The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has formed a group to resolve problems in the implementation of the Absentee Voting Law, especially in areas abroad where there are large concentrations of Filipinos but far from Philippine embassies.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas Ople said the group has been reviewing reports from various posts and is due to release their findings soon.

Ople said a case in point is the situation of some half a million Filipinos in Sabah, Malaysia.

"There is a problem of the Filipino population in Malaysia. Most of them are in Sabah," Ople said.

Sabah, located at the northeastern tip of Borneo in East Malaysia and practically near the Philippines’ group of southern islands off the Sulu Sea, is about two hours by plane from Kuala Lumpur.

Ople said the law on absentee voting "requires physical presence of voters for registration and voting."

"If there are half a million Filipinos in Sabah, do you expect them to travel to Kuala Lumpur because we have no consulate in Sabah?" he asked.

But Ople disclosed that there have been suggestions that "we allow (Filipinos in Sabah) to register and vote in Brunei Darussalam which is closer."

A total of 595,899 poor women availed themselves of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s loan program for micro-business enterprises in 2002.

National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) Lead Convenor Teresita Deles said this represented an increase of 160 percent from 372,349 women-borrowers registered in 2001.

In a report to the President, Deles said the growth in the micro-finance program reflected the people’s acceptance of the President’s commitment to implement activities that would spur national social growth and economic development.

The President, in her State of the Nation Address in July 2002, said her administration intended to reach out to about one million poor women or more than 300,000 new borrowers yearly from 2002 to 2004.

Deles informed the President that as of January 31, 2003, the People’s Credit Finance Corporation, through its micro-finance institutions, had served 79 provinces, 113 out of 114 cities (Cotabato City still unserved) and 1,083 out of 1,496 towns, or 72 percent.

During an en banc meeting in Malacanang last Wednesday (February 26), the President directed the NAPC to give priority to remote areas in their innovative micro-finance scheme called "credit plus five."

The "credit plus five" refers to credit plus training, product development, market access, new technologies and social insurance.

The President instructed the NAPC to set up a mechanism to serve remote and conflict areas, and the basic sectors such as the elderly, disaster victims, and the disabled.

On the issues of sustainability of micro-financing institutions and clients, the President directed the continued rationalization of credit programs in geographic coverage and client targeting.

Bahagi ng mabuti at wastong pamumuno ng bansa ang pagsisikap para sa kapayapaang makatarungan at matibay.

Sa simula ng aking administrasyon, agad kong binuksang muli ang mga landas ng pagpupulong at pagkakasundo sa hangad wakasan ang mga labanang malaon nang nagpapahirap at pasakit sa ating taong bayan.

Nung ika-28 ng Pebrero 2001, nilagdaan ko ang Executive Order #3 upang baguhin ang balangkas ng pangkalahatang proseso para sa kapayapaan kasama ang iba’t-ibang programang bumubuo nito. Habang mas mahigpit ang paglaban natin sa dahas ng rebelde lalong masigasig ang mga hakbang ng pamahalaan upang agad maisulong muli at mabuo ang pulong-pangkapayapaan.

Patuloy ang pagpupunyagi ng gobyerno upang itayong muli ang mga pamayanang nasalanta sa labanan at isakatuparan ang mga repormang kakalas sa mga sanhi ng pag-aalsa ng bayan.

Mahalagang haligi ng pagpapalaganap ng kapayapaan sa bansa ang pakikilahok ng iba’t-ibang kaagapay mula sa mga samahang bayan at pribadong sektor. Hangad ng pamahalaang paramihin ang mga kaakibat, kalalawigan na taos pusong nagpupunyagi para sa kapayapaan, karapatan, at pagkakasundo ng magkatunggali sa kani-kanilang sektor at lugar.

Tunay silang nakatutulong upang itaguyod nang madla ang prosesong pangkapayapaan at magkatugma ang mga kilusang bayan at ang balangkas ng pamahalaan para sa kapayapaan. Upang lalong maliwanagan ng taong bayan ang mahalaga nilang papel sa prosesong pangkapayapaan, at mapalakas ang kilusan para sa pagkakasundo, pinatupad ko noong isang taon ang proklamasyon #161.

Itinakda nito ang Pebrero 28 hanggang Marso 6 bilang National Peace Consciousness Week. Ang linggo ng pagkamulat sa pambansang kapayapaan na ipagdiriwang taun-taon. Iniatas ko sa Office of the Presidential adviser on the Peace Process, ang tanggapan ng Tagapayo ng Pangulo sa Prosesong Pangkapayapaan upang isulong at subaybayan ang pag-gunita sa linggong ito.

Ito ang panahon upang sama-samang ihayag ng lahat ng mamamayan sa malikhaing paraan ang ating damdamin at paniniwala sa kapayapaan. Pagmuni-munihan din natin ang mga karanasang matimbang at mga hamong kaharap ngayon sa pagtataguyod ng kapayapaan at pagkakasundo. Dapat ipagdiwang din natin ang mga munting tagumpay at magkaisa sa pag-asang mapalaganap ang kultura ng kapayapaan sa buong bansa.

Sa ngayon, kung saan saan naririnig ang mga masigabong panawagan para sa kapayapaan mula sa iba’t-ibang sektor at pangkat. Bagaman iba’t iba ang paraan upang mapalaganap ito.

Tunay nga habang nagiging mas masalimuot ang tunggalian at karahasan sa lipunan, lalong mahirap mahuli ang kapayapaan. Mismong ang kayamanan natin sa iba’t ibang kalinangan at pananampalataya ay nagiging dahilan ng pagwawatak-watak.

Panahon na upang maliwanagan natin at tanggapin ng lubos na walang mas mabuting daan tungo sa kapayapaan kaysa sa maglakbay at kumilos bilang isang bayan.

Bagaman iba’t ibang kultura ang bumubuo sa atin, hindi dapat natin makaligtaan ang magkakatulad na pangarap, diwa, at paniniwalang nagbubuklod sa atin at nagbibigay ng inspirasyon at lakas sa pagtugon sa mabibigat na usaping sumasalang sa kanya-kanyang pangkat sa lipunan.

Samakatuwid, iwaksi natin ang pangungutya sa kapwa at sa halip, tanggaping kailangan natin ang isa’t isa. Palawakin natin ang pagkaka-isa ng pamayanan nang higit sa sari-sariling bukluran ayon sa kanya-kanyang wika, relihiyon, kultura at pulitika. Namumuhay tayong lahat sa iisang lupain kaya dapat tayong magsikap at kumilos ng may iisang pangarap at tungo sa iisang kinabukasan bilang mga Pilipino kapayapaan ang hangad.

Kung positibo at bukas ang pananaw, haharapin natin ang mga alitan at krisis bilang mga pagkakataon upang lalong pagandahin ang pagsasama.

Buong loob akong umaasa na sa pagdiriwang ngayong taon ng Linggo ng Pagkamulat sa Pambansang Kapayapaan, lalong lalalim ang pagpapahalaga nating lahat sa pagkakaisa ng bayan at titindi ang paninindigan ng bawat isa sa atin na isulong ang pagbabago bilang mga mamamayang may pananagutan sa kapwa at sa Repubika.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today renewed her appeal for unity for the Filipino people to attain peace, overcome any crisis, and push the socio-economic growth of the country.

In a radio message, the President noted the imperative need for peace and security in the homeland.

She enjoined the people to creatively demonstrate their thoughts and beliefs on achieving peace while reflecting on their experiences and challenges in waging the call for peace and unity.

"Ito ang panahon upang sama-samang ihayag ng lahat ng mamamayan sa malikhaing paraan ang ating damdamin at paniniwala sa kapayapaan. Pagmuni-munihin din natin ang mga karanasang matimbang at mga hamong kaharap ngayon sa pagtataguyod ng kapayapaan at pagkakasundo," she said.

The President, in Proclamation No. 161, last year set February 28 to March 6 of every year as National Peace Consciousness Week.

In her message, the Chief Executive said it was high time for all Filipinos to accept the truth that the best way to achieve peace was to join hands and effect national destiny as one people, one nation.

"Panahon na upang maliwanagan natin at tanggapin ng lubos na walang mas mabuting daan tungo sa kapayapaan kaysa sa maglakbay at kumilos bilang isang bayan," she added.

The President called on everyone to bring about national unity that would go beyond parochial groupings according to dialect, religion, culture and politics.

She stressed that the Filipino people live in one nation and must therefore move with a collective dream for a better and peaceful future.

Defense Secretary Angelo T. Reyes today said the United States Defense Department has committed to give its "maximum support within the context of respecting all provisions included in the Philippine Constitution" in the conduct of RP-US joint military training exercises.

Reyes said "we appreciate the commitment made by US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld."

In a report to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Reyes said the respective military officials of both countries would be ironing out "the details of the implementation of this initiative taking into consideration the unique situation of both countries, including provisions contained in the Philippine Constitution."

He said he was sent to Washington to discuss the "enhancement and continued cooperation of the Philippines and the United States on issues pertaining to terrorism."

"These meetings have served to strengthen the strategic alliance between our two countries, an alliance based on deep friendship and historic ties, as well as shared values and common threats," he said.

Among the issues Reyes discussed with Secretary Rumsfeld were the basic principles and general terms of the exercises.

In a statement, Rumsfeld said the arrangements for the exercises are being discussed and he did not know what the formula would be.

"Whatever our role is, it has to be consistent with their Constitution and their circumstance. We want to be helpful," the US Defense Secretary said.

"We will have something like a Balikatan 03, that will be related to terrorism, and it very likely will have an intelligence component, a command-and-control component, a training component, some exercises," he added.

Rumsfeld did not put a timetable on setting up the Blikatan 03-1, adding that the shape and size of the exercise remained to be worked out in a plan acceptable to both countries.

He said the US looked forward to working closely with the Philippines, which is a long-term ally of the US and is a stalwart foe of terrorism worldwide and within its borders.

Malacañang today presented four talking points designed to bring the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) closer to the negotiating table.

The talking points, presented at a meeting of the Cabinet Oversight Committee on Internal Security (COCIS) in Malacanang, proposed "the setting up of an acceptable monitoring team which will effectively monitor ceasefire mechanisms on the ground."

It also called for "the establishment of a proposed area of temporary stay to avoid mistake encounters while negotiations are ongoing."

It likewise stressed the need to "reaffirm the commitment of both sides to observe the commitments in the joint communiqué of May 6, 2002 in Kuala Lumpur on how to address the issue of criminal elements seeking refuge in known MILF occupied areas."

Lastly, the talking points also emphasized the "need to pinpoint responsibility for the spate of bombings in urban areas and the toppling of National Power Corporation’s transmission lines."

The talking points, approved in principle by the COCIS chaired by Executive Secretary Alberto Romulo, would still be submitted to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for approval, Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye said.

According to Secretary Eduardo Ermita, presidential adviser on the peace process, these talking points would be conveyed to the MILF through the usual back channels.

Ermita said the government hoped that the MILF would "respond positively" to the talking points.

He explained that the proposed "area of temporary stay" is to ensure that there would "be no spillover of armed groups in the concerned areas."

"We will lessen the probability of skirmishes," Ermita added.

Asked about the possibility of meeting the six-month deadline set by the President at the start of the year for a peace pact with the MILF, Ermita said the government is exerting its best efforts.

"Six months would still be a very reasonable time to discuss the substance of the peace agreement as approved by the President," Ermita said.

Meanwhile, Bunye said the COCIS recommended the convening of the government peace panel headed by Presidential Assistant for Mindanao Jesus Dureza and co-chaired by Justice Secretary Simeon Datumanong, a Maguindanaon.

Bunye also reported that in after-operations reports, Armed Forces Chief of Staff General Dionisio Santiago clarified that the President ordered the Buliok operations to flush out elements of the Pentagon kidnap-for-ransom group and deprive them of a refuge in the MILF area in Pikit, Cotabato.