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06 MARCH 2003 |
| MIMAROPA governors appeal to GMA to hold Balikatan in Occidental Mindoro |
The governors of the two Mindoro provinces, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan (MIMAROPA) have appealed to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to hold the "Balikatan" exercises in the MIMAROPA region to be hosted by the province of Occidental Mindoro. In a resolution dated March 5, 2003, the MIMAROPA governors said the holding of the Balikatan exercises in their region would minimize if not totally eradicate the peace and order problem in the area and reduce the threats and dangers posted by unwanted groups to the region and to the country as whole. The resolution was signed by Governors Eleandro Jesus Madrona of Romblon, Bartolome Marasigan of Oriental Mindoro, Jose Villarosa of Occidental Mindoro, Carmencita Reyes of Marinduque and Joel Reyes of Palawan. The five governors pointed out that the gains in the exercise of the Balikatan in Mindoro could be replicated and utilized in the other provinces in the Southern Tagalog region experiencing the same peace and order problem and this would ultimately impact on the overall pursuit of lasting peace and development. "The island of Mindoro, particularly Occidental Mindoro, has been the haven of insurgents and their continued presence in the province does not only pose danger to the people but also adversely affects their socio-economic activities," the resolution said. According to the governors, the Balikatan exercise was successfully undertaken in Basilan and seen to have a notable impact not only on the peace and order situation but also on the economic activities in area. |
| Statement of Presidential Spokesperson Ignacio R. Bunye |
Davao Bombing The military and police have been ordered to integrate all intelligence and investigative findings so that our people can be fully apprised of the situation. We are happy to report that the PNP has accepted the offer of Australia and the US FBI to provide forensic assistance to local probers. Diplomatic initiatives must reinforce our efforts. We are working closely with the Islamic countries to isolate all terrorist cells in Mindanao and deprive them of legitimacy or clandestine foreign support. For our legislators, it is time to refocus their sights on a tough anti-terrorism law. AMLA Our lawmakers did a very good job. It is a credit to the leadership of both Senate President Franklin Drilion and Speaker Jose de Venecia. The President will sign the enrolled bill incorporating the amendments at 10 a.m. tomorrow. But the job doesn’t stop there. We must now refocus on vital transnational concerns that affect our national interest foremost of which are the growing terrorism and a possible conflict in the Middle East. The President feels it is time to work doubly hard to reinforce our weakened economy. She urges our legislators to move on to other priorities in our legislative agenda that will improve our economic productivity and shore up investment. Freeze on Processing of OFW Application for HK The President’s order is a form of diplomatic protest. She represents the people, and the people cannot stand aside while Filipinos are being discriminated upon or treated unfairly in a foreign country. Our domestic workers are the best in the world. We deserve respect and dignified treatment. Economy Our economy is being temporarily battered by Middle East tension and the series of bombings in Mindanao. The President is hoping for an early resolution of the standoff in Iraq while we consolidate all efforts to stabilize the peace and order situation in Mindanao. The President feels that this is just a temporary setback. The country’s economic fundamentals are sound. When temporary instabilities retreat, we will be back on the road to a quick recovery. |
| IMF says RP economic situation comfortable |
"The situation in the Philippines is pretty comfortable," according to the International Monetary Fund. David Burton, IMF director for Asia-Pacific, told a news conference in Singapore yesterday that the IMF has been encouraged by the Philippines’ recent robust economic performance. The IMF official told members of the Foreign Correspondents Association of Singapore and the Singapore Press Club that he was also encouraged by recent signs of improving tax revenues in the Philippines. Reviewing the entire region, Burton said most Asian economies were well placed to ride out any turbulence caused by a global economic slowdown. "The immediate outlook is for continued solid growth in the Asian region, although sizeable downside risks related to uncertainties about the strength of the global recovery and to Iraq exist," the IMF official said. Burton added, however, that Asian governments must be prepared to ease monetary and fiscal policies if a potential war in Iraq does more damage to the global economy than expected. The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) also said the Asia-Pacific region offers the greatest opportunities for growth in the next three years. The EIU said that in a survey of the world’s top corporate executives, 66 percent chose the region as offering the biggest growth prospects for their businesses, followed by Eastern Europe, which was chosen by 40 percent. The Middle East was voted as the region posing the biggest risks to business in the next three years. The survey, titled CEO Agenda, was carried out in the last three months of 2002 and covered 681 chief executives, board chairmen, chief financial officers and regional managers. |
| Palace renews commitment to work for lasting peace in Mindanao |
Malacaņang today renewed its commitment to work for a lasting peace in Mindanao as it appealed to unscrupulous groups to stop resorting to black propaganda and dirty tactics in furthering their evil designs. Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye earlier disowned a supposed memorandum of instruction from President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ordering the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to capture Hashim Salamat dead or alive. Bunye categorically denied that the document came from the Palace, adding that it could be the handiwork of people who want to sabotage government efforts in reviving talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). "We’d like to state that this document is spurious. It is not true. This document is fake and it’s been circulated probably to agitate the Muslim population in Mindanao," Bunye said in his regular press briefing. Bunye said it is very difficult to pinpoint the source of these documents. "Obviously it emanated from a group that doesn’t want peace between MILF and the government," Bunye said. The spokesman said Presidential Assistant on Mindanao Jesus Dureza presented the fake document, which has been widely circulated in the region, during last week’s meeting in Malacanang of the Cabinet Oversight Committee on Internal Security (COCIS). "We don’t know and we don’t want to point any fingers at any particular group. It’s enough that we belie this statement, that we correct the impression that this emanated from Malacanang," Bunye said. The false memo, dated February 11, orders the AFP to undertake a so-called Operation Greenbase, whereby the Armed Forces must also "capture and occupy" simultaneously within one week the Buliok Complex fronting the Liguasan Marsh area comprising Kabalsalan Island Complex, Rajamuda Complex and Buliok Complex where Hashim Salamat’s headquarters or Islamic Center is located. The so-called memo from the President further orders the AFP to serve the warrants of arrest against Salamat, Samier Hashim, Al Haj Murad and Eid Kabalu by various courts two years ago. "The AFP must bear in mind that the high-value target of the plan is to capture Salamat Hashim dead or alive," the fake memo said. |
| GMA names new MTRCB chair, vice chair, executive director, board member |
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo appointed today former board member Ma. Consoliza P. Laguardia as the new chairman of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) replacing Mari-Len Y.Dinglasan for a term expiring Sept. 30 this year. Mrs. Arroyo also appointed a new vice chairman, executive director and board member. Named to replace June Keithley-Castro as vice chair was Jacqueline Suzanne Aquino-Gavino for a term also expiring on Sept. 30. Appointed executive director was Editha G. Demetria vice Gabriel Ma. J. Lopez while Orlando S. Olgado was named member to fill up the slot vacated by Laguardia at the board. Demetria and Olgado will likewise serve the unexpired terms of their predecessors. Laguardia, whose duty as board member from March 2001 to March 2002 was to review and classify films, is a Commerce graduate, major in economics, from the College of the Holy Spirit in 1981. She once served as supervisor in the billing division of Aboitiz-One (Air) and administrative assistant/executive secretary to the administrator of the Arcadian Retirement Hotel in California. Prior to these, she served the Philippine National Bank in various capacities from 1983 to 1999. Her tour of duty in the bank included stints as senior trader, senior management specialist, assistant trader, and EDP teller. |
| GMA okays creation of 'Maralitang Tagamasid' to help railway youths get jobs, be productive |
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today approved the creation of Maralitang Tagamasid, a group of social workers who will help out-of-school youth living along railways find jobs and eventually lead productive and socially relevant lives. The President issued her approval during a meeting with several urban poor groups at the State Dining Room in Malacanang. Among those the President met were urban poor groups from Caloocan, Taguig, Navotas, Payatas and Tala Leprosarium. The proposal to set up a group to transform indolent youths into hardworking citizens was made by Secretary Michael Defensor, chairman of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council. "Marami kasing tigas-ulo na kailangan magkaroon ng trabaho (there are many idle youths who should be working instead of just looking bored)," Defensor said. Defensor also reported to the President that the relocation and resettlement programs of the government are now under way for those living along the railways. He noted that the program beneficiaries along the North Railway have been relocated to medium-rise resettlement areas in Camarin in Caloocan City, while those along the South Railway have been offered resettlement areas in Tanay, Batangas and Montalban, Rizal. Aside from Defensor, among the officials who attended the meeting were National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) lead convenor Teresita Quintos-Deles and Metro Manila Development Authority and Public Works Secretary Bayani Fernando and Commission on the Urban Poor Chairman Percy Chavez. Meanwhile, the President ordered the immediate sale of 12 hectares of idle government land to long-time settlers in Taguig. The President issued the order after being informed that the government is not inclined to sell its land because it is considered prime property with P30,000 per square meter. This, despite an earlier law declaring the long-time residents as priority beneficiaries. "What’s 12 hectares compared to 120 hectares. The issue here is socialized housing…I am telling you, sell it to them," the President said. |
| GMA asks beneficiaries of housing programs to report abusive, illegal occupants |
The government today asked rightful state housing beneficiaries to immediately report to proper authorities abusive occupants and squatter syndicates who illegally occupy lands set for presidential proclamation. The appeal was made by government officials, led by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, during a meeting with urban poor groups at the State Dining Room in Malacanang. At the same time, the President approved the appointment of Percy Chavez, the chairman of the Commission on the Urban Poor, as the head of the Presidential Task Force Payatas. The task force has been assigned the task of identifying the proper government land recipients in the Payatas area. The task force will also provide rightful beneficiaries with an ad-interim relocation site while the Supreme Court is tackling the land title dispute in the said area. Secretary Michael Defensor, chairman of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council, who also attended the meeting, noted the problems that arise in an area set for presidential proclamation. "Once a presidential proclamation is announced, the number of residents always increase, even multiply," Defensor said. "Nilulusob ng mga tao (People come in droves)," he added. "We are asking your cooperation and vigilance to watch over the property because it is your land that is getting smaller because of these illegal occupants," Defensor said. Defensor noted the case of long-time settlers in Sitio Masagana in Bicutan, Taguig who are entitled to their land but have to contend now with occupants who only settled in the area after 1992, the cut-off year set by the government. |
