On-site medical and counseling services to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) have gained ground following the deployment of doctors and social workers to various OFW host countries, according to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

In a report, DOLE Secretary Patricia A. Sto. Tomas said that 2,677 OFWs were given medical assistance in the different Philippine Overseas Labor Offices (POLOs), while 3,738 more were given assistance by social workers for various cases.

The DOLE's International Labor Affairs Service (ILAS) said that under the Overseas Comprehensive Social Services Package (OCSSP) for OFWs, medical doctors and social workers would provide basic medical and counseling services to OFWs in identified posts for a period of one year.

The doctors and social workers were deployed in October last year, Sto. Tomas said.

"The deployment of these doctors and social workers demonstrates the Macapagal-Arroyo administration's concrete and continuing efforts to protect and enhance the safety and welfare of our overseas Filipino workers," Sto. Tomas said.

Sto. Tomas said medical officers provided medical assistance to about 987 OFWs in Kuwait, 520 in Riyadh, 219 in Jeddah, 208 in Bahrain, 125 in Abu Dhabi, 303 in Hong Kong, 242 in Singapore, and 73 in Korea.

The medical officers also visited 65 OFWs in different jails and hospitals in the said countries, she added.

In Korea, the doctors attended to 60 distressed OFWs. Filipino doctors posted in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Bahrain, Jeddah, Riyadh and Kuwait have also provided medical treatment to more than 500 OFWs suffering from ailments such as hypertension, respiratory track infection, bronchitis, and common colds.

Sto. Tomas also reported that social workers assigned in seven POLO posts handled various cases of OFWs with Kuwait having the most number of cases handled at 1,165 and about 1,584 more cases in Abu Dhabi, Singapore, Taichung, Hong Kong, Jeddah and Dubai.

A total of 124 OFWs also benefited from jail and hospital visits made by the social workers, Sto. Tomas said.

Malacaņang today restated its firm position that American soldiers will not be allowed to engage in combat operations against the Abu Sayyaf bandits in Mindanao.

In an interview, Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye said that reports about the go-signal for American troops to join in the fight against the Abu Sayyaf in Sulu were based on a supposed interview with an unnamed source in the Pentagon.

Bunye said that this source, who obviously was misinformed, wanted to make it appear that he was knowledgeable, and that what he was saying was factual. Unfortunately, the CNN, the New York Times and other American media outlets picked up his claim without checking its veracity, he added.

"Kaya, nakuryente rin sila," Bunye said, meaning that they (media outlets) were burned out because they carried erroneous information.

He also bewailed the propensity of some of our officials to immediately comment on something that has not been verified. "Huwag na man sanang sakay ng sakay ang ating mga legislators (We wish that our legislators would not just ride on this wrong information)," Bunye said.

Bunye reiterated that the Balikatan 03-1, scheduled in Sulu and Zamboanga City, is a joint training activity by Philippine and American military forces, and is basically similar to Balikatan 02-1 which was held in Basilan last year.

Like in Basilan, the Sulu Balikatan will also have a development or civic action component. "This will be a peace and development initiative as much as a training exercise," Bunye said.

Bunye said that Balikatan 03-1 will be conducted in accordance with the Philippine Constitution and all existing laws, and since the Constitution and existing laws prohibit foreign forces from engaging in combat duties in the country, hence the American soldiers would not be allowed to join in the actual military operations against the Abu Sayyaf.

He also assured the nation that all US forces in the Balikatan would be under the direct supervision of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and all their operations and activities will be coordinated with the local officials in Sulu.

BINALONAN, Pangasinan—President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today unveiled the marker of the newly renovated Binalonan Municipal Hall on the occasion of the town’s fiesta.

In her remarks after the unveiling ceremony, the President said she expects that the municipal hall can help make Binalonan, her mother’s hometown, a strong and progressive municipality.

The President expressed the belief that the effective implementation of her administration’s program would help build a strong Republic.

A strong Republic needs effective local governments, the President said, as she expressed elation that the president of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines is none other than Mayor Ramon Guico, Jr. of this town.

The construction of the Binalonan Municipal Hall started during the administration of former President Diosdado Macapagal.

However, its construction was stopped when President Ferdinand Marcos assumed the presidency in 1965. At that time, the municipal hall was already 75 percent complete.

Unable to acquire the remaining funds to complete the project from then President Marcos, then Binalonan Mayor Ramon Guico, Sr. decided to infuse his personal money to finally build the municipal hall.

In 2002, Binalonan officials led by Mayor Guico, Jr. appropriated the amount of P3.1 million to finally put the finishing touches on the long overdue Binalonan Municipal Hall.

Earlier, the President inaugurated the newly concreted Manila North Road-Binalonan-Asingan Road, a portion of which is near the Binalonan Municipal Hall.

After her speech at a program in front of the municipal hall, the President went to the Guico ancestral residence to have a reunion with some 3,000 members of the Macaraeg clan who attended the Binalonan town fiesta here.

BINALONAN, Pangasinan—President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today inaugurated the Manila North Road-Binalonan-Asingan Road here, which she said will strengthen commerce not only in this town, the hometown of her mother, but also of the neighboring areas.

Speaking at a program in front of the municipal hall of Binalonan, the President said this road is a very important diversion that will make the traffic through Urdaneta town much more convenient.

The President expressed elation that the Urdaneta Road, which is the cause of heavy traffic for those travelling to and from Baguio City and the Ilocos Region, will soon be widened.

This road, the President pointed out, will make the transport of products from the Ilocos Region and other regions for Manila faster.

The President stressed that her administration is doing everything possible to strengthen the economy, and one of the components of her economic blueprint is the construction of more vital roads and bridges not only in Pangasinan but throughout the country.

"We are doing all these to give jobs and livelihood to the people," the President said.

The President said despite the comfortable growth rate during the past year, there are still thousands of Filipinos who are out of work.

She said that is the reason why she had launched the small and medium enterprise (SMEs) development program to expand the domestic market and generate more jobs, especially in the countryside.

Early this week, the President announced that the government would allocate P10 billion for SMEs for the next 10 months, adding that depending on the absorption capacity of SMEs, some P20 billion to P30 billion would be made available to them annually.

Magandang araw po sa inyong lahat.

Pinulong ko kahapon ng tanghali ang mga kinatawan at lider ng transport sector na siyang nagbunga ng maraming magandang kasunduan at plano pagkatapos ng halos dalawang oras ng tapat at malayang talakayan.

Nung isang araw, bago kami nagpulong, hiniling ko sa kanila na ipagpaliban muna ang paghingi ng pahintulot na itaas ang pasahe dala ng pagtaas ng presyo ng langis sa pandaigdigang merkado. Hiniling ko sa kanila na tumulong sa bansa sa mga kritikal na araw na ito. Sinabi ko, na sa tingin ko madaling lilipas ang krisis at babalik sa normal ang presyo ng langis. Nangako ako na hahanap ako ng mga paraan na sila ay tulungan kapalit ng kanilang pagmamalasakit sa akin at sa bayan at para maibsan ang kanilang mahirap na kalagayan.

Nais ko sanang ibalita sa inyo ang ilan sa aming napagkasunduan.

Iniutos ko kay Vince Perez at sa DOE na agarang buksan sa loob ng dalawang linggo ang mga bomba ng krudo o filling pumps sa tatlong terminal ng pampasaherong sasakyan sa Kamaynilaan: sa EDSA – kanto ng Shaw Boulevard, sa EDSA – kanto ng Guadalupe, at sa Philippine Racing Club sa Makati. Si Ginoong Martinez ng Eastern Petroleum ay nangako na itatayo niya ang tatlong filling pumps na ito. Ang mga samahan ng transport sector na nasa mga lugar na ito ang siyang magsisilbing dealer at ang mangangasiwa sa mga filling pumps na ito. Tinataya na malaki ang mura ng diesel dito kaysa sa mga ibang gasolinahan. Pinapahanap ko pa kay Dante Lantin ng LTFRB ang ibang lugar na pwedeng lagyan ng mga filling pumps.

Iniutos ko din Kay Vince Perez na kausapin ang ilan sa mga dealer at may-ari ng gasolinahan upang magbigay ng diskuwento sa mga pampublikong sasakyan. Ilalabas natin sa mga pahayagan ang mga makabayang dealer na ito na magbibigay ng diskuwento sa mga pampublikong sasakyan para alam ng mga drayber kung saan sila maaring magpakarga ng diesel at gasolina na mura.

Lahat ng ito ay mangyayari sa loob ng dalawang linggo. Walang tawad. Dalawang linggo. Dadaluhan ko mismo ang pagbukas ng filling pumps sa tatlong terminal. Dadalawin ko din ang ilan sa mga gasolinahang pumayag magbenta ng diesel at gasolina na mas mura para sa mga pampublikong sasakyan.

Kapag lumala o tumagal ang krisis, pinapag-aralan ko ang ibang paraan na pagbigay ng tulong sa transport sector tulad ng mga kupong pang-diskuwento na pwedeng gamitin sa pagbayad ng buwis ng gasolina.

Ang problema ng mga kotong cops at traffic enforcers ay tinalakay din. Inutusan ko ang PNP, si General Velasco, hepe ng pulis sa kalakhang Maynila, at si General Bulaong, Hepe ng pulis sa Maynila na maglunsad ng kampanya laban sa lahat ng mga mangongotong. Tutulungan sila ng mga transport sector na tukuyin ang mga mangongotong. Walang patawad ngayon ang mahuhuling nangongotong. Iniutos ko na huwag nang ibalik o ilipat lamang ang mahuhuling nangongotong. Iniutos ko na kasuhan, ikalaboso, tanggalin sa serbisyo, o ipadala sa mga liblib at mahirap na labanan. Sa loob ng isang linggo ay aasahan ko ang unang report mula sa PNP tungkol sa kampanyang ito. Gawin nila ang lahat ng kailangan tulad ng mga pagtatalaga ng mga secret marshals para hulihin ang mga ito. Lubos na pinahihirapan ng mga nangongotong, di lang ang transport sector, pati din ang mga pangkaraniwang motorista. Kung may kilala kayong nangongotong, itawag niyo kay General Velasco sa loob ng tatlong araw ay kailangan niyang aksiyunan.

Pina-alala ko kay Rollie Macasaet ng PNCC na ibalik sa dating halaga bago magtaas noong Enero 2002 ang toll para sa mga pampasaherong bus na gumagamit ng Southern Luzon Expressway.

Pinakausap ko kay General Bulaong at General Velasco ang mayor ng Maynila na hanapan ng paraan kung papaano bigyan ng titigilan para magsakay ng pasahero ang mga pampublikong sasakyan ng hindi na sila paikot-ikot sa paghahanap ng pasahero. Magastos sa diesel ang paikot-ikot. Inaasahan ko ang kooperasyon ng pamahalaang lokal sa panahon ng krisis tungkol dito.

Inuutusan ko naman si DILG Sec. Joey Lina na makipag-ugnay sa mga mayor ng mga bayan at munisipyo na nagpapataw ng mga terminal at toll fees sa mga pampublikong sasakyan. Lubos na nakakabigat ito sa kanila. Ang kuwento sa akin ng isang transport sector leader ay higit sa tatlong daan piso ang binabayad nila sa terminal at toll fees sa mga bayan-bayan mula Davao hanggang Surigao. Kakausapin ni Joey Lina ang mga mayors na ibaba o tanggalin ang mga terminal at toll fees na ito.

Binuo ko ngayon ang isang Task Force laban sa colorum at out of line vehicles, at laban sa illegal terminals ng mga ito. Ito ay pamumunuan ni Larry Mendoza ng DOTC. Binibigyan ko ang Task Force na ito ng isang buwan para itigil ang lahat ng colorum at out of line na sasakyan sa Kamaynilaan, kasama na ang jeep, bus, FX at mga van. Bubuwagin din nila ang lahat ng terminal nitong mga illegal na sasakyang ito sa loob ng isang buwan. Aasahan ko ang unang report ni Larry Mendoza in two weeks time.

Iniutos ko na kay MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando na itigil na ang eksperimento sa number o color coding para sa mga pampublikong sasakyan.

Iniutos ko din na ipalaganap ang paggamit ng coco-diesel na kapag dinagdag sa diesel ay ginagawang mas malinis ang binubugang usok nito. Ang gagamit ng coco-diesel ay malamang papasa sa mga reglamento ng bagong batas na Clean Air Act.

Pinaaaral ko kung pwedeng gamitin ang coco levy funds para pondohan ito. Pinautos ko sa DBP na magpadaan ng pondo sa Postal Bank na siyang magpapautang sa mga bus operators para ma-convert ang mga sasakyan nila mula sa diesel o gas tungo sa compressed natural gas o CNG. Ang CNG ay gawa na natin ngayon sa Malampaya at hindi inaangkat. Ang CNG ay kalahati lamang ng presyo ng diesel. Si Vince Perez at si Dodi Limcaoco ay magtutulungan para gawin ito.

Yung ibang daing at mungkahi ng transport sector ay pag-aaralan ko.

Iniutos ko sa lahat ng ahensiya na may kinalaman sa transport sector na mag-dayalogo at kumunsulta sa kanila sa palagian. Isumbong niyo sa akin pag may mga opisyal ng pamahalaan ko na ayaw makipag-usap o makipagkita sa inyo.

Doon sa NCRPO, sinabi ko kay General Velasco, buwan-buwan na makikipag-dayalogo sa transport sectors.

Gusto ko sanang magpasalamat sa mga lider ng transport sector na muling nakinig sa aking pakikiusap na huwag munang humingi ng fare increase. Kayo ay mga tunay na makabayang Pilipino.

Mga kababayan ko, may krisis tayong hinaharap sa mga darating na linggo. Hindi natin gusto ito. Hindi natin gawa ito. Gayunpaman, handa po ang inyong gobyerno. Sapat ang imbentaryo natin ng langis, may padating pa. Ang Crisis Committee ni Roy Golez ay may mga plano na tutugon sa anumang pangyayari.

Magka-isa tayo, magtulungan tayo, madaling lilipas ang bagyong ito kung tayo ay magkapit-bisig muli.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today ordered the Philippine National Police (PNP) to give no quarters to mulcting or "kotong" policemen as part of her package of benefits for the members of the transport sector.

In her radio message this morning, the President also exhorted the public to immediately pass on to Director Reynaldo Velasco, chief of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), any information about the activities of these mulcting policemen.

"Walang patawad ngayon ang mahuhuling nangongotong (We will not forgive cops who will be found mulcting)," the President said.

The President told the PNP hierarchy that cops found guilty of mulcting should not only be transferred to minor posts but should also be charged in courts, jailed, or dismissed from the service.

She said that it is not only the transport sector but also the general public that suffers because of the activities of these mulcting policemen.

The problem of mulcting cops was one of the topics that were discussed during the meeting held in Malacanang Friday, which was attended by the leaders of the country’s transport groups.

During the meeting, the transport groups assured the President that they will not seek an increase in transport fares.