The Philippines will spearhead an Asia-wide cooperation on energy under the framework of the Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD), according to Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas F. Ople.

Ople said that he presented the Philippine proposal to be the prime mover of energy cooperation in Asia during the 2^nd ACD Ministerial Meeting held June 22 in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

"The vulnerability of energy commodities to socio-political disturbances necessitates ACD member countries to strengthen cooperation in the energy sector," Ople said.

The Philippine proposal complements those of Bahrain and Indonesia which are co-prime movers on energy security. But unlike Bahrain and Indonesia, the Philippines is not a member of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

Nevertheless, the Philippines sees its leadership in energy development in terms of its supply of and expertise in renewable sources of energy, Ople said.

He said the country is the second largest producer of geothermal energy, next only to the United States. "The Philippines may even surpass the U.S. in the next 10 years," Ople added.

Ople said that the Philippines is expected to house the largest wind farm in the region by 2005 and has gradually lessened its dependence on imported oil, from 21 percent in 2001 to 15 percent in 2002, as a result of the operations of the Malampaya Deep Water Gas-to-Power Project in Palawan.

The ACD groups together the ten ASEAN countries, China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Qatar, and Bahrain.

It is a top-down, evolving, and open process where high-level policy-makers can informally exchange ideas and experiences to create Asia-wide strategic linkages and enhance confidence among participating countries. The ACD is meant to fill the missing link in region-wide cooperation.

TAGUIG, Metro Manila—President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo announced Friday the transfer of mandatory drug testing before the issuance of a driver’s license from the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to the Department of Health (DOH).

The President made the announcement in her short remarks during the blessing and unveiling of the Lourdes Tuason Arroyo Memorial Vocational Training Center at the PNP Center for the Ultimate Rehabilitation of Drug Dependants (PNP-CUREDD) at Camp Bagong Diwa here.

In her speech, the President said she has informed Secretary Leandro Mendoza of the Department of Transportation and Communications and Health Acting Secretary Antonio Lopez on the transfer of mandatory drug testing from LTO to DOH.

The President said that to make the campaign against illegal drugs more effective and the Philippines to become drug-free in the near future, the government will launch the anti-drug drive known as PERA or Prevention, Enforcement, Rehabilitation and After-Care.

The President said the funds to be used in the rehabilitation efforts of all drug dependents will come from the P1 billion fund she released recently.

She also said that she had ordered PNP Chief Director General Hermogenes Ebdane, Jr. and PNP Deputy Chief for Administration Chief Superintendent Edgardo Aglipay, also the supervisor of PNP-CUREDD, to build more rehabilitation centers in the provincial and regional hospitals and in the regional and provincial headquarters of the PNP.

The President said that because of the expected big numbers of drug dependents to be caught by the police authorities in their serious anti-drug campaign, the rehabilitation centers, particularly in Bicutan, are not enough to accommodate them.

"Sabi ko kay General Ebdane at General Aglipay puwede ikabit sa mga provincial and district or regional hospitals or PNP camps. Ang ayaw ko lang huwag lamang ilagay sa mga prison dahil baka mas lalong maging adik yung mga bata kung ilalagay natin yung rehabilitation center sa mga prison," the President said.

In her effort to achieve a drug-free Philippines, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo Friday (June 27) allocated P1 billion for the government’s anti-drug campaign, saying the country needs all available resources to stop the drug menace.

In her speech at the inauguration of the Lourdes Tuason Arroyo Memorial Vocational Training Center at the Philippine National Police Center for the Ultimate Rehabilitation of Drug Dependents (PNP-CUREDD) in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig, the President said the fund would be used for the Prevention, Enforcement, Rehabilitation and After Care of drug dependents or PERA.

"Kung gusto natin mas mabisa para makamit ang drug-free Philippines, kailangan ng anti-drug drive ang PERA, kaya nagdesisyon ako na maglagay ng P1 billion para makatulong sa anti-drug campaign," she said.

The LTA Vocational Training Center, has long been a beneficiary of the President and her husband First Gentleman Jose Mike Arroyo even before she assumed the presidency two years ago.

The Chief Executive said the inauguration assumed more meaning in the light of her administration’s renewed drive against illegal drugs which has been victimizing millions of Filipinos mostly youth.

The President expects that because of the big number of drug dependents to be caught by the police, the rehabilitation centers particularly in Bicutan will not be enough to accommodate them.

She instructed Philippine National Police Director General Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. and PNP Deputy Chief for Administration Edgardo Aglipay to put up similar rehabilitation centers in various parts of the country particularly in provincial, district or regional hospitals or PNP camps.

Magandang umaga sa inyong lahat.

Alam nating lahat na isa sa pinagtutuunan ngayon ng matamang pansin ng ating pamahalaan ay ang pagbabalik ng kapayapaan at kaunlaran sa Mindanao. Matagal na nating inaasam asam ito at gusto ko na sa aking pamamahala magsisimula ang katuparan nito. Katunayan, marami na tayong programang pang-kaunlaran na pinapairal doon tulad ng "Mindanao Natin" na pinaigting ko ang pagpapatupad noong huli kong dalaw dito may ilang Linggo na ang nakakaraan.

Pero ang lahat ng ito ay nawawalan ng saysay kung walang kapayapaan. Kaya nga tatlo ang aking binibigyan ng prayoridad ngayon para mabigyang-daan ang lubos na katahimikan sa kamindanaoan.

Ang una ay ang mapairal ang kapanatagan sa kapaligiran. Further stabilization of the situation on the ground. Sa puntong ito ay masasabi natin na may sapat na kapanatagan na umiiral sa Mindanao, at ito ay dahil na rin sa pagsusumikap ng ating sandatahang lakas at kapulisan. Ito ay sa kabila ng katotohanang may ilan pa ring pagkilos na nagbabanta sa kapanatagan ito. Nakadiskubre ang AFP ng dalawang malalaking bulto ng mga kagamitang pampasabog sa dalawang kampo ng MILF sa Kabuntalan, Maguindanao. Ang pangalawang nadiskubre ay napakalaking bulto ng C-4, higit na malaki pa sa kabuuang C-4 na nakareserba sa AFP. Mayroon pang nadiskubreng mga land mines sa barangay Tugaig, Barira, Maguindanao. Napag-alaman din na ginagawa ang mga pampasabog sa mga pump boats habang ang mga ito ay gumagala sa ilog at karagatan.

Inaasahan ko ang paliwanag ng pamunuan ng MILF sa mga nadiskubreng ito. Kung lingid man ito sa kaalaman ng kanilang pamunuan, dapat na silang magmatyag at pigilan ang mga ganitong gawain kung talagang nais nilang maipagpatuloy ang usapang pangkapayapaan. Kailangang makipagtulungan sila sa ating pamahalaan para matapos na ang mga kaguluhang ito at maisulong na natin ang tunay na kapayapaan.

As we are preparing for peace talks, now is the time for the MILF to cut clean by deed from terrorist, purge its armories of terrorist weapons and engage in principled negotiations shorn of deception.

Ang pangalawang prayoridad ay ang pagbabalik sa kanilang mga lugar ng mga pamilyang naapektuhan ng mga labanan sa pagitan ng MILF at pamahalaan. Ipinag-utos ko ang pagpapalabas ng P50 milyong pondo mula sa NDCC para sa pagpapatayo ng mga simpleng tahanan o core shelter para sa mga evacuees. Idadaan sa mga barangay ang pondong ito para sa mas maayos at mabilis na pagpapatupad. Tutulong sa pagpapatayo ng mga bahay na ito ang Engineering Brigade ng ating sandatahang lakas at mga barangay.

Sa mga evacuees na payapa na ang mga lugar, nakikiusap ako na umuwi na.

At ang pangatlong prayoridad ay ang pagpapabilis ng prosesong pangkapayapaan. Mayroong stratehiya ang pamahalaan para dito at ang lahat ay handa na para ipatupad ito. Kabilang sa istratehiyang ito ang pag-aanyaya sa Malaysia para maging tagapagmasid upang tiyakin ang katuparan ng proseso.

Gusto kong bigyan ng diin na iba ang doktrina para sa peace talks, iba ang doktrina para sa law enforcement, at iba rin ang doktrina para sa anti-terrorism. Sabay-sabay nating isasagawa ang mga ito dahil magkakaiba naman ang kanilang matatawag na areas of concern. Katunayan, kailangan pa nating palakasin ang ating mga pagkilos laban sa terorismo habang itinataguyod ang peace talks dahil baka masabotahe at masira nila ang proseso.

We have separate doctrine for peace, for law enforcement and for fighting terrorism. Upholding the law and fighting terror shall not relent even in the presence of the peace process. We shall not sacrifice our vigilance in these matters for the sake of earning illusory gains in the peace negotiations. The law is not a bargaining chip across the table. This must be clear to everyone—that the authority of the Government to enforce law and order shall be undiminished at all times and in all places.

Nandiyan pa rin ang Abu Sayyaf at katunayan ay nahuli ang isa sa kanilang mga lider kamakailan lamang sa Kamaynilaan. Hindi tayo titigil hanggat ang mga teroristang tulad nila ay hindi napapaalis sa mapa ng Pilipinas.

Our will for peace is only matched by our will to fight terrorism. We will continue to effectively check terrorist intrusions so that civilian communities are not put in harm’s way.

Mga mahal kong kababayan, bagamat mahaba at komplikado ang proseso para sa kapayapaan, ang mahalaga ay ginagawa natin ang lahat upang mabigyan ng lubos na katuparan ang ating pangarap na prinsipiyadong kapayapaan. Magtulungan tayong lahat—ang mamamayan at maging ang MILF para sa mas magandanag bukas sa Kamindanaoan at sa buong bansa.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today honored former President Fidel V. Ramos and other officials for their contribution to the government’s anti-poverty campaign, particularly for their role in the passage of Republic Act 8425, also known as the Social Reform and Poverty Alleviation Act.

In ceremonies held at the Ceremonial Hall of Malacaņang, which was part of the 5^th anniversary of the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC), the President handed over symbolic "bayongs" to Ramos and other "Haligi ng Bayan Laban sa Kahirapan" honorees.

Also given the "bayong" by the President were former Presidential Adviser for Countryside Development Daniel Lacson and former chairperson of the Presidential Commission to Fight Poverty Ms. Marietta Goco.

The other honorees who were not able to attend the ceremonies were Speaker Jose de Venecia, Jr., Senators Juan Flavier and Ralph Recto, and lead convenor of the Social Reform Council Ernesto Garilao.

Secretary Teresita Quintos-Deles, NAPC lead convenor, assisted the President during the presentation of the "bayongs."

The "bayongs" contained poverty alleviation reduction achievements of the present administration. It can be recalled that the "bayongs" containing the Ramos administration’s commitment in poverty alleviation were given to delegates during the anti-government summit in l996.

Other salient points during the ceremonies were the establishment of the People’s Development Trust Fund (PDTF) and the National Launch of Local Poverty Indicators that would institutionalize poverty diagnosis and planning among local government units (LGUs).

The NAPC has instituted the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan or KALAHI, the poverty reduction strategy of the Macapagal-Arroyo administration.

The KALAHI has five core strategic thrusts, namely:

• Asset reform (land security and access to productive resources);

• Human development services (continued and expanded access to basic social and human development services);

• Livelihood and employment opportunities (capital and credit/microfinance, production, technology, markets and basic infrastructure for poor communities and job facilitation/placement);

• Social protection and security from violence (social safety nets, social insurance and peace-building/conflict resolution); and

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today clarified that the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB), which is directly under the Office of the President, is the policy making body tasked by law to make policies on the anti-illegal drug campaign.

In a press briefing after a command conference on the campaign against illegal drugs in Malacaņang, Presidential Chief of Staff Rigoberto Tiglao said that the Philippine Drug Enforcement agency (PDEA), which was also established by law, is the operational arm of the DDB.

Tiglao said that the basic change in the campaign against illegal drugs in the past several weeks was that the President has authorized the formation of task forces under the supervision of the PDEA.

During the command conference, the President said there is no drug czar. "There is a drug junta," the President said referring to the Dangerous Drug Board whose members are all stakeholders.

"Either they are a clients on the fight against drugs, or they are participants and implementors in this fight against drugs," she said.

According to Tiglao, the advice of personalities such as former DILG Secretary Alfredo Lim, Margallo and the others would be very much valued and that PDEA Chief Anselmo Avenido would be getting their advice or some of their task forces, "but not on the level of the President."

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today emphasized that the three-month period she gave law enforcers to neutralize drug lords and pushers at the street level was not a deadline but a work program at the end of which there must be a strategic and convincing results.

In a press briefing in Malacaņang after a command conference on illegal drugs, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jose Lina said: "It was never intended to be the end point of the campaign. That was never the idea."

Secretary Lina said that what the President wants is that after three months, strategic and significant results have been achieved, "to the end that the people really feel that there is an honest and earnest effort to address the problem of illegal drug in the country,"

In her guidance, the President also ordered that both the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Department of Interior and Local Governments (DILG) enforce more strict and stringent measures to ensure that the jails are free from illegal drugs.

Wanting to see the cost of drug testing reduced, the President ordered that government hospitals be opened to accept drug testing at a much lower cost.

The President also wants to convey to the people that the message is not anymore "advocacy" that drugs are bad, but rather on how the citizens can help in the fight against illegal drugs such as reporting a pusher, saving a user, and how to keep the report in confidentiality so those who make the reporting will not be put in jeopardy.

"The President wants to educate the people on how to detect shabu laboratories. If there are infomercials, the message will be on how the citizens can help in this campaign," Lina said.

On the question on what to do with the 8,000 drug users arrested in the last 10 days, Lina said that the answer is the establishment of rehabilitation centers in each region of the country.

"So the priority now is to put up a rehabilitation center financed by the government in regions where there is no rehabilitation center," he said.

The President directed that financial assistance from the P1 billion drug fund be given to those rehabilitation centers to enhance their capability and even expand their facilities.

The President likewise urged the representatives of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) present during the command conference to help monitor illegal drugs cases in the courts. "So that easily those mysterious decisions can be exposed and that will also keep the judges, the prosecutors and the police on their toes," he said.

The President also directed the law enforcement agencies to file immediately charges against the police officials who failed to attend public hearings and prosecutors and judges who hand down resolutions and decisions which are patently questionable.