TIAONG, Quezon—President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today called for the public’s full cooperation in the implementation of government programs, the latest of which is the smoking ban in all public places.

In her brief remarks during an inspection of the South Luzon Bypass Road Project at Barangay Lalig here, the President said the anti-smoking campaign falls within the same framework as the government’s successful campaign against the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and the stepped-up war against the drug trade.

"The health of every Filipino is an overriding national concern," the President stressed.

The President said that the anti-drug campaign and other related programs are all geared toward having a healthier, stronger, more energetic and forward-looking society.

"This is also part of our commitment for healthier, cleaner and safer world for all rising generations," the President said.

She particularly called on the local government units in Quezon province to support the anti-drug campaign, saying that Quezon has a long coastline that is being used by drug syndicates to bring in prohibited drugs from sources abroad.

"Lahat tayo dapat ay nagsama-sama para labanan ang mga kalaban ng ating bansa (We should all be united in fighting the enemies of the state)," the President said.

Earlier, the President visited Dolores, Quezon where she unveiled the marker of a three-classroom school building and interacted with students.

Malacaņang today said that the approach to the drug problem should be multi-sectoral and should involve as many stakeholders as possible as it welcomes the drug summit called by the House committee on illegal drugs and scheduled this coming Thursday.

In his regular press briefing in Malacaņang, Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye said that action plans on the stepped-up campaign against prohibited drugs are now being firmed up.

"To the extent possible without jeopardizing operations, details of these plans would be disclosed at a later date," Bunye said.

According to Bunye, the action plans would be based on a multi-sectoral participation and close coordination and teamwork by various agencies and groups involved.

He said that in compliance with the directive of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the action plans would involve sharing of strategies, intelligence and resources among the concerned government agencies.

"This is a total war to protect our society. We cannot afford to be divided," Bunye said.

On comments about the acceptance by the President of the offer of Sen. Robert Barbers to help in the war against drug trafficking, Bunye said that the administration would adhere to the principle of the separation of powers.

"Everyone can rest assured that this principle would be strictly followed," he said.

Bunye also brushed aside side comments that the intensified anti-drug campaign is aimed at crippling the presidential ambition of any opposition figure, stressing that there is no politics involved here.

"That’s the problem with many people, they cannot seem to leave politics out of the picture. They always inject politics into everything that the President does," Bunye said.

DOLORES, Quezon -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said today she would demand a close coordination of strategies, intelligence and resources in the fight against illegal drugs, saying teamwork and synergy are needed to bring the menace down to its knees.

Speaking at the inauguration of three projects constructed through the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services:Kapangyarihan at Kaunlaran sa Barangay (KALAHI-CIDDS:KKB) here, the President said there should be no star in the battle to win the fight against drug trafficking.

"As I speak, action plans are already being sharpened, results are coming in, and more are forthcoming," she said. "I would like all our law enforcement agencies to be prepared for the big push forward."

The President said government efforts must not only clear the high intensity drug trafficking areas.

"We must also inoculate our total communities from relapse through institutionalized vigilance and education," she said. "We must also get the local government and civil societies involved."

She then called on Quezon Governor Wilfredo Enverga and Dolores Mayor Rolando F. San Jose as well as the civil societies in the region to help in the campaign against illegal drugs.

In her speech, she cited the many problems confronting Quezon including its long shoreline which drug syndicates use as landing areas for their illicit trade.

"Kaya ito ang isang importanteng kailangan labanan ngayon," the President said. " Hindi lang natin dapat labanan ang kahirapan, hindi lang natin dapat labanan ang rebelyon, mahalaga rin na labanan natin ang bawal na gamot."

KALAHI-CIDDS:KKB is a community-based project of the Macapagal-Arroyo administration that aims to accelerate the delivery of basic social services to the poor and reduce poverty.

DOLORES, Quezon – Grade school teacher Jeanette Agojo remembers it clearly well.

Before President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo came over today to inaugurate a new three-classroom building here, they used to hold classes at the barangay hall amidst the towering coconut trees just so they could accommodate the 115 or so primary pupils in their area known as Barangay Putol.

Now, Mrs. Agojo, one of only three primary teachers in the barangay, could beam with pride that that is now a thing of the past.

"Malaking bagay ito para sa mga bata, dahil alam nila na hindi sila pinababayaan ng pamahalaan," she says as she prepared to meet her class of 44 pupils in one of the classrooms visited by the President today.

It is but one of three projects in this sleepy town constructed through the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services: Kapangyarihan at Kaunlaran sa Barangay (KALAHI-CIDSS:KKB).

The other two were a 455-meter road in Manggahan and the Barangay Health Center in Pinagdanlayan.

KALAHI-CIDSS:KKB is a community-based project of the government that aims to accelerate the delivery of basic social services to the poor and reduce poverty.

It seeks to empower communities to take common decisions and act collectively to address their problems, manage resources efficiently and effectively, and ensure accountability from those who govern them.

The project was initially pilot-tested in six barangays in Dolores, Quezon in July last year, namely, Manggahan, Cabatang, Putol, Bulakin I and Pinagdanlayan with a total fund grant of P1.8 million.

Social Welfare and Development Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman explained that KALAHI-CIDSS:KKB has yielded positive results in improving the plight and empowering the residents of the pilot barangays.

She said that there is already a higher community participation to barangay assemblies, and improved capacities in project planning, implementation and sustainability.

She also noted some benefits like lower cost of projects and job creation.

She said the Manggahan road, built at a cost of P288,000 was finished within 60 days, while the barangay health center, valued at P261,000, was erected in three months. The school building, on the other hand, was completed in 172 days with a P312,000 budget.

All the three projects, she said, were completed on time and at lower costs.

When President Macapagal-Arroyo unveiled the marker of the new school building, she was greeted by the flag-waving, wildly cheering pupils who seem to be enjoying their new spacious surroundings, a far cry from the cramped confines of the barangay hall.

In her speech, the President noted how this town was chosen by the steering committee tasked to identify areas to be granted the benefits of the five-year P5-billion fund by the World Bank.

"At pinili nga ang ilan dahil sa apat na criteria tulad ng kahirapan, kahandaan ng local government, at kung sino ang may civil society na tutulong," she said.

She said Dolores was chosen because the civil society in the area is very visible.

The personal appearance of Chairman Hashim Salamat of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front at the start and conclusion of the formal peace negotiation would be a very good signal of genuine goodwill and sincerity on the part of the rebels that they want an end to the hostilities in Mindanao.

Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye issued this statement today during his regular press briefing in Malacaņang where he also outlined the highlights of the results of yesterday’s meeting of the Cabinet Oversight Committee on Internal Security (COCIS) on the resumption of peace talks with the MILF.

"We have agreed that Chairman Salamat will lead the MILF in the negotiations, be present in the key stages of the talks, be fully responsible for all the actions and decisions of the MILF panel, and sign the final peace agreement," Bunye said.

Bunye said President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo called the COCIS to a meeting and issued instructions for the drafting of a road map for peace in Mindanao based on the administration’s policy of a calibrated reciprocation approach to the MILF issue.

The Presidential Spokesman said the COCIS agreed that the possible peace talks could be held in Kuala Lumpur, adding that the Philippine government has sent an invitation to the Malaysian government to serve as a third-party observer in the formal peace talks.

The letter of invitation, Bunye said, has been handed over by Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas Ople to the Malaysian Foreign Minister.

He said the timeline for the negotiations would be worked on, including a review on all existing interim agreements with the MILF.

He added that any ceasefire declaration would follow after the set of parameters for the talks has been agreed upon by the COCIS.

According to Presidential Adviser on Strategic Concerns Renato de Villa, the government and MILF panels are re-entering the peace talks mode, Bunye said.