humanitarian and peace-keeping assistance is aimed at helping restore the freedom, dignity and collective security of the Iraqi people.

Malacanang today said that although there is no official ban on the travel of Filipinos to countries in the region where cases of the killer pneumonia have been reported, it would be advisable for those without urgent reasons to go there to postpone their trips.

In an interview, Presidential Spokesman Ignacio R. Bunye said that in the case of Hong Kong, the ban for the deployment of Filipino workers there stays but not for labor reasons but for health reasons.

Bunye confirmed that Labor and Employment Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas has recommended to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo that the ban should not be lifted because the former British colony is still reeling from the threat of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) that has already claimed several victims.

The first reason for the ban of the deployment of OFWs to Hong Kong, Bunye said, was the wage cut ordered by the Hong Kong authorities on Filipino domestics.

But Bunye said this problem is now almost settled because there are now pending cases to be filed against Hong Kong authorities by the affected OFWs themselves and the Philippine government.

Bunye said that the government is advising Filipinos to be extra cautious in traveling not only to Hong Kong but also to some affected countries like Singapore, China, Vietnam, and Canada.

He also said that although there has not been any reported confirmed SARS case in the Philippines, it is advisable for the people to be on the alert and to follow the preventive measures recommended by the Department of Health.

Malacanang today said that the Fall of Bataan will still be observed through appropriate ceremonies on April 9 although it will be a working day after President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo declared April 7, a Monday, as non-working holiday.

In an interview, Presidential Spokesman Ignacio R. Bunye said the President’s directive to declare April 7 as a non-working holiday in lieu of April 9, which is a working day, is aimed at giving the Filipinos a longer weekend.

Bunye, who is with the presidential caravan traversing the Strong Republic Nautical Highway (SRNH), said that the idea is to give Filipinos more time to enjoy their weekends to boost domestic tourism.

"Pero gugunitain pa rin yong April 9 at magkakaroon ng appropriate ceremonies na gaganapin sa araw na iyan (But we will still commemorate April 9 and there will be appropriate ceremonies on that day)," Bunye said.

This will be the 61^st commemoration of the fall of Bataan during World War II.

In the same interview, Bunye said that during the ongoing presidential caravan, the government is just trying to demonstrate that a national highway can be opened through the western seaboard, from Luzon all the way to the Visayas and Mindanao.

ILOILO CITY -- President Gloria Macapagal–Arroyo today assured that power would continue to flow in the Panay Island despite predictions of shortage starting this year.

During a meeting with rice farmers, irrigators associations, and the trade and agri-business sector at Sarabia Manor Hotel this afternoon, the President said private power generations companies have agreed to supply the needed power in various locations of the island.

"I’m glad to inform you that there are power generation companies from private sector that undertake the addition of power supply on Panay Island itself in various locations," she said.

The President noted that there would be about 30 to 40 megawatts of power that would be ready by the end of the year or in the first few months of 2004 from, among others, Mirant and Power One.

The President ordered last year the creation of a Panay Power Task Force to coordinate a solution to the imminent power shortage consistent with privatization and deregulation of the law.

Meanwhile, the President reported the signing this morning of a memorandum of understanding between the Antique Gov. Sally Perez and the Korean Electric Power Corp. (Kepco) for the construction and setting up of 100 megawatt circulating, fluidized bed combustion power plant using the Semirara island in Antique.

The President thus urged rural electrification cooperatives for the islands covering the provinces of Aklan, Antique, Capiz and Iloilo to work fast and ensure the speedy implementation of power agreements with the private sector.

"The government can only promote the solutions. But you, the electric distributors, must take responsibility for the timely implementation of the projects," she said.

She also called on the local officials and communities to lend assistance to these projects such as the necessary permits and approvals "so that they are not delayed."

ROXAS CITY, Capiz – Armed with a P20-billion package from the Development Bank of the Philippines, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo hopes to achieve two things in launching the Strong Republic Nautical Highway—bring down the cost of agricultural products and boost domestic tourism.

In a luncheon press conference at the Baybay Beach here, the President urged private investors to avail themselves of the DBP loanable fund that will set into motion the role on-roll off (Ro-Ro) system of terminals and ferry boats linking Luzon to Western Visayas and Mindanao.

"With the system of Ro-Ro terminals and ferry boats, these will be a new revolution in trade and commerce the way that the ferryboats within Visayas and Mindanao also revolutionized travel," she said.

The President, on the second day of the Presidential caravan inaugurating the new agri-tourism highway, signed in Roxas, Oriental Mindoro last Monday a loan agreement between the DBP and Philippine Nippon Shipping for the purchase of a Ro-Ro vessel for the Roxas-Caticlan route.

Late Monday, she also unveiled a port marker at Caticlan with Aklan Governor Florencio Miraflores, Malay Mayor Cicilo Cawaling and Aklan lone district Rep. Billy Colizo.

She hopes to open other Ro-Ro routes linking the western and eastern seaports of the country with the aid of the loan package.

This, the President said, should open even bigger market for the agricultural product of Visayas and Mindanao in a faster, cheaper way.

"Before, it was cheaper to import corn from Thailand than from Mindanao," she explained. "But with the Ro-Ro system, it will now be competitive to ship out of Vis-Min than Thailand."

She said that although the main use of the nautical highway is to reduce cost, she also hopes to boost domestic tourism in the 17 provinces that the route will cut through.

She cited such world-class tourist destinations like Boracay, Dakak and Bais where people can even go whale watching.

In another effort to give the domestic tourism a shot in the arm, the President likewise announced she was moving Araw ng Kagitingan from April 9 to April 7 in line with her holiday economics.

She, however, emphasized that the celebration will still be held on April 9.

ON BOARD THE MILLENNIUM UNO (from Iloilo to Bacolod) – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today urged the local officials of Iloilo and the two Negros provinces to be extra vigilant against security threats, reminding them of their important functions in times of crisis.

During a command conference aboard the Millenium Uno Roll On-Roll Off (Ro-Ro) ferry from Iloilo to Bacolod City, the President led a briefing for local officials from Iloilo, Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental on the safety and security measures they need to carry out in the wake of the special security threats facing the world today.

The President said "it is very important to meet with the officials of Iloilo and Negros Occidental because these are the two largest provinces in the country."

The President said that if these two provinces are safe "you can say that the whole country is safe."

The President reminded the local officials of their three important functions in times like this: one, as crisis managers; two, as information champion; and three, as anti-crime czars.

The President reiterated what she said in a command conference in Cebu last week that the police are now under the supervision and control of the local executives.

"The PNP local units are under your supervision and control, and the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) are there to support you in your triple function," President said.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Jose Lina, Jr. also gave a briefing on the security arrangements the PNP has been carrying out.

"Hindi puwedeng maganda lang sa papel (Things shouldn’t just look good on paper)," Lina said, adding that they should work in times of crisis.