Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas. F. Ople has announced that the Philippines has been chosen as the first beneficiary of the "Peace for Development" program of the American Foreign Policy Council’s Asia-Pacific Initiative (AFPC-API).

Citing a report by the Philippine Embassy in Washington, Ople said that Al Santoli, director of the AFPC-API, announced the initiative during the program’s launching on November 5 at the Philippine Embassy in Washington.

"This is a most welcome effort by the AFPC-API," said Ople. "This again is proof that not all of the assistance that we receive from the Americans are military in nature."

The secretary said the AFPC-API initiative is primarily aimed at developing the Southern Philippines.

Philippine Ambassador to the US Albert Del Rosario expressed his gratitude to the AFPC-API for selecting Mindanao as the pilot area for the program.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo issued a presidential citation for Santoli, which was read during the launching by Deputy Chief of Mission Evan Garcia.

The President commended Santoli "for his profound commitment to promoting peace and development in the Southern Philippines" and for his "consistent endeavor to support better health, education and community-building for Filipino Muslims in Mindanao and Sulu through private voluntary initiative and public-private sector partnerships."

The President also cited AFPC-API’s director for his "leadership in developing and implementing the Development for Peace in Sulu Program (DPIS)" as well as for his "advocacy in fostering stronger cooperation and mutual understanding in all fields between the Philippines and the United States."

In its most recent report on the Philippines, the World Bank cited lifestyle checks as one of the key measures in the government’s anti-corruption campaign that "promote integrity by strengthening the threat of detection and retribution for misbehavior."

The World Bank report specifically took note of investigations conducted by the Office of the President and the Department of Finance, which recently led to the prosecution of several tax collection officials.

Also referred to as asset consistency checks, these investigations focus on verifying data reported by government officials in their Statement of Assets and Liabilities (SALs). The SALs are submitted annually and declared under oath, as prescribed by RA 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for public officials and employees.

These disclosures cover assets, liabilities, net worth and other financial and business interests of public officials, their spouses and unmarried children under 18 years of age living in their households.

While the World Bank noted that there is a general perception in the Philippines that institutional weaknesses persist in such key areas as the judicial system, enforcement of the rule of law, expenditure management, public financial accountability and management, and the civil service," it also acknowledged that "much has been done to improve governance" since the present administration assumed office on a platform of anti-corruption and good governance programs.

The Macapagal-Arroyo administration began lifestyle checks early this year and has so far suspended and filed charges against officials of the Bureau of Internal Revenue, the Bureau of Customs and the Department of Public Works and Highways.

Lifestyle or asset consistency checks have long been recognized as an indispensable tool in anti-corruption campaigns abroad. For instance, the Hong Kong-based Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) focused its efforts on the same approach during its early years.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has pledged to give P50 million to Dagupan City in order to fast-track the building of a bangus processing plant.

In a radio interview over Bombo Radyo Dagupan, the President said that she is an avid fan of Bonuan’s bangus and that she will see to it that the construction of the processing plant will be funded to give more jobs to residents of Pangasinan.

"I adore Bonuan bangus and I always drop by Bonuan everytime I have the chance to do so, to taste Bangus bonuan," The President said.

The President said that the government has already released an initial P10 million for the project and has assured that the remaining amount will soon be released.

"You don’t have to worry about the balance of the P50 million funding for the bangus processing plant, which is a pet project of Mayor Lim Ken and House Speaker Jose de Venecia. I know that this project would help promote more jobs for the residents of Pangasinan," the President.

The President also said that the government would look into how it can end the perennial flooding in Pangansinan.

"I know of Pangasinan’s flood problem, my mother’s home province," she said.

The President said that the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is fast-tracking the rehabilitation of the Agno River, where the excess water from the dam passes going to the China Sea.

"Too much rain, which make the water overflow the rivers of Alor-Agatand and Bued, cause the overflowing of the Agno River causing floods here," she said.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo called on the Filipino nation to unite and join her as she prays to the Almighty God that the country should be saved from possible disunity and destruction from those who do not want reconciliation.

The President made the remarks in her impromptu speech during the Jesus Saves Crusade prayer rally attended by some 300,000 peace-loving Filipinos at the Quirino Grandstand in Luneta Park Friday night.

"Jesus saves the Filipino people from sin and evil. Jesus saves the Filipino people from those who want to destroy our democracy. Jesus saves the Filipino people from those who do not want reconciliation," the President said.

In her speech, the President also thanked Evangelist Dr. David Janney of the World Hope International for his very timely gospel on the story of Zaccheus.

"I thank David Janney because tonight, he talked about the story of Zaccheus and that is what my Cabinet and I have reflected on for three days now. The story of Zaccheus is the story of reconciliation and that is what we need now," she said.

The President also lauded the Filipino and foreign members of the Jesus Saves Crusade charismatic group because despite the heavy downpour brought by typhoon Weng, they still flocked to the prayer rally.

"Ako ay nagpapasalamat na kayo ay narito at hindi umaalis, ang dami-dami ninyo kahit na umuulan (I thank all of you for being here despite of the heavy rains)," she added.

Magandang araw sa inyong lahat.

Tapos na ang Davide controversy. Muling nagwagi ang taong – bayan, balik trabaho na tayong lahat.

I’ve given specific orders to the NDCC and DSWD to continuously monitor the situation in the areas affected by typhoon Weng and to coordinate with local government units concerned to address the needs of those affected particularly the stranded passengers in some ports. There’s also special need to restore the electric posts that were blown down and I’ve also instructed the DOE and the NEA to implement "OPLAN KAPATID" which will avail of volunteers from electric cooperatives from all over the country to help, getting the posts and wires up and running. We did these collective effort to restore electric facilities in Isabela after a typhoon some time ago and I call for the same level of unity and volunteerism to get the Bicol region back to its feet.

Sana’y mabigyang inspirasyon tayo ng ipinamalas na pagkakaisa nung tatlong sangay ng gobyerno upang sama-sama nating makamit ang kapayapaan, malabanan ang kahirapan at masagot ang hamon sa karaniwang mamamayan kagaya ng mga bagyo.

Sana rin hindi na maulit ang kaguluhan tulad ng nangyari sa rally sa Makati noong Miyerkules na kumondena sa kinalabasan ng kaso.

Dismayado din ako sa ginagawa ng ilan sa ating mga pulitiko na gamitin ang mga masa, dahil pagsasamantala ito sa kanilang pagkatao. Dapat ay magkaroon tayo ng pagkakaisa at rekonsilasyon na base sa paggalang sa dignidad ng mga mamamayan at maipakilala sa kanilang mahalagang naitutulong sa ating lipunan. Dapat ay gamitin natin ang panibagong pagkakaisa na dulot ng kalutasan ng impeachment case para pasiglahin at pabilisin ang takbo ng reporma, pagwawakas sa kahirapan at pagpairal ng peace and order. Ang hidwaan ay dapat ng mapaghilom ng ating damdaming makabayan at pananagutan bilang mga mamamayan ng iisang bansa.

Harapin din natin ang insidente sa NAIA ng may hinahon at katwiran. Hinihiling ko na huwag tayong padala sa tangka ng ilan na tratuhin ang sitwasyong ito na parang isang public drama o may halong pulitika at paghahanda.

Hindi makakaila na labis na naapektuhan ng mga pangyayaring ito ang ilan sa ating mga gawaing bayan kaya marahil ay may nag-aakalang nakalimutan ko na kayo. Hindi po. Kung natatandaan ninyo sa aking unang State Of The Nation Address noong 2001 sinabi kong bibigyan ang isang daan at limangpung libong pamilya na magkaroon ng katiyakan sa lupang tinitirikan. Umabot na sa halos tatlong daang libong maralitang taga-lungsod and nabigyan na ng ganitong katiyakan. Kaya nga nagdadasal ako na matigil na sana ang mga nanggugulo para mabuhos natin ang ating oras at atensyon sa mabibigat na problemang nakakaapekto sa ating mga mamamayan tulad ng kahirapan, krimen at terorismo.

Mga kababayan, huwag kayong basta padadala sa mga maling balita o paghimok ng mga grupong gustong sirain at ibagsak ang gobyerno. Mahalagang malaki na ang natutunan natin sa hamong ating kinakaharap at patuloy na hinaharap, kaya hindi tayo madaling gapiin. Natutunan natin na makakaya lamang natin ang mga hamon kung mananatili tayong nagkakaisa at nagtutulungan.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today said reconciliation could be achieved only if there is willingness on the part of both sides to reconcile, some dignified acknowledgment by the offenders that there was something wrong done, and that there must be retribution.

Dijana Milosevic, an internationally known voice and movement specialist, asked the President about her views on reconciliation with human rights violators and the enemies of the state, which, she said, is one of the burning questions in her country, Serbia and Montenegro.

She posed the question this morning during a dialogue between the President and the participants to the 6^th Women Playwrights International Conference at the Heroes’ Hall in Malacaņang.

The Manila conference – from November 14 to 20 – is being held for the first time in Asia.

The event, participated in by about 30 countries, is being hosted by the Cultural Center of the Philippines, Japan Foundation Manila, Asian Cultural Council Philippines Foundation, and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) in cooperation with the International Theatre Institute Philippines, Australia Council for the Arts, and the Bienvenido N. Santos Creative Writing Center of the De La Salle University.

The delegates were led by Weena Natarajan, president of the Women Playwright International (WPI); and Cecille Guidote Alvarez, chairperson of the International Theatre Institute (ITI) Philippines.

"First there must be a desire on both sides to reconcile. There must be some acknowledgment of the wrongdoing, in some way or another. That acknowledgment must be in a way that preserves the dignity of the one acknowledging and, third, there must be some retribution," the President said.

"And this is the kind of reconciliation that we are seeking," she said.

The President told the Bible story of Zaccheus who, despite being a corrupt tax collector and sinner, was chosen by Jesus to be his host in one of his many sojourns.

The President said Zaccheus was so touched by the act of Jesus and as a gesture of reconciliation gave one-half of his wealth to the poor and four times of what he had stolen in retribution. And then Zaccheus followed Jesus after that.

"Well, this is the greatest playwright of our time and a model of reconciliation and has the elements of reconciliation," she said.

Talking of human rights violators or other enemies of the state, the President said the reconciliation that the country operationally needs right now is with the Communist rebels, the Muslim secessionists, and the EDSA 3 forces, the followers of former President Joseph Estrada who tried to grab power last May 1, 2001.

"And we are reaching out to all of these as long as they are willing, as long as if there are some violations that they have done they will do some retribution. And as long as there is some dignified acknowledgement that there was something wrong that must be reconciled and that must be corrected," she said.

With the New People’s Army (NPA) or the Communist rebels, the President said the government and the leftist group are beginning their exploratory talks facilitated by the government of Norway.

"You need to have a mediator that both sides can trust so that you can move forward towards reconciliation," she said.

She said the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the government are very, very close to resuming formal peace talks.

"In fact, we have an ongoing ceasefire for many, many months now, a very successful one. They even helped us to catch some of the big terrorists in their area," she said.

And with the so-called EDSA 3 forces, the President said her administration is being guided by the Church on how to go about a principled reconciliation.

She added the poor who supported Estrada and went against her in that massive show of force last May 1, 2001 "are not deprived of the services of the government."

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today urged the citizenry to use the newfound unity borne by the early resolution of the controversial Davide impeachment case to energize and stimulate needed reforms, lessen poverty and maintain peace and order.

In her weekly radio message, the President said the wounds of division could be healed by love of country and responsibility as citizens of one country.

"Sana’y mabigyang inspirasyon tayo ng pinamalas na pagkakaisa nung tatlong sangay ng gobyerno upang sama sama nating makamit ang kapayapaan, malabanan ang kahirapan at masagot ang hamon sa karaniwang mamamayan kagaya ng mga bagyo (I do hope that the unity shown by the three branches of government will serve as an inspiration for us to altogether strive for peace, fight poverty and answer the challenges to the citizenry like the typhoons)," she said.

The Chief executive called on the Filipino people to be wary of efforts to destabilize the government in the form of disinformation campaigns from groups out to overthrow the government at all costs.

"Mga kababayan, huwag kayong basta padadala sa mga maling balita o paghimok ng mga grupong gustong sirain at ibagsak ang gobyerno. Malaking bahagi na ang natutunan natin sa hamong ating kinakaharap at patuloy na hinaharap kaya hindi tayo madaling gapiin. Natutunan natin na makakaya lamang natin ang mga hamon kung mananatili tayong nagkakaisa at nagtutulungan (Let us not be misled by disinformation from groups out to overthrow our government. We have learned a great deal from the challenges that we face and we will not be easily defeated. We have learned that we can overcome the odds if we stay united helping one another)," the President said.

On Friday night, the President also called on the nation to unite and join her as she prayed to the Lord Almighty to save the country from disunity and destruction from those who do not want reconciliation.

The President made her call in her impromptu speech at the Jesus Saves Crusade prayer rally at the Quirino Grandstand, which was attended by more than 300,000 people despite an inclement weather.

Since the resolution of the Davide impeachment controversy that nearly triggered a Constitutional crisis, the President has proposed a principled reconciliation from all sectors to heal the wounds of division.

Even Vice President Teofisto Guingona, Jr., who in the past had disagreed with some government policies, has called on administration and opposition leaders to accept the President’s call for "principled reconciliation," urging a return to civility and developing a reservoir of good will and trust.

"It is unfortunate that the President’s declaration of the administration’s readiness to forge what it calls ‘principled reconciliation’ with various political groups has been met with little enthusiasm, if not distrust and derision," Guingona said.