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05 OCTOBER 2003 |
| Inflation slows down for second consecutive month in September, NEDA reports to GMA |
Inflation slowed down for the second consecutive month in September 2003 with the prices of rice, fruits and vegetables, along with electricity in the rural areas, decreasing by 0.1 percent and 0.9 percent, respectively, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said today. In a report to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Socio-Economic Planning Secretary and NEDA Director General Romulo Neri said the inflation rate dropped to 2.9 percent in September 2003 from 3.0 percent in August. Both rates were lower than the 4.5 to 5.5 percent target for 2003. "Barring unexpected shocks in the coming months," Neri said, "we expect inflation to remain stable at around 3.0 percent on account of improved play and corn output and stability in the currency market." But, the Socio-Economic Planning Secretary and NEDA chief warned of inflationary pressures that will mainly come from higher cost of crude oil following a decision by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in cut production. Neri said that electricity prices declined by 0.9 percent in selected provinces in September 2003 from the previous month as electric cooperatives reduced their rates in compliance with the Electric Power Industry Reform Act, which allows loan condonation in exchange for rate reductions. The NEDA expects further price reduction in areas outside Metro Manila, he said, because the Energy Regulatory Commission is hearing more applications from other electric cooperatives for settling their loans with lower rates. Neri said that the rice prices decreased by 0.1 percent in September as ample inventories were augmented with the onset of the harvest season in some provinces. According to the NEDA survey, prices of fruits and vegetables, specifically ampalaya, sitao, carrots, habitchuelas, white potato, eggplant and calamansi, declined also by 0.1 percent. Neri pointed out that the decline in rice, fruit and vegetable prices partly offset the rise in prices of other food, such as bangus, galunggong, cabbage, tomatoes, pechay and mangoes. On the average, he said that domestic retail fuel prices rose by 0.9 percent in September despite the 8.4 percent decline in Dubai crude oil prices from $27.66 to $25.37 per barrel. He attributed the increase to the depreciation of peso-dollar exchange rate that ranged from a lower of P54.63 to P55.53 to $1. |
| Reaction : GMA needs more time to serve |
There appears a common perception among a great number of the respondents to a random survey on President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s decision to run in the May 2004 elections. The President has started a lot of good things and she must get the chance to see them to the finish, say many, according to the Philippines News Agency poll taken right after she announced her decision Saturday at the Expo Filipino Amphitheater in Clark Field, Pampanga. Businessman Jaime Lim of General Santos said the President should be given time to finish the many programs she has implemented in the past two and a half years. Another businessman, Vic Felecia of Cebu, echoed Lim’s sentiment. "She should have six more years as President so she can finish what she started," she said. Same from cigarette vendor Lina Sumoy of General Santos. "The President must be given time to accomplish her job," she said. "She’s doing well," a tricycle driver from General Santos said. "With her decision to seek a full term, we believe we will, once more, gain ground towards achieving her vision of good governance and prosperity for our people," governors Salvacion Zaldivar-Perez (Antique), Florencio Villaflores (Aklan), Vicente Bermejo (Capiz), J.C. Rahman Nava (Guimaras) and Neil Tupas (Iloilo) said in a joint statement. Most politicians in Cebu, headed by Gov. Pablo Garcia and Mandaue Mayor Thadeo Ocampo, had also pledged their support to the President before she made the tough decision. Even the reserved reaction of Makati Business Club director general Guillermo Luz came a positive endorsement. Despite all the troubles plaguing the country, it has managed to squeeze through the economic crunch because of the government and the resiliency of the Filipino, Luz said in an interview on ANC TV Saturday night. Metro Manila working student Dolores Borbe said the President is the fittest candidate. After former Senator and Education secretary Raul Roco and Senator Panfilo Lacson, who charged First Gentleman Juan Miguel Arroyo of money laundering through the Jose Pidal accounts last month in a privileged speech, the President is the third to announce her candidacy. She took her time doing it inspite of all the urgings, particularly from her party Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats. "I changed my mind because there is a higher cause – to change society in a way that flourishes our future," the President said with reference to her announcement on December 30 last year that she would not run in 2002. "It would have been easier to take the road to retirement. Taking up the call laid before me exacts more courage, more obedience to God and our people," she continued. The President’s decision to run in next year’s elections is a great sacrifice, a noble decision for the sake of the country, according to Surigao del Sur Rep. Prospero A. Pichay, Jr. |
| FG in Dubai to help 23 jailed Pinoys |
First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo missed President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s declaration of her decision to run in the 2004 elections Saturday because he is in Dubai seeking the release from prison of 23 overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), Malacanang said yesterday. "Iyon ang kasalukuyang inaasikaso ng ating First Gentleman. Maganda naman ang feedback dahil ang creditor ng 23 ay pumayag na na makipagareglo, (That’s what the First Gentleman is attending to now and the feedback is good because the creditor of the 23 has agreed to a settlement)," Presidential Spokeperson Ignacio Bunye said in a radio interview. The First Gentleman said he had hoped to be home in time to be with his family in Clark Field to show support for the President but the negotiations to free the OFWs had taken longer than expected. "We have offered our help in our personal capacity and as a representative of the President, to do our best to bring our countrymen home at the soonest possible time. The President and I deemed this task more important, so I am now standing by in Dubai to assist our officials here in whatever way we can," the First Gentleman said. He was scheduled to meet with Dubai officials and members of the royal family today to appeal for the release of the OFWs who have been jailed for two years on estafa charges. The creditor of the OFWs wanted the equivalent of P18 million in settlement of the debts of the OFWs but has agreed to half the amount, according to Bunye. The First Gentleman will shoulder P7.5 million with funds from his Golf Foundation, while Ambassador Amable Aguiluz V volunteered to fill up the balance of P1.5 million, Bunye said. Bunye said the OFWs may be released on or before Oct. 15. The First Gentleman stayed behind in Europe when the President left for home from Paris after her recent 5-day working visit that included New York and Rome. He went to Spain to meet their daughter Luli. From Spain he proceeded to Dubai where he learned about the plight of the OFWs, Bunye said. |
| Cardinal Sin celebrates mass for GMA |
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo today heard a mass for peace and reconciliation at the Archbishop Palace in Villa San Miguel, Mandaluyong City. Former Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin led the celebration of what also served as a thanksgiving mass for the President, a day after she declared her plan to run in the May 2004 presidential elections. In his homily, Cardinal Sin implored the Almighty God to grant the President the grace to fight off the forces that seek to divide the country and plunge it into darkness and confusion. President Arroyo, speaking before some 50,000 people at the ExpoFilipino Amphitheater at ClarkField, Pampanga, last Saturday, said she reconsider her plan to retire to pursue progress and unity in the country. "I pray to God to grant me the grace to heal our divided land, to unite our people and the courage to be truly a president of reconciliation…bringing peace and unity and the deluged bounty to all our people under God’s divine providence," Mrs. Arroyo said in her speech. Together with some of her Cabinet members, President Arroyo heard Cardinal Sin pray that God bless the nation and people and cited the President for her determination to serve. "Our people are confused and tired. They want to live in peace and dignity, Cardinal said in apparent reference to too much politicking in the country. "They want to be proud of their country and their leaders. They want to see signs that their dreams for a better life not only for themselves, but most especially for their children, and their children’s children, will become a reality," the Cardinal added. "We need to heal the deep division within our society," the President said. "We must have justice, but we must also have reconciliation." She said the more than two years in Malacanang gave her more experience to pursue the programs of development and progress. "I have gained the experience necessary to understand what we need to do to change society in a way that leads to a future that we Filipinos dream of and rightly deserve – a future marked by a prosperous economy, a future where we would have defeated poverty, a future where our people enjoy true social equity and equal opportunity, a future where we can once again stand proud among the community of nations," the President said. |
| GMA makes sacrifice to bring about peace and development |
Presidential Spokesman Ignacio R. Bunye said today that by deciding to run for the presidency in the 2004 elections, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is making a sacrifice for the country to bring about peace and development as well as to eradicate poverty. In radio interview, Bunye said that President Macapagal-Arroyo could have decided to retire and forget the problems confronting the country. But, Bunye said that Mrs. Macapagal-Arroyo chose to present herself as a candidate in the 2004 presidential elections, because she sees the urgent need to change our society, and that she has the experience and vision on how to accomplish those reforms. "Talagang handa (siyang) magsakripisyo para sa ating bayan (She’s really ready to sacrifice for our country," he said. "Kanyang kagustuhan na mabago ang ating lipunan sa isang paraan na maisusulong niya iyong economic development at mabababawasan iyong kahirapan sa ating bayan (She likes to reform our society in a way that will advance economic development and reduce poverty in our country)." Bunye said that the President had wanted a moratorium on politics, but that the opposition has never ceased its destructive criticisms of her and her administration. "Yong paninira sa isang administrasyon, katulad nang ginagawa ng isang senator, iyong pagbibigay noong manufactured evidence, iyan ang pinakamataas na uri ng pamumulitika (The criticism of an administration, like a senator presenting Senate probers manufactured evidence, that is the highest form of politicking)." Bunye said that President. Macapagal-Arroyo had probably lost her patience when she challenged Senator Panfilo Lacson Saturday to come out with evidence in connection with the latter’s charges against First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo on the Jose Pidal bank account. He noted that the President had kept quiet on the case for six weeks, observing whether or not Lacson would come up with new evidence. Having failed to do so, he added that Lacson’s evidence must have been only manufactured. |
| Statement of the President : Re Lacson So-called Exposes |
Mr. Lacson has gone far enough. His so-called Pidal exposes of money laundering and corruption are nothing more than malicious intrigues designed to strain marital and family relations. His claims are painful, though unsubstantiated. He seems to enjoy his vile way of fiscalizing by picking on my spouse and children. I urge him to stop this farce. I will not let a gossiping family wrecker to further assail the Presidency and disrupt the Republic. |
