The President today named Maj. Gen. Efren Abu as new Philippine Army Chief, vice Lt. Gen. Gregorio Camiling who has reached retirement age.

The President said she chose Abu based on the recommendation of the AFP Board of Generals.

As was repeatedly stressed in the Cabinet Meeting on 11 November, national reconciliation is fraught with great complexities and difficulties. At the meeting there were concerns expressed about the challenge of undertaking reconciliation while pursuing justice in the courts and amid a bruising election contest, among other issues. That this enterprise will be highly risky and demanding is confirmed by the reactions of various individuals and sectors to the President’s call for reconciliation.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today called on the chairmen of the Regional Development Councils (RDCs) to help her promote unity and reconciliation in the country, saying they are her "extensions" in the region.

In her remarks at the National Conference of Regional Development Councils held this morning in Malacanang, the President said she is "seeking light in the minds of the leaders so we can breach the cynicism and hatred that is rending the nation and depriving the people of peace of mind and economic opportunity."

The President said she is making this offer before things become worse for the Filipino people. "We must not leave the Filipino people trapped in the middle of political clashes lest we forget that the people are the sovereign and they expect more statesmanship and solidarity from their leaders," she said.

As leaders in the region, the President expressed the hope that RDCs can help bring this about. "Let us thrive in an atmosphere of sobriety, enlightenment and civility," she pointed out.

The President said that the RDCs should strive to become more effective partners in the fight against poverty.

The NCRDCs, meeting this morning discussed two main agenda items, namely the creation of regional committee under the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) board and the funding support for RDCs.

According to Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Romulo Neri, the RDCs agreed to create a regional development committee under the NEDA board, with the President’s consent.

"This committee is intended to address cross regional concerns and issues that require national attention," Neri informed the President who is NEDA chairman.

He said the committee will be placed under the NEDA board which at present has five committees dealing with macro and sectoral matters.

For the second agenda, Neri said that the RDCs unanimously agreed to request the release of the balance from the P5 million fund which the President committed for RDC last year and to provide RDCs of Mimaropa, Region 11, NCR and ARMM with also P5 million each, among others.

Aware of the big demand for copper, gold and nickel and their potential for creating jobs, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo confirmed Thursday night that her government is implementing a new policy of actively promoting, rather than just tolerating, sustainable mining.

In a speech at the golden anniversary of the Philippine Mines Safety and Environment Association and the Annual National Mine Safety and Environment Conference at the Manila Hotel, the President assured mining leaders that with a Socio- Economic Planning Secretary like Romulo Neri and Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Elisea Gozun at the helm, she feels the industry is in good hands.

"Our awardees tonight are concrete proof that you can have mining, you can have jobs and you can have concern for the environment at the same time," she told the packed gallery at the Centennial Hall of the Manila Hotel.

The policy shift, according to her, occurred shortly after she appointed Neri and Gozun whom she described as open-minded and modern in her approach to mining policy.

She said that to really develop the economy and create a stronger Republic, "we need to change our system, to institute true reforms in our way of politics and our economy. And among the reforms I recognized we need to do is the reform of our mining policy."

She emphasized that it has been her administration’s policy to promote responsible mineral resources exploration, development and utilization to enhance economic growth in a manner that adheres to the principles of sustainable development.

"I’m aware of the big demand for copper, gold and nickel and their great potential for creating jobs. And after all, creating jobs is the most important means of fighting poverty," she said.

Neri, she said, has a good micro-economic program that could supplement the macro-economic gains she had made in the first half of her administration.

The President said that although historically, the country’s economic development has been slow compared to its neighbors, "it should be a source of pride to us that in the last two and a half years, we did better than our neighbors,"

"The first six months of this year, we achieved a 4.8 percent GNP growth rate, the sixth highest among the 21 economies of the Asia-Pacific region and the highest in our country since the Asian financial crisis," she explained.

In closing, she asked the mining sector to help her not only in creating jobs, not only in safety and in protection of the environment, but also in starting the healing process that will give the whole business community and the Filipino a better environment in which to work, do business and live in.

During the rites, the President handed the 2003 Presidential Mineral Industry Environmental Awards to the Silangan Mindanao Exploration Co., Inc. (mineral exploration category), Union Cement Corp.–Bulacan Plant (Quarry operation category), Union Cement Corp-La Union Plant (Quarry operation category) and Taganito Mining Corp. (Surface Mining Operation category).

Head delegates of the Asian Credit Supplementation Institution Confederation (ACSIC) pledged Thursday to continue to strengthen the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the region, including the Philippines.

In a courtesy call on President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo the ten chief delegates, led by Ms. Zorayda Amelia Alonzo, chairperson and chief executive officer of the Philippines’ Small Business Guarantee and Finance Corporation, also briefed the President on the outcome of the four-day conference on the role of credit supplementation in the integration of world economy.

Alonso said their member institutions will continue to look for other means to provide financing schemes for the small and medium enterprises in the country.

"I hope you had a fruitful meeting and congratulations to all of you," the President told the delegates.

A total of 69 delegates participated in the 16^th Conference of the Asian Credit Supplementation Institution Confederation held at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel from November 11 to 15, 2003.

The ACSIC is an association of credit supplementation institutions in Asia whose sole collective interest is the promotion and development of the small and medium enterprises sector.

It is a regional organization of guarantee institutions largely assisting the SME sector and it provides a venue for technology sharing as well as formal/informal comparison of notes on how to improve on the credit guarantee and supplementation systems, especially since the participating countries employ unique approaches.

Member countries, which include Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Nepal, Sri Lanka, China and Thailand, take turns in hosting the annual ACSIC conference. The Philippines, which is a founding member, hosted the first ACSIC Conference in 1995.

CAINTA, Rizal—President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today called on the people to be wary of efforts to destabilize the government in the form of disinformation campaigns from groups out to mislead them into overthrowing the government at all costs.

The President made the call in ceremonies held here this afternoon at the Francisco Felix Sports Center wherein she distributed Certificates of Lot Allotments to 289 out of 1,200 recipients who have complied with the requirements.

"Huwag kayong basta padadala sa mga maling balita o paghimok sa mga grupong gusting sirain at ibagsak ang gobyerno (So don’t be misled by wrong information or be swayed into joining groups out to destabilize and overthrow the government)," the President told more than 3,000 people who attended the event.

"Dahil lubos na pinangangalagaan ng pamahalaan ang dignidad ng bawat Pilipino. Kaya’t ganoon na lamang ang ating pagsisikap na ibigay sa inyo and inyong pangangailangan. At puwede kang mabigyan ng maayos at disenteng lupang tinitirikan (Because the government takes full care of the dignity of every Filipino. That’s why I’ve been working hard to give you your needs like a decent shelter)," the President said.

The President, who has distributed lots ever since she assumed the presidency, said her administration has already surpassed its target of mass housing because of the 51 presidential proclamations she had issued declaring all government lands for sale to those who occupy them.

More than 300,000 urban poor families, she said, had already benefited from the government housing program including those from San Juan, Cainta.

"Congratulations sa mga bagong may-ari ng lupa," she said. "Hindi na kayo squatters sa sariling bayan. Sana patuloy na maunawaan ninyo na sa dami ng mga problemang hinaharap ng ating bansa, hindi kayo nakakalimutan ng inyong pangulo, at hindi kailanman mangyayaring makakalimutan kayo ng inyong lingkod (You are no longer squatters in your own country. Bear in mind that even if the country has many problems, your President has not forgotten you)," she said.

Saying there is a pattern of renewed destabilization because of the forthcoming electoral process, the President called on the people to stand for democracy.

"We shall respect the right of protesters who express their political views and grievances, but we would like to draw the line on public order," the President said.

ANGONO, Rizal -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today led the mass oath-taking of some 3,000 new members of the Lakas-CMD (Christian Muslim Democrats) Rizal Chapter at the Angono covered court here.

Atty. Efren Bautista, chairman of the Lakas-CMD here, also read their pledge of "absolute support" to the President’s resolve to have a strong Republic.

"We need a leader with experience who will inspire our people to achieve greater success," Bautista said.

He said the President, aside from being recognized internationally as a staunch crusader against terrorism, is a leader who espouses good governance and new economic policies needed for the Philippines to be more progressive and globally competitive.

Among those present were Presidential Adviser on Official Development Assistance (ODA) Absorption Marita Jimenez, Press Secretary Milton Alingod, Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) Chairman Manuel Sanchez, Rizal Governor Rebecca Ynares, Rizal Vice Governor Jovita Rodriguez, Angono Mayor Jerry Calderon, Vice Mayor Au Villamayor, former Vice Governor Benjamin Felix, and other local officials.

During the event, the President asked Sanchez, a Harvard graduate and former Press Undersecretary and Undersecretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, to help draft an executive order for the declaration of Angono as the Artists Capital of the Philippines.

This town is noted as the hometown of several national artists, including the renowned painter Carlos "Botong" Francisco.

The President said Francisco’s works adorned the entrance and exit of her ancestral home and she has three paintings of the famous artist in Malacanang.