President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today called on the nation to be extra vigilant against terrorists, particularly at this time of global crisis over the disarming of Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction.

She also called on the entire police force all over the country to be "very, very visible in possible terrorist target areas."

In a radio interview this morning, the President said the police and the people themselves should exercise internal vigilance against terrorism.

At the same time, the President said, she will continue to pray "until zero hour" that war in the Gulf will be averted and peace will prevail.

Just hours after United States President George W. Bush issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Iraqi President Saddam Hussein to go into exile or face war, the President appealed to the people to stay calm but be vigilant and alert.

She also called on the people to close ranks and remain united in the face of the global crisis. Paraphrasing US President John F. Kennedy during his inaugural address on January 20, 1961, the President said: "Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country."

In today’s radio interview, the President said terrorism remains the biggest threat all over the world, recalling the terrorist bombing in Bali, Indonesia, which claimed scores of innocent people in that largely Muslim country.

Bali, she added, was the worst terrorist attack after the Sept. 11, 2001 attack in the United States where thousands of people died.

The President stressed, however, that the No. 1 concern of the government are the close to 1.5 million overseas Filipino workers in the Middle East.

The National Security Council (NSC) has allowed President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to resort to emergency powers if the price of petroleum products would continue to rise and affect the prices of basic commodities.

"Doon sa bagay na yon walang debate, sang-ayon sila (On that particular issue, there was no debate, they all agreed," the President replied when asked if the issue of emergency powers was discussed in yesterday’s NSC meeting in Malacanang.

The President said that on other issues, there was no overwhelming consensus among the participants that included former President Corazon Aquino, Senate President Franklin Drilon, Speaker Jose de Venecia, Jr. and other leaders of Congress and members of the Cabinet.

Earlier, in a separate interview, the President said that the government would temporarily lift the implementation of the Oil Deregulation Law if the price of oil would adversely affect the prices of basic commodities.

But in this morning’s interview, the President allayed fears of a major economic dislocation that would be brought about by the impending war in the Middle East.

Although she admitted that there would be some adjustments, the President said the war would not result in a permanent damage to the country’s economy "because our economic fundamentals are strong."

She said that yesterday, after US President George W. Bush issued the 48-hour ultimatum against Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, stock markets all over the world perked up and the price of crude oil in the world market actually declined.

But despite these encouraging signs, the President assured the nation that all contingency plans for the Filipino people, here and abroad, have already been in place.

In fact, the President said, the country has now the highest inventory of oil and rice and the price of essential commodities have so far been stable.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today warned dollar speculators and hoarders that they will be charged with economic sabotage if they would continue with their activities that have resulted in the temporary depreciation of the peso.

In a radio interview, the President said she has already ordered Justice Secretary Simeon Datumanong to work on the preliminary investigation against individuals and companies suspected of resorting to speculations and hoarding of US dollars.

The President said that economic sabotage is a criminal offense and individuals found to engage in this kind of criminal activity would be prosecuted.

"Kaya nagbibigay ako sa kanila ng babala, kung ayaw nilang ituloy itong charges sa kanila, ibenta nila yong mga binili nilang dolyar na sobra sa kanilang pangangailangan (That is why I am warning them, if they don’t want us to pursue the charges against them, then they should sell the dollars that they have overbought)," the President stressed.

The President said that for companies or institutions that have engaged in dollar hoarding, their treasurers or other officials would be charged with economic sabotage.

According to the President, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has a list of individuals or firms that have been engaged in overbuying of US dollars.

But the BSP, the President said, can only impose administrative sanctions against those suspected of hoarding dollars but it is the Department of Justice that can charge them in courts.

The Philippine National Police (PNP), in response to instructions from Malacaņang, released to the public today leaflets calling on the people to be vigilant against terrorism.

The leaflets, produced by the Directorate for Police Community Relations of the PNP headquarters in Camp Crame, gives advice on what the citizens can do in case of bombing attacks and bomb threats.

The PNP handout gives the citizenry tips on bomb detection and gives advice on what objects to watch out for. It also lists down security measures to be implemented and observed in public places and business establishments.

The PNP urges the people to stay calm and take proper precautions at home and at work. It urges them to report bomb threats and bombing incidents by calling 117 on the telephone.

"Organize monitoring groups in your neighborhood and in your workplace," the PNP says, pointing out that as responsible citizens "we need to build a united front against criminality and terrorism."

Neutralize rumors or unverified reports through text messages by deleting them, not sending them forward to other people, the PNP advises owners of cellular phones.

Get back to normal routine as soon as possible, the PNP further advises, adding that "we should not allow ourselves to be cowed into fear but instead lead our lives normally."

The PNP also gives tips on what to watch out for: strange, unusual, unattended baggage, bags, boxes or parcels; a ticking sound inside bags or packages; presence of electric wires and batteries where they should not be.

The President has decided to postpone her state visit to Spain and official visits to Germany and the Holy See.

The host governments has been informed of the President’s decision and consultations with the host governments will be held to make arrangements for the President to visit the three countries at a later date.

Developments in the world compel the President to make this decision. These developments require the President to remain in the Philippines for the time being.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today took another step to assure the welfare and safety of Filipino expatriates in the Middle East as she inspected communication facilities set up to provide free phone calls between overseas Filipino workers (OFW) in the Gulf and their families.

The President cited the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), Philippine National Bank (PNB) and Globe Telecommunications for joining hands to carry out the program dubbed "PNB Tele-Ugnayan: Rapid Connect sa Middle East."

After a briefing on the situation of OFWs in the Middle East from OWWA officials, the President made a call to Kuwait and was linked with Ambassador Bayani Mangibin.

She expressed satisfaction over preparations the embassy personnel in Kuwait and all over the Middle East have been doing to see to the well-being of Filipinos in the area, in the event a US-Iraq conflict broke out.

She told Mangibin the welfare of OFWs in Kuwait "ang ating pangunahing atensiyon ngayon (is the government’s priority focus of attention in these times)."

In an earlier Middle East map review at the OWWA office, the President pointed out Kuwait’s proximity to Iraq.

She also appreciated Mangibin’s short but positive briefing on the situation of OFWs in Kuwait. "Good… good, so normal pa rin ang buhay diyan (so life there continues normally)," she said over the Tele-Ugnayan line.

She added that Middle East Preparedness Team chief ambassador Roy Cimatu would be "leaving today to go (to Kuwait). He’ll be the last man out if ever."

Overheard during the Tele-Ugnayan was Mangibin’s response that thanked the President for her full support to the embassy staff and the OFWs in Kuwait.

"Lahat kami, itong mga OFWs dito at mga staff ng Philippine Embassy ay lalong nagkakaroon ng lakas ng loob sa ganitong klaseng pagsuporta ninyo sa amin, Madam," Mangibin said.

During the same visit, the President also talked to a Filipino OFW in Kuwait and took time to confer with relatives of OFWs worldwide, particularly those based in the Gulf, who were transacting business at the OWWA main office in Pasay City.

OWWA chief Virgilio Angelo said the Tele-Ugnayan would facilitate the easy, fast and free phone links between OFWs in the Gulf and their loved ones in the Philippines.

This would provide "a relevant and timely service to our OFWs and their families at this most crucial time," Angelo said.

With PNB and OWWA in the project is Globe which offered cellular phones and computers with Internet capability for video-conferencing.

Angelo said Tele-Ugnayan has made available two communication networks, both local and overseas.

Cellular phone booths have been put in place at the OWWA main office along F.B. Harrison in Pasay City and in 11 of its regional offices nationwide.

Phone links could be made in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates and other countries that have large concentrations of Filipinos likely to be affected by the imminent war in Iraq.

Crisis Preparedness

The economy will undergo minor adjustments, but there will be no lingering or permanent damage. Our economic fundamentals are sound. The stock market worldwide is perking up. Oil prices are dropping steadily.

Nevertheless, our contingency plans to protect the interest of the people have been in place for sometime now. We have the highest oil and rice inventories in a decade. Prices of prime commodities are stable. There is no need for grave concern. Do not believe rumors of shortages.

SARS

Action plans are under way. These include an information campaign about the disease itself, its symptoms, and things that should be done to avoid it. The public must not be misled or frightened by rumors. Knowledge is our best weapon.

Peace Talks

Taking a cue from President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s call for a total community approach and paradigm shift in fighting lawlessness, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) presented in a Cabinet meeting yesterday a program designed to build a safe Philippines and develop a culture of peace.

Founded on the belief that peace and order, security and safety are public goods that must be developed, promoted and protected by government and the citizenry, the program proposes guides to action to ensure public security.

It exhorts governors, city and municipal mayors and punong barangays to assume the role of anti-crime czars, crisis managers and information czars as discussed during the President’s Command Conference last March 15 with the police, the military and LGU officials.

As anti-crime czars, governors, mayors and punong barangays will take the lead in the fight against street crimes, terrorism, and other forms of lawless violence. They will also have to revitalize the Peace and Order Councils, and activate, train and mobilize Barangay Tanods.

The governors, city and municipal mayors, through their respective Peace and Order Councils, shall update and revise their respective Integrated Community Public Safety Plans and ensure that all punong barangays maintain and regularly update the list of barangay residents.

The punong barangays shall organize neighborhood watch groups to assist the police and the military in intelligence gathering, and in monitoring and reporting of suspicious persons, suspicious movements and suspicious materials in all public places and vital installations.

As crisis managers, the same officials shall ensure the safety of food, medicines, and other necessities and establish evacuation centers for victims of terrorism.

They will also have to:

• Direct local health officers to identify, isolate, quarantine and treat victims or carriers of infectious diseases brought about by exposure to any chemical, radiological or biological agent;

• Impose stricter security measures in public places and vital installations;

• Cause the apprehension and aid in the prosecution and conviction of the perpetrators;
• Establish checkpoints in strategic areas when necessary;

• Impose curfew hours and other restrictions on mobility whenever warranted and on a case to case basis; and

• Reach out to all sectors of the community to foster unity and cooperation and force a united front against terrorism and other forms of lawless violence through peace covenants.

As information czars, local government officials will act as spokesperson to inform the constituents of the local and national security situation and immediately dispel rumors and clarify misleading information.

They will also have to assure the public that the government is doing its best to address the crisis, urge them to be vigilant and safety conscious.

As a final duty, the same officials will have to organize barangay assemblies, mobilize NGOs and other sectors of the locality as mechanisms to disseminate information on local and national security situation.

During the same Cabinet meeting, DILG Secretary Jose Lina, Jr. revealed that a total of 800 barangay tanods from 40,000 barangays are slated to be trained this year.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) has assured the Filipino people that the country has adequate food supply even if the war in Iraq would last for months.

During last Tuesday’s meeting of the National Security Council (NSC) in Malacanang, Agriculture Secretary Luis Lorenzo unveiled his department’s Food Security Plan in the event of a war in Iraq that assures not only food adequacy but also access of the people to food supply.

The DA said the government will maintain at least a 90-day supply of rice for the next six months.

In its projection for the first semester of this year, the DA said that rice inventory as of January 1, 2003 was 2.52 million metric tons (MMT), which is equivalent to 94 days supply.

The DA estimates domestic production for the first semester to be at 3.77 MMT, which is equivalent to 143 days supply.

In addition to rice importations to be made by the National Food Authority (NFA) and food organizations, the total rice supply for the first semester would be about 7.152 MMT, which is good for 271 days supply.

With the expected domestic consumption of 4.778 MMM for the first semester, there would still be a net inventory of 2.38 MMT, which is equivalent to 90 days supply, the DA said.

The DA said that the expected shortfall in corn due to production losses in Mindanao as a result of the recent fighting, would be remedied by the importation of some 459,000 metric tons from abroad, on top of the 600,000 MT of feed wheat importation from India.

The DA food security plan also assured a four to five months supply for meat, eggs, and fish, while fish production would be entering its peak for the next four months.

On cooking oil, the DA has assured a two-months supply, which could be replenished on a monthly basis.

There will be no shortage of sugar, the DA said, adding that the country has the highest production in 30 years, with 2 million metric tons produced as against domestic consumption of only 1.95 MMT.