Agriculture Secretary Luis P. Lorenzo has proposed the setting up of an RP-US Endowment Fund to address the lack of the needed technology that would help improve agricultural productivity in the Philippines and thus alleviate poverty in the countryside.

In his speech at the Ministerial Conference and Expo on Agricultural Science and Technology held recently in Sacramento, California, Lorenzo said that the endowment fund can be established from grants under Section 416 of Public Law 480 of the United States.

He said that to spare it from the usual bureaucratic red tape, the fund can be managed as a separate facility by an independent body composed of representatives from the two governments.

According to Lorenzo, the US and other developed countries should provide the technologies needed for food production by developing countries, like the Philippines, since these countries are the most vulnerable to massive hunger and poverty because of the continuing rise in their population.

"I see the development of new technologies contributing to sustainable agriculture, the security of food and feed, and most importantly, the alleviation of poverty in the world," Lorenzo said.

In his speech, Lorenzo also called on international donor agencies, like the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the World Bank, to increase their funding in agricultural research and development (R&D) to developing countries.

Lorenzo said that international funding for agriculture, including R&D, began to decline in l981.

"I find this ironic because if we want to ensure food security in the next century, continuous sustained scientific activity must be supported. After all, it is the accumulation of knowledge that accounts for the timely advances in innovation sustaining increased agricultural productivity," Lorenzo said.

Lorenzo said that ensuring a food supply in a sustainable manner to feed what he described as "a galloping world population" is long overdue and, if further delayed, "could bring humanity to its last mile."

He said that there is an urgent need to leapfrog agricultural productivity, improve nutrition and quality of life, terminate hunger and alleviate poverty around the world.

Lorenzo said the world’s population, which was six billion in l999, could shoot to nine billion in 2050. "Worse, the greater increase in population will happen in developing countries where poverty and hunger are commonplace and agricultural productivity is low," he said.

"We all know that conventional crop improvement alone will not double food production in the next five decades," Lorenzo said.

He said that experts have agreed that the solution to this dilemma can only come from increased yields from the same land area on less water, noting that arable land per capita of 0.45 hectares in l966 dwindled to 0.25 in l998 and will only be 0.15 by 2050.

Neri said that housing construction has a high multiplier effect on the economy, about 16.6 times, meaning that every P10 billion worth of housing units will contribute a total of P166 billion of economic activity for the country.

Press Secretary Milton Alingod today took exception to reports and speculations that Land Transportation Office Chief Roberto Lastimoso was relieved from the LTO post without being officially informed before hand.

Alingod confirmed that Undersecretary Enrique D. Perez of the Presidential Search Committee was able to talk to Lastimoso over the phone late morning of Thursday, July 3, 2003, when the latter was informed that DOTC Undersecretary Agustin Bengzon has been designated by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as Officer-In-Charge of the LTO, at the same time that Lastimoso had been appointed Assistant Secretary in the DOTC.

"Perez had been trying to contact Lastimoso since July 1, 2003 but the latter was either out of town or in meetings" Alingod said.

He also pointed out that the Office of the Executive Secretary transmitted the Bengzon and Lastimoso papers, by courier and fax, before the close of office hours on July 3, 2003. These were officially received by the LTO and DOTC early evening of the same date, he said.

Alingod emphasized that the process of replacement was routine and proper, and that there was never an intent to treat Lastimoso unceremoniously or put him in bad light.

Magandang umaga sa inyong lahat.

Sunod-sunod na naman ang ginagawang pag-atake ng mga NPA nitong mga nakaraang araw sa ilang bahagi ng ating kapuluan, na kung saan marami sa ating mga magigiting na sundalo at inosenteng sibilyan ang mga namatay at nasugatan. Patuloy pa rin sila sa paninira ng mga pampublikong pasilidad tulad ng pag-susunog ng mga bus dahil ang mga may-ari ng mga sasakyang ito ay ayaw mag-bayad o hindi nakakabayad sa kanila ng illegal na "revolutionary" tax.

Talagang sobra na ang pang-gugulo at paninirang ginagawa nila sa ating bayan at sa ating mga kababayan. At ang mga ito ay ginagawa nila habang tayo ay abala sa pag-resolba sa ilang mga problema sa ating bansa tulad ng problema sa Mindanao na kung saan isinasaayos natin ang kalagayan ng mga evacuees na nadamay sa ilang sagupaan sa pagitan ng mga kawal ng gobyerno at MILF.

Marahil inyong napapansin na may umiiral na katahimikan ngayon sa mindanao at ang mga evacuees ay nag-uuwian na. Kaya naman isanasa-ayos na natin ang lahat para sa isang tunay na usapang pang-kapayapaan sa pagitan ng gobyerno at MILF. Habang inaasaayos ang prosesong pang-kapayapaan, pinananatili natin ang marami sa ating mga kawal sa Mindanao para matiyak ang seguridad at katahimikan sa buong rehiyon.

Ang nakakalungkot, sinasamantala ng mga npa ang sitwasyong ito para makapaglunsad sila ng mga pag-atake laban sa pamahalaan at maging sa mga sibilyan. May posibiladad din na patuloy silang nakikipag-sabwatan sa mga MILF at iba pang mga grupo sa mga pang-gugulong ito. Napatunayan na natin noon pa ang alyansang ito sa pagitan ng NPA at MILF dahil sa mga dokumentong nakalap, at maaring patuloy pa rin ang sabwatang ito hanggang ngayon. Inatasan ko na ang ating government peace panel na isama sa kanilang pakikipag-usap sa MILF ang tungkol sa sabwatang ito sa pagitan nila at ng NPA at tigilan na ito, dahil lubhang makaka-apekto sa isinasagawang proseso para sa usapang pang-kapayapaan.

Inatasan ko na rin ang Cabinet Oversight Committee on Internal Security na determinahin ang "optimum deployment" ng ating mga sundalo at mga tauhang sibilyan para sa mas maayos at mabilis na pag-responde sa mga pag-babanta mula sa ibat-ibang grupo sa ibat-ibang panig ng kapuluan.

Haharapin natin ng buong tatag at may lubos na kahandaan ang panibagong bantang ito mula sa NDF-CPP-NPA. Inilunsad na natin ang isang Comprehensive Counteraction Plan na kung saan pag-sasabayin natin ang aksyong militar, pulitikal at legal sa pag-resolba sa problemng ito. Habang hinaharap natin ang NPA units, pag-iibayuhin natin ang mga aksyong legal laban sa mga namumuno sa National Democratic Front na nag-kukunwaring nakikipaglaban para sa demokrasya pero ang katotohonan ay nais lamang pabagsakin ang pamahalaan sa pamamagitan ng dahas.

Inatasan ko na ang mga kinauukulan na ihain na sa ating mga korte at maging sa mga international venue ang mga kaso laban sa mga pinuno ng NDF. Ito ay para mapigilan na ang mga pag-kilos ng mga pinunong ito, at para mahinto na ang pag-gamit ng kanilang pondo at mga mapanirang kagamitan.

Mula ng ikondena noong nakaraang taon ng Estados Unidos at European Union ang NDF-CPP-NPA bilang mga terorista, nahirapan na silang mangalap ng pondo kaya sila ay napilitang humanap ng mapagkukunan ng pang-gastos tulad ng pagtanim ng marijuana. Ilang marijuana plantations na rin sa ating bansa ang nahuling pinatatakbo ng NPA. Malamang na labis na ring nababahala ang grupong ito dahil sa ating mga mas pina-igting na laban kontra ilegal na droga at marijuana.

There is a strong link between terrorism and drug syndicates. The war against drugs is a war against terrorists, and vice versa.

Patuloy rin nating i-isolate sa pandaigdigang komunidad ang grupong ito para wala ng iba pang madamay sa kanilang masasamang gawain, at para wala na ring bansa na magbibigay sa kanila ng suporta. We shall isolate them from the international community by exposing them for what they are – terrorist masquerading as revolutionaries.

Inutos ko na rin ang pagre-rebisa o muling pag-aaral sa Joint Agreement on Security and Immunity Guarantees sa pagitan ng pamahalaan at NDF dahil napapabalitang ginagamit lamang na "cover" ng mga NDF consultants ang kasunduang ito para maisagawa nila ang ilang buktot na hangarin.

We are combining military action with political and legal action against this renewed threat. As we move against NPA units, we shall step up legal action against all personalities of the NDF ostensibly engaged in democratic struggle but clandestinely leading and abetting the overthrow of government by force and violence.

Inatasan ko na rin ang ating military at intelligence agencies na i-dokumento at ibunyag ang panlolokong ito ng NDF, CPP at NPA - ang kanilang terrorist activities at ang kanilang kaugnyan sa mga terrorist organizations.

We will combine all necessary measures to stop this threat and defeat it by the use of force, political action and long-term social reforms. Poverty is the spawning ground for terrorist recruits.

At kahit na pinaigting pa natin ang labanang ito kontra NDF-CPP-NPA, asahan natin na patuloy pa rin silang magsasagwa ng mga pataksil na pag-atake, lalo na sa mga pampublikong pasilidad tulad ng sa kominikasyon at transportasyon. Kaya nga inatasan ko na ang ating PNP at iba pang mga kaukulang ahensya na maging alerto at pag-ibayuhin ang pagmamanman at pag-babantay sa mga pasilidad na ito para mapigil agad ang anumang mga pag-babanta.

Gusto ko ring paalalahanan ang ating mga local na opsiyal tungkol sa mga permit to campaign na isa sa mga terrorist fund raising activities ng NPA. Alam natin na ang permit na ito may katumbas na halaga na kung hindi ninyo bibigyan ng kaukulang pansin ay maaring makakasama sa inyo. Matagal na nilang ginagawa ang buktot na gawaing ito. Panahon na para matigil ito para mag-karoon ng mga mas karapatdapat na mga local officials sa halip na yaong mga sinusuportahan ng mga NPA na mga walang karapatang mamuno sa inyong komunidad. Alliances with the NPA are alliances with terrorists.

Hinihiling ko na rin ang tulong ng mga baranggay at mga komunidad sa pagmamatyag na ito. Maraming mga bantang pag-atake ng mga NPA ang nabigo dahil sa pakikipag-tulungan ng mga taong-bayan. Muli nating patunayan na sa ating tunay na pagtutulungan nakasalalay ang katahimikan ng bayan.

Mga mahal kong kababayan, ang NDF-CPP-NPA ay isang palubog na organisasyon na kinondena na sa ibat-ibang bansa. Desperado na ang mga miyembro nito habang ang kanilang mga pinuno ay nagpapasasa sa ibang bansa. Nanatiling buhay ang organisasyon ito dahil na rin sa pakikipag-sabwatan sa ilang mga grupong may masasamang balak sa pambansang katatagan.

Ginawa na natin ang lahat ng alam natin na mapayapang pamamaraan pero nanatili silang nag-mamatigas. Patuloy pa rin nating isasagawa ito pero hindi ibig sabihin na patuloy nilang magagawa ang kanilang mga mapanirang gawain. Hahadlangan natin sila at kung kinakailangan gawin ang ibang pamamaraan para matigil sila ay gagawin natin.

Sa tulong ninyo ay maisasakatuparan natin ito.

CAMP RIEGO DE DIOS, Tanza, Cavite--To prove that the government is sincere in its promise to improve the lot of the Filipino soldiers, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today led the groundbreaking of an off-base community housing project in this sprawling military camp.

The groundbreaking ceremony signals the formal construction of a total of 1,323 quality and affordable housing units within the 20-hectare Riego de Dios Village inside the camp.

The President also inspected the four model housing units.

In her brief remarks, the President lauded Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes and Armed Forces Chief of Staff, Gen. Narciso Abaya, for initiating the project that would benefit ordinary military personnel and their families.

"Dapat alagaan natin and mga kawal dahil sila ang nagtatanggol sa ating kapayapaan, at sa ating kasarinlan (We should take care of our soldiers because they defend our peace and independence)," President said.

The President said that she wants to ensure that all soldiers assigned in the field have a peace of mind while performing their duty to protect the interest of the country against communist rebels.

She said that through these off-base housing projects, even the private first class and first lieutenants in the Armed Forces can now avail the quality but affordable housing units at Riego de Dios Village.

The Riego de Dios housing project is the first joint venture of the AFP and real estate developer Laguna Properties Holdings, Inc. (LPHI), an Ayala Land subsidiary.

This is the first of four military camps initially picked for off-base housing development. The others are Camp Aquino in San Miguel, Tarlac; Camp Evangelista in Cagayan De Oro; and the AFP Officers Village in Taguig, Metro Manila.

General Abaya said that about 17,000 soldiers and their families would be the direct beneficiaries of these four off-base housing projects.

Aside from Reyes, other officials who attended the simple groundbreaking ceremony were Press Secretary Milton Alingod, Secretary Michael Defensor of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council, Secretary Marita Jimenez of the Official Development Absorption Office, and local officials of Cavite led Rep. Gilbert Remulla.

Earlier, the President visited the Salawag Elementary School in Dasmarinas, also in Cavite, for the inauguration and turnover of a two- classroom school building donated by the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (FFCCCI).