President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has inaugurated the P83.5-million Pasig City Hall of Justice that would serve as one-stop shop of legal services for convenience of the people in filing, hearing and settling of their criminal and civil cases.

The President motored to Pasig from her previous engagements in Makati City and University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City in time for the blessing of the Hall of Justice, officiated by Monsignor Rodolfo Gallardo. She cut the ceremonial ribbon to formally open the 8-storey building to the public.

The building will house 20 courtrooms of the Regional Trial Court and Metropolitan Trial Court, the City Prosecutor’s Office, the Public Attorney’s Office, Records Room, Parole and Probation Office, and other judicial offices.

In her speech, the President said that the new Hall of Justice exemplifies effective partnership of the national and city governments in strengthening the peace and justice program in the country.

"This Hall of Justice is a good contribution of Pasig to what I’d already said when I started as President, that there is a need for strengthening peace and justice in our country," she said.

The President lauded the leadership of Pasig City Mayor Soledad Cruz Eusebio for financing construction of the Hall of Justice building, as well as the continued success of her government in maintaining a climate conducive to both local and foreign investments in the city.

Earlier, Mayor Eusebio had told the President that the newly-constructed building is dedicated to the people of Pasig so that they can have easy access to judicial services.

Eusebio said that her administration believes in what Mrs. Macapagal-Arroyo had stated in the first few months of her presidency, "that no person shall be deprived of his rights by reason of poverty."

"May this modern Hall of Justice be the site of perpetual disposition of legal matters or disputes to render everyman his due and be a by-word to all of the incomparable love for peace, equality and justice by Pasiguenos," Mayor Eusebio said.

The building has a total floor area of 8,793 square meters, centralized air-conditioning system, narra parquet finish courtrooms, parking space and an elevator. The construction of the building started on June 7, 2003 and was completed April 1, 2004.

Executive Secretary Alberto Romulo, former Trade Secretary and K-4 senatorial candidate Manuel Roxas III, Housing Secretary and Presidential Campaign Spokesman Michael Defensor, and Metro Manila Development Authority Chairman Bayani Fernando accompanied the President to the inauguration rites.

There is no secret meeting or any kind of arrangement between Malacaņang and Alyansa ng Pag-asa presidential candidate Raul Roco, who has withdrawn from campaigning for the May 10 elections purportedly to seek medical treatment in the United States.

Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye made the denial in an interview with Radyo ng Bayan this morning.

"Definitely, walang pagpupulong, walang arrangement," he responded when asked whether Malacaņang had any role in former Senator Roco’s leave from the political campaign.

Bunye said that, like what President Macapagal-Arroyo has been doing, the people should continue to pray for the early recovery of former Senator Roco.

In the interview, the Presidential Spokesman also noted an article of political analyst Jose Abueva, a professor of the University of the Philippines, naming Mrs. Macapagal-Arroyo as "the candidate to beat" in the presidential derby.

According to Prof. Abueva, Bunye said, the Pulse Asia survey used a broader base of respondents and, therefore, there was a slim margin of error. Conducted from March 27 to April 4, 2004, Pulse Asia gave the President an 3 percent edge over her closest rival, Koalisyon ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino presidential bet Fernando Poe, Jr.

Bunye said that the "3 percent lead, net of margin of error, will translate to (an edge) of about 500,000 to 600,000 votes" in favor of President Macapagal-Arroyo.

LUCENA CITY -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today instructed the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and Ambassador Roy Cimatu of the Middle East Preparedness Team to set up an Iraq Team to ensure the safety and possible relocation or evacuation of Filipinos working in the strife-torn country.

In a press conference at the West I Elementary School in Barangay Iyam here, the President said the Iraq Team is tasked to identify and locate all Filipino nationals and establish working relationships with appropriate peace and order authorities in Iraq.

"I have instructed the Department of Foreign Affairs and Ambassador Roy Cimatu to set up an Iraq Team to prepare contingency plans for the safety, relocation or evacuation of Filipinos in Iraq in view of the prevailing security situation in that country," she said.

The President arrived 10:15 a.m. here and was welcomed by Mayor Ramon Talaga, 2nd District Rep. Lyn Punzalan, 1st District Rep. Raffy Nantes, and Southern Luzon Command (SOLCOM) Commanding General Maj. Gen. Alfonso Dagudag.

The President was accompanied by Defense Secretary Eduardo Ermita, Housing Secretary and Campaign Spokesman Michael Defensor and Press Secretary Milton Alingod.

The President said the Iraq team was activated because civil order and authority have not been fully restored in Iraq.

The President said although the Philippine Humanitarian Contingent (PHC) will stay on in the meantime in Iraq, there will be no further deployment of other PHC members to the area.

But as precautionary measure, the President said members of the contingent would limit their activities to their camps for the time being.

"The PHC Commander, Brigadier General Jovito S. Palparan, Jr., has determined that his area of operational responsibility is safe and secure," the President said.

The President said eight Philippine National Police (PNP) officials currently with the PHC would be assigned to the Philippine embassy in Baghdad to form part of the Iraq Team.

"These PNP officials will work directly with local authorities and will, among others, help the team address situations critical to the safety of our nationals. They will also coordinate with the security forces of private contractors that employ Filipinos," the President said.

The President said the rest of the PHC contingent would form a reserve that would be on call by the Iraq Team, to provide manpower for the survey of Filipinos and for possible relocation/evacuation, among others.

"We have sufficient transportation and communication equipment and other logistics already on the ground. We will provide additional resources as may be necessary," the President said.

The President said the DFA has already set up a hotline for relatives of Filipinos in Iraq. This is the DFA 24-Hour Action Center with telephone numbers 834-4000 and 834-3333.

"I call on all Filipinos in Iraq to have themselves registered, even if their contracts did not pass through Philippine agencies or do not comply with the minimum standards imposed by our government," the President said.

The President said the PHC and the Iraq Team would coordinate all their actions with the coalition partners and the leaders of Iraq in building a secure and democratic society in Iraq.

CAINTA, Rizal – A sweep by the administration’s senatorial candidates deserves another.

So goes the thinking of Cainta Mayor Nicanor Felix as he predicted last night another clean sweep by the administration’s senatorial line-up and a win for President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in his town.

Felix delivered a 13-0 sweep for the administration in the 2001 senatorial elections and hopes to duplicate that this time with a 12-0 show for the Koalisyon ng Karanasan at Katapatan sa Kinabukasan (K-4).

"Though it will be tough, we are assuring President Macapagal-Arroyo that we will work hard again to deliver another sweep for the K-4 ticket, including the President and Sen. Noli de Castro," Felix said in a chance interview here.

He stressed he has been pushing for block voting during his campaign sorties in a determined effort to achieve the sweep.

The President now enjoys support of the majority of Cainta’s 142,000 voters, said Felix who is going all-out for an overwhelming victory for her next month.

"A vote for me is a vote for President Macapagal-Arroyo," said Felix.

LUCENA CITY -- Some 200 officers and chapter leaders of the Guardians International Inc. today presented President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo with a manifesto of support for her bid for a six-year term in the May 10 elections.

Guardians International chairman retired Gen. Nestorio Gualberto and Banahaw Chapter "Supremo" ret. Gen. Edgardo Abenina handed the manifesto to the President during a rally at the West I Elementary School in Barangay Iyam here.

In supporting the President, the Guardians noted the "strong gains" the country has achieved under her administration.

They also expressed hope that the President and her entire Koalisyon ng Karanasan at Katapatan sa Kinabukasn (K-4) would continue to enjoy good health and sound mind and lead the country on the road to a strong Republic.

The President thanked the Guardians International for the expression of support and unity and for being an active partner of the government in providing better service to the people.

CAINTA, Rizal — President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ordered the rehabilitation of an old pipeline in Ortigas Avenue Wednesday night to solve the 30-year-old problem of lack of water in parts of the towns of Cainta and Taytay.

Speaking at the launching of "Patubig ni Gloria" program in Sitio Upper and Lower Quatro in Valley Golf Subdivision, Barangay San Juan, Cainta, the President announced the joint rehabilitation project through the initiatives of Cainta Mayor Nicanor Felix and Taytay Mayor June Zapanta, together with the Manila Water Services, Inc.

"Tonight, the Manila Water Services, with the assistance of Mayor Felix of Cainta and Mayor Zapanta of Taytay, will start the construction and rehabilitation project of the water pipeline in Ortigas Avenue to bring clean drinking water to Cainta and Taytay," she said amidst applause of some 5,000 residents who attended the ceremony.

President Macapagal-Arroyo promised that the rehabilitation project would be completed at the end of June.  By July this year, the waterless residents of Cainta and Taytay would have clean water, a part of the basic services program of her next administration.

The Chief Executive has already directed 10 water tanks of potable water delivered to the residents of Barangay San Juan, here in Sitio Quatro, three times daily.

The daily rationing of clean drinking water would benefit some 6,000 households or 23,000 individuals in the barangay.

The President stressed that these 23,000 Cainta residents are only part of the four million people who have been receiving potable water since she initiated her Patubig ni Gloria program on December 31, 2003 in Barangay Payatas, Quezon City.

The formal peace talks between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the National Democratic Front (NDF) has reached an important breakthrough with the secretariats of both parties naming their nominees for the Joint Monitoring Committee (JMC).

The JMC will be the primary body to oversee the implementation of the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL).

CARHRIHL is an important cornerstone in the GRP-NDF peace process. Although it was signed in August 1998, it was only in February and March this year that the GRP and NDF organized the JMC during the two rounds of peace talks at Oslo, Norway.

In a joint statement, GRP and NDF called the "formation, operationalization and organizational meeting of the JMC" an "important breakthrough" in the formal talks between them.

The JMC will be the primary body for the airing and receiving of complaints and reports of human rights violations and violations of the international humanitarian law between the GRP and NDF.

The JMC will be co-chaired by Prof. Carlos P. Medina, Jr, (GRP) and Fidel V. Agcaoili (NDF). Other members of the JMC are Atty. Edgardo B. Gayos and Atty. Robert I. Larga (GRP) and Coni K. Ledesma and Danilo F. Borjal (NDF).

Sitting as NDF independent observers to the JMC are Supreme Bishop Tomas A. Millema and Maria Hilao-Enriquez. On the GRP side are Mercedes Contreras Danenberg and Mary Aileen Bacalso.

Making up the JMC Secretariat are Executive Director Ma. Carla Munsayac-Villarta, Fe A. Oaing, Linda N. Canete, Sandra L. Garcia and Atty. Ma. Ngina Teresa Chan-Gonzaga of the GRP and legal consultant Atty. Edre U. Olalia, Marissa P. Dumanjug-Palo, Irvin. M. Cuasay, Rosie N. Tumbagahon and Lovie C. Ebio of the NDF.

TAYABAS, Quezon – Three years ago, when President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo assumed the presidency, the price of copra in the countryside was a measly P2.50.

Today, after she worked hard to improve the plight of the coconut farmers, the price of copra in the market has gone up to as much as P22.50, a feat which the President herself is proud to tell.

"Umangat ang buhay ng magniniyog, umangat ang buhay ng Quezon (The life of the coco farmers improved, the standard of living in Quezon also improved)," intoned the President during a speech that followed the mass-oath taking of Kaibigan ni Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo members here.

The President cited several reasons for the unprecedented increase in the price of copra during her short term in office.

She said she worked hard to expand the market of copra while making negotiations for the lifting of the copra ban in several countries.

"Tayo ay naghanap ng bagong bansang bibili ng ating produkto. Tayo ay gumawa ng negosasyon para pigilin iyong mga nagba-ban ng ating kopra sa ibang bansa (We looked for new markets which will buy our product. We negotiated to prevent the banning of our copra in other countries)," the President said.

She said the country developed coco diesel 2T oil through setting up of coconut oil mills in various parts of the country. Other oil mills were rehabilitated, she added.

"Tayo ang naghanap ng mga bagong gamit sa ating kopra (We were the ones who looked for new uses for our copra)," the President said.

She then called on the support of the coco farmers in the province to allow her to continue what she had started by giving her a fresh mandate in next month’s polls.

"Siguro kung yan ang simpleng mensahe na ibibigay sa ating mga kapatid sa Quezon, palagay ko, kung ganoon lumaki ang kita ng ating magniniyog, sapat na dahilan na dapat bumoto sila kay Pangulong Gloria at sa ating mga kandidato ng K4 (If that is the simple message we want to convey to our brothers here in Quezon, that would be reason enough for them to vote for me and the entire K4 ticket)," she said.

The President then reiterated her six-point agenda if given the chance to serve another six years.

She pledged to:

Business leaders have affirmed that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s surge in a poll survey has restored investor confidence in the local market and triggered the recovery of the peso against the dollar.

"I believe that there was a direct relationship in what happened (peso rally). I’m convinced that the business community is far more optimistic now based on what has transpired," business executive Roberto Romulo told reporters at a forum of the influential Makati Business Club (MBC) in Makati City on Wednesday.

MBC Executive director Guillermo Luz and other prominent members of the club agreed with Romulo, saying President Macapagal-Arroyo’s significant lead in the latest Pulse Asia survey was a major factor in the peso gain at the foreign exchange market.

"I am sure that may have contributed to the rally (of the peso) in the sense that the market reacts to this type of news very quickly. But let’s look at it from a broader perspective. I think the peso has dropped in value artificially mainly because of political anxiety and nervousness ahead of the elections," Luz said.

"The price that you see on the peso at P56 (to $1) really was in anticipation of problems during the elections. But I think that if people will step away and not get into an exaggerated scenario, you will see the peso gain in value. In fact, I predict that after the elections, the peso will gain," Luz added.

David Balangue, president of the Management Association of the Philippines, shared the observations of Romulo and Luz. "I think it did help, because there were no other developments that would pull the exchange rate other than that one (President Macapagal-Arroyo’s lead in the survey)."

Balangue pointed out that "there were no external developments that would cause the peso to strengthen other than the survey results."

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Gov. Rafael Buenaventura said earlier the threat of political stability subsided following the President’s strong performance in the survey.

Buenaventura said anxieties that the peso would fall further has dissipated.

The peso rallied on Tuesday to its highest level of P55.80 to $1 in nearly three months.

During the same forum, Luz commended the President for setting clear targets of her administration if given a fresh six-year mandate by the people.

"We like to see people set specific targets because you can measure them by those targets. And we’d like to see actually all candidates including the senators, the congressmen, and the mayors and governors set targets for their specific work areas," Luz said.

He cited Mrs. Macapagal-Arroyo for setting high targets including having the lowest electricity rate in Asia, but added that the President has to do a lot of reforms to attain her goals.

"Unless the voters get specific targets and a specific pledge form the politician, we cannot measure them and measurement is very important," Luz stressed.

President Macapagal-Arroyo was the last presidential candidate to face the MBC in a series of forums organized by the group to enable the candidates to elaborate on their respective platforms.

PANDI, Bulacan—It looks like there’s no stopping the exodus to the administration camp.

Barely had the euphoria of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s surge to a significant lead in the presidential derby had died down, when a fresh wave of erstwhile opposition stalwarts from two towns of this province shifted their support to the President and her entire K-4 coalition ticket.

The new administration allies –former Koalisyon ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino mayoralty bet in Norzagaray, Bulacan Amado T. Pascual and his vice-mayoralty running mate Lauro Castillo along with eight councilors in their tickets – were welcomed by the President’s son, Pampanga Vice Governor Mikey Arroyo.

Arroyo expressed elation over their pledge of support to her mother, President Arroyo, and thanked them for joining her camp. He said that her mother has always extended her hand to anyone who believes in her vision and governance.

"I would like to welcome you to our team and your offer of support to my mom and support to her government," he told the supporters during the brief welcoming rites held here Wednesday.

Pascual, for his part, told the Governor of their full support to the presidency of her mother. "Kaming lahat ay sumusuporta kay President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo dahil mukhang malalampaso ang oposisyon sa darating na halalan," he said.

The Norzagaray mayoralty candidate added that he has yet to see any program of government from the KNP that will address the problems faced by local governments like Norzagaray.

Eighteen opposition groups and supporters also joined the exodus to President Arroyo’s camp led by Jerry Esquivel, president of the confederation of Norzagaray Tricycle Operators and Drivers Association (TODA) with 2,000 members.

Esquivel said in an interview that their group realized that the President has a clear vision for good governance. Their previous presidential candidate, Fernando Poe Jr, he said, has no clear platform of government.

The other groups that also bolted from the opposition camp and shifted their support to the President included Eduardo Santos, president of the Immaculate Concepcion Tricycle Operators and Drivers Association (TODA) with 500 members.

Reelectionist Pandi Mayor Oliver "Ike" Andres likewise expressed full support to President Arroyo’s presidential bid and to her senatorial candidates along with his line-up of eight councilor candidates.

The President has been reaping the fruits of her untiring efforts to reach out to the people with an outpouring of support to her quest for a full six-year term, notably from local political leaders, including defectors from the floundering opposition parties KNP and the Alyansa ng Pag-asa

The bandwagon syndrome had already resulted in the clinching of the Bicol Region and the vote-rich provinces of Tarlac and Laguna, and of late, Mountain Province in Northern Luzon which the President visited on Easter Sunday.

The President has also received bipartisan support from leaders of vote-rich Cebu and Pangasinan provinces, as well as in most parts of Mindanao.

Early this month, Rep. Gilbert Teodoro (1^st Dist. Tarlac), a ranking NPC member, also pledged full support to President Macapagal-Arroyo.

Teodoro, a nephew of business tycoon Eduardo "Danding" Cojuangco, NPC founder and chairman emeritus, vowed to "exert all efforts so that the President would win overwhelmingly in Tarlac."

Earlier, in Capas and Concepcion towns, also in Tarlac, the President also received the assurance of support from Congressmen Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III and Rep. Jesli Lapus (3^rd Dist. Tarlac).

Rep. Faustino Dy III of Isabela, NPC chairman, said some 33 of his colleagues in the House are now supporting Mrs. Macapagal-Arroyo.

The President and the K-4 coalition have also welcomed into the K-4 fold a team of top local officials from the camp of presidential candidate Raul Roco. The group was led by former Alyansa ng Pag-asa Eastern Visayas regional coordinator Emil Ong.

Ong’s departure from the Roco camp is seen as ominous of the impending collapse of Roco’s political machinery in Eastern Visayas.

A week before Ong’s defection, President Macapagal-Arroyo also received an overwhelming declaration of support from Bicolandia leaders led by Camarines Sur Gov. Luis Villafuerte, his Vice Governor Imelda Papin, Camarines Norte Gov. Jesus Typoco, Albay Gov. Al Francis Bichara, Sorsogon Gov. Raul Lee and Masbate Gov. Antonio Kho.

Malacanang today vehemently denied conducting an alleged internal survey showing opposition standard-bearer Fernando Poe, Jr. with a commanding lead over President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Secretary Gabriel Claudio, campaign manager of the Koalisyon ng Karanasan at Katapatan sa Kinabukasan (K-4), said that with the series of setbacks it has suffered, the opposition is now experiencing "an extreme case of self-delusion."

Claudio charged that the opposition is now in a "state of denial" because all surveys conducted by credible and prestigious organizations have shown that the President is pulling away while Poe, despite his much-vaunted popularity, is fast sliding down.

Claudio said that the recent Pulse Asia survey that showed the President ahead over FPJ by a statistically significant 3 percent and the massive defection of its members to K-4, not to mention its internal squabbling, could have made a toll on Sen. Edgardo Angara, president of the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP).

The Palace official also said the pressure on Angara must have prompted him to issue an incredible claim that FPJ is leading by 20 percent over the President in an unpublished internal survey purportedly commissioned by Malacanang itself.

"No such survey exists," Claudio stressed. "This could only have existed in the mind of Senator Angara."

At a Makati Business Club (MBC) forum on Wednesday, business leaders roundly applauded the President’s 6-point plan of action for the next six years.

MBC chairman Ricardo Romulo recalled the 47.6 percent rating given by the group members to Mrs. Macapagal-Arroyo, while Poe got zero.

Claudio also cited a Business World-Roper Consumer Confidence index showing 42.6 percent of the respondents virtually endorsing the Macapagal-Arroyo administration.

Even the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey, once-preferred by the opposition, graphically showed Poe’s decline from 36.3 percent in January this year to 32.0 percent last March, a drop of 4.3 percent in just one quarter, or 1.33 percent per month. With a voting population of 37 million, that means 492,000 Filipinos changed their minds every month.

As to Poe’s withdrawal from the race, Claudio said that the K-4 does not want to comment on the opposition’s internal dynamics, but so-called sources from the many fronts in the opposition have pointed to this direction.

Claudio said that with the de facto withdrawal of presidential candidate Raul Roco, the President Arroyo’s bid for a full six-year term is expected to get another major boost.

LUCBAN, Quezon—President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo announced here today that construction of the Marikina-Infanta road would formally start next week to speed up the transport of goods and services between Metro Manila and Quezon.

The President said the road project would enable Quezon to catch up with other provinces in the CALABARZON (Cavite-Laguna-Batangas-Rizal-Quezon) economic zone in development.

"Para sa inyong kinabukasan kailangang simulan natin iyang Marikina-Infanta road na iyan para madaling magbiyahe iyong mga magtatayo ng puhunan (We need to start construction of the Marikina-Infanta road to speed up travel, particularly for the investors)," the President said in her keynote address at the 22nd commencement exercises of the Southern Luzon Polytechnic College (SLPC) here.

The President said she would revisit Quezon on Tuesday (April 20) for the groundbreaking rite for the route considered crucial to Quezon province's development to keep pace with the rapid progress in the CALABARZON.

The President said she initiated the opening up of the route in 1989 when she was still at the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

The President lamented that until now, Quezon remains wanting of economic development, while the other CALABARZON provinces have been booming with the entry of more and more factories and industries.

"That's why I will be back in Quezon on April 20 to groundbreak the Marikina-Infanta road," the President said.

The Marikina-Infanta road is also viewed as a part of the development of Mega Manila.