At the appropriate time, I will communicate my thoughts on any of those who make their candidacy known. At this point, I am not thinking about politics but rather the hard business of rebuilding our economy and our society.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today lauded the efforts of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) in helping the Filipino poor.

The President expressed this sentiment during a courtesy call at the Music Room in Malacaņang by Dr. Kim Hak-Su, executive secretary of Unesco for Asia and the Pacific.

Accompanying Kim during the call were his wife, Kim Duk Myung, Deputy Executive Secretary Jose T. Tale, Special Assistant to the Executive Secretary Dr. Filemon Uriarte Jr. and Couples for Christ chairman Geraldine Padilla.

Unesco Asia and the Pacific is very much involved in the anti-poverty projects, many of which are connected with the projects of the Couples for Christ (CFC) Gawad Kalinga.

"I really admire the projects of CFC. That’s why the government went into partnership with them," the President said, citing the 1,000 housing units built last year in cooperation with CFC Gawad Kalinga.

The President suggested that maybe this time, CFC Gawad Kalinga, in coordination with Unesco, could also participate in micro-lending schemes for the poor.

The President noted that the Philippines belongs to one of the most successful micro-lending countries in the world.

"Your projects are a very big contribution to the improvement of life. We thank you for your interest in these programs," the President told Kim.

Kim said Unesco is coordinating all its efforts in forming the framework and strategies for its anti-poverty thrusts and programs in the country.

Gawad Kalinga is a comprehensive community development program that hastens the development process of a community.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today conferred the Order of Sikatuna, Rank of Lakan, on His Excellency Tomas Rodriguez-Pantoja, outgoing Ambassador of the Kingdom of Spain to the Philippines.

The President cited Rodriguez-Pantoja for his significant role in obtaining Spanish assistance to support the Philippine government’s priority programs, particularly in social development, education, health and culture.

During simple rites at Malacanang’s Music Room, the President noted the Spanish Ambassador’s contribution in ensuring the signing of bilateral agreements on social security and inter-country adoption between his country and the Philippines.

In a citation, the President also gave credence to Rodriguez-Pantoja for promoting greater and meaningful understanding between the Filipino and Spanish peoples during his tour of duty as ambassador.

The days of loan sharks preying on the country’s public school teachers and employees are numbered.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo hinted this when she witnessed in Malacanang today the signing of two agreements meant to free thousands of Department of Education (DepEd) mentors and workers from private lenders who exact excessive interest rates.

The agreements were signed by Education Secretary Edilberto C. de Jesus, Government Service Insurance System president and general manager Winston Garcia, Vitaliano Nanagas of the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) and Gary Teves of the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP).

One of the documents signed was a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the DepEd and the GSIS that would clean and reform the automatic payroll deduction scheme (APDS) tied to teacher loans from private lending groups.

The same MOA required private lenders, among others, to be transparent with the interest rates they impose on loans to DepEd teachers and workers. Those who fail to meet the criteria would be disallowed from availing of the APDS and would have their lending codes revoked.

It also provided a GSIS "buy-out program" wherein the agency would take over loans of lending institutions that would not be reaccredited. The GSIS has allotted an initial P5 billion to bankroll the buy-out.

Complementing the MOA is another agreement invoking a sustainable lending program that would extend new salary loans to teachers at affordable rates.

Involved in the program are the DepEd, GSIS, LBP and DBP.

In a press briefing after the signing, De Jesus said the DepEd initiated the MOA to address the problem of DepEd teachers and employees victimized by unscrupulous lenders.

De Jesus said the MOA would provide the teachers and DepEd school staff with alternative credit windows with reasonable rates.

He said the practice of allowing private lending institutions to use the APDS had been going on for almost 30 years.

He added that the Department has no obligation to collect from private lending institutions.

De Jesus said the agreements would be beneficial to a lot of teachers and employees.

He also stressed that the "buy-out" program is a one-time buy-out of individual loans that will be restructured for up to 36 months and will allow a teacher-member to go beyond the cap of the current GSIS salary loan program."

"Ang mangyayari ay magkakaroon ng pagkakataon ang teachers na bayaran ng mas mababang interes ng GSIS dahil ang GSIS ang mag-aasume ng mga loans na nasa private lending institutions (the teachers will have the chance to pay their loans on low interest because the GSIS will assume the loans from private lending agencies)," De Jesus explain.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said today that a constitutional convention would be the least divisive way of bringing about fundamental changes in the political system.

In a round-table interview with Japanese newsmen on the eve of the second anniversary of Edsa 2, the President said "it is better to have a constitutional convention because I don’t want my intention to be suspect."

She said the members of the constitutional convention that would consider changes in the charter may be elected in 2004.

"Considering the divisiveness in our country, perhaps the constitutional convention will be the least divisive way of bringing about fundamental changes in the political system," the President told the Japanese newsmen.

The President has maintained that she is not against any discussion or debate on proposals to amend the Constitution.

She has also declared that the issue of charter change should not be tied with the issue of postponing the 2004 elections.

The President said that during the last 18 months of her presidency, she will be focusing on the economy, healing the deep divisions within society and working for clean and honest elections in 2004.

She has also set down an eight-point work program that she will pursue with greater vigor during the next 18 months:

The Anti-Smuggling Task Force today confiscated some 20 container vans of imported meat, vegetables and fruits in a series of random inspections at the Port of Manila and the Manila International Container Terminal (MICT).

In a report reaching Malacanang, task force staff Major Inocencio G. Silbol said the random opening of the refrigerated vans yielded tons of imported goods emanating from China, Thailand, Singapore, Canada and Korea.

Silbol said some of the confiscated agricultural goods had been in the port for several months.

He said there is a combined inventory of 211 refrigerated vans in the two ports, with 85 in the MICT.

The continuous inspection and subsequent confiscation of the contraband goods was led by Finance Secretary Jose Isidro Camacho, Customs Commissioner Antonio Bernardo, and Presidential Security Group Commander and Task Force Chief Brig. Gen. Hermogenes C. Esperon, Jr., on direct orders of the Office of the President.

The operations of the task force in the past weeks were in response to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s directive last December to intensify the monitoring and subsequent seizure of illegally imported products.

The President gave the task force full authority to inspect all incoming refrigerated vans in all ports of entry. Task force operatives have started monitoring activities in the ports of Cebu, Davao, Subic and Batangas.

Charges have also been filed against smugglers.

The task force operations were aimed at arresting the smuggling of imported meat and vegetable products. This had been hurting local farmers and growers.

The task force has put up its headquarters at the Presidential Yacht BRP Ang Pangulo, currently berthed at Pier 13.

Gen. Esperon said the task force would go on with its relentless operations.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has issued Executive Order No. 168 reconstituting and revitalizing the Council of State.

In signing E.O. No. 168, the Chief Executive said there is a need for a consultative body, bound by a common respect for the Constitution and the rule of law, which will serve as a forum for the exchange of ideas, foster national cooperation, propose meaningful reforms in government, and advise the President on matters of public policy.

"There is a need to reconstitute and revitalize the Council of State as the highest advisory body of the government concerning critical and important national policies," the President said.

The Council of State was created by Executive Order No. 305 dated September 9, 1987 to provide the President with reliable information and competent advice on pressing issues and problems of national interest.

Under E.O. No. 168, the newly reconstituted and revitalized Council of State shall be composed of the President as chairman with the following as members: the former presidents, the vice president, the Senate president, the Speaker of the House, the Senate president pro tempore, the deputy speakers of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, the Senate majority floor leader, House majority floor leader, the Senate minority floor leader, House minority floor leader, the Executive Secretary and members of the Cabinet as designated by the President, other members of the Congress designated by the President, the presidents of the League of Provinces, the League of Cities and the League of Municipalities, representatives from the private sector to be appointed by the President, and such other persons as the President may appoint from time to time.

Under E.O. No.168, the Cabinet Secretariat will serve as the Secretariat of the Council of State.

With the issuance of E.O. No. 168, E.O. No. 305 dated September 9, 1987 "is hereby modified accordingly."

United States President George W. Bush has hailed the decision of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo not to seek the presidency in 2004 and assured her of continued US support for her agenda for the remainder of her term, especially in her efforts in fighting terrorism.

In a letter to the President dated Jan. 14, 2003, Bush said that he was sure the President’s decision not to run in 2004 was a difficult one, adding that he admired the President’s desire "to put the people of the Philippines first."

"You have an ambitious agenda for the next year and a half, and I look forward to supporting your efforts to build a strong republic in the Philippines," Bush said.

Bush said that while the President has made important strides in the war against terrorism in the country, additional terrorist attacks against civilians and the resulting loss of innocent lives mean there is still much to be done.

"The United States will continue to provide assistance and training to the Armed Forces of the Philippines to eliminate with finality the threat from the Abu Sayyaf Group and other terrorist elements," Bush said in his letter.

Bush said that despite the economic progress made by the President in 2002, significant challenges still lie ahead in that area.

He said the US would continue to support the efforts of the President in strengthening the rule of law, advancing economic reforms, reining in fiscal deficits and in alleviating poverty.

"Our two countries are bound by history and also by shared values, shared sacrifice, and a common vision of a peaceful and prosperous 21^st century," Bush said.