Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Kuwait and other Gulf countries, particularly those 384 stranded workers at the Bahay Pinoy relocation site in Nuwaiseeb, have remained calm and in high spirits despite the tension brought by the war in Iraq, according to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

In a report to Malacaņang, DOLE Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas said the Presidential Middle East Preparedness Committee (PMEPC), headed by Ambassador Roy Cimatu, and the Philippine embassy and labor officials in Kuwait are in constant touch with the DOLE in Manila.

"So, we are updated on the situation of some 60,000 OFWs in Kuwait," Sto. Tomas said. "Our OFWs there go about their normal work routine. They are calm and in high spirits," she said.

Sto. Tomas said that the OFWs who have been moved to the Bahay Pinoy relocation center in the South, near the Kuwait-Saudi border, continue their livelihood program activities that they have been doing at the Filipino Workers Resource Center (FWRC) in Kuwait City before the outbreak of the war.

"Our labor officials and welfare officers just moved to Nuwaiseeb the equipment the workers were using in their livelihood activities from which they had a chance to earn a little money," Sto. Tomas said.

Sto. Tomas also cited a report of the PMEPC which said the Kuwait Petroleum Company (KPC) had assured the public of uninterrupted petrol and diesel supply in Kuwait.

In Lebanon, Sto. Tomas reported that Philippine embassy and labor officials in Beirut have divided themselves in four teams and visited four churches in Beirut, and one in Damascus, Syria to check on the conditions of the more than 20,000 OFWs in the two countries.

The embassy team also distributed the "Safety and Emergency Handbook" to OFWs in Lebanon and Syria.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today appealed to the Filipino people to support her stand in siding with the "coalition of the willing" in the US-Iraq war as she stressed that the Philippines is offering only humanitarian and peace-keeping assistance to Iraq in a post-war scenario.

In a radio interview this morning, the President said that the Philippines’ offer of humanitarian and peace-keeping assistance is aimed at helping restore the freedom, dignity and collective security of the Iraqi people.

"Kaya dapat ang taongbayan natin din ay hindi nahahati sa isyung ito. Dahil ito ay nakatukoy sa ating pinakaminamahal na asal bilang isang katauhan (That’s why I hope our people would not be split on this issue. Because this is one of our dearest contribution to humanity)," the President said.

The President explained that the democratic ideals that the United States would like the Iraqis to enjoy are the same ideals that the Filipinos have fought for in EDSA against oppression and dictatorship.

"Kaya itong coalition of the willing, dapat ito ma-transform into coalition for humanitarianism (So, this coalition of the willing should be transformed into a coalition for humanitarianism)," the President said.

The President also assured the Filipino people that even if the war in Iraq would last for two months or even longer, the government contingency plan for Filipinos, both here and abroad, could take care of that.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today expressed government readiness to carry out confidence building measures that would accelerate the conduct of formal peace negotiations with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

But the President said all steps to promote peace in Mindanao should guarantee the safety and security of civilian communities against terrorist attacks, ensure that those displaced by the conflict would be returned to their homes where they could permanently live peacefully and productively, and assure the neutralization of criminal and terrorist activities in the area.

In a radio interview, she said the government and MILF peace negotiators have met in Kuala Lumpur and, in a joint statement, resolved to undertake appropriate steps to resume formal peace talks while reaffirming to implement effectively on the ground all past and existing agreements.

She said Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Eduardo Ermita, in a press conference, outlined the details of the joint statement last Sunday (March 30).

"Tanggap na tanggap natin ang kahit na ano mang kilos tungo sa isang pangmatagalang kapayapaan (We accept any move that would ensure lasting peace in Mindanao)," she said.

The President also cited the participation of Malaysia as a third-party facilitator to the government-MILF peace talks.

She said the government also looked forward to working closely with the Organization of Islamic Conference.

In the event that a peace pact is concluded with the MILF, the government would seek all means to rehabilitate and develop areas in Mindanao destroyed by the conflict.

She said the campaign for peace should be equaled by an anti-poverty campaign.

"Isang dahilan kung bakit sila ay nasa giyera ay dahil nga mahirap na mahirap sila. At isang dahilan kung bakit mahirap sila ay napakatagal na nasa giyera (A reason why they are at war is that they are poor. And a reason why they are poor is because they are affected by a long war)," she added.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today cited the importance of the roll-on, roll-off (Ro-Ro) facilities in speeding up the development of Mindanao not only in trade and commerce but also in tourism.

In a radio interview, the President explained that with the Ro-Ro facilities, trucks carrying goods or produce from Mindanao to Luzon and vice versa need not unload in every port and would go direct to their destinations, thus greatly reducing transport costs.

When asked if the Ro-Ro facilities are now in place, the President said that that is what she will demonstrate starting today.

The President today kicked off the four-day motor caravan participated in by members of the Cabinet, heads of government agencies, and members of the media, that would traverse what she described as the "Strong Republic Nautical Highway."

The kick-off ceremonies were held this morning at the Freedom Park in Malacanang.

In the radio interview, the President said that with the Ro-Ro facilities, motorists from Luzon could take their vacations to the Visayas and Mindanao using their cars all throughout their journey.

This will definitely promote domestic tourism and not just enhance the flow of produce, like grains and other agricultural products, from Mindanao to the different parts of Luzon, including Metro Manila.

The President said the commercial operation of the Ro-Ro facilities would be on April 12, the start of the summer vacation in schools.

In a briefing on Sunday, officials said that the caravan would proceed from Manila to Batangas City and on to Calapan City Ro-Ro port terminal in Oriental Mindoro and end at the Dapitan City port, Zamboanga del Norte.

From Batangas City, the caravan will travel to Oriental Mindoro , to Aklan, then on to Capiz and Iloilo, Negros Occidental in Region 6; Negros Oriental in Region 7, and Zamboanga del Norte in Region 9.

The Manila to Dapitan caravan will cover a total of 703 kilometers of road travel and 137 nautical miles of sea travel.

Ro-Ro terminals are located in Batangas City, Calapan; Roxas, Oriental Mindoro; Caticlan, Malay, Aklan; Iloilo City; Bacolod City; Dumaguete City and Dapitan City.

In Oriental Mindoro, the President inaugurated the Roxas Port Terminal. She was also presented with rebel returnees and had lunch with the local government officials and participating agencies of the Ro-Ro caravan.

At Caticlan, the President was scheduled to open the Jetty Port and Terminal Building.

The President will also have a meeting with Boracay Resort Owners, Tour and Hotel Operators and will be discussing security measures in the area.

On April 1, the President will have breakfast with local officials and fishermen at the Baybay Beach in Roxas City, Capiz, and after arriving at Iloilo City, will have lunch with rice farmers, members of the irrigators association, traders and the agribusiness sector.

At Bacolod City, the President will meet with the Rotary Club and Negros Press Club at the L’Fisher Hotel.

ROXAS, Oriental Mindoro – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today unveiled the Roxas port marker here to kick off a four-day agro-tourism caravan that would open the Strong Republic’s Nautical Highway and showcase the efficiency and effectiveness of the government’s Roll-on Roll-off (Ro-Ro) program.

The President unveiled the Roxas port marker to the cheering of hundreds of flag-waving schoolchildren, farmers and laborers who also welcomed the Presidential caravan along the 124-kilometer road from Calapan, Oriental Mindoro to this southern agricultural town.

The rousing welcome showed the people’s solid support for the nautical highway, which officials expect would open windows of agricultural and tourism opportunities in the southwestern seaboard.

"This is the route where the big rice producers are," said the President as she unveiled the marker prior to boarding the Ro-Ro vessel, Super Shuttle Ferry 2, that would take her and the caravan for a four-hour sea trip to Caticlan, Aklan.

Participants, including mediamen, in the convoy of some 80 vehicles trying out the new agro-tourism highway linking Luzon to the Visayas and Mindanao islands were themselves surprised at the outpouring of support for the Ro-Ro project.

Following the unveiling of the marker, the President witnessed the signing of a loan agreement between the Development Bank of the Philippines and Phil-Nippon Shipping.

The loan will be used to purchase a Ro-Ro vessel for the Roxas-Caticlan route.

A Ro-Ro ship allows cars and other vehicles to roll on aboard at the port of departure and disembark or roll off the same way at the ship’s port of destination.

The President, together with Transportation and Communication Secretary Leandro Mendoza, earlier unveiled another marker and inaugurated the Philtranco terminal in EDSA, Pasay City.

Philtranco carries passengers and cargo from Manila to as far as key cities in Mindanao.

In the same ceremony, she sent off four Philtranco buses that took Ro-Ro caravan officials and participants to the Batangas City port where they boarded a Ro-Ro boat for Calapan City in Oriental Mindoro.

In Calapan where the President arrived aboard a Bell 412 helicopter, she unveiled another port marker and met with local officials, expectedly discussing with them the government’s overall socio-economic development program as a result of the Ro-Ro project and the continuous campaign against terrorism and poverty.

From Calapan, she left for Roxas, Oriental Mindoro where she also met with local officials and the leaders of some 500 members of the insurgent New People’s Army who have rejoined government.

While on the way to Caticlan aboard the Super shuttle Ferry 2, the President conducted a Cabinet meeting.