Malacaņang has urged government officials and employees to participate in the celebration of National Government Employees’ Week from December 1 to 7, 2003.

In Memorandum Circular No. 53, dated October 30, 2003, Executive Secretary Alberto Romulo said that this year’s celebration’s theme is "rationalizing, recognizing and re-invigorating the role of government employees in governance."

In this regard, Secretary Romulo enjoined officials and employees of all departments, bureaus and agencies of the national government, including government-owned and controlled corporations, as well as local government units, to observe and participate in appropriate activities to celebrate the National Government Employees’ Week.

Pursuant to Proclamation No. 1130, dated November 11, 1997, the first week of December every year has been declared as National Government Employees’ Week.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said today that placing all units of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on red alert status is "a proactive move" and does not contribute to destabilization of the government.

"This (red alert) means the situation is under control. It should call for calm and not hysterics as we are safeguarding public order against any transient instabilities," the President said in a press statement released this morning.

Earlier, retired Gen. Ramon Montano of the now defunct Philippine Constabulary had indicated that some Malacaņang officials were fanning destabilization talks to divert public attention from criticisms of the Macapagal-Arroyo administration.

President Macapagal-Arroyo pointed out that "the threat of opportunistic destabilization always runs parallel with transient political controversies and we must not take any chances or lower our guard."

She assured the people that "there will be maximum tolerance in the face of legitimate and peaceful mass actions."

"We shall calmly but firmly hold the middle ground of law and order and peaceable protest," she added. "We will protect the legitimate exercise of civil rights but we will intercept criminal saboteurs or agents provocateur".

While some groups and personalities were trying to drag the military into the impeachment case against Supreme Court Chief Justice Hilario Davide, Jr., the AFP clarified that it remains apolitical and maintains focus on its mandated task of maintaining peace and stability.

"The AFP leadership requests those groups and individuals who are spreading these rumors of another military adventurism to refrain from doing so since this information is baseless," Chief of the AFP Public Information Office Lt. Col. Daniel A. Lucero said.

"What they are doing," Lucero said, "is a disservice to our country since this misinformation is only creating undue alarm to the public. Instead, these groups are enjoined in giving the AFP a helping hand in creating a culture that will instill the principle of civilian supremacy over the military."

The AFP has insulated itself from politics and is fulfilling its constitutional duty to protect the people and the state against destabilization plots from adventurists, he added.

Lucero said that while the government exerts utmost efforts in monitoring alleged recruitment in its ranks for another destabilization plot, it has intensified its security operations against the communist insurgents and the Abu Sayyaf group.

Contrary to Montano’s claim, he said, the Abu Sayyaf’s strength declined from 1,117 in July 2001 to less than 385 in June 2003. The group’s ability to conduct terrorist activities was curtailed by the AFP.

TAGBILARAN CITY – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said today that she would sign soon a proclamation declaring Panglao Island in Bohol province as the first Tourism Economic Zone in the country.

The President made the announcement at the launching of the Tagbilaran City Tourism Port project, which aims to provide passengers with better service in terms of safety, comfort and convenience. It is also designed to make Tagbilaran a tourist-friendly port city.

The P100-million port expansion is a project of the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) and the provincial and Tagbilaran City governments.

The President said the proclamation of Panglao Island is well deserved having been declared as the Kalakbay Awards’ Tourism Destination of the Year, while Bohol’s Tourism Council garnered the Tourism Council of the Year award.

"Bohol is major tourism province, The fame of the Chocolate Hills is not only in the country but worldwide. Now Panglao will offer the world and its peoples the amenities of a wonderful beach resort with excellent sites and facilities," she said, admitting that she is the No. 1 tourist of Bohol having visited the province so many times.

World famous sites in Bohol include the Chocolate Hills, the 1,268 nearly perfect cone-shaped hills scattered in three municipalities. These hills, declared as a National Geologic Monument, were formed centuries ago by tidal movements.

Another tourist attraction is the Philippine tarsier, the smallest living primate measuring four to five inches. The species is estimated to be 36 million years old.

The famous dive sites of Panglao -- Balicasag, Cabilao and Danajon Reef – are comparable with the world heritage site Tubattaha Reef in Palawan. Panglao has powdery soft and white beaches.

At the port expansion launching, PPA General Manager Al Cusi announced, to the applause of employees, the putting up of a Retirement Fund for Port Workers under the Social Security System (SSS).

President Macapagal-Arroyo led the ribbon cutting and unveiling of the City Hall marker during the inauguration of the New Tagbilaran Government Center. She was assisted by Mayor Jose Torralba and Vice Mayor Jorge Cabalit.

She said the P50-million three-storey new Government Center is an addition to the tourism landmarks here. An annex building was constructed with an additional P10-million fund provided by the President.

The President said that the government and tourism centers were the dream of Bohol’s favorite son, the late President Carlos P. Garcia, for his province.

The President flew to Bohol this morning to commemorate the 107th birth anniversary of the late President, who was born November 4, 1896 on Talibon island..

Garcia assumed the presidency on March 17, 1957 upon the untimely death of President Ramon Magsaysay and was reelected on November 12 of the same year. Garcia left behind a legacy of nationalism concretized by his Filipino First Policy.

After lunch at the new Government Center, the President inaugurated the Tabuan Bridge in Antequera town, some 24 kilometers from Tagbilaran City. There was also a symbolic inauguration of Inambacan Bridge in San Isidro town.

The P9.8-million Tabuan Bridge and the P8.6-million Inambacan Bridge were completed under the President’s Bridge Acceleration Program. The two strategic bridges interconnect farm-to-market roads in several interior areas of 47 towns.

The President arrived at this city shortly before 11:00 A.M. amid a slight drizzle. With her on the presidential plane was Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) Chairman Michael Defensor. Escorting her during tarmac honors was Central Command (CentCom) commander Lt. Gen. Jacinto Ligot.

TAGBILARAN CITY -- With national unity and reconciliation in mind, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today said here that she has submitted a covenant to ensure a "principled solution" to the impasse created by the impeachment complaint in Congress against Supreme Court Chief Justice Hilario Davide, Jr.

In her speech at the Carlos P. Garcia Sports Complex here this afternoon, the President said that copies of the covenant, which is now a formal document, have been sent to Chief Justice Davide, Speaker Jose de Venecia, Jr., and Senate President Franklin Drilon for their "earnest consideration."

She said that the covenant, which fully adheres to the country’s constitutional processes, would further strengthen our democratic institutions.

"I have signified to the Chief Justice and to the Speaker of the House my willingness to sign the document, together with the Speaker and the Chief Justice, to affirm our tripartite, tri-branch commitment to the principles, precepts and procedures to resolve the impasse, with the Senate President as a witness," the President said.

She said that she took such action "with nothing in mind than national unity and reconciliation." "I believe that when the public interest calls for it," she added, "the presidency must never hesitate to use its moral influence to do right and to make the nation whole."

The President said that Speaker de Venecia is now in the process of consultation with the House members on the "letter and spirit" of the covenant.

On her part, the President said, she had already consulted with the leaders of the ruling party, including those in Bohol, and they fully supported the covenant.

The covenant incorporates the five basic principles that the Chief Executive unveiled in a speech Monday on the occasion of the 105^th anniversary of the Philippine Post Office.

The basic principles involved are as follow:

First, the supreme welfare of the people as defined by the Constitution and political traditions must be respected;

Second, there must be an affirmation of co-equality, independence but indispensable cooperation and harmony among the three great branches of government;

Third, the principle of checks and balances must be reinforced as an instrument of national unity and stability and not of partisanship;

Fourth, the executive, legislative and judicial authorities must come together as trustees of the public interest and find a resolution to the controversy within the rule of law; and

Fifth, democratic government must be based on mutual trust, respect, civility, responsibility and transparency among all its leaders.

President Macapagal-Arroyo said that Speaker de Venecia is now consulting with members of the House of Representatives, which initiated the impeachment complaint, on the letter and spirit of the covenant.

She expressed confidence that "my proposal will be considered by our leaders in the House, in the name of statesmanship and patriotism."

LEGASPI, Albay – Hardly had she rested from a grueling visit to Bohol province Tuesday, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is set to fly here tomorrow directly from Tagbilaran City for another hectic schedule that should prove to all and sundry that she is not at all bothered by talks about another brewing coup.

From the Legaspi airport, the President is set to proceed to Tabaco, Albay to visit the burned public market, inspect the Pantao Port in Libon and award lot allocations to 100 National Housing Authority beneficiaries.

She will then visit the NHA resettlement area in Polangui, and will address a multi-sectoral assembly before having lunch with local officials at the residence of Third District Congressman Joey Salceda.

The Chief Executive is also scheduled to inaugurate the Iriga Bus Terminal in Iriga City, address another multi-sectoral assembly at the North Eastern Philippines Gym in Iriga City, and launch the "Kalsada Ko, Aalagaan Ko" project at the Albay Astrodome back here in Legaspi City.

An informal press conference is also scheduled before she leaves for Manila the same day.

Before the Halloween break, the President made a three-day swing of Mindanao, visiting Mati, Davao Oriental, Davao City and Cagayan de Oro City where she addressed the closing ceremonies of the Mindanao Business Conference.

But even before that, on October 25, a few days after she arrived from the two-day Leaders’ Meeting of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in Bangkok, she formally opened the Palarong Pambansa in Tubod, Lanao del Norte.

The weekend of Nov. 1 and 2 saw her at the Libingan ng mga Bayani and various cemeteries to visit her and the First Gentleman’s departed relatives.

In Bohol today, the President graced the 107^th anniversary celebration of the late President Carlos P. Garcia, Bohol’s native son, inaugurated the new Tagbilaran Government Center, the City Tourism Port and two bridges in Antiquera under the President’s Bridges Program.

TAGBILARAN CITY – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo inaugurated this morning the first tourism port in the country in this capital city of Bohol.

The Tagbilaran City Port completes a reclamation and expansion development that will soon bloom with coffee shops and restaurants amidst a landscaped boulevard.

Mrs. Arroyo arrived at 11:00 this morning aboard a chartered lear jet from Manila.

She was met at the airport by Bohol Gov. Erico Aumentado, Vice Gov. Julius Ceasar Herrera, Congressmen Edgar Chatto, Roberto Cajes and Eladio Jala.

Philippine Ports Authority General Manager Alfonso Cusi welcomed the President at the inauguration rites at the city pier.

The President likewise inaugurated two of the 10 presidential bridges built in Antequera and San Isidro towns.

The P45 million new Tagbilaran City Government Center was likewise inaugurated with Mayor Joe Torralba and Vice Mayor Jorge Cabalit thanking the President for assisting in the completion of the three-storey modern city hall.

President Arroyo's visit here was primarily to grace the commemoration of the 107^th birth anniversary of the late President Carlos P. Garcia, Bohol's most illustrious son.

Garcia was succeeded by the late President Diosdado Macapagal, the President’s father, in Malacaņang in l961.

The President was scheduled to meet with the cross-section of the community here during an hour long multi-sectoral dialogue tonight where the basic concerns of the Boholanos are to be discussed.

TAGBILARAN CITY -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today lauded the legacy of the late President Carlos P. Garcia whom she called as one of those who championed the ideals of the country’s democratic institutions and called for unity and cooperation among Filipinos.

The President made the announcement at the commemoration of the late president’s 107th birth anniversary held at the Carlos P. Garcia Sports Complex here before more than 10,000 provincial and city officials and members of multi-sectoral groups.

She said President Garcia left behind a legacy of nationalism, concretized by his "First Filipino Policy," that then gave Filipinos an equal playing chance in the fields of business and economics.

The President said this should be emulated by Filipinos by uniting and helping other Filipinos.

After being elected senator in 1941, Garcia was among the Boholanos who openly defied the Japanese Imperial Army by organizing and unifying guerrilla activities against the Japanese invaders.

After the Liberation, and the last Commonwealth election of 1946, Garcia ran for reelection and won under the Nacionalista Party.

It was during this time that he began to show his nationalism by voicing strong objections over the approval of bills he considered irreconcilable with the country’s then newly-acquired stature as an independent nation.

On March 17, 1957, he assumed the presidency upon the untimely death of President Ramon Magsaysay, and on November 12 of that year was elected for a full four-year term.

She said President Garcia also originated the concept of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) with his endorsement during his time of the sub-regional grouping between Malaysia, the Philippines and Indonesia then called MAPHILINDO.

His subsequent life as a private citizen living with his family in a modest house along Bohol Avenue in Quezon City is worth emulating.

But he was always ready to serve the country.

When the call for elections was made for delegates to formulate a new Constitution in 1971, he stood up to announce his availability for the task. He was 75 at the time.

He ran as delegate of Bohol’s 3rd District and was eventually elected as president of the Constitutional Convention.

Three days after he was sworn in for the position, he died on June 14, 1971.

After that, the President said the supporters of President Garcia helped her father, the late President Diosdado Macapagal, get elected to the Constitutional Convention.

She said her mother, Dona Eva Macapagal, is also a dear friend of President Garcia’s wife, Doņa Lilang.

"My heart is in Bohol because of our close ties," the President said.