There is no room for half measures. We must anticipate the worst scenario now so that we will not wake up to a crisis that is much bigger that we imagined. We do not want any severe jolts and surprises. That is why mandatory quarantines will be enforced, if need be. Local government executives and barangay officials must wield their lawful powers for the sake of the common good in their jurisdiction. Containment measures may seem to be too harsh but we seek public understanding and full compliance.

Terrorism has shuttled between Indonesia and the Philippines and we are both determined to fight it tactically and strategically. If there are any links between terrorist incidents in Jakarta and in Mindanao, these will be checked, followed up and neutralized under a scheme of intelligence sharing and law enforcement cooperation.

US Assistance

The Philippine government welcomes the addition of $30 million in the Economic Support Funds (ESF) for the Philippines in the US FY 2003 Emergency Wartime Supplemental Appropriations Act (HR 1559), which the US Congress approved over the weekend. HR 1559 was submitted to President Bush by the US Congress to be signed into law.

The $30 million is being provided for the purpose of furthering the prospects for peace in Mindanao.

The additional economic assistance is a very strong signal of continuing US support for the Philippines in general, and for the Arroyo administration’s Mindanao peace policy in particular.

In addition, the Bush administration has signaled its intent to provide $30 million in Foreign Military Finance (FMF) as count-terrorism assistance for the Philippines in emergency supplemental appropriations. This has the support of the US Congress as well.

SARS

The use of the term "national emergency" may have been inappropriate but the fact is we are facing a serious national concern which has to be addressed by all sectors – both government and private. This administration is determined to use its resources to check this menace.

Education

The President today reiterated her instructions to Education Secretary Edilberto de Jesus to immediately implement the following:

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today lauded the local government officials of Lanao Del Sur for their initiatives and efforts to cause the safe return of a Mindanao State University (MSU) professor abducted by terrorists in Mindanao last February.

The President cited the officials in her speech during the mass graduation of the second batch of Barangay Tanods at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City this morning.

In her speech, the President announced that MSU-Marawi City Professor Rhede Nelson Justalero Manulat was recovered through the joint efforts of Police Superintendent Aliakbar Bangcola, Marawi City Mayor Omar Solitario Ali and Iligan City Mayor Franklin Quijano.

"I’m happy to report from Mindanao that Professor Red Manulat of MSU in Marawi City has just been retrieved from the hands of his captors," the President said.

She admitted that the initiative of local government officials in Lanao del Sur clearly manifested that the problem in terrorism and criminality could be solved by local executives.

"I mention this because just, today, we see an achievement of local officials of Lanao del Sur that shows how local government officials can do so much to build a strong republic," the President stressed.

With this development, the President ordered Interior and Local Government Secretary Jose D. Lina, Jr. to organize a post-retrieval assessment to include the DILG, Armed Forces of the Philippines, MSU representatives and Mayor Ali.

According to reports, Manulat was abducted by three armed men at the vicinity of the college administration building on February 26, 2003 at about 10:45 in the evening.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will lead the nation's main Labor Day celebration on May 1 to be held at the World Trade Center (WTC) along Roxas Boulevard in Pasay City with this year’s theme, "Dakilang Manggagawa: Dangal ng Pilipinas."

Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said that in her traditional Labor Day message, the President is expected to announce important policy pronouncements, to focus greater attention and assistance to informal workers who comprise 50 percent of the country's labor force of over 30 million, non-wage benefits for formal workers, and the future of overseas employment.

Also expected to join the President in the Labor Day celebration will be members of the Cabinet, members of Congress, members of the diplomatic corps, key labor and business leaders, and the workers themselves.

She said that after the President's speech, she may decide to join workers and their families by visiting fast food chains like McDonald's, or Star City in the CCP Complex, or make an appearance in a free concert to be given by musical performers at the Quirino Grandstand.

Sto. Tomas said that the great Filipino worker takes center-stage during the nationwide Labor Day celebration.

"The celebration of Labor Day this year would be simple but solemn and it will be focused, as it should be, on the great Filipino worker and his contributions to the progress of the nation," Sto. Tomas announced.

"We will show that the great Filipino worker is an honor for the Philippines," she added.

In the morning of Labor Day, a brief program will be held at the WTC grounds to open activities organized by the DOLE with its private sector partners.

These activities include a jobs fair, livelihood and skills demonstration, legal assistance clinic, medical and dental outreach, housing information, and other services to be provided by agencies such as the Social Security System, Government Service Insurance System, and Phil-Health. 

Outside Metro Manila, DOLE regional offices in the country's 15 regions will spearhead Labor Day celebrations nationwide through commemorative programs, jobs and livelihood fairs and other fitting activities.

The Kabuhayan 2003 Action Center, now operating at the SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City, will also be replicated by the DOLE in key regions.

Sto. Tomas has instructed regional offices to undertake such activities for the benefit of the workers and their families.

To raise the awareness of workers and their families on the significance of Labor Day and encourage them to participate in the celebration, the DOLE has lined up popular treats and activities for workers such as a free concert at the Quirino Grandstand, free Metro Rail transit rides, special discounts at Star City, Fiesta Carnival and Storyland.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today said that the government has not yet declared a state of emergency in the Philippines because of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) although she stressed that the country should prepared for a worst-case scenario.

In her speech at the mass graduation of barangay tanods this morning at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City, the President said an emergency situation exists only in Beijing, Guangdong and Hong Kong in China and in Toronto, Canada, but not in the Philippines.

The President said that there are only three actual SARS cases in the Philippines; one, a foreigner, has recovered and the two, father and daughter, have died.

"Kung tatlo pa lamang ang ating SARS, ito ay hindi pa national emergency. Ito ay wake-up call para tayo ay magkaisa at maging mulat at maging alerto (If we have only three SARS cases, this is not a national emergency. This is a wake-up call so that we will unite and be aware and be on the alert)," the President said.

But the President added that even if the country is still not in a state of emergency, there is no room for half-measures on SARS. "It is prudent to anticipate the worst scenario, so will not wake up to a crisis that is much bigger than we imagine," she said.

Saying that the country does not want to be jolted or taken by surprise, the government is imposing a mandatory quarantine when the SARS crisis management committee headed by Health Secretary Manuel Dayrit deems it necessary.

The President also urged local government executives, including the barangay tanods, to help enforce quarantine rules once they are imposed on a certain area.

"You must wield your lawful powers if necessary for the sake of the common good in your jurisdiction," the President said.

Meanwhile, the President is set to join the nine other leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) in an emergency summit meeting tomorrow, Tuesday, in Bangkok to curb the spread of SARS and help rebuild shattered business, tourism and investor confidence in Southeast Asia.

The President leaves early tomorrow morning for the one-day summit in the Thai capital and is expected back in the country early Wednesday morning.

During the summit, the President is expected to propose the creation of an Asean Health Emergency Fund which could be used in combating the dreaded disease that has already claimed lives in five of the 10 countries – Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines.

The atypical pneumonia has killed close to 200 people around the world and infected more than 5,000 people in 26 countries, mostly in Asia.

The President is also expected to inform the leaders of the other Asean countries – Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Myanmar, Brunei Darussalam, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia – of the various measures undertaken by the Philippine government to contain, control, prevent and restrict the spread of the killer disease.

She said she would attend the summit to join other Asean leaders and World Health Organization (WHO) officials in sharing best practices, common policies and procedure to check the spread of the disease across borders.

Expressing concern for the welfare of Filipinos overseas, the President added that she would also try to find ways to safeguard the health of our workers in other countries and to preserve their jobs.

During their day-long summit, the President and other Asean leaders are expected to agree on measures to effectively bar the entry or departure of people suspected to be carriers of the SARS virus.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today batted for the training of barangays tanods (village guardians) in Mindanao to help in government efforts to stabilize peace and push economic growth in the region.

The President said the barangays tanods in Mindanao should have the same enthusiasm in joining training courses that would enhance their capabilities in guarding and keeping their communities out of harm’s way.

She noted that the Filipino people "are saddened by the aggression the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) displayed this past week" when "innocent travelers and civilians have been hurt."

She reiterated the government’s desire for peace, not only in Mindanao but nationwide, "in order to pursue development projects."

"We will continue to give peace a chance as we also call for vigilance among our people," she added.

She also pushed for the speedy implementation of the 10-point Mindanao National Initiative Program she outlined during the First Muslim Summit last April 24.

In her speech before graduates of a barangay tanod training course at the Cuneta Astrodome this morning, the President cited the important role village guardians play in keeping the community safe from criminals and terrorists while helping the people enjoy socio-economic productivity.

"Ang pagpapanatili ng kapayapaan ng bansa ay hindi lamang tungkulin ng pulis o sundalo, kundi ng lahat, lalo kayo, ang frontliner na nagbabantay sa barangay, ang mga barangay tanod (Everyone, especially the village guardians, have that duty to ensure peace in the community, in particular, and the nation, in general)," she said.

"Ang pagmamatyag ninyo ang nakakatulong magpabawas sa ating takot sa mga banta ng katahimikan (Your vigilance helps reduce our fears and anxieties on threats to our security)," she added.

The President noted that vigilance is needed in warding off terrorism, criminality and the spread of the dreaded Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today enjoined the 13,425 barangay tanods in the city of Manila to continue their difficult task as protector of the community and to serve as role model to all other village guardians in the country.

Speaking during the mass graduation of the second batch of barangay tanods at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City, the President said that due to the limited number of police, the barangay tanods now stand as frontliners in securing the safety and peace and order of the community.

The President said the barangay tanods are the cutting edge in the implementation of country’s laws because they are the ones who coordinate and directly help the local government leaders and the police in intelligence gathering against the presence of lawless elements and terrorists in their respective areas.

The President urged the barangay tanod to continue their good work so that the other barangay tanods would be inspired and convinced to participate in the proficiency and skills training conducted by the Department of the Interior and Local Government and Philippine Public Safety College.

The President explained that the job of maintaining peace and order is not limited to the police and the military but is also the task of the barangay tanod.

She also stressed the vital role the barangay tanods play in protecting the people from the spread of the dreaded severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).

Noting that the nation marks Anti-SARS Consciousness and Cleanup Week from May 5 to 9, the President asked the barangay tanods to lead in this important campaign against the disease that has killed hundreds and afflicted thousands all over the world.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today administered the oaths of office to newly appointed Department Public Works and Highways Secretary Florante Soriquez, the presiding justice of the Court of Appeals and four CA associate justices, and other officials in a simple ceremony held this afternoon at Malacanang’s Ceremonial Hall.

Soriquez, who rose from the ranks, was a senior undersecretary of the DPWH before his appointment. He was once a survey aide, foreman, civil engineering aide, associate civil engineer, supervisor and project manager.

Soriquez has received various awards and commendations due to his valuable contribution to public engineering services.

The CA presiding justice who took his oath of office before the President was Cancio Garcia.

Garcia has been in the government service for more than 41 years, about 30 years of them in the judiciary. At the time of his appointment, Garcia was the most senior and the longest-serving CA associate justice.

He finished his law at the University of the Philippines in 1961 and passed the bar examination in the same year.

The four other CA associate justices are Lucas Bersamin, Rosmari Declaro Carandang, Hakim Abdulwahid and Noel Tijam.

Before his appointment to the CA, Justice Noel Tijam was the presiding judge of Branch 221 of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court. He graduated magna cum laude from the San Beda College of Law in 1971 and passed the bar examination of the same year.

Associate Justice Rosmari D. Carandang finished his law at the University of the Philippines and graduated cum laude in 1975. He also passed the bar examination of the same year as ninth placer.

Before her appointment to the CA, Carandang was presiding judge of Branch 12 of the Regional Trial Court of Manila.

CA Associate Justice Abdulwahid, a Muslim Filipino, is from Sibuti, Tawi-Tawi. He obtained his Bachelor of Arts (major in political science) and Bachelor of Laws from the University of the Philippines. He passed the bar in l972.

Before his appointment to the CA, Abdulwahid was the presiding judge of Branch 12 of the RTC in Zamboanga City.

The President also conferred the Order of Sikatuna, with the rank of Datu, on Ambassador Lauro L. Baja, Jr., Permanent Representative of the Philippines to the United Nations in New York.

Ambassador Baja, a former foreign affairs undersecretary, was cited for his outstanding accomplishments in international relations and foreign policy formulation, especially in enhancing the country’s national security and territorial integrity, and for promoting national interest as well as advancing bilateral relations between the Philippines and other countries.

Other government officials who also took their oaths were Vice Admiral Ernesto de Leon, flag-officer-in-command of the Philippine Navy; Deputy Ombudsman for Luzon Victor Fernandez; DPWH Undersecretary Bashir Rasuman; Senior Deputy Presidential Chief of Staff Renato Velasco; Deputy Presidential Chief of Staff Roberto Capco; Undersecretary Josephine Domingo of the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office; Thomas Orbos, Presidential Assistant on Media Affairs and Religious Affairs; Department of Social Welfare and Development Undersecretary Jaime Aristotle B. Alip; and Presidential Management Staff Undersecretary Charito Elegir.

BANGKOK (via PLDT)—Malacanang considers local government officials as a key factor in the fight against Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), saying they "oversee" the battle against the dreaded disease in the different municipalities and communities.

National Security Adviser J. Roilo Golez, who is here as advance party of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for the one-day Asean summit on SARS tomorrow, said the LGUs are in full monitor of their communities.

"It is they who have control over the health offices at the local levels, down to the barangay levels," Golez said.

Golez noted that LGUs have control of local health organizations. "The Department of Health can only go regional but it is the local governments that have control of the municipal health officers, provincial health officers down to the barangay health centers," he said.

The President has mobilized the barangay tanods in the campaign to inform and educate the people, down to the community level, on SARS and in preventing the spread of the killer disease.

She also said if it should become necessary to quarantine a village in Metro Manila, barangay tanods should explain to the people that the quarantine of a barangay does not mean that its residents are SARS carriers.

In explaining the need for LGUs to be at the frontline against SARS, the National Security Adviser explained that the LGUs also supervise the health care aspect of SARS cases. "The actual caring is something that they can effectively oversee," he said.

Golez further noted that LGUs are the instrument in contact tracing of SARS since they can keep an eye on who comes and goes in their respective communities.

"Even determining whether something has already reached a calamity proportion, they can do at the local level," he said.

Golez noted, however, that LGUs must be sensitive in dealing with SARS cases and should not shun those who have it.

"The correct attitude here is to be concerned and not panic," he said.

The National Security Adviser said though that he expects people to gradually realize the need for sobriety.

"We cannot be nonchalant. We have to be concerned but we should not be panicky," he said.

The President will be joining the nine other leaders of the Asean in an emergency summit meeting here tomorrow to curb the spread of SARS internationally and help rebuild shattered business, tourism and investor confidence in Southeast Asia.

BANGKOK (via PLDT) – The Philippine government will apply the same dedication and implement the same stringent measures that it used in facing the Iraq crisis in the case of fighting the deadly Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), National Security Adviser J. Roilo Golez said today.

Golez, who is here as part of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s entourage for the ASEAN Anti-SARS summit, said the government will establish similar approaches in tackling the killer virus.

He said the government would undertake intelligence strengthening, target-hardening and consequence management, three important measures adopted in meeting the Iraq crisis, in the case of SARS.

"We must do the same thing in the case of SARS," he said.

"Just like how we handled the Iraq (crisis), we made sure we had sufficient supply of oil, rice, vegetable and other prime commodities. We have to be prepared in the same way. We don’t want to be surprised the way that Beijing and Hongkong were caught by surprise," he added.

The government saw the success of the Iraqi Crisis Management Team after no Filipino had been evacuated and no jobs were displaced during the crisis.

"When I say intelligence, we have to be very pro-active in getting information on possible suspects. We cannot just wait for people to come and report that there are actual cases in such area," he added.

He said the government would have to gather more information on SARS from heads of other states and health organizations such as World Health Organization, Center for Disease Control and other groups especially in areas that are already SARS-afflicted.

He cited the case of Vietnam where SARS cases have been contained because Vietnamese authorities imposed strict measures in quarantining.

"We must apply and consider the best practices and experiences at the same time," he said.

Golez said government must mobilize the security and intelligence not only in the police but also in the local governments down to the barangay level.

"The entire PNP, the entire local government will be mobilized here because we don’t know when the next SARS suspect will be. We don’t know whether it will be somewhere north, or somewhere south in the Philippines so all LGUs and the PNP units should be prepared to take appropriate action," he said.

On target hardening, Golez noted that anyone could be a possible target. "Everybody can be a victim so we have to harden. We have to tell people how they can strengthen their immunity," he said.

Golez further noted the need for cooperation from everyone as government manages consequences or incidences.

"We would require the participation of everybody," he said, including the media.

The President will join nine other leaders of ASEAN in an emergency summit meeting here to curb the spread of SARS internationally and help rebuild shattered business, tourism and investor confidence in Southeast Asia.

The President is expected to propose the creation of an ASEAN Health Emergency Fund which could be used in combating the dreaded disease that has already claimed lives in five of the 10 ASEAN countries – Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines.

BANGKOK (via PLDT) – Malacanang will promote the local manufacturing of protective masks and other anti-SARS paraphernalia in the face of reported hoarding and profiteering of pharmaceutical products used against the deadly virus

National Security Adviser J. Roilo Golez, in an interview here, said the Palace is seriously looking into this, "because what is important is supply."

"Just like how we handled the Iraq (crisis), we made sure we had sufficient supply of oil, rice, vegetable and other prime commodities. This is what you call contingency planning. We have to be prepared in the same way," he said.

Golez said, "We can always make do" with Filipino-made masks. "You’d be surprised that so many pharmaceutical products are made in the Philippines and exported out of the country," he said.

Golez noted that there is an artificial shortage of protective masks already.

"We’re looking at the possibility that there might be hoarding or profiteering. Apparently, there is profiteering because the prices have gone high already. We have to address this," Golez said.