Buoyed by the latest survey giving her a significant 4.5 percent lead over opposition presidential candidate Fernando Poe Jr. in the May 10 elections, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said today that "the nation is strongly unifying in the fight for change for the average Filipino."

In a statement released by Malacanang this morning, the President said, "the poll trend shows the people moving behind a single voice and a single vision of stability and prosperity – winning over stagnation and poverty, over the dark past."

According to the survey, conducted by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) on April 10-17, 35.3 percent of 1,400 respondents, who were "likely voters" chosen nationwide, picked President Macapagal-Arroyo, leaving behind all her rivals in the presidential derby.

The respondents’ other choices were Poe of the Koalisyon ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino (KNP), 30.5 percent; Panfilo Lacson of Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP), 10.6 percent; Raul Roco of Alyansa ng Pag-Asa, 8.4 percent; Eddie Villanueva of Bangon Pilipino, 4.0 percent; and Eddie Gil. Independent .05 percent.

The President’s lead of 4.5 percent over her closest rival, Poe of KNP, in latest SWS survey, commissioned by Manila Standard, ABS-CBN and Polistrat International, is the biggest she has so far scored since the start of the election campaign last February 10. The survey had a 3 percent margin of error.

The favorable SWS survey result came out ahead of the endorsement of Mrs. Macapagal-Arroyo’s bid for a full six-year term in the May 10 polls by business and labor leaders during the 25^th National Conference of Employers at the Westin Philippine Plaza in Pasay City on Thursday.

Deputy Presidential Spokesman Ricardo Saludo noted, in a radio interview this morning, that the President’s lead could still increase. She was behind the KNP bet in the January 2004 survey, but has slowly but steadily bounced back since then in opinion polls of both SWS and Pulse Asia, he said.

"At dito sa pinakahuling survey ng SWS, maliwanag na talagang sumususug ng malakas sa Pangulo ang suporta at dito hindi na malayo na magkaroon na nga nitong bandwagon na ito (It is clear in the latest SWS survey that the President is gaining strong support, and a bandwagon could soon be expected)," he added.

Saludo also stressed the importance of support pledged to President Macapagal-Arroyo by the business and labor sectors.

"Kung saan sumuporta ang negosyo, ibig sahihin kung ito ang mananalo mas magkakaroon sila ng kumpiyansa sa ekonomiya at sa bansa, at kung lumakas ang kanila kumpiyansa ay lalakas din ang kanilang investment at pagpapalawak ng negosyo at pabrika ng trabaho (When business supports a candidate, a win by that bet will inspire confidence in the economy. Strong confidence will translate to investments that will create more jobs for the people)," he said.

In her statement, President Macapagal-Arroyo said, "we shall deliver on the rising expectations and hopes of the people – by bringing more jobs, more college scholarships, clean water and health needs."

She also promised to wield the people’s mandate, in the upcoming elections, "to shore up confidence in our economy and our political stability."

The President assured the people that the elections will be "clean, credible (and) befitting our best democratic traditions."

South Cotabato Gov. Daisy Fuentes, a known oppositionist, has announced in Koronadal City, that she is not only supporting President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s candidacy, but would also campaign hard for her to ensure that she wins in the May 10 presidential elections.

"And when I threw my support for Arroyo, this means I carry 100 percent of my people. I will campaign hard for her victory. This is, indeed, an exciting day and a shock for all of you, especially the press," Fuentes told the local reporters during a press conference at the Marvella Plaza in Koronadal.

Fuentes made a similar announcement in a speech at a convention of the Kasangga ni Gloria Movement in the same hotel.

"I’ll do whatever I can to help President Arroyo win in South Cotabato, a known opposition bailiwick," Fuentes said.

The decision by Fuentes, who belongs to the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), to cross party lines and help push the Macapagal-Arroyo candidacy, completes the list of Central Mindanao governors endorsing the President’s quest for a fresh mandate.

The other pro-Arroyo political leaders in the region are Governors Manny Pinol of North Cotabato, Pax Mangudadatu of Sultan Kudarat, Mike Escobar of Saranggani and Cotabato City Mayor Muslimin Sema.

The lady governor clarified that she would remain with the NPC since party chairman emeritus business tycoon Eduardo "Danding" Cojuangco has not endorsed a particular presidential candidate.

VILLASIS, Pangasinan – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo underscored here today the importance of teamwork in nation-building and ensuring a bright future for the youth.

The President also emphasized the relevance of sports particularly basketball in creating a healthy citizenry.

Addressing supporters during an exhibition basketball game here where she made the ceremonial toss, Mrs. Macapagal-Arroyo said a vote for her K-4 (Koalisyon ng Karanasan at Katapatan para sa Kinabukasan) team would ensure a good future for the youth.

The exhibition match, held at the Villasis Gymnasium here, featured the Gloria Team versus Strong Republic Team in apparent reference to the President and her "Strong Republic" slogan.

The President indicated that Pangasinan has a special place in her heart because her late mother, Evangeline Macaraeg Macapagal, hailed from Binalonan town.

Earlier today, President Macapagal-Arroyo attended mass at Rosales town, also in Pangasinan.

After barnstorming Villasis, the President proceeded to San Quintin town where she had a Pulong Bayan or dialogue with local residents.

The President assured the local folk that their problems and concerns would be given immediate attention by the government if she willl be given a new mandate in the May 10 elections.

Mrs. Macapagal-Arroyo also revisited Lingayan where she launched last Saturday the "Hunger Free Philippines" program under the auspices of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization.

Today’s interaction with the Lingayen people involved discussions with barangay health workers on the government’s PhilHealth program.

BATAC, Ilocos Norte –President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said here Thursday night that the fight against poverty is slowly but surely being won due to the agriculture modernization program put in place by the government.

In a speech during a farmer’s festival held at the Imelda Cultural Center here, the President noted that the "food for every table" goal of her administration is slowly being realized.

"That aspiration is nearing completion," she said, pointing out that the fight against poverty is gaining victory due to the agriculture modernization program of her government.

The President stressed she is the only President who spent P20 billion yearly for agriculture modernization.

"Now we can show the advances we made in this field," she said, expressing elation at the cooperation the farmers here are doing by engaging in progressive farming activities.

In two years, she said, the country will be self-sufficient in "palay" and "we will begin exporting rice".

The President cited the nine tractors that came from the P19 million fund which are the shares of the town of Batac in the RA 7171 (Tobacco Excise Tax Fund) for tobacco producing provinces in the North, namely Pangasinan, La Union, Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte.

She also said that she is the only President who paid in full what the government owed to the different tobacco producing provinces as provided for under RA 7171.

The President also said that the creation of one million job a year is one of the pro-poor agenda of her administration that will be implemented in the next six years with the help of the residents of Batac.

She enumerated the other pledges of her pro-poor agenda, namely:

During the birthday celebration of Cong. Roque Ablan in Fort Ilocandia, the President announced as her birthday gift the following:

• Instruction to Budget and Management Secretary Emilia Boncodin to release the 2003 RA 7171 funds allocated to each of the tobacco producing provinces; and

• Signing of a proclamation declaring Fort Ilocandia here in Laoag as Tourism Ecomic Zone.

This means that the five-star hotel casino complex here can start building additional 200 cottages, and allowing the entry of duty free equipment here.

SAN QUINTIN, Pangasinan – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo assured rice farmers in this province today that the National Food Authority (NFA) will buy their palay harvest at no less than P10 per kilo at any time of the year.

The President, who flew here this morning, announced the NFA’s guaranteed palay price at a Pulong Bayan she presided over with her vice presidential running mate Senator Noli "Kabayan" de Castro.

A local farmers’ cooperative official, Cirilo Ferrer, requested on behalf of his group for the President to set a higher price for their palay production. He noted that the palay price usually declines during the harvest season, when there is an oversupply of the staple.

The President responded that the NFA has been procuring palay from farmers at P10.00, plus an incentive of 10 to 30 centavos, per kilo since January 2004 "If private traders are buying palay below the P10.00 per kilo price range, you should go to the NFA, which has a guaranteed price of P10.00 per kilo," she said.

She said that the NFA price was supposed not to be lower than P10.00 per kilo because her administration had raised the rice agency’s procurement fund from Pl billion to P4 billion. The bigger procurement fund was precisely intended to influence the commercial price of rice, she explained.

The President noted that NFA has still P12 million for the procurement of palay from farmers in Eastern Pangasinan.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo surged further ahead in the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey, with the biggest lead over closest rival Fernando Poe Jr. posted in the Visayas and Mindanao.

The SWS poll validated an independent survey conducted by equally prestigious Pulse Asia which earlier gave President Macapagal-Arroyo a "significant lead" at 34 percent against Poe’s 31 percent.

The SWS pre-election survey conducted April 10 to 17, gave the President an acceptance rating of 35.3 percent against Poe’s 30.8 percent.

Mrs. Macapagal-Arroyo, the first incumbent Chief Executive to seek a fresh mandate since 1986, improved by 3.9 percentage points from the 31.4 percent she got in the previous SWS survey conducted March 21 to 29.

Conversely, Poe, standard-bearer of the opposition Koalisyon ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino (KNP), suffered a setback of 1.2 percentage points, or from 32 percent in the March 21-29 survey to 30.8 percent in the latest SWS findings.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson overtook former Sen. Raul Roco to grab third place with 10.6 percent. Lacson, however, also suffered a slight decline of 0.6 percent compared to his previous rating of 11.2 percent.

Roco, who had to take time-out from the hustings to seek medical treatment for back pains in the United States, plunged to 8.4 percent from his previous acceptance rating of 15 percent to lose third place to Lacson.

Charismatic leader Eddie Villanueva remained a poor fifth in the overall standing with four percent, although he had an improvement of 1.2 percent over the previous SWS survey.

In the vice presidential race, the gap between front runners Sen. Noli "Kabayan" de Castro of the ruling Koalisyon ng Karanasan at Katapatan para sa Kinabukasan (K-4) and Sen. Loren Legarda of KNP slightly narrowed.

De Castro had a significant decline of 6.1 percentage points, or from 50 percent in the previous survey to only 43.9 percent in the latest survey.

President Macapagal-Arroyo was strongest in the Visayas and Mindanao which gave her 53 percent and 44 percent, respectively, against Poe’s 23 percent and 37 percent, respectively.

In Metro Manila which is traditionally an opposition bailiwick, it was a statistical tie between Mrs. Macapagal-Arroyo and Poe at 27 percent and 26 percent, respectively.

However, Poe had a slight advantage in Northern and Central Luzon regions which gave him 33 percent against the President’s 31 percent. He was strongest in Southern Luzon with 32 percent compared to 20 percent for Mrs. Macapagal-Arroyo.

On the voters’ choice by social class, the President registered 35.3 percent nationwide against Poe’s 30.8 percent. Class A, B, and C gave Mrs. Macapagal-Arroyo an overwhelming 43 percent to Poe’s 11 percent. Class D also gave her a slight edge at 34 percent to the actor’s 31 percent.

Curiously, the two leading presidentiables are tied in the Class E at 36 percent apiece, negating the claim by Poe’s camp that he champions the masses.

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan— It was the turn of the government’s basic health services program to take the spotlight here today as President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo attended the 4^th Regional Barangay Health Workers (BHW) Congress at the Narciso Ramos Sports Complex.

The President, assisted by Health Secretary Manuel Dayrit and Pangasinan Governor Victor Agbayani, distributed P100,000 seed money to each of the four BHW federations in Region I composed of the provinces of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union and Pangasinan. Pangasinan Second District Congressman Amado Espino Jr. was also present at the BHW Congress.

Around 50,000 BHWs attended the annual gathering to witness the awarding of government incentives to their respective provincial health units for their exemplary contribution in providing basic health services in the northern part of the country.

Aside from the P100,000 seed money, host province Pangasinan was also presented with a plaque of appreciation along with a P2,500,120 check representing a P280 per head incentive for their BHWs.

The President also awarded a plaque of appreciation to La Union and a P981,680 check; P812,000 for Ilocos Sur and P1,004,360 to Ilocos Norte as their respective incentives for their active participation in bringing the health services to far-flung barangays in Region I.

She also cited seven barangays for having the Model Botika sa Barangay in the region and presented a plaque of recognition to Brgy. Abucay in Piddig, Ilocos Norte; Brgy. Aguing in Sinait; Brgy. Patong in Magsingal; and Brgy. Paing in Ilocos Sur; Brgy. San Vicente, San Fernando City, La Union; Brgy. Centro Toma in Bani; and Brgy. Camagsingalan in Sual, Pangasinan.

The Chief Executive presented to Dr. Nicolas Miguel, Chief of Bayambang District Hospital and Bayambang Mayor Leocadio de Vera, Jr., P5.4 million worth of hospital equipment.

In her visit here, the President was accompanied by her running mate Senator Noli "Kabayan" de Castro and was cheered by a huge crowd at the NRSC sports stadium.

Malacanang today welcomed a decision by the Sandiganbayan junking a series of motions to dismiss graft charges lodged against some ranking officials of the Public Estate Authority (PEA) in connection with alleged overpricing in the construction of the President Diosdado Macapagal Blvd. (PDMB) at the reclamation area traversing the cities of Pasay and Paranaque.

In tossing out the petitions filed by the respondents, the anti-graft court upheld findings of the Office of the Ombudsman that there was probable cause to prosecute the respondents for "conspiring and giving unwarranted benefits" to the private contractor of the PDMB project.

Under Administrative Order No. 53, issued on Dec. 13, 2002, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has permanently barred seven PEA officials from holding public office upon recommendation of the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission (PAGC).

`Given the penalty of perpetual disqualification from reemployment in the government service were Ernest Frederick Villareal, Benjamin Carino, Joemari Gerochi, Sulficio Tagud Jr., Martin Sanciego Jr., Rodolfo Tuazon and Angelito Villanueva.

Apart from Gerochi, Villareal, Sanciego and Villanueva, those denied of their motion to quash the charges filed by the Ombudsman were PEA officials Carlos Doble, Cristina Mortel, Ernesto Enrquez, Epifanio Pureza, Jose Capistrano, Carmelita de Leon-Chan, Elpidio Damaso, Theron Victor Lacson and the private contractor, Jesusito Legaspi.

In filing their motions to dismiss the suits, the respondents argued that the information did not conform with the prescribed form and that the charges did not constitute an offense. They also claimed that the Ombudsman did not conduct any preliminary investigation as required by law and that there was no basis for the conspiracy theory.

The Sandiganbayan upheld the Ombudsman ruling that there was sufficient evidence to prove that the accused granted unwarranted benefits to the tune of more than P532.9 million to the private contractor.

"Accordingly, the PEA officials have disregarded the procedures and requirements that were prescribed by law and regulations," the Sandiganbayan ruling stated.

The PDMB is a 5.1-kilometer, eight-lane road from Pedro Gil to Pacific Ave., with three bridges.

Construction was undertaken by three private contractors—Shoemart Inc., R-I Consortium and JD Legaspi Construction (JDLC). Each contractor was assigned a portion of the road and a bridge to construct. Total cost of the project was placed at P1.1 billion.

The latest survey of the Social Weather Stations (SWS) showing President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo pulling way ahead of opposition presidential bets shows the continued trust and confidence of the people in the administration, secretary Gabriel Claudio, campaign manager of the Koalisyon ng Katapatan at Karanasan sa Kinabukasan (K-4) said today.

"More than anything else the voters preference survey results is a clear indication of the growing maturity of the voters. They are no longer swayed by mere popularity but look into qualification and the performance of the contenders. They are also looking at the true character and personality of the candidates," Claudio said.

Claudio was referring to the latest SWS survey which showed that 35.3% of the voters would give President Macapagal-Arroyo a mandate of her own, while only 30.8% would vote for her rival Fernando Poe Jr. This is a clear 4.5 % Arroyo lead despite a three percent survey margin of error.

The same survey showed Panfilio Lacson taking third place with 10.6 percent of the voters preference dislodging Raul Roco, who got only 8.4 percent, while four percent of the voters would vote for Bro. Eddie Villanueva.

The survey clearly shows that the President has been steadily gaining at the polls rising from only 26.5 percent in the January survey while Poe’s popularity is on a tailspin down from 36.3 percent in that same survey to bare 30 percent," Claudio said.

The President’s support consistently climbed by a cumulative total of about 10 percent from January, while FPJ lost as much as 6 percent.

Roco, who recently dropped out of the campaign from medical reasons, lost more than half of his base from 19.2 percent at the start to 8.4 percent today. Lacson’s loss at 0.6 percent was "marginal," but his support in the 8 to 11 percent range is marginal, to begin with.

"There’s no gainsaying that the nation is strongly unifying and moving with one voice and vision towards stability and prosperity with determination to win over insecurity and poverty," said the K-4 campaign manager.

Claudio further said that "this early, the President is already finalizing the blue print of her unity government designed to deliver the expectations of the people—more jobs, more college scholarships, clean water and health needs—with dispatch and dedication."

"President Arroyo will win in a clean and credible election befitting our best democratic traditions and she is very determined to use the expected strong mandate in upholding economic and political stability," he added.