Foreign workers in the Middle East, particularly overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), are bound to benefit from the latest labor reforms in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain, according to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

In a report to Malacañang, DOLE said that the UAE Minister of Labor and Social Affairs recently handed down a decision requiring foreign workers seeking jobs in the private sector to hold at least a high school certificate or its equivalent degree.

DOLE said that the law would take effect on May 1, 2003 and would only exempt Arab workers.

The law, DOLE said, also exempts workers in the construction industry by virtue of their nature of work. Those who are currently working in UAE will continue to work without restrictions as the law would only apply to newly deployed workers, DOLE said.

DOLE said that since most of the OFWs are at least high school graduates, the new law would favor them in getting jobs in the UAE.

Meanwhile, Labor Attaché to Bahrain Ramoncito Mariño informed DOLE Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas of the Bahrain government's plan to establish safe houses for foreign workers in case of disputes with their employers.

The Kingdom's positive action was partly a result of the DOLE’s consultation meeting with Bahrain's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) in August last year.

DAVAO CITY -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo led officials in inaugurating the P63-million reconstructed Davao River Bridge along the vital Davao City Diversion Road, as dusk slowly enveloped this city of the exotic durian Monday (April 21).

From the Davao International Airport where she arrived at about 6:20 p.m. Monday from a hectic set of engagements in Manila, the President proceeded to the scheduled bridge opening in the Ma-a district here.

On her way to the bridge site that is some 15 minutes by car from the airport, the President passed through and made a windshield inspection of the nearly completed Buhangin vehicular underpass project. Officials said the underpass is due for completion on May 10.

At the bridge’s approach, the President was given a short briefing on the reconstruction project by Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Undersecretary for Mindanao Bashir Rasuman.

She noted the speed by which the contractor, V.T. Lao Construction, finished the project well ahead of the target date.

The reconstruction started June 15, 2002 and was supposed to be completed on May 26, 2003. Officials said the bridge was finished last Good Friday (April 18).

Following the briefing, the President – together with DPWH Secretary Bayani Fernando, Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, Rep. Prospero Nograles, Presidential Adviser for Mindanao Jesus Dureza and other officials – unveiled the bridge’s project marker.

Hundreds of Ma-a residents went on foot to accompany the President as she took the inaugural ride across the bridge’s 140-lineal meter span.

Fernando, in an earlier interview, said the bridge formed part of the 17.9-kilometer diversion road that links Davao City to the provinces of Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental and Compostela Valley.

He said the road also interconnected Southeastern Mindanao with Northern Mindanao, Central Mindanao and the Caraga Region.

The early reopening of the bridge to traffic provides passenger buses, cargo trucks and other large vehicles a way out of the smaller city streets that have lately been subjected to severe traffic jams.

It also provides private commuters who have no business going to the city proper a shorter, direct and convenient route.

The new pre-stressed concrete bridge replaced a bailey bridge that collapsed in January last year because of strong river currents and flashfloods.

The bailey bridge was put up temporarily to serve the needs of motorists, after the 25-year-old original bridge settled last June 2000 due to excessive scouring.

Mindanao stands to get at least a third of the P50-billion Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) infrastructure budget for 2003.

Public Works and Highways Secretary Bayani Fernando disclosed this, adding that the DPWH is due to carry out some P5 billion worth of infrastructure projects in Southeastern Mindanao alone.

In an interview, Fernando said the 2003 DPWH infrastructure budget was divided into a third each among the country’s geographical grouping Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

"(Although) Mindanao is less populated than Luzon, Luzon is getting only a third (of that budget)," he said, adding that Visayas would get the other one-third.

He said the funds would go to the construction and maintenance of roads, bridges and other vital public infrastructure that would enhance socio-economic and cultural growth nationwide.

Fernando also disclosed that the DPWH has started a campaign to protect and preserve public property, particularly state-owned land and road right-of-way (RROW), from illegal encroachments.

He noted the need to discourage people from using, in any manner like farming and other activities, publicly-owned RROWs. He said that RROWs should be used rightfully.

While the population is growing, the country’s roads do not expand. This is the reason why the RROWs should be preserved, he explained.

"We will remove road obstructions, to include accident-prone trees planted along roads," he said. Roads should be used for mobility and not for any other purpose, he stressed.

He said the DPWH has also started an information, education and communication program to put into the consciousness of the people the importance of mobility in spurring social growth and economic productivity, particularly in the countryside.

Fernando likewise noted that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo had appointed a DPWH Undersecretary for Mindanao in the person of Bashir Rasuman.

DAVAO CITY -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo Monday (April 21) evening enjoined the business community to continue supporting the government’s campaign against terrorism and lawless violence in Mindanao.

The President also sought the full comprehension and understanding of the intent of General Order No. 3 she issued last April 3 to contain acts of terrorism and lawless violence in Southern and Central Mindanao regions.

The President noted that the general order was issued to help businessmen go about their normal activities in an atmosphere of peace and security.

She hinted that the order was issued to drive away terrorists from the city and its environs so that the city’s thriving business could continue to boom and get the confidence of more domestic and foreign investors.

But more importantly, she cited the benefits the people would get when peace and order conditions are stabilized in Mindanao.

This city was the site of two recent bombings that left scores dead and many more wounded and hurt.

During dinner with business leaders at the Marco Polo Hotel here, the President read the full text of the general order and directed her staff to have the document copied and distributed to everyone.

She stressed that the order directed "the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to prevent and suppress acts of terrorism and lawless violence in Regions 11 (Southern Mindanao) and 12 (Central Mindanao).

DAVAO CITY—President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today called on the people of this city to cooperate with government authorities in apprehending the masterminds of the two bombing incidents here that left scores dead and many more injured.

In her speech at the 57^th commencement exercises of the University of Mindanao, the President said for as long as the masterminds in the two bombings are free, people in the city will continue to live in fear.

"We must all work together to achieve this objective of bringing the terrorist masterminds to justice," the President said.

The President congratulated Mayor Rodrigo Duterte for his quick action in identifying and arresting some of the suspects but the mayor himself, the President said, has admitted that his work has just begun because they still have to get the masterminds of the dastardly acts.

According to the President, the Abu Sayyaf group, the symbol of terrorism in Mindanao is now in disarray as a result of the intensified pursuit and rescue operations being conducted by government forces.

Although there are now only two hostages still in captivity by the Abu Sayyaf, after the escape of two women hostages last week, the President said that like in the Davao bombings, the government has yet to bring the Abu Sayyaf masterminds to justice.

"We hope to crush the bandit groups that perpetrated the hostage-taking in Basilan and Sulu as well as the bandit groups that masterminded the Davao bombings," the President said.

The President, however, assured the people that the terrorist masterminds would be caught in due time since there is no letup in military and police operations against the Abu Sayyaf and other terrorist groups in the country.

She said that the United States would provide assistance to the Philippine military and police authorities in anti-terrorism training.

On the Sulu Balikatan, the President assured the people that Sulu will not be a new battle front involving US troops, adding that no such troops would be "offensively engaged" at anytime during the training exercises.

DAVAO CITY—President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today announced that the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) will hold a jobs fair at the SM Davao here on May 1.

In her speech at the 57^th commencement exercises of the University of Mindanao here, the President exhorted the graduating students to apply at the jobs fair.

The President said that some 2,000 jobs will be offered at the fair by 20 overseas recruiters and seven local companies.

She said that providing employment to new graduates as well as the 3.6 million individuals in the country currently unemployed is one of her administration’s main concerns.

According to the President, after the May 1 jobs fair, there will be a continuing jobs fair, also at the SM Davao, from May 15 to June 10.

"I am sure that graduating students of the University of Mindanao will be qualified, maybe even more qualified, than other job applicants who will go to these jobs fair," the President said.

The President said that when the graduation season started three weeks ago, the DOLE launched a jobs fair at the SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City that will last up to the school opening on June.

She said at the Mandaluyong jobs fair some 100,000 jobs are being made available to applicants.

On top of these jobs fairs, the President said, concerned government agencies will also conduct medical and legal assistance, livelihood opportunities, and a demonstration of skills at the SM Davao.

On SARS

If there is a genuine case of SARS it will be fully documented on the why, when, where, how and what and all facts will be revealed. The President wants government to be fully transparent. The President feels that knowledge on the part of the public is a potent weapon in combating SARS. However, the DOH will ensure that in the process, no one is stigmatized.

On Balikatan

Government will be prepared to make a full disclosure of the Terms of Reference (TOR) for the exercises as soon as they are mutually agreed with the U.S.

On Meralco

COTABATO CITY -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo arrived here at noon today via the Awang airport in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Mindanao, for the start of her day-long sortie in Central Mindanao that included a visit to war-torn Pikit town in North Cotabato.

Those who welcomed the President at the Awang airport included Major General Generoso Senga, the Army's Sixth Infantry Division (6ID) chief, and local officials led by Maguindanao Governor Andal Ampatuan.

The President immediately started her sortie here with a brief command conference at the 6ID headquarters situated next to Awang airport before proceeding to Pikit aboard a presidential helicopter.

While in Pikit, the President inaugurated the P64-million road project in Barangay Bagoinged.

The new 38-kilometer road, already in its initial phase of construction, connects the villages of Gli-gli, Bulod, Rajah Muda and Kabasalan, all recent sites of heavy clashes between the military and Moro Islamic Liberation Front forces, to the Pikit town proper.

Later in the day, the Chief Executive presided over a consultation dialogue with North Cotabato officials over ongoing rehabilitation projects of the government in strife-torn areas of the province.