President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has called on the Filipino people to remain calm but united in the face of challenges ahead, including the possible adverse effects of a prolonged war in the Middle East.

In an anti-terrorism command conference held in Cebu City last Thursday, the President said that even in the face of an extended war scenario, the government’s contingency plans "can be stretched out effectively."

"It is important for our people to be aware of the truth, to resist any and all attempts to sow panic and irrational fear," the President said.

The President said that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the Philippine National Police (PNP), national and local officials, and the community should cooperate with each other to meet the crisis, especially in the war against terrorism.

"Each and every Filipino has the responsibility to be aware and be enlightened, to be vigilant and to act with discipline and with the genuine concern for the common good," the President said.

The command conference was attended by top officials of the AFP and the PNP, as well as local executives of Regions 6, 7 and 8.

Ambassador Roy Cimatu, head of the Middle East Preparedness Team (MEPT) who is now based in Kuwait, reported to the President in a teleconference during the command meeting that the contingency plan for OFWs in the Middle East is now being followed.

Cimatu also reported that an estimated 50,000 to 100,000 job opportunities in the Middle East await skilled and non-skilled Filipino workers once the war in Iraq is over.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has reported that Western Visayas and Southern Mindanao recently acquired major investment boost with a British group putting up a P4.56 billion renewable energy generation facility in Victorias, Negros Occidental and a Japanese investor putting up a P280 million granite wall panel plant in Digos City, Davao del Sur in Southern Mindanao.

DTI Secretary Manuel Roxas II said other big investment projects in the regions approved this year are Genpack Corporation's P1.04 billion tin can manufacturing project in General Santos City also in Southern Mindanao, and a P1.3 billion plastic packing factory of Modern Packaging Films Inc. of the Chemphil Group in Bataan.

These are among the P10.3 billion worth projects that were granted incentives by the government through the Board of Investments and the Philippine Economic Zones Authority during the first two months of this year, Roxas said.

"We have a good start. Our earlier figures show that exports for the first two months were good and businessmen are investing once more," Roxas said

He noted 106.5 percent increase in investments for the January-February period this year compared to the P5.0 billion listed last year.

"The interest shown by investors is very encouraging, this is indeed a testament to the progress we have made in attracting foreign and local investors despite geopolitics and the tense situation in Mindanao," Roxas said.

"More importantly, these investments will further boost our employment generation capability as close to 13,000 additional job opportunities will be made available to our people," Roxas added.

Foreign investments accounted for P5.66 billion represent 131 percent increase over the foreign investments infused during the same period last year, Roxas said.

The Victorias cogeneration project of British investors covers a 34 percent share of total foreign investments, a major jump from last year's British investments share of less than 3 percent of foreign investments.

Japanese firms, with a total of P1.75 billion investment during the first two months, had a 31 percent share while the Americans had 25 percent, Roxas said.

Meanwhile, substantial investments worth P1.74 billion or 17 percent of total investments were directed to Southern Tagalog and a total of P1.35 billion or 13 percent to Southern Mindanao.

Roxas said that the cogeneration plant of Victorias Bioenergy Inc. in Negros Occidental, which will be fueled with bagasse from Victorias Milling Corp. and other mills in the area, pushed investments in the electricity, gas and water supply sector by 537 percent.

Victorias Bioenergy Inc., which was granted pioneer status by the BOI, was formed to produce renewable energy and to supply electricity to VMC and surrounding communities. The plant, set to start full commercial operation in October, 2005 is expected to generate jobs for some 700 workers.

Isang masigla ang mapayapang umaga ang ipinapa-abot ko sa lahat ng ating mga lokal na opisyal sa barangay, mga punong-barangay, mga kagawad, mga sangguniang kabataan, gayundin sa lahat ng ating mga kababayan. Binabati ko kayong lahat mula Luzon, Visayas, hanggang Mindanao sa araw ng ating pagsama-sama, ang magkasabay na pagdiriwang ng Barangay Assembly Day sa buong bansa.

Lubhang napapanahon ang okasyong ito sapagkat nasa gitna tayo ng isang krisis at pag-aalala ng publiko. Ito ay ang giyera sa Iraq at ang pangamba kaugnay ng terorismo at ng ekonomiya.

Ang digmaan sa Iraq at ang gulo sa Mindanao ay iisa ang kaaway – terorismo. Kailangang alisan ang Iraq ng mga armas na malawakang pamumuksa dahil ang mga ito ay maaring ipuslit dito sa atin at gamitin ng mga terorista sa pag-atake sa mga kawawang sibilyan. Dito natin makikita ang kaugnay ng giyera sa Iraq at ang aktibong depensa ng mga komunidad laban sa mga naghahasik ng lagim sa Mindanao.

Habang mahigpit nating nilalabanan ang dahas ng mga rebelde, masigasig din ang mga hakbang ng pamahalaan upang muling maisulong ang usapang pangkapayapaan. Inatasan ko ang Exploratory Team ng gobyerno na humanap ng paraan para maibalik

ang pormal na pag-uusap. Lutasin ang sitwasyon ng mga nagsilikas sa Pikit at wakasan ang dahas ng mga terorista. At nagpapasalamat tayo sa pamahalaan ng Malaysia, sa kanilang walang sawang pagsuporta sa mahabang prosesong pangkapayapaan sa Mindanao.

Sa kabila nito, binabalaan ko ang mga armadong grupo na huwag samantalahin ang sitwasyon para hamunin ang pamahalaan. Hinihiling ko rin sa mga grupong nagdaraos ng kilos protesta na huwag magpakalat ng mga maling balita at impormasyon at huwag ipulutika ang giyera, maging dahilan ng ating lalong pagkawatak-watak.

Higit kailanman, ngayon tayo lalong dapat magkaisa at magtulungan tungo sa iisang direksiyon. Malaki ang posibilidad na ang mga kasabwat ni Saddam Hussein ay gumamit ng nakakalibot na sandatang kemikal o pagsabog ng mga pag-atake ng terorismo sa ibat-ibang dako ng mundo. Ito ang dahilan kung bakit inatasan ko ang ating militar at pulis na maging lubos na alerto at makipag-ugnay sa mga lokal na pamahalaan at mga komunidad.

Ginagawa ng gobyerno ang lahat para harapin ang krisis pero hindi tayo dapat maging kampante at luwagan ang ating pagbabantay. Maging listo tayong palagi at kalmado para malampasan ang unos na ito.

Hinihiling ko ang ating buo at tapat na pagmamatyag. Gaya ng ibang bansa dapat tayong maging listo laban sa terrorists attack o pag-atake ng mga desperadong extremists sapagkat ang terorismo ay malakas ang loob. Hindi sapat ang pagkilos ng pamahalaang nasyonal lamang. Ang pakikipagtulungan at pagmamatyag ng buong komunidad at lahat ng pamahalaang lokal ay kailangan upang ang Pilipinas ay maging ligtas para sa mga mamamayan.

Ang bagong banta ng siglo bente-uno - ang terorismo - ay kailangan ng puspusang kilos ng buong pamahalaan hanggang sa hanay ng barangay para bantayan ang mga nakakahinalang tao, pagkilos at kagamitan. Kaya naman inatasan ko na ang lahat ng pamahalaang lokal na pulungin kaagad ang inyong crisis management councils at mangasiwa ng personal at malapitan sa pagtupad ng ating contingency plans kaugnay ng krisis. Ito ay ayon sa mga tungkulin ng mga local leaders.

Magtatagumpay lamang kayo sa mga gawaing ito kung magtutulungan ang lahat ng mga barangay na nasasakupan ng mga local leaders. Ang ating mga local leaders ang dapat maging crisis managers sa inyong mga komunidad. Kayo ang mangangasiwa sa pagmatyag sa lahat ng klase ng problemang sosyal at ekonomikal na kaugnay sa krisis tulad ng presyo ng mga pangunahing bilihin at para tiyakin na ang komunidad ay ligtas laban sa lahat ng uri ng terorismo.

Bukod sa pagmatyag laban sa terorismo kailangan ding magbantay ang mga mamamayan laban sa mga nais magsamantala sa krisis tulad ng pagtago ng supply ng pagkain o paniningil ng sobra. Bagamat may monitoring teams tayo na nag-iikot sa mga palengke para matyagan ang presyo ng mga bilihin, mahalaga ring i-report ninyo ang sinumang tindera o negosyante na nagtataas ng presyong hindi dapat.

Ang mga local leaders din ay information champions para sa katatagan ng ekonomiya at kagalingan ng publiko. Kayo ay may tungkuling ipaalam sa mga mamamayan ang mga mahahalagang pangyayari sa inyong paligid. Harapin ang mga maling balita at ispekulasyon at ipakalma ang komunidad sa pamamagitan ng pagsasabi sa taong bayan ng totoo.

Ang mga leaders din ang ating anti-street crime czars. Dapat niyang protektahan ang mga mamamayan laban sa mga kriminal na bumibiktima sa mga mahihina, at sa mga manloloko na nagsasamantala sa kanilang kapwa.

Ang suporta ng komunidad ang unang susi para maging epektibo ang pagsugpo ng kriminalidad. Kaya hinihiling ko rin sa ating mga mamamayan na paigtingin ang inyong pakikipagtulungan sa ating pulis para lalong mabilis at mabisa ang kanilang pagsupil sa krimen.

Mga minamahal kong kababayan, ang ligtas at galing ng ating bansa ay nasa ating kamay kaya magkaisa tayo sa tungkulin ng pagbantay at pagpapa-iral ng katahimikan. Bawat Pilipino ay dapat responsable sa kanyang kapwa. Ito ay isang makasaysayang pagkakataon para tayo ay magbuklod sa panahon ng krisis na ilang beses na nating ginawa noon. Ang ganitong pagbuklod ay dapat magsimula sa ating mga barangay kung saan ang lahat ay magkakakilala at nagkakaisa sa damdamin at hangarin.

Magsama-sama tayo at magtulungan para maibsan ang mga pag-aalalang dulot ng giyera sa Iraq. Magsama-sama tayo at magtulungan upang walang naka-ambang panganib sa ating dinadaanan at makatulog tayo ng mahimbing kasama ng ating mga mahal sa buhay. Sa ating mga barangay nakasalalay ang kapayapaan at seguridad ng ating bansa.

Kaya naman sa pagkakataong ito, hinihiling ko ang inyong tulong at hangad ko ang inyong tagumpay. Ang inyong tagumpay ay tagumpay ng ating bansa at ng buong sambayanan. Ang inyong patuloy na pakikiisa at suporta ang maghahatid sa atin tungo sa matatag at matibay na Republika.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo Friday night formally turned over to Indonesian embassy officials Mr. Julkipli, one of their nationals who escaped from the terrorist Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), as she vowed to continue efforts to rescue the remaining hostages of the ASG and to further step up cooperation initiatives against international terrorism.

The President turned over Mr. Julkipli to Indonesian Charge d’ Affaires Alexander Laturiuw and Minister Counselor Chairul Soelaeman Natudisastra during ceremonies at the State Dining Room in Malacaņang.

Mr. Julkipli is a seaman held hostage by the ASG for almost a year.

Wearing a shirt and jeans, Mr. Julkipli was all smiles when he shook the hands of the President, who in turn, asked him how he was.

"I am glad that Mr. Julkipli, an Indonesian national, was able to get away from his Abu Sayyaf captors as a result of the pressure of military operations brought to bear upon the terrorist group," the President said.

Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes, Armed Forces Chief of Staff Dionisio Santiago, and Southern Command chief Lt. Gen. Narcisco Abaya accompanied the President at the turnover ceremonies.

The President commended the military under Santiago and Abaya for the unrelenting offensive against the Abu Sayyaf.

In a message, she said the military officials have assured her that there would be no let-up in operations until all the remaining hostages are rescued and the Abu Sayyaf is decisively beaten.

"I assure the families of the remaining hostages that all efforts shall be taken to rescue them safely," she said.

The President noted that the Indonesian government was informed of the progress on the operations against the bandit group.

She said the Philippines shares with Indonesia a strong abhorrence of terrorism, noting that their partnership extends across the seas through a multilateral agreement along with Cambodia, Vietnam and Malaysia.

We continue to work closely in checking the movement of terrorists, firearms and materials.

The President further noted that the fight against terrorism bared an affinity to what’s going on across the world.

"There is a coalition to disarm Iraq of weapons of mass destruction and stop the harboring of transnational terrorists cells that could use these weapons elsewhere. The threat of terrorist using such weapons confronts all mankind and the Philippine is no exception. We must always be on guard in checking tans-national and domestic terrorists," she said.

The threat of terrorists using such weapons confronts all mankind, including the Philippines, the President stressed.

"We must always be on guard in checking transnational and domestic terrorists," she said.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo called on every Filipino to do his share in tiding the country over the crisis brought about by the war in Iraq.

In a radio address commemorating Barangay Assembly Day, the President asked Filipinos to be vigilant and take the opportunity to unite in this time of crisis.

"Bawat Pilipino ay dapat responsible sa kanyang kapwa (Let us all be our brother’s keepers)," she said. "Ito ay isang makasaysayang pagkakataon para tayo ay magbuklod sa panahon ng krisis na ilang beses na nating ginawa noon (This is an opportune time for us to show our unity in time of crisis, a feat that we have done so many times before)."

This kind of unity, according to the President, should start at the barangay level where everybody knows each other and where people are united in their pursuits and ambitions.

She encouraged the people to bond together and help each other in easing the tension brought about by the war in Iraq.

"Magsama-sama tayo at magtulungan upang walang nakaambang panganib sa ating dinadaanan at makatulog tayo ng mahimbing kasama ng ating mga mahal sa buhay (Let us join hands and help each other to clear our paths of all dangers so that we could sleep soundly with our loved ones)," she said.

Saying that the peace and security of the country lie on the barangays, the President took the occasion to ask everybody’s help and support to achieve success towards that end.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today raised hopes that Hashim Salamat, leader of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), would sign a peace pact with the government to start a common agenda of the government and the rebel group – that of developing Mindanao.

The President made the expectation as she disclosed a "mini Marshall Plan" where the United States government would likely pour in some $150 million, part of it for use in the rehabilitation and development of areas afflicted by the Mindanao conflict.

In a radio interview, the President said: "Inaasahan natin na si Salamat ay pipirma ng peace agreement para iyong $100 million ay magamit para sa kaunlaran ng kanyang mga lugar at kanyang mga kasama na babalik na sa ating lipunan."

Amid reports that US President George W. Bush has promised to give funds to those who joined the Coalition of the Willing, President Macapagal-Arroyo said the government submitted a proposal outlining the country’s needs for combating terrorism.

"Inaasahan natin na tutulong sila duon (We are expecting the US to help on that matter)," she said.

However, she stressed that some of the countries listed in the coalition maintained US military bases. "Tayo wala (We have none of those bases)," she added.

But despite this, the country has been getting substantial development aid from the US, she stressed.

She recalled that before she became President, the country received some $1.9 million in military assistance.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo today encouraged all Filipinos to expand small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in their barangays in line with her nationwide livelihood program.

In a question and answer forum following a speech commemorating Barangay Assembly Day, the President enjoined entrepreneurs to borrow money from the nearest rural or savings banks and even the Land Bank to expand their businesses, saying the government has allocated a total of P10 billion for the purpose.

"Tulungan ninyong maghanap ng mga successful na SMEs at ilapit po ninyo sa mga rural bank, savings bank at Land Bank sa inyong mga lugar upang matulungan silang mag-expand (Please help in finding successful SMEs in your area and encourage them to borrow money from rural banks, savings bank and Land Bank for them to be able to expand)," she said.

The President, four months ago, signed a law authorizing small micro enterprises in the barangays all over the country, as part of her livelihood program for the barangays.

She had also initiated the Kalahi Seeds Project in some chosen barangays, part of a World Bank-financed program that would give jobs to people in the barangays.

"Gusto kong idagdag na ang pangunahing programa natin ay magbigay ng trabaho sa taong bayan kaya sa barangay ay gusto nating mapairal iyong inyong mga small and medium enterprises na nagtatagumpay (I want to add that our primary objective is to give jobs to the people that’s why we want to encourage successful small and medium enterprises to expand)," the President said.

In the same forum, Secretary Jose Lina, Jr. of the Department of Interior and Local Government explained that the thrust is to allow information about government projects and programs to trickle down to the barangays.

"Maraming programa ang pamahalaan para matulungan ang mamamayan ngunit hindi alam ng karamihan tulad ng microenterprises, iyong program sa health, itong health card, at iyong program sa anti-terrorism (The government has many programs that the people don’t know like the micro enterprises, health program, health card, and anti-terrorism programs)," Lina said.

The DILG Secretary also mentioned the scholarship grants of the Department of Science and Technology and the Philippine Coconut Authority as well as the employment and livelihood programs being initiated by the government.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today said the government is not keen on issuing travel bans to countries reported to have cases of the dreaded Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).

In a radio interview, the President said that as of the moment, other countries have not issued SARS-related travel bans.

"Kung hindi naman importante iyong biyahe ay iwasan na lamang. Pero kung importante ang biyahe ay puwede pa ring ituloy (Avoiding non-essential travel would help. But if the travel is important, it could be pushed through)," she said.

The countries with SARS-related cases have been adopting strict quarantine precautions, she noted, adding that "malamang ang ating nagbibiyahe ay hindi sila mai-expose (the chances of Filipino travelers being exposed to SARS are nil)."

The President said the Philippines had also implemented precautionary rules to prevent SARS from afflicting the people.

Meanwhile, Health Secretary Manuel Dayrit today reported to the President that the Philippines continued to be SARS-free as of the moment.

In the President’s regular teleconference, Dayrit said the government has continued monitoring developments on the SARS, while implementing its seven-day quarantine policy.

He told the President that the Department of Health placed under medical check-up and observation at the San Lazaro Hospital today a 41-year old female overseas Filipino worker (OFW) from Hong Kong after having found her to have symptoms.

The government would be conducting an extensive and intensified briefing and drills against possible collateral terrorist attacks starting on Monday, National Security Adviser J. Roilo Golez said today.

Golez made the announcement during President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s teleconference with Middle East Preparedness Team chief Ambassador Roy Cimatu at Malacaņang.

Golez said the intensified briefing and drills would be conducted in practically all the departments of the government especially all members of the Iraqi crisis management team.

These are, among others, the Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Transportation and Communication.

Golez also noted that the Philippine National Police would be giving a lecture on how to handle bomb threats and terrorist attacks.

The National Security adviser said the PNP would likewise conduct briefings and drills for the private sector.

He said Police Director Vic de Leon, a graduate of the Crisis Management Course in the United Kingdom, would supervise both the government-wide and the private sector drills.

Golez said although a long war is an unlikely scenario, the country’s oil and food supply remains highly adequate.

He said Energy Secretary Vincent Perez assured him that the country’s oil supply is up for 76 days, much higher than the 65 days supply at the start of the conflict in the Gulf.

Ambassador Roy Cimatu today confirmed that no Filipino was either hurt or killed during a large explosion that rocked a shopping mall in downtown Kuwait City at about 2 a.m. (7 a.m. in Manila).

Cimatu, during the regular teleconference with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, said Filipinos continued to be calm but alert in Kuwait City.

He told the President that the nearest OFW resident is about a kilometer away from the blast site.

He and embassy officials saw no need for any relocation as of the moment.

Cimatu, head of the Middle East Preparedness Team (MEPT), said an ocular showed mall debris littering the area.

In an earlier radio interview, the President said the MEPT had long prepared for any eventuality in the Persian Gulf due to the conflict in Iraq.

She said the MEPT was ready for any scenario – the stay scenario, relocation scenario, evacuation scenario and others.