Mirant Philippines Foundation and the Department of Energy (DOE) are set to energize 500 more barangays in remote countryside areas in the next two years.

Mirant Philippines has committed to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo the expansion of its rural electrification program. It made the pledge when the President recently awarded Mirant a citation for the electrification of more than 1,000 far-flung barangays all over the country under the firm’s flagship Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program, called Project Beacon, or Barangay Electrification Assistance for Countryside Development.

Project Beacon, completed at a cost of over P1 billion, is considered as the largest ever CSR program undertaken by a private institution.

Mirant Public Affairs manager, Greggy Romualdez, said, "This is part of Mirant’s continuing commitment to help government improve the quality of life of our countrymen and spark economic activity in the countryside by helping it meet its electrification projects".

To be completed at a cost of P500 million, the latest project will be undertaken in two phases, 300 barangays in 2004, and the remaining 200 in 2005.

The project will be conducted in cooperation with DOE and the National Electrification Administration (NEA).

At present, an estimated 10 percent of the country’s 41,955 barangays do not have access to electricity.

The DOE targets full barangay electrification by 2006 under its O-ilaw program.

NEA, on the other hand, will be tasked with identifying the beneficiary barangays. As with the first 1,000 "electrified" barangays, Mirant will install electric posts and transmission cables to make access to electricity possible in the remote barangays.

Mirant Philippines, a subsidiary of US-based energy company Mirant, has consistently been one of the biggest moneymakers in the Philippines. Last year, it has made a profit of P8.6 billion.

Mirant operates several power plants in the Philippines with a combined capacity of 2,300 megawatts, including a 1,200-megawatt power plant in Sual town in the northern province of Pangasinan, and a 750-megawatt coal-fired plant in Pagbilao town in the eastern province of Quezon.

Similar to Project Beacon is Mirant’s Project Amore, which is aimed at providing electricity and livelihood projects to over 160 villages in Tawi-Tawi.

Let us not deal in doomsday scenarios that will aggravate anxieties and erode confidence.

The systems are in place to deal with the transient peso slide and rising oil prices.

What we need most are a calm public, a conscientious business sector and political leaders who will refrain from grandstanding on these issues.

The average Filipino will best be served by our teamwork, patriotism and prudence.

FEJODAP has set the example by postponing their petition for a fare hike.

Both the Senate and House leaderships have already given the assurance that the pro-poor projects and programs slated for this year by the President will not be affected by the standoff.

The Department of Foreign Affairs is taking care of the legal assistance for the jailed Filipino in Ireland.

We will ensure that his rights are protected.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said today that a calm public, a conscientious business sector, and "political leaders who will refrain from grandstanding" are necessary so as not to aggravate anxieties and erode of confidence in the nation’s economy owing to the slide of the peso.

In a statement, the President assured the people that "systems are in place" to deal not only with the transient peso slide but also with the rising oil prices.

"What we need most," she said, "are a calm public, a conscientious business sector and political leaders who will refrain from grandstanding on these issues."

"The average Filipino will best be served by our teamwork, patriotism and prudence," she added.

In an interview with Radyo ng Bayan, Presidential Spokesman Ignacio R. Bunye stressed that the country’s economic fundamentals remain strong.

The Chief Executive cited the example set by the Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Associations of the Philippines (FEJODAP) that has postponed its petition to the Land Transportation Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) for a fare hike.

She said that "this spirit should galvanize us to sacrifice and bear the burden together."

"Kung mababawasan natin itong political temperature, maibaba natin ‘yong masyadong politicking ay mas ii-improve ang kalagayan ng ating pananalapi. (If we could lower the political temperature, lessen politicking, we can further improve our financial situation)," Bunye said.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo assured the people today that it is safe to eat chicken as the bird flu virus raging in some neighboring countries in Southeast Asia has not yet spread to the Philippines.

But the President is not taking any chances, as she is scheduled to sign this afternoon an executive order (EO) designed to counter the threats posed by the avian influenza.

At a press conference, held in Malago Conference Hall at the PSG (Presidential Security Group) Grounds, President Macapagal-Arroyo announced the allocation of P250 million as standby fund for a contingency plan being readied by the government to deal with any outbreak of the virus in the country.

The standby fund will come from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).

The President also ordered the Department of Health (DOH) to tap the medical facilities, set up for the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), as part of the contingency plan against the bird flu virus.

She also designated Health Secretary Manuel Dayrit as crisis manager who will spearhead in policing and securing the country against possible entry of the bird flu virus.

Other government agencies named to the support group are the Departments of Agriculture, Interior and Local Government, Finance, Education, Labor and Employment (DOLE), National Defense, and the Office of the Press Secretary (OPS).

The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) will play a major role, along with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), in preventing the entry of bird flu-infected chicken into the country.

The capability of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in handling and improving the economy has been confirmed in results of the recent Roper ASW Asia Pacific survey that placed her on top of the ratings.

"She is the only candidate we can trust to really change our economy into something that is modern," Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye said today in a radio interview, stressing that could be the reason why the Roper survey showed she would win easily if the elections were held now.

Bunye did not go into details but under the President’s stewardship in 2003, the gross national product surpassed the government’s target while the budgetary deficit was held below what had been projected. Her administration generated three million jobs, much more than the one million realized under the past administration.

The survey, conducted by New York-based Roper ASW for BusinessWorld from Jan. 21-25, showed 28.3 percent of the respondents would vote for the President. Raul Roco got 24.8 percent, Sen. Panfilo Lacson 12.6 percent and Fernando Poe, Jr. 11.7 percent.

The Roper survey buttresses the President’s good showings in two other surveys also held in January by the Makati Business Club and the Social Weather Stations (SWS) for the AMA Group of Companies.

The President even topped the mock elections of Miriam College’s High School Department participated in by students, teachers and staff after Roco had presented his platform and program of government and Bunye expounded on those of the President. The other presidential candidates failed to attend and did not send representatives to the mock miting de avance and open forum.

In the Miriam College straw balloting, the count was 726, representing more than 50 percent of the participants, for the President and 496 for Roco. Lacson got 93, Bro. Eddie Villanueva 41 and Poe 32.

"The students and teachers gave importance to the platform of the President and I feel that the voters are maturing and giving emphasis on the achievements and capability of the incumbent to change our economy," Bunye said of the results of Miriam mock elections.

Percentage-wise, the MBC membership of over 800 chief executive officers and senior executives from about 450 of the largest corporations gave President Macapagal-Arroyo a 46.7 percent vote as the best fit and most capable of coping with the challenges the country faces. Roco got 29.3 percent and Poe did not get a vote, according to the MBC.

Besides voter preference, the Roper survey gave the President a 50.6 percent rating on her accomplishments and 50.7 on her sincerity besides indicating greater optimism for the year, including an expectancy of higher wages.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will deliver a eulogy and confer the posthumous Order of Lakandula, rank of Bayani, to the late Vice President Salvador H. Laurel during the state memorial services scheduled at 10 a.m. tomorrow at the Sanctuario de San Antonio in Forbes Park, Makati City.

The state memorial services would be preceded by a mass to be officiated by Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Rosales at 9 a.m.

Former President Fidel V. Ramos will also deliver a eulogy in the rites expected to be attended by the government officials and members of the diplomatic corps.

Laurel’s widow, Celia Diaz-Laurel, will give the response on behalf of the Laurel family.

The state funeral will be followed immediately by the state burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Fort Bonifacio.

The urn containing the remains of the late vice president will be given arrival honors preceding the start of the funeral cortege from the gate of the Libingan ng mga Bayani to the gravesite.

During the gravesite services, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will turnover the Philippine flag to Mrs. Laurel.

The state funeral and burial is pursuant to President Macapagal-Arroyo’s Proclamation 544 which declared a period of national mourning for the late vice president who died of lymphoma January 28 in Atherton, California.

The proclamation hailed Laurel as "a patriot and gentleman," who had devoted most of his life to selfless, dedicated and sincere service to our country and our people."

Malacaņang downplayed today the plunge of the peso to an all-time low in the foreign exchange market, saying the country’s economic fundamentals remain strong and that its projected 10 percent export growth this year would definitely be achieved.

"The 10 percent projected growth in exports is within reach because of the country’s better economic prospects for 2004," Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye said in a radio interview.

What was important, Bunye said, was that the economy continues to show resiliency amid the continuing political uncertainty brought about by too much politicking by some sectors.

"If we could lessen the political temperature by reducing partisan politics, there is a good chance that our exchange rate will stabilize. We need to do this in order to abate the negative perception of foreign investors," he said.

Bunye said the 4-percent decline of the peso vis a vis the dollar under the Macapagal-Arroyo administration was slight compared to the 44-percent devaluation under the Joseph Estrada administration.

The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) has said the country has a good chance of achieving its 10 percent export growth target, based on assurances by industries.

Bullish predictions have it that exports could even grow by double digits this year if the foreign exchange rate would improve.

Electronics accounted for the bulk of export last December at 64.9 percent of the $2.060 billion total, up by 6.9 percent from $1.927 billion in December 2002.

During the same month, the United States overtook Japan as the top export market of the Philippines. Shipments to the US accounted for 18.9 percent of the total $600.49 million.

Other major Philippine exports are textiles, clothes, coconut oil, furniture and tropical fruits.

Apart from the US and Japan, other major markets of Philippine products are Hong Kong, The Netherlands and Malaysia.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today sidestepped issues involving the electoral campaign, destabilization attempts by misguided elements of the military and civil society, as well as the ongoing Senate inquiry on the Jose Pidal controversy.

The President also declined to comment on the poll surveys including those that gave her an edge over her closest rivals in the forthcoming elections.

"I won’t comment on political issues at this time," the President said in a press conference this morning at the Presidential Security Group Compound and in an interview with a nationwide radio network.

"We have so many things to attend to, like our people, whether here or abroad," the Chief Executive said, citing as example a Filipino couple jailed in Northern Ireland suspected of being members of the terrorist group Jemaah Islamiyah.

She also mentioned the proposed roll on-roll off (RORO) facility servicing the northern Luzon provinces of Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya and Quezon.

The President said the project connecting San Vicente-Bolos Point-Valley Cove-Baguio Point-Maconcaon-Palanan-Dilasag-Kasiguran-Baler-Real route will be a big help to farmers and fishermen transporting their produce to Metro Manila and even the Visayas and Mindanao.

"All of us are wishing and working for a strong foundation to changes the ordinary Filipino desires, like livelihood, work, prices, jobs and others," the President said.

For this reason, the President said she continues to work harder to generate jobs. She reiterated that she inherited more than four million jobless workers from her predecessor, and the burden of providing them gainful employment fell on her shoulders.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, running mate Sen. Noli "Kabayan" de Castro and the senatorial bets of the ruling Koalisyon ng Katapatan at Karanasan sa Kinabukasan or K-4 Party will officially launch their campaign in Laguna province on Feb. 10.

This was announced today by Press Secretary Milton Alingod who said an 8 a.m. Mass in Cavinti town will set off the K-4 hustings.

Alingod clarified, however, that the opening day schedule is still tentative.

He pointed out that campaign strategists scrapped an initial plan of staging the launch in Baguio City because the President was also scheduled to attend an alumni reunion at the Philippine Military Academy in the city on Feb. 14.

Alingod said the strategists picked Laguna as an alternative launching site because of Mrs. Macapagal-Arroyo’s wide following in the province.

From Cavinti, the K-4 candidates will motor to San Pedro town, with whistle stops in other municipalities along the way.

He added that President Arroyo would lead the administration team in a "Pulong Bayan" in the town of Nagcarlan before proceeding to Los Banos for another caucus, this time with the K-4 party leaders.

LUCENA CITY – If she could have her way, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo would like to see the day when the Philippines would be squatter-free.

This, the President stressed today before more than 300,000 urban families who have benefited from the "Programa ng Palupa at Pabahay" (house and lot program) of her administration.

Speaking at the annual general assembly of the Urban Poor Council held at the Central Pastoral Auditorium at the Maharlika Highway here, the President said that in the near future, her government will identify all idle government properties that will be proclaimed housing sites and for sale to those who are already occupying it.

"My wish is that there will be no more squatters sa sariling bayan (in their own land)," the President said.

The President said she issued Executive Order 48 proclaiming the PNR property in this city as housing sites for those who are already occupying it. This will benefit more than 2,000 families in the city, the President said.

What remains to be solved, the President emphasized, is how much the residents will pay for the lot they are occupying.

The President, however, assured the residents that they will not pay the market value in the locality but what the residents can afford. "If need be the monthly payments can be extended so that the installments price can be reduced," she said.

"Because I understand that your aspirations are for housing, food for every table, good education, health, jobs and low prices of basic commodities," the President said. These are also the changes that the President wants to make a difference in the coming months, she added.

In the limited time (three years) she served as President, 300,000 urban families have already benefited from her program of "Palupa and Pabahay" which she said serves as the downpayment to her goal of making the country being squatter-free.

"What more can be done as installments if we work together as one?" the President said.

Earlier, the President held a "pulong bayan" (dialogue) with the basic sector, youth, businessmen and members of the non-governmental organizations (NGOs) at Tiaong, Quezon.

CANDELARIA, Quezon – City and municipal mayors in Quezon province rallied behind President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo who is seeking a full six-year term in the May 10 presidential election.

The statement of support was issued by the mayors during their luncheon meeting with the President at the residence of Candelaria Mayor David Emralino in Barangay Pahinga here.

Earlier in the day, the Chief Executive held a multi-sectoral dialogue in Tiaong town attended, among others, by local coconut farmers and senior citizens. The meeting dubbed "Pulong Bayan" was held at Marcial Punzalan Jr. Memorial Sports Complex.

Perez Mayor Pepito Reyes told reporters that they believed in Mrs. Macapagal-Arroyo’s sincerity in pushing her plans and programs meant to uplift the lives of the poor Filipinos, notably the coconut farmers in their province.

"Maganda naman ang mga programa ng ating Pangulo para matulungan ang mga mahihirap na mamamayan ng Quezon lalo na ang programang Greater Medicare Assistance (GMA) health care at iangat ang kabuhayan ng mga magniniyog ng probinsiya (Our President has good programs to help the poor people of Quezon, specifically the Greater Medicare Assistance health care, and uplift the livelihood of the coconut farmers in the province)," Reyes said.

Reyes also cited other programs of the Macapagal-Arroyo administration such as the health insurance, Patubig for the waterless communities, insurance for the coconut farmers and mass housing.

From Candelaria, the President motored to nearby Lucena City to grace the general assembly and solidarity day of the Urban Poor Council of Lucena City chapter at the Sentro Pastoral Auditorium along Maharlika Highway.

Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Governor and K-4 senatorial candidate Parouk Hussin and Presidential Commission on Urban Poor (PCUP) Commissioner Percival Chavez accompanied the President in her visit to Candelaria and Lucena City.

Lucena City Mayor Ramon Talaga Jr. hailed the President’s visit as he pledged unwavering support for her leadership.

TIAONG, Quezon – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today ordered the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) to stop or regulate the cutting of coconut trees in the country, particularly in Quezon province where the practice is reportedly rampant.

The President issued the order during a multi-sectoral dialogue attended by representatives of coconut farmers, senior citizens and youth sectors at the Marcial Punzalan, Jr. Memorial Sports Complex here.

"I urged the different people’s organizations and associations to help the government to stop the illegal cutting of coconut trees not only in the Quezon province but in the country as a whole," the President said.

The President also directed the Southern Tagalog regional manager of the PCA to broaden the scope of the government’s health insurance program to cover the coconut farmers.

In her impromptu speech, the President ask the PCA to list all the names of the coconut farmers who have no health card and submit it to her office immediately for processing and approval.

The President told the coconut farmers that the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) and their respective local government units would jointly shoulder the premium payments on their health insurance coverage.