BANGKOK (via PLDT) -- The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) yesterday concluded its one-day summit on the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, agreeing on a six-point plan to control the outbreak of the killer disease that have killed more than 350 people and infected 5,500 in nearly 30 countries.

The ten leaders, along with China Prime Minister Wen Jiabao, also agreed to impose rigid screenings of international travelers with strict pre-departure and arrival checks at airports and ports across the region.

The Asean leaders also announced an emergency international hotline on SARS, the employment of an Asean Emergency Health Fund that would institute, among other things, an exchange of information and research.

The measures, released in a joint statement by Asean and China, direct its health and other relevant ministers to:

• undertake the exchange information on the latest developments of SARS, including its control and treatment and its related study and research, through linking China’s SARS information network and the Asean SARS Containment Information Network, based on unified rules, standards and methods,
• appoint a focal/contact point in every country for the routine exchange of information as part of a hotline network to facilitate communication in an emergency,
• carry out cooperative research and training programs focusing on SARS spread patterns, SARS pathology and the care and treatment of severe SARS cases,
• jointly sponsor a high-level international symposium on SARS control and treatment in China as soon as possible,
• Sponsor a special symposium to asses the political, security, economic and other possible impact of SARS on this region and come up with regional counter-measures to address the impacts; and
• Work to take rigorous measures for immigration and customs control to prevent the spread of SARS, including for example, pre-departure and arrival screening and better flight management. A meeting will be held soon by officials from immigration and health authorities for such purposes.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo noted that the leaders, including the Chinese Premier, stressed the need for proper information on SARS as lack of it causes fear against the mysterious disease.

"The fear of SARS is the one that seems to be more destructive than SARS itself,¨ the President said.

The point that is being stressed is about information and prevention even if there is no known cure, there is a way of preventing it from spreading and that is the most important thing," she said.

BANGKOK (via PLDT) – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo last night concluded her participation in the one-day emergency summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) on the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).

The President, who also held a bilateral meeting with Malaysian Acting Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi shortly before her departure, left the Thai capital around 11 p.m. (midnight in Manila) on board a special aircraft that took off for Cebu from the Royal Thai Air Force headquarters.

Just as she was received earlier that day, Thailand Public Health Minister Sudarat Keyuraphan sent the President off in simple ceremonies at the airport.

The President was expected to arrive in Cebu after a three-hour flight.

The President’s proposal to set up an Asean Health Emergency Fund for SARS was fully adopted by the regional leaders during the summit.

The President explained that according to research undertaken by Filipino foreign officials, there are existing resources that would be able to sustain the special fund for SARS.

According to these officials, there is an existing $1 billion from the Asean Foundation that could be used in this effort. The Asean Foundation is also used to fund efforts against the HIV/AIDS.

Also during the meeting, Asean and China offered at least $1.5 million for a special fund for study and research of the disease.

The President’s proposal was evidently picked up following a meeting between Thailand Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and Chinese Premier Wen Jia Bao.

"By reaching across borders for common solutions, Asean is projecting a strong message that we are prepared to close ranks with the world to fight this threat to the end," she said.

Also during the meeting, the President expressed the need for further cooperation among countries against SARS.

She also said the Philippines would be hosting a meeting on May 15 of airport authorities to highlight measures to be taken by the Asean against the dreaded SARS.

The government has noted the need to share best practices, common policies and procedure to check the spread of the disease across the region.

During the summit, the leaders noted the need for further cooperation among countries to contain the deadly disease.

"We will strive to offset the negative impacts of SARS on our respective economies and personnel exchanges, adopt effective measures to stimulate economic development, expand trade, encourage investment and strengthen tourism cooperation to maintain the momentum of economic growth," the leaders said in a joint statement.

The Asean leaders also agreed to continue to consolidate and deepen Asean-China economic cooperation.

BANGKOK (via PLDT) – Malaysia reiterated its support yesterday for the Philippines’ peace efforts with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front as President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo held bilateral talks last night with Malaysian Acting Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi.

The two leaders held a meeting right after the Asean summit on SARS at the Thailand Foreign Ministry.

During the meeting, Acting Prime Minister Badawi expressed his support for the peace efforts of the Philippine government especially with the MILF, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process and peace panelist Eduardo Ermita said.

Ermita said Badawi informed the President "they would continue supporting the peace initiatives."

Ermita likewise said Badawi raised the possibility of resuming the exploratory talks with the MILF soon. "They would advise us again when the next meeting with the MILF would be," he said.

National Security Adviser J. Roilo Golez, Philippine Ambassador Sonia Cataumber Brady and Ermita also attended the meeting, which lasted for fifteen minutes.

While the President told Badawi that the Philippines ultimately seeks a peaceful resolution with MILF, she informed Badawi on the latest violent activities in Mindanao, which involved the group.

"Our peace efforts would continue despite the incidents. We would push for peaceful political settlements," Ermita quoted the President.

Ermita noted that the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Philippine National Police would continue to employ "active defense" in dealing with the MILF.

Workers and employers in the private sector may once more decide among themselves which between Thursday (May 1) and Friday (May 2) "they jointly prefer to observe as a special day."

This was provided in Proclamation No. 367 issued by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo last April 25.

But the proclamation pointed out that all activities and celebrations to commemorate Labor Day would be observed on May 1.

The President directed the Department of Labor and Employment to issue appropriate circulars in carrying out the proclamation in the private sector.

The issuance noted that Labor Day (May 1) is observed as a regular holiday yearly to recognize the efforts and contribution of the labor sector, both at home and abroad, in the economic development of the country.

Labor Day falls on a Thursday this year. Being so, the proclamation said that Friday (May 2) "may be declared a special day for the public sector without detriment to public service."

In the issuance, the President thus declared May 2 as a special non-working day nationwide for all government officials and employees, including those in government-owned and controlled firms.

However, the President said public offices should direct their employees to observe regular working hours on May 2, if required by the exigencies of public service.

Employees of the Bureau of Internal Revenue, Bureau of Customs and other agencies that impose deadlines on the transacting public for payment of taxes, fees or fines and for compliance of reportorial and other requirements shall also be required to go to work.

CLARK FIELD, Pampanga – Of the $7-million fund allocated for Exercise Balikatan 2003, a total of $165,000 or roughly P8.25 million has been earmarked for humanitarian and civic projects that would redound to the benefit of the people living in the surrounding areas where the war exercise is being conducted.

Capt. Burrel Parmer, Public Information Officer for the American personnel participating in the joint exercise, said several humanitarian and civic assistance projects have been scheduled by both Philippine and American forces to improve the living conditions and to provide services to people in the affected areas who cannot afford them.

He said the combined RP-US teams will also provide medical, dental and veterinary clinics at selected locations during the two-week exercise.

Engineering projects designed to improve the local infrastructure will also be conducted, he added.

Parmer stressed that American servicemen will actually be ambassadors of goodwill for the United States while in the country, putting to rest criticisms that they may abuse the hospitality of the Filipino people during training.

"I will not speculate on how any specific incident may be dealt with. However, American service members are aware of Philippine culture and sensitivities and their obligation to respect both Philippine and US laws," he said.

"They understand that they are fully accountable for their behavior and are in fact ambassador of goodwill for the US while visiting other nations," he added.

Parmer said that on occasions, participants will be allowed to go on leave or go on organized events and tours but the will be carefully planned, coordinated and supervised.

As to the question of criminal jurisdiction over the US troops, Parmer said such is covered in the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) which governs the conduct of American personnel who take part in activities covered by the Mutual Defense Treaty.

The VFA serves as the legal framework for defense cooperation between the Philippines and the US at present.

The annual combined/joint exercise which began in 1981, is being conducted in two phases simultaneously here and in Laur, Nueva Ecija and in some parts of Ternate, Cavite.

The first phase is a combined joint task seminar and command post exercise designed to train participants on crisis action planning and course of action execution at the operational level, with focus on peace enforcement operations.

The second phase is cross-training, field training and humanitarian civil assistance exercises to enhance inter-operability between the two forces and improve civil action cooperation.

CEBU CITY—President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today said that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) has banded together in the fight against the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) to ensure a more permanent victory against the killer pneumonia.

In her keynote speech at the 6^th Convention of the Liga ng mga Barangay held this morning at the Waterfront Hotel in Lahug, this city, the President said that the one-day Special Asean Leaders’ Meeting held in Bangkok yesterday adopted three proposals from the Philippines.

The President arrived here early this morning after a three-hour flight from Bangkok in a Lear jet.

One of these proposals, the President said, would extend equal treatment to foreign nationals who may be suspect or actual SARS case under the principle of "no blame and dignity for all concerned."

What this means, the President said, is that when a Filipino who works in Hong Kong, Singapore, mainland China or Malaysia gets infected with SARS, he or she should be given the same treatment that the citizens of these countries are getting.

The second proposal that the summit has accepted, according to the President, was the convening in Manila on May 15 of a follow-up meeting of all airport authorities in Asean to work out departure and arrival screening to prevent the spread of SARS through travel.

The President said that the Philippines also spearheaded the setting up of an Asean Health Emergency Fund for SARS, which was unanimously adopted at the summit.

The $1 billion of the Asean Foundation, the President, said could be used to jumpstart the SARS Fund for the whole region. On top of that, the President said that she has instructed the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) to set aside P1 billion for SARS-related activities within the country.

The President said that the World Health Organization (WHO) has made an assessment that SARS could become the first severe new disease of the 21^st century that could have an epidemic potential.

She said that because the disease has no known cure and causes, the countries in the region, including the Philippines, should face it with audacity and solidarity.

"Solidarity, because it is randomly knocking at all of our doors. We are an integral part of the Asean war plan," the President said.

She said the Philippines will stretch its cooperation regionally to help check the spread of disease across borders.

CEBU CITY, April 30— President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today witnessed the signing of a memorandum of agreement (MOA) between seven government entities and the Seaweed Industry Association of the Philippines (SIAP) launching a national integrated seaweed development program to ensure the efficient supply of quality seaweed and seaweed products in the next five years.

The President said the program would also create more jobs in the countryside and at the same time help in the attainment of peace and development in Mindanao.

"Today, it is time that we launch our national seaweed development and promotion. It is an important way to create more jobs for Filipinos. With almost four million Filipinos unemployed, the seaweed industry has such a big potential to close that gap in employment," the President said.

The signatories were Agriculture Secretary Luis Lorenzo Jr., Environment Secretary Elisea Gozun, Local Governments Secretary Jose Lina, Jr., Science and Technology Secretary Estrella Alabastro, Trade Undersecretary Thomas Aquino, Land Bank of the Philippines president Margarito Teves, University of the Philippines Chancellor Emerlinda Roman, and SIAP president Benson Dakay.

More than 200 members of the industry present during the signing ceremonies at the Waterfront Hotel in Lahug, Cebu City thanked President Macapagal-Arroyo, who, they said, "is the first Philippine president" to give special attention to seaweed farming and carrageenin production.

Under the MOA, the Department of Agriculture (DA), through the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), will be the lead agency for promoting and increasing quality seaweed production nationwide.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), through the Bureau of Export Trade and Promotion, will be the lead coordinating and monitoring agency and help the local seaweed industry compete in the international market.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), through the Environmental Management Bureau, will lead efforts to protect, preserve and manage the environment to ensure sustainable development of seaweed.

The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), through the Bureau of Local Government Development, will ensure compliance and proper implementation of fishery laws, municipal ordinances, rules and regulations to protect the seaweed industry.

The Department of Science and Technology (DOST), through the Philippine Council for Aquatic and Marine Research and Development (PCAMRD), will be the lead agency for the planning, monitoring and evaluation of seaweed-based product research, development and technology transfer programs.

The Land Bank, a government-owned and controlled financial institution, will address financing requirements of the seaweed industry while the Marine Science Institute of the University of the Philippines will address the research and development needs of the industry.

SIAP, on the other hand, is the lead private sector partner of the government in implementing the five-year program. The organization is composed of 15 seaweed processors, 12 raw seaweed exporters, 76 traders and over 100,000 seaweed farmers and their families.

Last year, the Philippine seaweed industry exported $138.44 million worth of raw seaweed, semi-refined carrageenin and refined carrageenin.

The high demand for raw seaweed has often led to premature harvests and high moisture content, which also cause carrageenin processing costs to soar.

Carrageenin is a gum extract from seaweed that is used in processed food, dairy and pharmaceutical products.

The SIAP said only 57,841 hectares have been planted to seaweed out of the estimated 255,000 hectares of farmable areas in the country.

Even before, the President said there are over 100 Filipinos in Mindanao, the Visayas and southern Luzon who are seaweed farmers and more than 10,000 work in the seaweed processing firms and related industries.

Last year, she said total seaweed production was more than 900,000 metric tons and Mindanao contributed 59 percent of that production

The President encouraged the people in Mindanao to find inspiration on the story of Hajji Sali Calbi, a former commander of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) who gave up being a rebel and concentrated on seaweed farming in Sitangkay, Tawi-Tawi, the southernmost town in the country.

Sali was one of the pioneers in seaweed farming and is acknowledged to have contributed much to the improvement of the lives of seaweed farmers in Tawi-Tawi.

"Kaya yung hindi niya nakamit nung rebelde siya, nakamit nya nung naging seaweed farmer siya. (What he did not get when he was still a rebel he attained when he became a seaweed farmer). I hope we will soon have many Filipinos who will follow the example of Hajji Sali," the President said.

The President said this is not impossible because the Philippines has a wide coastline and one need not have a big capital to engage in seaweed farming.

The President said the first target area for the seaweed production program is Mindanao "where most of our fresh produce is sourced."

"My Mindanao policy is that our ultimate objective should be, there is peace and development. The readiness of our troops will not be left as we explore a greater front in peace steps and diplomacy," the President said .

"Our allies in the OIC (Organization of Islamic Conference), and I have met them in Bangkok yesterday, and our peace partners in Mindanao like Hajji Sali remain undaunted in their hopes for a peaceful settlement of the conflict in Mindanao."

The President said the country’s partnership for peace within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) is strong and determined. In a one-on-one meeting with Prime Minister Badawi Tuesday in Bangkok, the President said Badawi "offered Malaysia’s continuing commitment to support and facilitate our peace process."

The President said the launching of a massive development effort in Muslim Mindanao will help "in that massive effort for development."

"Exploratory talks are on still. All the cards are stacked in favor of peace," The President said.

CEBU CITY—President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today paid tribute to the Filipino health workers who are in the forefront of the fight against the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) not only here but also in other countries.

In her keynote address at the 6^th National Convention of the Liga ng mga Barangay held this morning at the Waterfront Hotel in Lahug, in this city, the President said she was touched by what the leaders of other countries have said about our Filipino nurses working abroad, particularly in China and Singapore.

The President arrived here early this morning after a three-hour flight in a Lear jet straight from Bangkok where she attended a special Asean summit on SARS.

The President specifically mentioned Singapore Prime Minister Go Chok Tong who told her that Filipino nurses in Singapore, even if they were on leave, reported for work when SARS first erupted in the city-state, one of the worst hit in the region.

"Ang nag-alaga sa aming mga SARS victims ay mga Pilipino (Those who are taking care of our SARS victims are Filipinos)," the President quoted the Singaporean leader as saying.

The President said that compared to other countries, the Philippines has recorded only three SARS cases, with two deaths, attributing this to the expertise and alertness of Filipino doctors and other health workers.

She said that before SARS was controlled in Vietnam, it had 63 reported cases with five deaths; in Thailand, although they reported that the have zero transmission, they have seven cases and two deaths; while hundreds have been stricken in China, Hong Kong, Singapore and even in Canada.

The President said that on the eve of Labor Day, it was only appropriate to reminisce the "profound sacrifices" made by our Filipino workers around the world, adding that these overseas Filipino workers are among the most vulnerable to SARS in their work places.

"The Filipinos have placed themselves in great risk in other lands for the sake of humanity and in the name of professionalism," the President said.

She said that during the latest Iraq war, more than a million Filipinos had to risk their lives as they continued to perform their jobs in the Middle East.

"Day after day, there were acts of Filipino heroism that did not necessarily bring them to the limelight," the President said.

That is the reason why, the President said, during the Asean summit on SARS in Bangkok, she told her colleagues in Asean to protect not only the health and safety but also the jobs of Filipinos in their respective countries.

CEBU CITY -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today enjoined the country’s barangay leaders to perform duties beyond the provisions of the local government code but responsive to the call and needs of the times.

In a speech before barangay captains during the 6^th National Convention of the Liga ng mga Barangay (League of Villages), the President stressed that the country has been facing "one crisis after another."

It is in this context that the barangay captain should become a crisis manager and information champion in his community. "’Yan ang unang-unang inaasahan ng taong bayan sa inyo (That is the first thing people will expect from you)," she said.

"Kayo ang mangangasiwa sa pagmatyag sa lahat ng klase ng problemang sosyal at ekonomikal na kaugnay sa krisis (You will have to oversee and manage all the social and economic problems any crisis may spawn)," she stressed.

As an example, the President pointed to any rise in the prices of protective masks being used to prevent the spread of the dreaded Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).

If an unscrupulous businessman unnecessarily raises the price of masks, the barangays captain should be the first to report this misdeed to the police or the Department of Trade and Industry so that the situation may be corrected, she said.

The President also pointed out the vital role of barangays captains in ensuring their communities remained free from the threat of terrorists and criminals.

"Kaya ang sabi ko sa ating mga pulis ay iprisinta sa inyo ang programa kontra sa terorismo at nang malaman ninyo, magkaintindihan kung ano ang papel ng mga pulis, ano ang papel ng mga barangay (I directed the police to present to you their anti-terrorism programs so you and the police can coordinate moves to ward off the threat)," she said.

The Chief Executive earlier presented Philippine National Police acting director of operations Chief Superintendent Enrique Galang who would be coordinating with the barangay captains on the anti-terrorism program.

"Bantayan ang nakakahinalang tao… gawain… kagamitan. Kayo ang makakakita kung sino at ano ang kakaibang nangyayari sa inyong barangays (Be vigilant against suspicious people. Guard against suspicious acts and things. You can observe these in your villages)," she said.

She warned that international linkages among terrorist groups have long been established and documented and some of the linkages have been embedded in Philippine territory.

Within the regional neighborhood, the network of Jemaah Islamiya cells are active, extending to the worldwide Al-Qaeda network of foremost world terrorist Osama bin Laden, she noted.

She stressed that the barangay captains play an important role in tracing all these terrorist linkages so that the latter’s activities may be nipped in the bud.

As information champions, the barangay captain should be able to communicate to and impress upon their constituents relevant information, particularly on how to squarely face and speedily resolve any crisis.

Concerns and issues that affect the lives of people should be explained.

She noted that a good information, education and communication program would enhance the people’s knowledge of events and give them the proper perspective to decide on matters affecting them.

She cited the case of SARS and how proper information can assuage fears and apprehensions about SARS’ repercussions to socio-economic growth.

Labor and Employment Secretary Patricia A. Sto. Tomas today said that last year, the country registered the lowest number of strikes for the last 21 years, an indication that there is a relative industrial peace in the Philippines.

In a briefing in Malacanang this afternoon, Sto. Tomas said that last year, the country had only 36 strikes as compared to 43 strikes in 2001.

Sto. Tomas said that she does not believe in the contention of some groups that the strike situation is having a negative effect on the flow of investments into the country because the incidents of strikes are low.

The labor chief also said that an increase in wages as demanded by the labor sector is a legislative function and is not within the power of the Executive Branch.

Sto. Tomas said that Congress has delegated the Regional Tripartite and Wage Productivity Boards to act on petitions for wage increases.

She said that despite numerous demands made by some militant and labor groups for an increase in wages, they have not filed any petition for wage increase with the wage and productivity boards.

"If you tell me about the militant trade unions, they never filed a single petition (for wage increase) and that is on record," Sto. Tomas said.

Labor and Employment Secretary Patricia A. Sto. Tomas today said Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in Hong Kong have expressed greater fears in the killer pneumonia or Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) than the 11 percent wage cut imposed by the Hong Kong government.

In a press briefing in Malacanang, Sto. Tomas said that despite the SARS scare, the Hong Kong government has continued processing visas for domestic helpers. However, Filipino domestic helpers have relayed messages that they wanted to return to the Philippines, Sto. Tomas added.

"Mga kasama nating Filipino doon sa Hong Kong ay gustong umuwi na dahil sa SARS," Sto. Tomas said.

She noted that despite the recent economic slump, Hong Kong’s position on the wage cut for domestic helpers remained.

She said the charges filed in Hong Kong courts protesting the wage cuts are being heard, but if the Hong Kong government decides to discuss the matter with the Philippine government, then matters will be open for table discussion.

Hong Kong authorities imposed the wage cut on all foreign domestic helpers.

"They imposed a three-percent wage cut on their civil servants but they imposed an eleven-percent cut on our domestic helpers and we feel that it is discriminatory," Sto. Tomas stressed.