President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today allayed fears over the possible outbreak of the killer pneumonia, known as severe acute respiratory syndrome or SARS, in the country, saying the Department of Health is on the alert and is taking all the necessary preventive measures.

In a radio interview this morning, the President said it is good to note that the situation in the Philippines is not as serious compared to other Southeast Asian countries.

"Ganun pa man ang Department of Health ay nakita n’yo alerto na para sa ano mang suspetyosong kaso and it will not relax its guard (The Department of Health, though, as you can see, is on the alert for any suspicious case and it will not relax its guard)," the President said.

The President stressed that action plans have been put into place, including an information campaign about the disease itself, particularly its symptoms, and precautionary measures against it.

"Ang publiko ay dapat hindi na mi-mislead o natatakot sa tsismis. Kaalaman ang ating pinakamabuting sandata (The public should not be misled by rumors. Information is our best weapon against it)," the President said.

Health Secretary Manuel Dayrit declared Monday that the only known Filipino contact is not a SARS case and was already discharged from hospital confinement.

Dayrit said the DOH had located last March 15 a contact of a known SARS case, a 43 year-old Filipino businessman who came home from Hanoi in March 11.

Up to the time he was discharged yesterday, the Filipino has not manifested any signs of SARS, such as fever of more than 38 degrees Celsius, sore throat, cough, shortness of breath, according to Dayrit. He added that the incubation period is from 4-6 days.

Dayrit advised the public to remain calm in the face of the potential spread of the mysterious pneumonia-type disease. He said DOH is working closely with international agencies like the World Health Organization and the US Centers for Disease Control.

The DOH is also working with the country’s labor attaches abroad to prevent the spread of the infection and to identify, isolate and treat possible cases, Dayrit said.

He said that persons who do not have a history of travel to China and Hong Kong in February and March or who were not exposed (meaning lived with, cared for, or worked closely with) to known SARS cases need not worry.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today renewed her call for a moratorium in politics and for the people to be united in the midst of uncertainties both here and abroad.

In her remarks at the signing of the memorandum of agreement (MOA) setting up the P500 million Mindanao Peace and Development Fund (MPDF) in Malacanang this morning, the President said the government will undertake all options practicable "to alleviate the transient difficulties and anxieties of our people."

Saying that Filipinos here and abroad are safe, the President, nevertheless, asked everyone to be calm and vigilant.

"Let every citizen be each other’s keeper. And let’s have unity in crisis. Let there be a moratorium on partisan politics as we all focus our hearts and energies to the tasks at hand," the President said.

This is something that the Mindanao congressmen have done in setting up the MPDF, the President said. "And I hope all our political leaders will do this for the country in this time of world crisis," she added.

The President also thanked the Mindanao congressmen, particularly their leader, Speaker Jose de Venecia, Jr., for initiating the setting up of the MPDF and for "sharing the responsibility of restoring peace and confidence, and reawakening our conflict-affected communities to a new era of hope."

"Mindanao cries our for peace and development, and security from terrorism. Today, we are taking a big step forward in answer to that cry," the President said.

The President said that on top of the P500 million set aside for the development and security of Mindanao, what is more important is the determination to see the end of the Filipinos fighting Filipinos.

She said that the MPDF would be jointly funded by the House of Representatives and the Executive Department. One half of the fund, or P250 million, will come from the congressional allocation for fiscal year 2003 of the 50 congressmen from Mindanao or P5 million from each one of them.

The other half, or P250 million, will come from the Executive Department.

Under the MOA, each of the 50 congressional districts in Mindanao will receive P10 million from the MPDF to be used solely for peace and order, security and development of their districts.

The MOA on the fund was signed by Speaker de Venecia and Congressman J. Mayo Almario, chairman of the House committee for Mindanao affairs, on behalf of the House of Representatives.

Those who signed on behalf of the Executive Department were Secretary Emilia Boncodin of the Department of Budget and Management, Secretary Angelo Reyes of the Department of National Defense, Secretary Jose Lina of the Department of Interior and Local Government, Director General Hermogenes Ebdane, Jr., chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), and Gen. Dionisio Santiago, chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

In signing the MOA, officials said that recent developments in Mindanao necessitate a comprehensive government policy to address the peace and order problem in the area.

In the MOA, the congressmen from Mindanao also expressed "their unconditional support" to the administration in its fight against terrorism and lawlessness in Mindanao.

As a US-led attack on Iraq looms, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today reassured the nation that the government is prepared to keep the stability of the nation as well as protect its overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

At the same time, the President called on all Filipinos to set aside partisanship and focus all energy in overcoming the present crisis.

"We’re prepared. We’ve been preparing for a long time," the President said in a statement. "We’ve firmed up the security law enforcement and socio-economic contingency measures to protect the public interest. Most of these are already on stream."

The President said the nation has enough oil, rice and essential public needs.

She said that she has mobilized the whole government machinery, including the local governments, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP).

The President also called on the private sector, civil society and indeed, all citizens to cooperate and coordinate with the AFP and PNP in safeguarding communities.

"We must be pro-active against collateral terrorist attacks," she said.

The President also announced that she would meet the National Security Council this afternoon "to firm up political consensus to meet a possible outbreak of hostilities" in the Middle East.

While the government does not see a serious threat to OFWs, the President said she has nevertheless ordered the Department of Foreign Affairs to take necessary measures, along with the Middle East Preparedness Team (MEPT) "to ensure the safety of our nationals, and at the same time, preserve diplomatic normalcy as much as possible."

"I’m assuring all Filipino families and their loved ones that your government will take care of our overseas Filipinos," the President said.

The President called on the OFWs in Middle East to keep in touch with the Philippine embassies, which will help them and provide them with the information they need.

Up to this time, peace remains the best option.

We keep our hopes high that the precarious situation can be resolved by a consensus of the international community; and I pray that Saddam Hussein will take all steps to avert war and pave the way for a peaceful resolution of the conflict.

While the nations of the world are sorting out the present crisis, we must join hands in working for the stability and wellbeing of our nation.

We are prepared. We have been preparing for a long time. I met with the Cabinet this morning. We firmed up the security, law enforcement and socioeconomic contingency measures to protect the public interest. Most of these are already on stream. We have more than enough oil, rice and essential public needs.

We have mobilized the whole machinery, including the local governments, the AFP and the PNP. I call on the private sector, civil society, and indeed all our citizens to cooperate and coordinate with them in safeguarding our communities. We must be proactive against collateral terrorist attacks.

I will meet the National Security Council this afternoon to firm up our political consensus to meet a possible outbreak of hostilities.

While we do not see a serious threat to our overseas workers, I have directed the Department of Foreign Affairs to take the necessary measures together with the Middle East Preparedness Team to ensure the safety of our nationals and at the same time, preserve diplomatic normalcy as much as possible. I am assuring all Filipino families and their loved ones that your government will take care of them.

To our countrymen in the Middle East, keep in touch with our embassies, they are there to help you and provide you the information you need.

Let us be calm but vigilant and alert. Every Filipino must be responsible for his fellow human being.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today outlined the components of her administration’s peace policy for Mindanao, namely, active defense, police vigilance, a high level of community alertness and pre-emptive diplomacy.

In remarks during the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement for Mindanao Peace and Development Fund (MPDF) this morning, the President thanked Congress for its very strong national and local political consensus to support measures incorporated in the peace policy for Southern Philippines.

The President said active defense would hopefully open a window of safety that would encourage the people to go home to their places of origin where they could have free reign on their livelihood and daily chores.

"The AFP is in a posture of active defense while a line for peace negotiations remains open," the President said.

The President said the military and police would continue to secure the civilian population to keep the highways of trade open and to check movements of armed groups posing a direct threat to law and order.

In terms of pre-emptive diplomacy, the President said peace negotiations should be pursued with the facilitation and assistance of a third party facilitator in order to achieve a comprehensive and durable settlement of the conflict in line with the Constitution.

"I thank the OIC (Organization of Islamic Conference) for their offer to participate in a ceasefire mechanism backed up by local peace initiatives which I have encouraged on the part of local government executives to bring the scatter dissident militias back to the fold of the community," the President said.

She said there should be a confluence of peace driven by the entire government in partnership with the people. "Peace for the farmers and the workers so that they can produce their sustenance and earn their keep, peace for the teachers and pupils in the hinterlands, peace for the fisherfolk and seafarers who ply their trade across our waters," the President said.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today called for a "deep sense of ethnic neighborhood" and for unity in diversity, saying this is a virtue that can instill peaceful co-existence among Filipinos and peace in the nation.

In a speech during the signing of the memorandum of agreement for Mindanao Peace and Development Fund (MDPF) in Malacaņang, the President stressed that every Filipino must realize that he belongs to a society that is a multi-ethnic society.

"(This multi-ethnic society) should be founded on social justice for all and the institutionalized accommodation of cultural traditions," she said.

She noted the "rich and varied heritage" of Filipinos.

But she stressed that "we must come to terms with Mindanaons as a people of the Philippines."

"Otherwise, we will never attain our full promise as a nation. We will never attain the strong Republic that we desire to be," the President said.

In an earlier interview, the President said the attainment of peace and development in Mindanao remained her government’s priority.

But peace with any armed group should fall under the framework of national sovereignty, territorial integrity and the Constitution of the country, she said.

Further, peace would prevail when communities say "no to terrorism" and continue to be alert to thwart, if not crush, terrorists and those who commit criminality and violence.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to relentlessly pursue its investigation of the pyramid scam cases and assist their victims.

NBI Director Reynaldo Wycoco, in a briefing right after a Cabinet meeting in Malacaņang, said that the President issued the order to the NBI to ease the pain of hapless victims, including soldiers and policemen, who had invested their meager savings, including retirement benefits, in the pyramiding schemes.

"Awang-awa siya doon sa mga nabiktima lalo dun sa mga members of the military in the schemes and police na nag-loan pa sa Armed Forces of the Philippines Savings and Loan Association Inc. (AFPSLAI)," she said.

"We take inspiration from the instruction of the President to pursue these cases relentlessly because the victims are mostly poor people who were duped to part with their hard-earned money," Wycoco said.

Wycoco said the NBI is currently investigating 12 to 13 companies that are suspected of "get-rich-quick, too-good-to-be-true" schemes. He declined to name these companies as the NBI is still undertaking surveillance on them.

He said aside from Multitel, there are still eight companies facing cases of estafa, violations of Securities and Exchange Regulations Code and bouncing checks law.

Among these companies are Mateo Management Group (MMG), Ma. Teresa Santos Trading, Tibayan Group Investment Co. Inc., Asia-Pacific Alliance Management, Kimberly Management/Eurocom Business Center, Philsuise Financial Services and Consultancy and ICS Export, Inc.

Wycoco said filing of cases against these companies might not be enough. "The whole machinery of government must work together: law enforcement, prosecution, the courts, the financial arm, so that appropriate remedies can be applied," he said.

The National Security Council (NSC) today adopted three recommendations of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) in connection with the inevitable US-led attack on Iraq within the next few hours.

In a three-hour meeting that started at 3 p.m. in Malacaņang, the NSC agreed to:

• Express support for continued efforts at one last chance for diplomatic resolution to the Iraqi crisis;

• Give political and moral support to these efforts; and

• Contribute to the humanitarian response in a post-conflict scenario. This includes the provision of medical, civic and peacekeeping forces.

The NSC also called for the further review by the DFA of the question on the use of Philippine air space and seaports by the US forces, to see whether this is consistent with the Constitution and the country’s national interest.

During the meeting, the NSC noted the preparations made by the executive branch to meet any eventuality of a conflict in the Middle East.

The NSC cited the offices of primary responsibility and the agencies under the Iraq crisis management committee.

The council also noted efforts of the Philippine National Police (PNP) to prevent weapons of mass destructions from finding its way to the hands of local terrorists, and the bid of authorities to secure vital installations.

The NSC likewise cited the mobilization of local government units, down to the barangay level, for anti-crime and anti-terrorist action, and the setting up of local crisis management teams under the local executives.

Meanwhile, the Department of Energy reported that the Dubai oil price fell by about a dollar from $29.80 to a little above $28.

This was almost the same situation that happened in the last Gulf war where prices rose during the times of tension and then decreased when the resolution of the conflict became clear.

The NSC noted that the country has a 62-day in-country inventory of oil and petroleum products, the highest level in ten years.

On the report of the Department of Agriculture, the NSC noted the 95-day inventory of rice, and the stable food supply in terms of palay, meat eggs, fish, cooking oil and sugar.

The Department of Trade and Industry reported that the prices have remained very stable, and that the inventory level of primary goods has remained comfortable amid calls for the prompt prosecution of hoarders, price manipulators and profiteers.

The Department of Finance reported about the foreign exchange volatility and the order to the DOJ to begin investigating foreign exchange speculators.

During the meeting, the NSC also noted the official statement by the President on the Iraqi crisis issued this morning and adopted it as among the consensus items agreed by the NSC.

Among those who attended the NSC meeting were former President Corazon Aquino, Vice President Teofisto Guingona, Jr., Senate President Franklin Drilon, Speaker Jose de Venecia, Jr., Senators Ramon Magsaysay, Manuel Villar, Loren Legarda, Tito Sotto and Robert Barbers, Congressmen Nepthali Gonzales, Apolinario Lozada, Prospero Pichay, Gerry Salappudin, Agapito Aquino and Raul Gonzales.

The National Security Council has determined that it is in the national interest of the Philippines to provide political and moral support to efforts to rid Iraq of weapons of mass destruction.

The NSC adopted the call of former President Corazon Aquino for all national leaders to unite on this issue.

The NSC expressed satisfaction over the preparations of the government to ensure the safety and welfare of Filipinos here and overseas.