Moving forward with national economic goals is synonymous to making Mindanao the country’s food basket with its rich development potentials in agriculture, fishing and natural other resources.

Justice Secretary and native Mindanaoan Simeon Datumanong stresses this in an article in which he looked beyond armed conflict and pocket banditry that Mindanao is often associated with.

Datumanong says this misimpression of the country’s second largest land mass has tagged the island as the perennial suspect gateway for smuggling activities and of illegal aliens, whose prosecution falls under the jurisdiction of the Department of Justice (DOJ).

He says Mindanao is the focus of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s national initiative program for various infrastructure projects that have been put in place for the government’s agricultural, transport and tourism development.

During the closing ceremonies of the Muslim leaders’ summit on April 25, the President launched the Mindanao National Initiative Program or the Mindanao Natin Program, which will take down south a huge share of the fruits of development— through, among others, improved rural roads and irrigation facilities for enhanced agriculture and trade activities in about 5,000 barangays of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, and Regions 9 an 12 and the provinces of Lanao del Norte and Bukidnon in Region 10.

For urban and rural flood-control projects, farm-to-market roads and paving of major highway links, there is the remarkable cooperation of and support in terms of loan package assistance from the Philippine-Japan Friendship Highway program; the Asian Development Bank, the International Bank for Rural Development and even the predominantly Muslim Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries.

Datumanong notes that one important component of the program is a generally stable peace and order condition, and for which the government has opened its doors to peace negotiations with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the National Democratic Front.

But a major setback in such undertakings is the threat of terrorism -- the global problem that calls for multilateral responses; a serious concern that should bind citizenries and democratic institutions into vigilance and international cooperation and alliance.

In the process of the peace negotiations, some supplementary interagency programs emerge to consider developing MILF camps into mainstream communities.

Generally, this is covered by the six-point agenda of the President’s first State of the Nation Address, putting more emphasis on infrastructure support projects to Agricultural and Fisheries Modernization Program (AFMA) as well as interagency counterpart programs for strengthening the communications and transport systems; and developing tourism potentials through the rehabilitation and improvement of roads leading to natural parks, tourism and national heritage sites.

Datumanong, who also served as Secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), says the administration has achieved more in bringing back to mainstream, through its various programs, some communities isolated not only by rebellion, but by decades of underdevelopment and neglect.

This is evident in the fast-tracking of a number of infrastructure projects supporting its commitment to peace and development, which include the Pagadian-Zamboanga road; Basilan and Lake Lanao Circumferential roads; the Malabang-Naga Dimaporo (Lanao Norte)-Tukuran (Zamboanga del Sur) road; Cotabato City bypass road; Iligan-Aurora and Cagayan-Bukidnon-Cotabato road, Matalam-M’lang-Bagontapay road (North Cotabato); Isulan-Kulaman-Lebak road (Sultan Kudarat), the Upi-Lebak road, as well as the rehabilitation and construction of principal bridges.

Until the recent years, one had to take a boat to Pagadian City (Zamboanga del Sur) to get to the Lanao cities of Marawi or Iligan from Cotabato. And so was the route from Southern to Northern Mindanao that entailed time-consuming travel -- twice by land and an almost overnight cruise of the Illana Bay.

The same was said of the tiresome route from Sultan Kudarat’s capitol in Isulan town to the province’s wharves in Lebak and Palimbang towns (i.e., separated by the Daguma Mountain Ranges). One had to travel by land to Cotabato or General Santos City and then take a boat on a four to five-hour travel to the adjacent shoreline towns.

The dawn of a new transport-route system has risen with the administration’s opening of the Nautical Highway that links the country’s roll-on, roll-off ports for more practical and cheaper ways of transporting goods, anywhere to and from Batangas, Cebu and Dipolog.

Another phase of Central Mindanao’s component program for AFMA. The government has started a dredging project in Pulangi River (Rio Grande), the core undertaking for a multi-pronged flood-control program (dredging, reclamation, dikes, farm-to-market roads, as well as massive riverbank tree-planting and watershed reforestation).

But Datumanong expresses confidence that with the cooperation and support of other concerned agencies, the DPWH will be able to continue the program.

In Mindanao, as is often the case elsewhere, land disputes fuel armed conflicts.

Datumanong recalls that when he was still DPWH Secretary, he was frequented by reports on project delays caused by opposition of parties contesting ownership of lands that national roads traverse.

He says land disputes divide families and communities in terms of property claim interests, and eventually they lead to social discord and even armed conflict or may worsen existing political conflict in their midst.

To provide a long-term solution to such a problem, he adds that the DOJ -- in cooperation with the Department of Agrarian Reform -- is formulating plans and policies to advice President Macapagal-Arroyo on the need to establish a common land agency with the powers and mandates of the DOJ’s Land Registration Authority and the Land Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

He says that in the DOJ, he has prioritized the speedy resolution of cases for review and the effective prosecution of cases in court, including the celebrated ones; thus getting the wheels of justice move faster.

To institutionalize reforms in the prosecution process, the DOJ will establish a Philippine Justice Academy, initially in the former Clark Airbase, which will offer special courses for prosecutors, law students and practitioners of the law profession in general.

In her policy speech this morning on the celebration of Labor Day at the World Trade Center (WTC) in Pasay City, the President said that to overreact or show panic would do more harm than the SARS itself to people’s lives and the country’s economy as a whole.

The two known victims of SARS in the country, Adela Catalon and her father, are from Barangay Vacante. After the death of the two, the entire barangay was quarantined for two weeks but the quarantine has since been lifted with no new cases of SARS reported.

"Dahil sa kabila ng dapat alerto tayo, huwag tayong mag-over react, huwag tayong magpanic dahil ang panic ay mas masama sa ating ekonomiya kaysa sa SARS mismo (Even if we have to be vigilant, we should not overreact or panic because panic would do more harm than the SARS itself to the economy)," the President said.

The President said that to show panic because of the SARS threat would not only slow down our economy but would also mean a loss of jobs for the Filipino people.

She said that if the people would just follow the directives from concerned government agencies, particularly from the SARS crisis management committee headed by Health Secretary Manuel Dayrit, there should be no reason to panic or to overreact.

The President recounted an incident told to her by Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra about a big fiesta in Thailand and people were all afraid and wore protective masks,

The Thai prime minister, according to the President, went to the fiesta, without wearing a mask, and told the villagers that he would give l million Thai baht to anyone who would be sick with SARS and 2 million baht to anyone who would die of SARS after attending the fiesta.

The President said no one was infected and no one has claimed the offer so far, showing that there is no need to overreact to the situation.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the President said, ordinary people need not wear the protective masks but only health workers who are close contact with probable SARS victims.

Just to show an example, the President, said she shook hands with people when she arrived Wednesday in Cebu City from Bangkok where she attended the emergency leaders’ meeting on SARS of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean).

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today assured all Filipino health workers, both here and abroad, who are in the forefront in the fight against the dreaded severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) that they will be given full protection by the government.

In her policy speech on the occasion of the Labor Day celebration delivered this morning at the World Trade Center in Pasay City, the President said the government would not take any chances with the safety and welfare of those who are bearing the brunt of the sacrifice in the anti-SARS campaign.

"Our resources will be used on the most basic and effective points of prevention. Our vigilance will be focused and relentless," the President said.

The President said that during the Asean SARS Summit held in Bangkok Tuesday, she asked other leaders in the region to provide the utmost care and protection to Filipino health workers in their countries and these leader, she said, acceded to her request.

"I was very touched by the response of Singapore and China acknowledging the role of Filipino health workers at the forefront of the fight against SARS in their countries," the President said.

The President particularly mentioned Singapore Prime Minister Go Chok Tong who told her that when SARS erupted in Singapore, Filipino health workers volunteered to return to their jobs even if they were on leave.

She said that the heroism shown by the Filipino health workers in Singapore and Hong Kong during the outbreak of SARS was not publicized or the workers themselves did not want it known.

"Sila ay mga bayaning hindi nagkukuwento sa kanilang pagkabayani, pero mahal na mahal ng Singapore at Hong Kong ang ating mga health workers (They did not talk about their heroism but our health workers are very much loved in Singapore and Hong Kong)," the President said.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today cited the constructive activism of the country’s mainstream labor movement for its role in promoting industrial peace and for its adherence to the rule of law in the pursuit of their goals.

In her policy speech on the occasion of the Labor Day celebration delivered this morning at the World Trade Center in Pasay City, the President said this constructive activism of the mainstream labor movement has cut across all vital issues of national interests.

"I acknowledge labor’s devotion to democracy and its rejection of force in the pursuit of political ends. I acknowledge labor’s discipline and forbearance, the mark of a true ally in the rule of law and constitutional adherence," the President said.

The President said that the labor movement in the country has been the bastion of democracy, a pillar of development and a vanguard of the rule of law.

She also cited the benefits of tripartism as shown by the memorandum of agreement (MOA) of the construction industry, which was presented to her before she delivered her speech.

"Ang tirpartism ay napakalaki ng papel upang mapaganda ang kapakanan ng mga manggagawa at mapaganda rin ang ating investment climate (Tripartism will play a big role in promoting the well being of our workers and in improving our investment climate)," the President said.

The MOA, which was signed by representatives from the mainstream labor groups, employers groups, and the government, agreed to establish the Construction Industry Tripartite Council (CITC).

The CITC would institutionalize a tripartite approach in addressing issues and concerns related to the construction industry, both local and international.

It will also advocate pro-active measures aimed at alleviating the adverse effects of the changing business environment and work arrangements and undertake appropriate safety net measures, like skills training and standardization.

Among those who signed for the government were Labor and Employment Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas, Trade and Industry Secretary Manuel Roxas II, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jose Lina, Jr., and Public Works and Highways Acting Secretary Florante Soriquez.

Those who signed for the labor sector were Democrito Mendoza, president of the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines; Ernesto Arellano, president of the National Federation of Labor; Daniel L. Edralin, president of the Alliance of Progressive Labor; Arwin Villamil, president of the National Union of Building and Construction Workers; and Gerard Seno, national vice president for operations of Associated Labor Unions.

Moreover, the President said, the Department of Energy would ask the Energy Regulatory Commission to impose on big power consumers whatever rate increase would be granted to Meralco and at the same time grant small power users socialized rates.

The President assured the thousands of workers gathered at the WTC that there would be full compliance and implementation of the Supreme Court’s final decision on the P28.1-billion overcharging by Meralco.

"Justice must be done. Meralco will have to comply with the final decision of the Supreme Court," the President said.

"All that is left to do is how best to implement this judicial mandate in a manner that will maximize the public interest," she added.

She said the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), which is an independent body, will lead the determination process and the Department of Energy (DOE) will take charge of the involvement of the Executive branch in the implemental stage.

The President said the DOE will file a petition before the ERC that will give priority to the poor consumers.

"Iyong maralitang gumagamit ng koryente na napakaliit ng kanilang electric bill, to begin with, ibabalik ng buo ang sobrang singil doon sa napakaliit ang konsumo (The poor consumers, whose power bills are so small, to begin with, will get a full refund)," the President said.

For the other ordinary workers and power users, the DOE will petition the ERC to work out a refund in the form of monthly discounts in future Meralco bills.

"We have confidence in the institutions involved, and we will see this through," the President said.

The Supreme Court’s third division has released a one-page resolution penned by Justice Reynato S. Puno declaring that no further pleadings shall be entertained after a motion for reconsideration that Meralco had filed and asked the power firm to immediately draw up policies for the refund of overcharged power rates.

In her traditional Labor Day message, the President hailed the entire labor movement for being responsible and dutiful but stressed the need to be united and not to be fractured by political or ideological differences.

In her speech, the President also acknowledged the role of Filipino health workers abroad as the forefront of the fight against the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in the region.

She also thanked the health workers abroad for their contribution to the national economy as she disclosed that they will be provided with full protection gears against the fight on SARS such as protective masks, blankets and other medical supplies.

The President also assured the public that Department of Health has already adopted strategic measures to prevent the spread of the killer pneumonia.

The President also mentioned that she had instructed Energy Secretary Vince Perez to finally come out with measures that would end the agony of the power consumers through a reduction of the controversial purchased power adjustment or PPA.

She has assured the workers and the public that by the month of July they will notice a reduction in their electric bills.

BONUAN BINLOC, Dagupan City—President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today expressed elation that despite the many problems about SARS, enough time has been given to the 1^st National Bangus Industry Congress aimed at making the bangus (milkfish) available not only locally but internationally.

Speaking at the bangus congress held at the Leisure Coast Resort here, the President thanked the participants, who came from all parts of the country, for visiting Pangasinan, where Alcala is located, and which she declared as "out of quarantine."

"This bangus festival is one of the most important events of the annual Pista’y Dayat in this province, which coincides with Labor Day to stress the aim of uplifting the lives of the workers, through the development of our industries, especially in the modernization of fisheries and agriculture," the President said.

The Chief Executive said that if there are problems such as SARS, "this should not be an obstacle to going on with our lives."

"It is better not to panic and go on with our work. Basta malinis ang ating mga kustumbre. May alituntunin na tayong pinatutupad. Huwag na tayong masyadong mag-alala basta alerto lamang," she said.

The President said that at the Asean SARS summit in Bangkok, it was concluded that one of the biggest threat to the region’s economies is not SARS itself but the paranoia about the killer disease.

"Kontrolado na natin ang SARS sa Pilipinas. Ang dapat kontrol-in natin ay ang paranoia," the President said.

The President said that the theme of the congress is very appropriate--- Bangus goes Global-- because it’s time to show our beautiful fish product to the whole world.

"We should take advantage of the global market and produce what can compete internationally like products from our delicious bangus," she said.

The President said that the bangus industry has big potentials, especially with the big production last year of 232,000 metric tons.

With this big production, the President said, she has instructed Agriculture Secretary Luis Lorenzo to study the possibility of exporting bangus to other countries.

The result, she said, is a road map to establish the export market of this product within 15 months, with 10 countries being targeted.

The President said that the P160-million bangus processing plant in Dagupan City is being built with P50 million coming from the national government.

"This processing plant will produce frozen, smoked, marinated, deboned bangus and canned and bottled bangus, for export to America and other countries where there are Filipino communities," she said.

"With sufficient supply and lower cost, we expect a dramatic increase in milkfish production and the creation of more livelihood opportunities for agricultural workers in breeding fry production and marketing for our coastal communities," she said.