CLARK SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONE -- This former 13^th US Air Force Base, the largest US military facility outside the US continent, is making appropriate preparations for the visit to the Philippines of American President George W. Bush next week.

Air Force One carrying President Bush is scheduled to land at Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) here. He will then transfer to Marine One, that will ferry him directly to Malacaņang.

Although there are no official arrangements for President Bush to stay here even for a few minutes, Emmanuel Y. Angeles, president of Clark Development Corp. (CDC), and Superintendent Carmen Trinidad, chief of the CDC Security Force, have been making some preparations.

The preparations would include the tightening of security measures at DMIA and a possible briefing for the visiting President in a still undisclosed place here on the development of Clark Zone since it was abandoned by the Americans in June 1991.

When the US Air Force (USAF) was prematurely forced by a natural calamity, the eruption of Mount Pinatubo, to abandon Clark Air Force base in June 1991, this main base and other satellite stations were injecting an estimated $102.6 million into the Philippine economy.

This was in addition to the defense capability of USAF assigned units provided to the Filipino people and the millions of dollars worth of assistance in military training and equipment extended under the RP-US Mutual Defense Treaty.

The US Armed Forces in the Philippines were supposed to abandon their military bases and other facilities in the country on Sept. 16, 1991 after the Philippine Senate rejected an extension of the Military Bases Agreement (MBA) scheduled to expire on that date.

This former US military facility has grown to be the country's premier economic zone employing more than 12,000 civilian employees.

Malacaņang today said that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will continue to have "an arms length relationship" with the judiciary, being an independent branch in our system of government.

"Our President respects the independence of the judiciary," Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye said in a radio interview this morning, commenting on claims of the opposition that the President had influenced the Sandiganbayan into making a ruling that was favorable to businessman Eduardo "Danding" Cojuangco.

The Sandiganbayan promulgated an order Wednesday unfreezing 20 percent of the shares of San Miguel Corp. registered in the name of Cojuangco and 34 companies that he controls.

On Friday, the President herself said that her administration stands firm on good governance and "do not cut deals with the courts."

She said that the cases against Cojuangco have been under litigation for a long time "and my administration has stood at arms length from the proceedings."

The President said that those imputing political interference in the Sandiganbayan ruling are irresponsibly fishing for issue.

Bunye said that on the reopening of the Kuratong Beleleng case against opposition Sen. Panfilo Lacson ordered by the Supreme Court, the justices recently appointed by the President even inhibited themselves from participating in the decision.

He also said that the granting of bail to former Executive Secretary Ramon Cardenas only proves that the rule of law prevails. Cardenas, executive secretary during the time of former President Joseph Estrada, has been charged with rebellion for alleged involvement in the July 27 Oakwood Mutiny.

The view of those looking into the Cardenas case is that he is entitled to bail and it has been granted but the prosecution of the charges against him will go on, said Bunye.

A task force that would implement a comprehensive and integrated security measure for the protection of the country’s critical infrastructures against terrorist attacks has been created by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo under the Cabinet Oversight Committee for Internal Security (COCIS).

The creation of the Task Force for the Security of Critical Infrastructures (TFSCI) that took effect last September 24, was in line with the President’s 16-point Counter-Terrorism Program.

The TFSCI shall enlist the active coordination and collaboration of concerned government agencies and the private sector, and the dynamic participation of the Filipino people.

Named to head the Task Force is Deputy Presidential Adviser for Special Concerns Undersecretary Abraham A. Purugganan.

Critical structures are physical facilities and cyber-based systems essential to the operations of the economy and government. They underpin the security of the country’s defensive capability, national wealth, economic prosperity, and the way of life of the people. Their incapacitation or destruction would have a debilitating impact on the defense, economic security and standard of living in the country.

They include power plants, power transmission and distribution facilities, vital communication facilities, oil and gas depots, key public works infrastructures, public and private buildings, and facilities in the nerve center of commerce and industry.

Identified as critical infrastructures by the Philippine Y2K Commission in 1999 are seven sectors, namely transportation, telecommunication, utilities, banking and finance, health, manufacturing and government services.

SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today stressed the need to develop tourism to create jobs and speed up the country’s economic development.

In her remarks at the opening of the annual Christmas lantern exhibits at the Paskuhan Village now renamed Hilaga Village, here, the President said that tourism is one of the growth sectors of the Philippines and as such needs to be developed to the hilt.

"Tourism means jobs. That’s why we should unite and promote tourism, so that we can generate jobs and speed up the country’s progress," the President said in Pilipino.

The President said that Philippine tourism grew by 40 percent last year, even when it experienced a drop worldwide after the September 11 terrorist attacks on the United States.

She particularly wants to develop Northern Luzon as a tourist destination and it is one of the reasons why she had the international airport in Clark improved and transformed into the modern Diosdado Macapagal International Airport, now open to international passenger flights and complete with world-class facilities.

The President said that among the reasons why many tourists visit Bali in Indonesia, where she attended the 9^th ASEAN Summit last week, is the presence of a good international airport there.

She cited Tourism Secretary Richard Gordon for transforming Intramuros into a showcase not only of Philippine history and culture but also of tourism activities.

This is also what she envisions for Hilaga Village, a showcase of history, culture and attractions of Northern Luzon, the President said.

Bago ang lahat, nais ko munang pasalamatan ang mga kababayan nating tumulong sa pag-pauwi natin sa 22 nating seamen na nakulong sa Abu Dhabi. Matagal na silang nakulong, mga 3 taon na. Sila ay umuwi noong Huwebes, ilang oras bago ako dumating mula sa Bali, Indonesia, kung saan dumalo ako sa ASEAN summit.

Sa ASEAN summit, kasama natin ang mga leader ng Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Japan, Korea, China at India, para sa pagbuo ng mas ligtas at mas maunlad na rehiyong Asya.

Hindi natin ikinakaila na ang rehiyon ay may panganib sa atake ng terorista. Hindi na ito dapat idiin pa. Ang dapat gawin ay makibahagi sa responsibilidad sa pagharap sa makamundong bantang ito.

Tayo ay gumagawa ng maagap na pagmatyag kontra sa mga lumilibot na cell ng mga terorista at ito ay rumesulta sa pagkadakip ng 1 kasama ni Al-Ghozi. Binabati ko ang mga operatiba ng pulis at militar na nakagawa ng aresto, sa kanilang pagiging tapat at pagmalasakit sa trabaho. Inaasahan natin na dadagdagan nito ang ating tsansang agarang mahuli si Al-Ghozi. Itong arrest ay nagpapakita kung gaano nagpapahigpit na ang dragnet kontra sa mga terorista.

Ang ating mga mata at tenga ay bukas sa mga pamayanang na pinaka-nanganganib pasukan ng mga terorista at ang ating pagmamatyag ay hindi pababayaan. Pinatatalas at pinalalawak natin ang ating kooperasyon sa loob ng ASEAN upang pigilin ang mga terorista na kumikilos sa ating mga common border.

Iyong paghusga kung alin ang pinakamalamang na target ng terorismo ay hindi nakakasilbi. Ang mga terorista ay puwedeng tumira kahit saan at kahit kailan, at ang importante ay lahat na puwedeng maabutan ay magbigay ng contribution sa seguridad ng kabuuan.

Tahimik tayong gumagawa ng ating bahagi ng pagbantay ng rehiyon at ng mundo kontra sa terorismo. Sinisigurado ko sa lahat na tayo ay talagang lumalaban sa anumang plano ng Jemaah Islamiyah, o kahit na ano pang grupo ng terorista. Ang mga maaring target ay protektado at mahirap tirahin, at tuloy-tuloy nating sasabayan ang mga umaahon na intelligence assessments.

Sa mahigit na dalawang taon sa aking pagka-pangulo, kaharap natin ang mga pag-hamon sa ating pang-mundo at pambansang katatagan. Kabilang sa mga hamong ito ang terorismo, ang SARS at ang pag-hina ng pandaigdig ekonomiya.

Lalong nadagdagan ang aking kaalaman at karanasan, upang malaman at matupad ang mga batayang pangangailangan ng ating bansa, sa paraang uunlad ito at masusugpo natin ang kahirapan. Kailangan ang batayang reporma sa sistema ng ating ekonomiya at pulitika, kung kailangan, baguhin natin ang konstitusyon. Kailangan din ang pagkakaisa at rekonsilasyon, masyadong hati ang ating lipunan. Samahan ninyo ako sa pagpapatupad ng pagbabagong kailangan. Samahan ninyo akong ipairal ang reporma at rekonsilasyon.

SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga—President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today opened the WOW Northern Philippines HILAGA Village, formerly Paskuhan Village, here that would showcase the rich historical and cultural heritages and tourism in the four regions in Northern Luzon.

The opening of the new tourism village is meant to draw attention to the best of what Central Luzon, Ilocos, Cagayan Valley and the Cordilleras can offer by way of tourism, culture, history, agriculture, trade and entertainment.

The President toured the various cultural, historical, and trade expositions and watched the festivals and street performances from each region while riding a carabao-driven "gareta" (cart).

Accompanying the President were Presidential Assistant Marita Jimenez, Tourism Secretary Richard Gordon, Public Works Secretary Florante Soriquez and Pampanga Governor Lito Lapid.

Among the festivals presented were the Pista’y Dayat and Bangus Festival of the Ilocos region, Pavvurulun and Bambanti Festivals of Cagayan Valley, and the Panagbenga and Gotad Ad Ifugao of the Cordilleras. Central Luzon also presented its famous Sinukwan, Tanduyong, Malatarlak, Hongot and Suman Festival.

Gordon said displays of native handicrafts, sampling of delicacies, cultural presentations and evening performances in the HILAGA Village are expected to bring about a total experience of Northern Philippines.

He said the new village would open up social and economic opportunities for the less privileged in the rural areas such as small entrepreneurs, poor farmers, and backyard peddlers to complement the poverty alleviation program of the Macapagal-Arroyo administration.

SAN JOSE DEL MONTE CITY – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today approved the release of P1.5 million as seed money for the establishment of a cooperative in several housing sites in Bulacan, one of several benefits she announced for the poor families, which welcomed her here.

In her visit this afternoon at the Towerville Elementary School in Barangay Minuyan, the President was overwhelmed by the problems presented by the local officials and residents that they said have long been unresolved.

The neighboring barangays of Minuyan, Sto. Cristo, and Sapang Palay here are home to several government relocation for squatters from Metro Manila.

During the visit, the President had a dialogue with the residents led by Minuyan Barangay Chairman Reynaldo Policarpio and Barangay Sto. Cristo Chairman Eladio Ramos Jr.

Accompanying the President were Secretary Marita Jimenez, Presidential Assistant for Official Development Assistance, Housing Secretary Michael Defensor, and City Mayor Eduardo Roquero.

Among the problems presented by the residents were the lack of livelihood, health benefits, transportation and funds for the rehabilitation of old and dilapidated housing units.

The residents cheered and thanked the President for the package of benefits that she announced.

Aside from the P1.5-million seed fund for the cooperative and 1,000 bags of cement for the rehabilitation of dilapidated housing units, the President also ordered the establishment of a health center, Botika sa Barangay offering quality medicines and up to 50 percent discounts, a computer school, and the possible putting up of a high school in the area.