| .. |
29 AUGUST 2003 |
| Statement of the President : Filing of coup charges |
We are not engaged in a family witch hunt. Evidence has been introduced in the Department of Justice, transparently and without malice. There is a process defined by law for determining the veracity of facts. Let us submit ourselves to the system of justice and not cry oppression at every turn. |
| Statement of the President : The economy |
The economy fared relatively well considering the external shocks we had to face and the constraints we have had to impose to keep the deficit at acceptable levels. The Cabinet is meeting shortly to look at areas where productivity can be further increased and where more spending could be applied to fuel growth. At his point, we are more concerned about destabilization and excessive partisanship which are prejudicing investments and jobs. |
| Statement of the President : Political summit |
The suggestion of Senate President Franklin Drilon to hold a political summit is very timely and well taken. I have instructed my staff to coordinate with the Senate and House leadership to work out the details of such a meeting which should be held at the earliest possible time. In the meantime, I call upon the members of the opposition who adhere to the democratic system to speak out against those who are obviously out of line. We need a principled, constructive opposition that can effectively fiscalize government – not a bunch of de-stabilizers and demagogues. We need unity in democracy despite a diversity of platforms. It is time to reaffirm our common adherence to the constitution and the rule of law. |
| Dual Citizenship Act to foster unity among Filipinos, says GMA |
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today said the Dual Citizenship Act that she signed into law will foster unity among Filipinos here and abroad and is expected to further boost the economy. In her remarks after the signing of the Citizenship Retention and Reacquisition Act of 2003 and the Act Rationalizing the Excise Tax on Automobiles, the President said that the Citizenship Act, along with the Absentee Voting Law that she signed earlier, are the lynchpins in the country’s electoral reforms. The President said that domestically, her administration will work on these reforms by pushing the computerization of the 2004 elections, which is already being implemented by the Commission on Elections (Comelec). According to the President, the passage of the Citizenship Act is part of the country’s response to globalization "as much as it serves the strong homing instinct of every Filipino after a long sojourn in a foreign land." "The international trend is clearly towards the increasing numbers of dual citizens," the President said. She said that majority of Filipinos who migrated abroad did so for better opportunities, adding that overseas Filipino workers have become a powerful force in the economy. "Their continued allegiance to the Philippines is demonstrated by their maintaining contacts and interest in their homeland, and by their intention to retire, own properties and invest their hard-earned money in the country," the President said. The President then called on the families of overseas workers to exchange their dollars in the banks so that they can help strengthen the peso. In her remarks, the President also thanked the members of both houses of Congress, led by Senate President Franklin Drilon and Speaker Jose de Venecia, Jr. for their "excellent work in passing these two landmark laws." The President said that the passage of the two laws are a silver lining in the horizon. She said that after the announcement of subdued growth figures which are better them many of the country’s neighbors and trading partners, the Philippines is now "ready for that good road to normalcy after weeks of controversy." |
| Excise tax law to increase revenues and attract foreign automakers to set up business here -- GMA |
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today said that the Act Rationalizing the Excise Tax on Automobiles that she signed today will not only increase government revenues but would also improve the country’s investment climate for foreign automobile manufacturers. In her remarks after the signing of the excise tax law and the dual citizenship law, the President said that these two pieces of legislation are consistent with the national goals of creating a more favorable environment for business and accelerating the country’s development. "I would like the prophets of gloom and doom to take notice of this day, as Congress joins us in a testament to our bright future," the President said. The signing of the two laws was witnessed by members of Congress led by Senate President Franklin Drilon and Speaker Jose de Venecia, Jr. The President said that the automobile excise tax reform measure symbolizes the government’s political will in making the tax system work. "There will be no more circumvention of rules as in the past. We have a law that is a disincentive to tax evasion and smuggling," the President said. According to the President, the new law will also improve the prospects of global automotive manufacturers to invest and set up operations in the country. "On the part of the government, we see a revenue increase," the President said. |
| GMA says opposition's call for snap election 'desperate and absurd' |
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said today the call for snap election by the opposition is "desperate and absurd." In a statement before senators and congressmen, who attended in Malacaņang the signing into law of the Act Rationalizing the Excise Tax on Automobiles and the Citizenship Retention and Reacquisition Act of 2003, the President said, "the people are tired of poison politics." "What the people want," she added, "is a full stop to politicking and destabilization, not a snap election." Noting "solid though subdued growth figures (which) are better than many of our neighboring countries and trading partners," she said that the country is now ready for the "good road to normalcy after weeks of controversy." Apart from the economy that is "humming comparatively well," the President also noted that the government’s satisfaction ratings are high and steady. "We have firm political stability driven by working criminal justice, despite the machinations of a few disgruntled leaders who have become increasingly disloyal to democracy," she said. |
| Statement of Secretary Ignacio Bunye |
On the Resignation of Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes The President has accepted with deep regret the resignation of Secretary Angelo Reyes of the Department of National Defense. The President described Reyes as a true officer and a gentleman whom she will continue to hold in high regard. The President said she is considering Reyes for another responsible position in her government. The President will personally assume the defense portfolio in a concurrent capacity effective immediately. |
| GMA says sorry to Acsa Ramirez |
On her own behalf and that of the government, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today apologized to Land Bank of the Philippines cashier Acsa Ramirez for the inconvenience that she and her family may have suffered as a result of the charges filed against her by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). "I can understand your own anguish and I am very sorry," the President said as she hugged the teary-eyed Acsa during a meeting this morning in Malacanang’s Music Conference Room. Acsa and her husband Feliciano, joined the officers of the Land Bank of the Philippines Employees Association (LBPEA) who had an audience with the President in Malacaņang. A visibly moved Acsa could only mutter "I am glad that this is over. I am happy to see the President." Earlier, the NBI charged Ramirez with involvement in a tax scandal although she insisted that she was the one who blew the whistle on the tax anomaly involving top Land Bank officials. The President had wanted to apologize to the Land Bank cashier the day after the Ombudsman initially cleared her of any wrongdoing last November 25. The President, however, understood that the ruling of the Ombudsman was still subject to reconsideration. She said she allowed NBI Director Reynaldo Wycoco to go through the process but told Wycoco that "we cannot keep the guilt or innocence of a person hanging." The President said the second decision of the Ombudsman finally clearing Acsa elated her. "This shows that our legal institutions are working and they worked in a way that people perceive to be just and fair," the President said. Immediately, the President directed Undersecretary Constancia de Guzman, who knew LBPEA president Manuel Donato III, to invite Acsa to Malacanang. Aside from Ms. Ramirez and her husband, her counsel, Atty. Virginia Pinlac, and two members of the media, Jay Taruc of GMA-7 and Dona Pazzibugan of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, were requested by Acsa to accompany them in her audience with the President. |
| GMA inaugurates new school building in Mandaluyong City |
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo led local officials and faculty members in the blessing and unveiling today of a new three-storey building of the Andres Bonifacio Integrated School (ABIS) that would upgrade the facilities of the public education system in Mandaluyong and cater to the needs of the growing student population in it’s poorest barangays. The President motored here from the Pan-Pacific Hotel in Ermita, Manila, where she attended the Major Island Conferences of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines, and cited her vision on the development on policies on tourism, terrorism, environment, health and good local governance. Upon her arrival, the President unveiled the marker of the newly- constructed building and witnessed the blessing ceremony headed by Bishop Gabriel Garol. Mandaluyong Representative Neptali Gonzales II, Comelec Chairman Benjamin Abalos Sr., Mayor Benjamin "Benhur" Abalos Jr., Dr. Juanita P. Valle principal of the ABIS accompanied the President in the unveiling of the marker. In June 1962, the Eulogio Rodriguez Elementary School (ERES) in Mandaluyong expanded its facilities to meet the growing student population. In the 1970’s, the late president Ferdinand Marcos put up a program that will handle the distribution of basic necessities to the populace. During that time, the local government officials of Mandaluyong were hard pressed finding sites for additional schools that will cater to its burgeoning population of young children. The old Kadiwa building was identified as perfect site to cater to the residents of Barangay Addition Hills. The Annex of ERES was separated from its parent school in 1985, moved to the old Kadiwa building, and thus was born the Andres Bonifacion Elementary School. In a concerted effort, late Senate President Neptali Gonzales and his son Cong. Gonzales II filed bills in Congress seeking the conversion of the Andres Bonifacio Elementary School into the Andres Bonifacio Integrated School. A total of P120 million was spend by both local and national government for the construction of 95-classroom school building. The construction of ABIS begun in 1997. It started its operation in school year 2000-2001. On July 2001, Republic Act 9144 calling for the conversion of the ABES into the Andres Bonifacion Integrated School was finally signed into law. To date, ABIS has 4,523 students – 3,019 in the Elementary level and 1,504 in the secondary level. It has 114 faculty members. |
| Gov't to focus on building a strong economy |
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo reiterated today that building a strong economy must be the country’s focal point amidst difficult times. Speaking before the 200 municipal mayors of the Visayan region holding a two-day conference at the Pan-Pacific Hotel in Manila, the President said that the gross national product (GNP) of the country is comparable to Malaysia and Indonesia. She said the economy fared relatively well considering the external shocks that "we had to face and the constraints that we have had to impose to keep the deficit at an acceptable level." "As President, I will not be distracted by circus act, as it is more important to help the people get job, earn income, buy affordable goods and meet the needs of their families," she said, referring to allegations of wrongdoing hurled by the opposition against her administration She added that our economy even fared better than strong economies like Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan. The President cited as threats to the economy the deterioration of the exchange rate, the recent increases in the gasoline prices, and the slowdown in tourism and investments as a result of the Makati City mutiny and the continued difficulties of the country’s major partners. Nonetheless, she stressed that slowdown in tourism has been to a large part mitigated by the strong domestic demand. "It could have been much better if we did not have that Oakwood Mutiny, if we did not have these destabilizers," she said. She urged the municipal mayors to pull their ideas and energies and get rid of the crab mentality through these seamless coordination of action in order to conquer the social menace of poverty. |
| GMA orders release of P3 billion for local governments |
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today ordered the release of the last P3 billion Local Government Service Equalization Fund (LGSEF) for the local government executives. The President made the order before 200 municipal mayors from all over the Visayas region who are attending the two-day Major Island Conference of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines at the Pan Pacific Hotel, Manila. She said she is supporting the noble initiatives of the local governments to the best that the government resources can provide. "I’ve kept my promise to you to keep your Internal Revenue Allotments (IRA) intact including the LGSEF that we have inherited from last 2001," she said. She added that she will not hold back on her support to the municipal mayors because they are the frontlines of governance. The LGSEF of P3 billion is part of the IRA and represents the shares of provinces, cities, municipalities and barangays from the Calendar Year of 2001. This amount is intended to support the delivery of basic services and devolve functions of the local government units. "But I’m glad that all the rock and roll of controversy has not affected the solidarity as leaders of the people especially among you, the mayors of the Visayas," she said. She then appealed to the municipal mayors to give their loyalty to their oath of service in serving the people to uphold the Constitution and the rule of law. "Good governance rests upon political will, action, integrity. I hope that the solutions drawn up in the past few days will be founded on this imperatives," she said. Also present during the conference were Interior and Local Government Secretary Jose D. Lina, Jr. and Mayor Ramon N. Guico, Jr. of Binalonan, Pangasinan, National President of the League of Municipal Mayors of the Philippines. |
