| .. |
22 OCTOBER 2003 |
| GMA arrives home from APEC summit in Bangkok |
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo arrived Tuesday night from Bangkok, Thailand, where she attended the 11th Leaders’ Meeting of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC). President Macapagal-Arroyo flew in aboard a chartered Philippine Airlines jetliner that landed at 8:05 P.M. at the Villamor Airbase of the Philippine Air Force, in Pasay City. Within hours of her arrival, the President was scheduled to leave for Calamba City, Laguna, to preside over the groundbreaking ceremony of the Southern Luzon Expressway at 11:00 A.M. The Chief Executive was escorted during foyer honors at Villamor Airbase by Armed Forces vice chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Rodolfo Garcia. Among those who welcomed home the President were Executive Secretary Alberto Romulo, Public Works and Highways Secretary Florante Soriquez, and Senate President Franklin Drilon. Members of the presidential party who arrived with the President included Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas Ople, Trade and Industry Secretary Mar Roxas, Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye, Presidential Management Staff chief Secretary Silvestre Afable, Official Development Assistance Absorption Secretary Marita Jimenez, and eight Metro Manila mayors – Joselito Atienza of Manila; Feliciano Belmonte, Quezon City; Reynaldo Malonzo, Caloocan; Benhur Abalos, Mandaluyong; Emmanuel Carlos, Valenzuela; Maria Lourdes Fernando, Marikina; Sigfrido Tinga, Taguig; and Rosendo Capco, Pateros. |
| Statement of the President: Re Anti-Terrorism |
We have to firmly follow up on the call of the APEC summit to rid the Asia-Pacific region of terrorism. The Philippines will continue to play a key role in this effort and we must be on the alert 24 hours a day. We must continue to hone our capabilities to fight terror in all fronts in concert with our allies so that we can secure the ramparts of trade and commerce and unleash the full economic potential of the region. This is important to our drive to spur investments and trade, create jobs and build prosperity. |
| Statement of Secretary Ignacio R. Bunye: Re Feliciano Commission Report |
The release of the Feliciano Commission Report had nothing to do with the Bush visit. The commission was ready to submit the report and it was simply accommodated in the President’s schedule. There is no point in trying to paint political color into this event and this is a disservice to its eminent members. What is important is that the report has been accomplished, and its recommendations are being studied and considered as a basis for further actions and reforms. The President has expressed her abiding appreciation to the commission for its constructive work and service to the nation. |
| Joint defense assessment, 'centerpiece' of aid package U.S. President Bush brought to RP |
Philippine Ambassador to Washington Alberto del Rosario considers the Joint Defense Assessment (DJA) program as "the centerpiece" of benefits that US President George W. Bush brought with him on his state visit to this country on October 18, 2003. Ambassador del Rosario told the regular news briefing for Malacaņang reporters Wednesday that the DJA exercise has been updated since the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in the United States to determine the capabilities and requirements of the Armed Forces to the Philippines (AFP) as a partner in the global coalition against terror. He stressed the need for constant defense assessment by the military authorities of the Philippines and the United States, because combating terror – an enemy that knows no borders – requires different approach, preparations and equipment. In his introduction of Ambassador del Rosario, Deputy Presidential Spokesman Ricardo Saludo credited the envoy and embassy staff in Washington for initiating and lobbying both in US Congress and the White for approval of the $30 million program to alleviate poverty and improve the quality of education in the poorest areas of the country, particularly in Mindanao. The assistance package, however, is contingent on the signing of a peace agreement between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). In his briefing, Ambassador del Rosario said that the designation of the Philippines as a "Major non-NATO Ally" of the United States by President Bush has facilitated the supply of weapons and other military equipment to the AFP. To improve AFP’s mobility, he said that the US government is delivering "in the first half of next year" 30 helicopters, 20 of which are being refurbished at a total cost of $20 million. The other 10 helicopters are for use as sources of spare parts. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo had instructed him during her state visit to Washington in May 2003, del Rosario said, to make an immediate request for helicopters as the PAF had only six airworthy helicopters out of a fleet of 36. He pointed out that the PAF was also deficient in terms of C 130 cargo planes. "Out of 12 C 30 planes at that time, on a good day, only one would be flying and sometimes there were days none would be flying," he said. "We have a request for one or two C 130s," he said, adding that most of the US Air Force’s C 130s have been on field duty in Afghanistan and Iraq. He said that, at the President’s request, the AFP promptly got an initial supply of 30,000 M-16 rifles, which are now deployed in the field. The US will provide more rifles, under the "Major non-NATO Ally" status, once the US Army has found other retired M-16s and finished reconditioning them, he said, adding that the Philippine target is to procure as many as 130,000 refurbished M-16 rifles. The Philippine Navy is expected to receive a Cyclone ship, which is fast and "relatively new," he said. Refurbishing the Cyclone will cost $70 million and its delivery is expected in February 2004, he added. For the benefit of Filipino veterans of the second World War, he said that President Bush has endorsed two bills to the US Congress that would uplift the lives and healthcare conditions of some 22,000 Fil-American war vets in the country. The first of the two bills endorsed by Mr. Bush will provide benefits for the New Scouts and widows of World War II veterans living in the US. In addition, some 8,000 Filipino veterans in the US will be provided healthcare benefits, such as hospitalization, nursing care and medicines. Under the other bill, the US government will take care of the welfare of the veterans suffering from war-related illnesses and injuries. It also provides for a five-year extension of the Regional Veterans Office that serves both Filipino and American veterans, including those in the Philippines. "The cost of these two bills is estimated to be about $17 million per year," he said. Del Rosario noted that Senator Daniel Inoue and Congresswoman Melinda McDonald had also filed a bill to address the issue of full equity. The 8,000 US-based veterans now receive more benefits than those in the Philippines. Ambassador del Rosario said that the eight-hour Bush visit was "a clear manifestation of the solid alliance" between the Philippines and the United States, and that it gave an opportunity for their leaders to advance their shared commitment to global peace, security and prosperity. |
| Malaysian Premier to help in Mindanao peace process despite retirement at end of October |
Despite his retirement on October 3l, 2003, Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad will still be able to help us in the resumption of formal peace talks between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), Presidential Spokesman Ignacio R. Bunye said today. In an interview with Radyo ng Bayan this morning, Bunye said that the Prime Minister "is a friend of the Philippines" and "is really very interested to help in the peace process." Bunye said that Premier Mahathir, who chairs the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC), said that "is not totally withdrawing from the scene and will stay in touch." "One of the projects that he wants is to realize the formal peace talks between the Philippines and the MILF," he added. Malaysia has offered not only to broker the GRP-MILF peace talks, but also to be part of a ceasefire monitoring team that will go to Mindanao for an assessment of the situation there. Bahrain and Libya have also volunteered to send representatives in the monitoring team. Bunye, who accompanied President Macapagal-Arroyo in Bangkok, Thailand, for the 11th Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Meeting, said that informal talks have been going on between the and the MILF, and October 28 is just another day for exploratory talks. He said the government is now awaiting word from Kuala Lumpur as to when the formal peace talks would begin. He further said that the President has been expressing confidence the government’s peace initiatives "will finally bear fruit," with so many interested parties, like the OIC and the United Nations, offering to help in bringing peace to Mindanao. |
| Statement of the Cabinet Secretary: Reforming the Professional Regulation Commission |
Integrity and jobs – these have long been priority goals of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Integrity in our institutions and our society. Jobs for our countrymen and women, especially the poor and underprivileged. These are also the ultimate objective of the enhancement and reform efforts at the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC). By improving its services and maintaining lofty professional standards, the PRC helps assure that our policy will competently be served by our professionals, and our jobseekers will be competitive in the global market for expert skills and know-how. That is why the President has taken strong interest in reforms at the PRC, for which she has issued Executive Order 220 in June this year directing the adoption of the Code of Good Governance for the Professions in the Philippines. This EO will promote and establish ethical awareness and competency among our doctors, nurses, teachers, seafarers and other professional obligations. Furthermore, it will empower professionals not only to upgrade their expertise, but also keep themselves abreast with modern techniques and technologies crucial to maintaining world-class standards. The President also gave marching orders to investigate and take corrective and punitive action in the wake of testing anomalies during the Marine Tec licensure examinations in June 2002. She also reiterated her instruction for strict enforcement of professional standards among our seafarers following the mishap involving the MV Nicolas. These presidential instructions have spurred the PRC to improve its testing standards, which are crucial not only for maritime safety, but also for job generation among our seamen. In pursuit of the President’s push for jobs and integrity, the Presidential Management Staff has been working with the PRC under Chairperson Antonieta Fortuna Ibe, since November last year to improve systems, security, staffing and services. We have also tapped the expertise of the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) for staff development, and the Social Security System for professional IDs. With these coordinated efforts and assistance the PRC shall advance the President’s agenda for jobs and good goverance. |
| GMA stresses need for return to multi-lateral trading |
Presidential Spokesman Ignacio R. Bunye said today that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo stressed, among other issues, the return to multi-lateral trading at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit held October 20-21, 2003, in Bangkok, Thailand In a radio interview this morning, Bunye, who was a member of the President’s party, said she asked her fellow world leaders to concentrate on real trade issues and return to multi-lateral trading.Then she batted for a safe and fast processing of export goods through the establishment in the Philippines of a prototype of a safe port that could rapidly clear incoming and outgoing toxic cargo, he said, adding that such a port could be replicated in other countries.. Bunye said that the President had asked member economies of APEC to thresh out the issue of world trade anew in the light of the collapse of trade negotiations under the auspices of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Cancun, Mexico. "Pagkatapos ng collapse ng Cancun, ang naging patakaran ay iyong mga tinatawag na bilateral negotiations (After the collapse of Cancun, the focus has been on bilateral negotiations, " he said. "Sa halip na iyong multi-lateral, kung baga nagkanya-kanya ang mga iba’t ibang bansa at ang consensus doon sa APEC ay parang hindi rin magiging maganda in the long run dahil iba’t ibang uri ng kalakalan ang iiral. (Instead of multi-lateral negotiations, each country would on its own and the consensus in APEC is that it will not be good in the long run because of the different trading ways that would evolve)," he said. The Philippines, Bunye said, urged the APEC members to go back to the negotiating table to avoid what happened in Cancun, where developed countries tried to impose topics not exactly related to trade, like investment policies and government procurement policies. The President, according to Bunye, called for setting aside non-issues and concentrate instead on real trade issues. The development of seaports, according to the Presidential Spokesman, is very important in the export of goods. "Napaka-importante na iyong mga seaports kung saan nanggagaling ang mga produktong ito ay may mataas na kakayahanpara magpatupad ng safety measures (It is important that these seaports where the exports come from have a high capacity to implement safety measures," he said. "In other words, we are able to process the export of goods in a fast manner, kailangan safe din." As to the need to combat corruption, which was among the topics that came out in the Bangkok declaration, the President, according to Bunye, spelled out the initiatives that her government had undertaken to minimize corruption. |
| Terrorist cells in 60 countries operate as a chain of interlocking networks, says Ambassador Reyes |
Present-day terrorists are spread out in cells in some 60 countries and operate across continents as a chain of interlocking networks, Philippine Ambassador-at-Large for Counterterrorism Angelo T. Reyes said in a statement released today. The counter-terror envoy outlined, in talks with American officials, a "multi-dimensional approach" to address "the underlying causes of terrorism." Since terrorism has gone global in scope and magnitude, he said, it is necessary for all nations to pool resources and efforts "to meet the common danger." He also called for persistent and sustained efforts as well as a multidisciplinary response involving the community of nations. Ambassador Reyes visited the US Military Academy at West Point, on a mission for President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, to bolster the country’s anti-terror linkages with the United States. He also had a string of meetings with senior US officials at the State Department and the Department for Homeland Security. The Office of the Ambassador-at-Large for Counter-terrorism operates under the Office of the President. In a dialogue with senior West Point cadets, Reyes said that since the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in the United States, "terrorism can no longer be considered a local problem like it used to be in the past when terrorists had a national base and confined their operations to a single theater. He pointed out that today’s terrorists are organized into cells in some 60 countries and that they operate across continents as a chain of interlocking networks. Reyes said that, recognizing the insufficiency of military force alone in combating terrorism, the government undertakes anti-poverty and socio-cultural programs to address the grievances of the disaffected and marginalized sectors of society. While poverty does not cause terrorism, he said that "it contributes to and magnifies grievances that already exist." He said that Southeast Asia has become attractive as a base for terrorist networks, because of its growing religious radicalism, strategic location, porous borders, secessionist movements, and sympathetic minorities. |
| GMA presides over groundbreaking rites for SL Expressway extension project |
CALAMBA, Laguna - President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today led the groundbreaking rites for the 7.8-kilometer Calamba-Sto. Tomas extension toll road of South Luzon Expressway that would pave the way for economic development not only of the CALABARZON (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) area but also the neighboring provinces in the Southern Tagalog region. The President motored here from Malacaņang and was briefed upon arrival by Presidential Adviser for Infrastructure Teodoro Encarnacion. The President said that the toll road extension is part of her original masterplan to decongest the National Capital Region’s severe traffic and connect it to the Mega Manila plan. In her speech, the President said that before coming over here, she had ordered officials of the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to issue franchises to public transport vehicles covering not only Metro Manila but also Mega Manila. "Para sapat yung bus, sapat yung jeepney, sapat yung taxi sa buong Metro Manila at hindi nagsisiksikan sa Metro Manila," the President said. She also said that once the project is completed one of the beneficiaries of the Calamba-Sto.Tomas extension project are motorists from the provinces of Batangas, Laguna and Quezon, along with agricultural products coming from Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan. "At sana sa ganong paraan tuloy ang ating pagiging competitive at lalong pupunta dito ang mga namumuhunan at lalong dadami ang trabaho sa CALABARZON, sa Southern Luzon, at sa buong Pilipinas," the President added. The President also ordered the PNCC, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), and the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) to fast track the SLEX Extension project and meet the 10-month deadline for its construction. Once the toll road is completed, she said, the project is expected to improve mobility and provide the fastest way of transporting people, goods and services to and from the bustling cities of Metro Manila and the booming southern provinces of Laguna and Batangas, and therefore, hastening the industrialization in the Southern Luzon. The P1.6 billion tollway project from Barangay Turbina in Calamba all the way to the section of the Star Tollway in Sto. Tomas, Batangas will be implemented by the Philippine National Construction Corporation (PNCC). The toll road is expected to be completed within 10 months and will virtually be a two-lane tollway out of the six-lane ultimate design. The National Development Company (NDC) will finance the project through a loan for the road construction including the right of way for PNCC. Trade and Industry Secretary Manuel Roxas II, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jose Lina, Jr. and Public Works Secretary Florante Soriquez assisted the President in lowering the time capsule and inspection of the payloader trucks and bulldozer machines that will be used for the road construction. From Calamba, the President proceeded to Sta. Rosa, Laguna to witness the signing of the P118 million memorandum of agreement (loan contract) between the National Development Company (NDC) and the municipal government of Sta. Rosa. The MOA for the construction of 118 new school buildings to all public schools in Sta. Rosa were signed by Secretary Roxas and Noel Kintanar of the DTI Center Regional Director, Sta. Rosa Mayor Leon Arcillas, and Ofelia Bulaong, general manager of NDC. The President also cut the ribbon of the newly completed 3-storey (6 classrooms) school building at Don Jose Zavalla Elementary School in Barangay Pook, Sta. Rosa. The newly built classrooms were funded by the Department of Trade and Industry-NDC under the School Building Program of the administration. |
