NEW YORK (Via PLDT) -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was assured today by the chief executive officers (CEOs) of top American corporations of new investments in the Philippines that would generate thousands of jobs.

In a series of calls at her suite at the Waldorf Astoria here, the CEOs, mostly in the information and technology (IT) sector, told the President of their multi-million dollar expansion plans in the Philippines starting this year.

The President is here for the last leg of her state visit to the United States, which was highlighted by her meeting with US President George W. Bush in Washington, D.C.

Officials of Convergys Corporation led by its president for customer management group, John C. Freker, informed the President of their project of setting up a 240-seat call center facility at the Enterprise Center in Makati City and another 600-seat facility at Robinson’s Equitable Bank Tower in Pasig City.

Convergys is one of the world’s number one providers of outsourced billing and customer management solutions. The company employs more than 44,000 people in its contact centers, data centers and offices around the world.

Officials told the President that they have chosen the Philippines, rather than India, for their worldwide expansion plans.

They said that within two to three year timeframe, they expect to hire from 8,000 to 10,000 Filipino workers. Employers would be manning their call centers within the next two months in their maximum capacity of 880 seats.

Convergys officials said that their initial capital expenditures for their Philippine project is about $10.437 million.

During his call, Ron Lindorf, chairman and owner of Western Watts Center, also informed the President of the setting up of a call center site in Cebu.

The project, which will have an initial capital outlay of $3.125 million, will involve 300 seats and employ about 500 workers initially.

Officials of Vision-X, Inc. (VXI) led by its CEO, Eva Wang, informed the President of a $1.06 million call center facility in the Philippines that is expected to generate some 4,800 employees within a three-year time frame.

VXI is currently operating with over 1,600 workstations in three locations in the United States and in Shanghai, China. The company supports 20 foreign languages in addition to its core English language.

Another American firm, the Prudential Group, has linked up 77Global, a Philippine IT company, for a pilot project on business process outsourcing (BPO) and call center projects in the Philippines.

NEW YORK CITY (via PLDT) -- Fordham University Wednesday here (Thursday night in Manila) conferred an honorary doctorate degree of laws to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, making her and the late President Diosdado Macapagal the first ever father and daughter presidents to receive such an award.

Rev. Joseph O'Hare S.J., Fordham University president and who incidentally taught for eleven years at the Jesuit university Ateneo de Manila, conferred the degree on the President in ceremonies at the James McNally Amphitheater at the law school building along West 62nd Street here.

In the citation read by Fordham University Trustee and Rector of the Fordham Jesuit Community Rev. Vincent J. Duminico S.J., Fordham University "cherishes" the memory of an earlier visit of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to our campus.

This was on on October 9, 1964 when the President accompanied his father to a ceremony at Fordham's Rose Hill campus, where the latter received a doctorate of laws, honoris causa.

"Today, we welcome his daughter, the fourteenth president of the Republic of the Philippines, to receive a similar honor," he said.

The citation says that "in recognition of the many bonds that unite the people of the Philippines and the people of the United States and with admiration and respect for her intelligent and courageous leadership, Fordham University is proud to present President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo with the degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa."

Duminico said the President knows well the Jesuit mission in higher education.

At the undergraduate level, the President studied at Georgetown University and at the graduate level, she earned a Master of Arts degree in Economics from the Ateneo de Manila Univeristy.

And like her father, Duminico said the President also went on to earn the PhD. in Economics.

The citation also said that from 1973, the year after martial law was imposed in the Philippines, until 1987, the year after the restoration of democracy in the Philippines under President Corazon Aquino, the future president spent more than a decade as a member of the Economics faculty at ADMU.

He also said that when the President joined the Aquino administration as Trade and Industry Undersecretary in 1987, she was responsible in large part for the revitalization of Philippine textile exports.

"And in 1992, the President was elected to the Senate where she proved to be an outstanding leader, authoring 55 laws on economic and social reform that were a major component of the economic success of President Fidel Ramos' administration."

Meanwhile, as senator, the President championed the rights of women who were victims of domestic violence and in 1998, the people of the Philippines elected her vice president with 12.7 million votes, the most cast for that position in Philippine history.

Duminico said that on January 20, 2001, the President was sworn in as the 14th president of the Philippines, after the Supreme Court unanimously declared the position of President vacant.

He said like Aquino, the new President had been swept into presidency by a peaceful People Power revolution that rose up in protest against the corruption of the Estrada administration.

In her inaugural address, the President predicted that the 21st century would be a time of peril and opportunity. Eight months later, on September 11, attacks on New York City awakened the world to the threat of international terrorism.

Duminico noted that since that time, the Philippines, under the leadership of its President, has proven to be one of the major allies of the United States in this new struggle for the defense of civilization.

In receiving the degree, the President said she takes the Jesuit ideals seriously. "For the Greater Glory of God! A Person for Others!"

"Today, I stand here honored with the doctorate of laws by those who taught me a great deal of what I know and made me to a great extent what I have become," she said.

She said in a very real sense, those who are honoring me with this degree today, led me as though by hand, to that White House Lawn. You honor me, Honorable fathers of the Jesuit community, you honor my country and you honor yourselves."  

Rev. Joseph O'Hare S.J., in brief remarks, noted that he has done some careful research and found that the President and his father are the only father and daughter presidents to receive honorary doctorate degrees from Fordham U.

He said the university conferred such an honorary degree to all Philippine presidents, except Presidents Marcos and Estrada.

O'Hare cited the President's efforts to bring peace and development in the Philippines.

He also said that as a former colleague in ADMU, he has both institutional and personal pride to confer the degree to the President.

The conferment rite was also attended by Fordham University officials such as University Trustee and President of Fordham Preparatory School Rev. Joseph Parkes S.J., Faculty Senate President Rita Guare and Vice President for Academic Affairs John Hollwitz.

NEW YORK (via PLDT) -- This is what some call a case of déjà vu.

On October 9, 1964, when she was only 17, she was at the Fordham’s Rose Hill Campus to accompany her father, the late President Diosdado Macapagal, who was then conferred by the university with a doctorate of laws, honoris causa.

This morning (Wednesday evening in Manila), President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was back at the same campus, this time to be conferred with the same doctorate degree that the prestigious Jesuit university had conferred on her father some 39 years ago.

In its citation, the Fordham University said it cherishes the memory of an earlier visit of the President, then a young girl, who was with her father during the conferment ceremony.

"Today, we welcome his daughter, the 14^th President of the Republic of the Philippines, to receive a similar honor," the Fordham University said in its citation.

The citation said that the President knows well the Jesuit mission in higher education.

At the undergraduate level, the President studied at Georgetown University but at the graduate level, she earned her Master of Arts degree in Economics from the Ateneo de Manila University.

Like her father, the citation said, the President also went on to earn her PhD in economics.

The Fordham University said that it was proud to confer the degree of doctor of laws, honoris causa, on the President "in recognition of the many bonds that unite the people of the Philippines and the people of the United States and with admiration and respect for her intelligent and courageous leadership."

Visibly touched, in her response, the President said that she was greatly honored by the conferment of the honorary degree.

"You honor me, you honor my country, you honor yourselves. And you have done it twice in my family," the President said in her acceptance speech.

The President said that in addition to the education that she got from the Ateneo de Manila University, she was now fortunate to be able to add a ram to her menagerie of mascots that include a blue eagle and a hoya.

She said that she has seriously taken the Jesuit ideals—Ad maoirem Dei gloriam (For the greater glory of God), and Homo pro aliis (A person for others).

NEW YORK (via PLDT) -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo Wednesday said that her state visit to the United States had enabled her and US President George W. Bush to develop a "modern framework" for Philippine-American relations in the decades to come.

In her speech this morning (late Wednesday evening in Manila) at the Fordham University here where she was conferred a doctor of laws degree, honoris causa, the President said that in the past, relations between the two countries have been marked by resentment from events long past and old misunderstandings.

The President arrived here early this morning for the last leg of her successful state visit to the United States. She is here not only to receive the honorary degree from Fordham University but also to meet with top chief executive officers (CEOs) of major American corporations.

The President said the Philippine-American relationship is not just back on the same old track but is forging ahead in a new direction, marked by mutual respect and reciprocal trust.

"Indeed, in my watch, a new and mature relationship has been developing between the Philippines and the United States," the President said.

Today, she said, that relationship covers a wide range of critical issues, from security, to regional stability, trade and investments, economic reform, and good governance measures.

The President said that strengthening Philippine alliances with other countries through aggressive diplomacy like what she had achieve in her Washington visit is an integral part of what she termed as her "strategic vision."

This strategic vision, the President explained, includes the recognition that terrorism in the Philippines must be eliminated if the country is to free its government resources for the task of wiping out poverty.

"In that regard, the US is an important ally. We face a common foe, identified by the same cowardly tactic of targeting the innocent and hitting those who cannot retaliate," the President said.

The President said that her administration has come to grips with the terrorist threat in the Philippines but stressed she will not let go, because terrorism is still disrupting the world.

"Terrorism must be faced, and must be fought, to the bitter end," the President stressed.

The President said that her travels abroad, which focus on business and investment promotion, are also part of her vision of eliminating poverty in the Philippines.

NEW YORK (via PLDT) -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today said that she is confident the Philippines can build a strong Republic that would lay the foundation for a speedier economic development and a better life for its people.

In her speech this morning (late Wednesday evening in Manila) at the Fordham University here where she was conferred a doctor of laws degree, honoris causa, the President said that with the help of friends like the United States, the Philippines can achieve this strong Republic dedicated to economic growth and good governance.

The President said that for others, a woman like her cannot do very much alone about the problem of poverty but added that a strong government can do infinitely more.

"As a necessary step towards the eradication of mass poverty in my country, I set my mind to creating a strong Republic that can tackle so great a challenge," she said.

The President cited two essential features that are needed in building a strong Republic in the Philippines.

First, she said, is the independence from class and sectoral interests, so that the Republic stands for the interests of all, rather than a powerful minority.

The second, the President said, is the capacity to execute good policies and deliver essential services through strong institutions and an efficient bureaucracy.

"The results of good policies and empowered institutions is faster economic development and a more meaningful social reform," the President said.

But the President also said that in order to achieve her vision of a strong Republic, sacrifices must be made, especially from those who have not had to make them by forces of circumstance.

She recalled that the late President Ramon Magsaysay had made famous his dictum that "those who have less in life should have more in law."

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today saluted the courage of the Armed Forces of the Philippines troops who have carried out punitive operations against the enemy in some terrorist enclaves in Mindanao as well as the civilian communities that have supported them.

In a teleconference beamed to Manila from New York, where she headed after a highly-successful state visit to Washington, the President, however, said the task of enhancing peace and order is far from over.

The Philippine National Police, she said, must be ready to hold the areas cleared by punitive operations while the national agencies and the local government units must consolidate relief and rehabilitation efforts.

The President also said she would proceed to Mindanao following her state visit to the United States "to evaluate the national security situation and to see how immediately we can apply the gains of this trip to addressing the issues of the security situation in Mindanao."

The President said the punitive actions she ordered the military to carry out before she embarked on her US visit last May 17 have been successful. She added, however, that she could call them off anytime.

"The path of peace is always open," the President said.

In response to surrender feelers from Moro rebels and suspected terrorists, the President said "I have been very clear about what I want from them. I want them to renounce terrorism. I want them to stop terrorist attacks. I want them to surrender the terrorists among them."

While authorizing the AFP to employ "selective aerial and artillery attacks to dislodge embedded terrorist cells that have attacked hapless civilian communities and murdered scores of innocent Filipinos in Mindanao," the President said the administration will step up anti-poverty programs, intensify diplomatic initiatives and maximize community preparedness and support until the threat of terrorism is beaten.

NEW YORK (via PLDT) – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today said that as a result of her state visit to the United States, the overall framework of Philippine-American relations is now marked by mutual respect and reciprocal thrust.

Wrapping up her visit with a two-day trip to this city, the President said in a press briefing at the Waldorf Astoria here that her visit also resulted in new investments and financial assistance worth millions of dollars, citing in particular the expected bonanza of $1 billion in tax perks from the inclusion of some Philippine products under the US generalized system of preference (GSP).

She said the inclusion of such products as carrageenin or seaweed, pineapple juice and tuna in the GSP is particularly significant since these products come primarily from Mindanao where there is much poverty and where the threat of terrorism and violence continues to hang.

In terms of new investments and impact on the overall economic development of the country, Trade and Industry Secretary Manuel Roxas II described the state visit as an "overwhelming success," adding that the achievements made were beyond their expectation.

The President said that in talks with US President George W. Bush in Washington, DC, they have laid the foundation for Philippine-American relations "based on more trade, not aid; reciprocity, not mendicancy; and mutuality, not exclusively."

"Our bonds of friendship and values have now grown into an overarching, pragmatic alliance for security, peace and development," the President said in her opening statement at the press briefing.

The President said that through this "bolstered alliance," the two countries have gained solid momentum for a more decisive engagement with the world.

As an example of how this new partnership is working is the agreement that the United States will now go beyond fighting the Abu Sayyaf terrorists by helping the government mop up the pockets of poverty, especially in Mindanao, where the recruits of terrorism are taken.

"The shared future of Philippine-American relations now demands initiatives that should lend greater momentum to our achievements," the President said

The President said that her meeting here with organizations engaged in business process outsourcing and with the executives of top US companies, particularly those in the information and technology (IT) sector, as well as with companies projected to invest in the reconstruction of Iraq, mean more investments and a greater range of opportunities for the Filipino workers.

"Jobs are my main concern. We go worldwide with greater zeal because we want to expand the quest for jobs through the greater market access that will come as a result of our closer economic engagement," the President said.

Officials said that for the reconstruction of Iraq, some 30,000 to 35,000 jobs could be made available soon to Filipino workers while some 10,000 new jobs could be generated in the call centers that would be opened in the Philippines.

In a series of calls at her suite at the Waldorf Astoria here, the chief executive officers (CEOs), mostly from the IT sector, told the President of their multimillion-dollar expansion plans in the Philippines starting this year.

Officials of Convergys Corporation led by its president for customer management group, John C. Freker, informed the President of their plan to set up a 240-seat call center facility at the Enterprise Center in Makati City and another 600-seat facility at Robinson’s Equitable Bank Tower in Pasig City.

Convergys is one of the world’s top providers of outsourced billing and customer management solutions. The company employs more than 44,000 people in its contact centers, data centers and offices around the world.

Officials told the President that they have chosen the Philippines, rather than India, for their worldwide expansion plans.

They said that within two to three years, they expect to hire from 8,000 to 10,000 Filipino workers. Employees would be manning their call centers within the next two months.

Convergys officials said their initial capital expenditures for their Philippine project is about $10.437 million.

During his call, Ron Lindorf, chairman and owner of Western Watts Center, also informed the President of the setting up of a call center site in Cebu. The project, which will have an initial capital outlay of $3.125 million, will involve 300 seats and employ about 500 workers initially.

Officials of Vision-X, Inc. (VXI) led by its CEO, Eva Wang, informed the President of a $1.06-million call center facility in the Philippines that is expected to generate some 4,800 employees within a three-year time frame.

VXI is currently operating with over 1,600 workstations in three locations in the United States and in Shanghai, China. The company supports 20 foreign languages in addition to its core English language.

Another American firm, the Prudential Group, has linked up with 77Global, a Philippine IT company, for a pilot project on business process outsourcing and call center projects in the Philippines.

On the last day of her visit to Washington, D.C., the President witnessed the signing of several agreements worth millions of dollars in outright grant or loans from financial institutions aimed at speeding up the country’s economic development and in pushing for some socio-economic projects.

One of the agreements signed was for a US grant of $32.81 million to help the Philippine government in its program of reintegration to society of some 25,000 former combatants of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).

The amount forms part of the $72-million total program of assistance earmarked by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for assistance to conflict affected areas in Mindanao.

Another achievement of the visit was the designation by President Bush of the Philippines as a major non-NATO ally to strengthen the Philippine government’s drive against terrorist cells operating in southern Philippines.

Foreign Secretary Blas Ople said this designation was an indication of the strong support of President Bush for President Macapagal-Arroyo and the Philippine government.

NATO refers to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, a military alliance composed of the US and major European countries.

Ople said that countries granted major non-NATO status are limited to those with a close and strategic working relationship with the US defense forces.

In a joint press conference at the White House Monday (Tuesday in Manila), President Bush announced the inclusion of the Philippines in the MNNA category that includes Australia, Bahrain, Egypt, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Argentina, New Zealand and the Republic of Korea.

"The designation is symbolic of the high level of trust and friendship between the two countries and its leaders. It also boosts the relentless efforts of our military to fight terrorist in southern Philippines since it means the Philippines is now eligible for priority delivery of excess defense articles," Ople said.

Under Section 516 of the Foreign Assistance Act of l961, as amended, the US government has the authority to transfer surplus military equipment to foreign security forces.

Ople and his counterpart, US Secretary of State Colin Powell, also signed two agreements for their respective governments, one on cooperation in science and technology that would enable scientists of both countries to embark on joint education and research, and two a Letter of Intent on Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement with a $1.0l million grant.

Other accords signed on the last day of the President’s visit to Washington, included the following:

NEW YORK CITY (via PLDT) -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo reiterated Wednesday (Thursday morning in Manila) that her decision not to seek re-election in 2004 stays.

In a press conference at the Waldorf Astoria, the President said she feels "so comfortable" not being a candidate for president.

"I've been able to make so many unpopular but correct decisions so I think I should stick to that decision," the President said.

The President announced last December 30 that she is not seeking reelection, saying she would rather work for the holding of honest, orderly and peaceful elections.

During the press conference at the Waldorf Astoria, the President said she wants to talk about the gains of her state visit to the United States instead of discussing politics.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today commended the Philippine National Police for pre-empting a terrorist plot in Metro Manila.

In a teleconference in New York, where she headed after a successful state visit in Washington, with reporters and other Malacanang officials in Manila, the President said the success of the PNP operations highlights the need for preparedness not only of the law-enforcement agencies but of the local government in threatened communities as well.

Chief Presidential Legal Adviser Avelino Cruz informed the President during the teleconference of the arrest of seven people in Isla Puting Bato in Tondo by joint operatives of the PNP and the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP).

Cruz also said the seven suspects, who are under the custody of the Western Police District, are undergoing interrogation in connection with previous bombing incidents.

Cruz added that investigators will be making an announcement on the results of their probe in the next few days.

NEW YORK (Via PLDT) – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo called on the people Wednesday (Thursday in Manila) to continue to practice good health and hygiene habits to keep the SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) virus away.

The President said during a press conference at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel which was also beamed to Manila that she was "very, very happy and delighted" over the World Health Organization declaration that the Philippines is SARS free.

She also congratulated health and airport authorities and workers for their vigilance against the spread of the SARS virus and expressed hope that "other countries in the region will also be able to contain their epidemic so that we can have a world free of SARS and a world free to move forward in our fight against poverty."

The WHO, in announcing the removal of the Philippines from its list of areas with recent local transmission of the killer virus, noted "the efficient surveillance and reporting system in the Philippines, which reflects strong political commitment and a high level of awareness among health staff."

The United Nations health organization said Philippine authorities accomplished the SARS-containment feat and demonstrated their government’s resolve to beat the killer disease. The results of this hard work are now being seen, WHO said in a statement.