We are for clean, honest and orderly elections and if the COMELEC has discovered any anomalies or irregularities in the registration, we urge the electoral body to clean up the list soonest.

The vote of each and every eligible Filipino must be inviolate and secure.

The DFA shall continuously monitor and submit reports on the progress of the case and see to it that all the rights of the accused are protected and being respected by the authorities holding him in custody.

Let us not prejudge Ofracio, the authorities holding him or the court.

We have faced these transient economic dislocations in the past and we have shown the capacity to weather and surmount it.

We must stay the course of economic reforms, clean politics and public sobriety to see through this season of controversy and seeming uncertainty.

We have suffered enough downfalls, yet, we stood to overcome all of these to even make us stronger and strive harder.

Agriculture Secretary Luis "Cito" Lorenzo said today that Gloria Rice, a hybrid rice variety from China, could trigger an economic boom in the Philippines.

Lorenzo said, in an interview with Radio DZRH this morning, "The Gloria Rice could easily double the country’s rice production. Before, our farmers used to harvest 60 to 80 cavans of rice per hectare in one season. With the Gloria Rice, as farmers from Rizal, Mindoro Occidental, reported harvest was as high as 292 cavans per hectare."

He pointed out that Gloria Rice would enable farmers to earn P70,000 to P100,000 per hectare compared to their present income of only P10,000 to P20,000.

"The increase of our farmers’ purchasing power will help improve their living conditions, enable them to buy farm equipment, send their children to school, and live in decent homes," Lorenzo said.

Lorenzo pointed out that the increase in production would also translate into higher rice supply for the country.

"During the start of the Macapagal-Arroyo administration, our country’s self-sufficiency in rice was estimated at only 84 percent. In her first year in office, we reached 87 percent, and around 94 percent last year. We expect that we could achieve a 97 percent to 100 percent rice sufficiency this year," Lorenzo said.

"With a 100 percent self-sufficiency," he added, "we won’t have to import rice anymore, and could even export rice to markets overseas, enabling the country to be a dollar earner."

The DA secretary said that Gloria Rice tastes good, "like the Japanese fancy rice." Because of its good taste, Gloria Rice is sure to have wide market abroad, especially in California, USA, he added.

"The different varieties of the Gloria Rice that we are using are also highly resistant to pests and rice diseases. That is why we could easily produce them at a much lesser cost," he said.

A total of 600,000 hectares have been targeted for the Gloria Rice program as part of the government’s P60 billion agriculture modernization program. As of now, about 100,000 hectares have been planted to Gloria Rice, he said.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has earmarked about P60 billion for agricultural modernization, including building of irrigation systems and propagation of the hybrid rice.

President Gloria Macapagal- Arroyo earlier said that the hybrid rice is a vital component of Philippine food security.

Aside from their favorite son and daughter, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo proved to be a hit among Ilonggos as the Chief Executive emerged the frontrunner in the presidential race in a recent survey conducted by Random Access Consultants in Iloilo.

The survey, conducted Jan. 28-30 in 120 barangays in five districts of the province, showed that 37.7 percent would vote for the President, followed by former Sen. Raul Roco with 23.5 percent.

Movie actor and main opposition candidate Fernando Poe Jr. came in third with 12.2 percent, followed by Sen. Panfilo Lacson with 3.8 percent.

For vice president, Sen. Noli "Kabayan" de Castro came out strong with 51.3 percent, followed by Sen. Loren Legarda with 28.3 percent, and Herminio Aquino 3.2 percent.

The survey was conducted by the Senior Faculty Staff of UP Visayas headed by Prof. Vicente Balinas and Liza Baliao. It has a sample size of 600 and a margin of error of plus or minus four percent.

Former Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago, who is from Iloilo, and former Trade and Industry Secretary Manuel Roxas II emerged frontrunners in the senatorial race dominated by the ruling administration party.

Santiago ran away with 49.5 percent of the votes while Roxas garnered 43 percent as the K-4 slate led the opposition, 8-4 in the Magic 12.

Also making it from the ruling party were John Osmena, Ramon "Bong" Revilla, Robert Barbers, Rodolfo Biazon, Robert Jaworski and Lito Lapid. The opposition candidates who get into the Magic 12 were Sen. Aquilino Pimentel, Jr., at No.4, Alfredo Lim at No. 6, Francisco Tatad, 11^th and Ernesto Maceda 12^th.

The latest survey results came on the heels of favorable showings of the President in three polls undertaken by respectable groups.

The New York-based Roper ASW Asia Pacific, in a survey undertaken for BusinessWorld, showed that President Macapagal-Arroyo would handily win in her bid for a full six-year term if elections were held today.

The survey showed that 28.3 percent would vote for her followed by Roco with 24.8 percent, Lacson with 12.6 percent and Poe Jr. with 11.7 percent.

The Makati Business Club, in a survey undertaken among its members in January, supported the electoral bid of the President. She got the nod of 47.6 percent of the respondents as being the "most fit and capable" in running the country.

In the MBC survey, Roco also placed second with 29.3 percent while actor Poe got zero.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today conferred the Order of Lakandula, Rank of Bayani, posthumously on the late Vice President Salvador H. Laurel.

The President presented the posthumous award to Laurel’s widow, Mrs. Celia Diaz-Laurel, following necrological services officiated by Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Rosales at the Sanctuario de San Antonio in Forbes Park in Makati City.

The former vice president was later accorded state funeral.

The urn containing Laurel’s ashes was brought to the Church escorted by his former security aides led by Brigadier General Benedicto Corona of the Philippine Marines, Philippine Navy Commander Giovani Gaerlan, Colonel Jose Gamos, Colonel Cesar Atienza, Lt. Col. Byron Calinag and Mayor Mel Ordiales, formerly from the Philippine Marines.

Former President Fidel V. Ramos, in his eulogy, described Laurel as a nationalist, diplomat, legal luminary, poet and freedom fighter.

Ramos said Laurel’s integrity and dedication to duty was unquestionable. He recalled that when he asked Laurel to head the National Centennial Commission, the former Vice President accepted it on the condition that he would not receive any remuneration.

After the necrological services, Laurel’s remains were brought to its final resting place at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Fort Bonifacio, Makati City.

A military helicopter dropped confetti of red and white roses during the interment rites.

Laurel died of cancer in the United States last January 27, 2004. Born on Nov. 18, 1928, Laurel was chairman of the National Centennial Commission. He was Vice-President and concurrent Secretary of the Foreign Affairs from 1986 to 1992. He also served as Assemblyman from 1976 to 1983.

It was the turn of Baclaran residents to enjoy the blessings of ample water supply as President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo opened a water tank beside the barangay hall under her "Proyektong Patubig ni Pangulong Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo."

The water project provides access to potable water either by direct water connection or the temporary provision of static and mobile water tanks for free to the identified blighted areas of Metro Manila and nearby provinces.

In the inaugural rites, the President told residents of Barangay Baclaran in Paranaque City to conserve water to mitigate the effects of an expected water shortage, particularly with the onset of the summer months.

"Sana mag-ingat tayo sa paggamit ng tubig dahil meron tayong water shortage (We should conserve water because we have a water shortage)," the President told some 1,000 residents of the barangay

The President was welcomed in the area by the residents, students and local executives led by Paranaque Mayor Joey Marquez, Barangay Chairman Roland Cailles, and Mrs. Claudine Zialcita, the wife of Paranaque lone district Rep. Eduardo Zialcita.

The Patubig task force is comprised of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS), and the two water concessionaires, the Manila Water Company, Inc. (MWCI) and Maynilad Water Services.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today sworn into office Defense Secretary Eduardo Ermita and some generals and Senior Officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

Executive Secretary Alberto Romulo joined the President at the Rizal Hall of Malacanang Palace during the oath taking ceremony.

The President also administered the oath to Justice Undersecretary Manuel Antonio Teehankee as Presidential Adviser on International Arbitration and Trade Law.

Among the AFP officers sworn in by the President were Vice Admiral Ariston delos Reyes, Lt. Gen. Alberto Fernando Braganza, Lt. Gen. Efren Abu, Rear Admiral Gilmer Batestil, Maj. Gen. Edwin Vargas, Brig. Gen. Ricardo Brillantes, Brig. Gen. Marcel Agustin Panares, Brig. Gen. Roberto Sylim and Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Sodusta.

AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Narciso Abaya with Philippine Air Force (PAF) commander Lt. Gen. Nestor Santillan, and Philippine Navy (PN) Flag-Officer-in-Command Vice Admiral Ernesto de Leon also witnessed the oath-taking of the promoted AFP officers.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo announced today that the government is increasing its rice procurement fund from P1 billion to P4 billion to match the expected bumper harvest of palay this year due to the introduction of the Gloria Rice or hybrid rice variety, from China.

In a speech at the Rice Industry Summit held at the Philippine International Convention Center, the President said the dramatic increase in the rice procurement fund of the National Food Authority (NFA) was part of the record-setting P60 billion spent by her administration for agriculture modernization.

The Chief Executive pointed out that P60 billion was so far the biggest allocation by the government for agriculture modernization.

In the same forum, Mrs. Macapagal-Arroyo also said the government will launch next month a program offering cheap fertilizer and farm machinery from China to complement the success of Gloria Rice.

The government’s massive agriculture modernization thrust also involved stepped up construction of irrigation projects to ensure the success of the Gloria Rice propagation program.

As a result, the President said rice farmers doubled or even tripled their harvest, citing the case of Ernesto Pineda from Rizal town in Occidental Mindoro who was adjudged Outstanding Gloria Rice Farmer for harvesting 292 cavans per hectare.

The President thanked the rice retailers and millers for supporting the institutionalized marketing assistance program of the NFA.

The President, assisted by NFA Administrator Arthur Yap and Development Bank of the Philippines Chairman Vitaliano Nanagas turned over an P8.7-million check to Jose Q. Lim of Orion, Bataan under the DBP Loan for NFA’s Rice Mill Modernization Program.

The turnover set the stage for the nationwide implementation of the rice mill modernization program through DBP, the President said.

The President, assisted by Agriculture Secreary Luis Lorenzo, Jr and Yap also awarded plaques of appreciation to outstanding Gloria Rice farmers led by Pablo, Antonio Villanueva of Tagudin, Ilocos Sur, Normal Lozada of Davao del Sur, Benigno Ramos of Pila, Laguna and Vicky Pineda of Cavite.

Yap said a total of P200 million has been earmarked for the fertilizer procurement operations of the NFA.

The program was launched following the directive of the President for the Department of Agriculture and the NFA to intervene in the procurement and distribution of fertilizer for farmers participating in the Ginintuang Masaganang Ani Rice Program.

"It aims to increase local palay production and ease the farmers’ burden on the increasing expenses for farm inputs," Yap said.

The NFA is also set to implement its Post Harvest Modernization Program with a P1.65 billion budget to help farmers reduce post harvest losses.

Yap said the modernization program entails the establishment of grains service centers primarily in DA-identified rice producing areas nationwide.

Each center, supported by the NFA’s marketing assistance programs, will be equipped with mechanical dryers, modern milling, storage and handling systems needed for optimum productivity and profitability.

As envisioned, the centers would evolve into processing and trading centers for farmers.

Yap said the program hopes to attain at least one percent reduction in annual post harvest losses based on the country’s total production.

Housing Secretary Michael Defensor today announced the launching of Team Gloria Youth on February 11 at the ULTRA in Pasig City to show the importance of the youth to nation- building.

In a Palace press briefing, the Presidential Campaign Spokesman stressed that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is recognizing the role of the youth in pursuing government programs.

"The Team Gloria Youth will be launched on February 11 at the ULTRA and we have an existing headquarters. We’ve launched it, in fact, with most of the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) leaders," Defensor said.

Defensor said that although the President is already enjoying clear support from the young generations it wont stop her from implementing more programs like the Students Assistance Fund for Education for a Strong Republic (SAFE 4 SR).

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today said her administration would explore ways of keeping down fuel prices for the benefit of the mass transport industry, specifically the passenger bus and jeepney sector.

In a radio interview, the President said the move would be taken as a government gesture of appreciation for the decision of the passenger bus and jeepney operators and drivers not to ask for fare increase during her three-year watch.

"Ako ay nagpapasalamat sa ating mga driver, sa ating transport sector dahil buong panahon ng aking administrasyon ay hindi itinaas ang presyo ng pasahe ( I thank our drivers, our transport sector, because during my entire tenure, they did not raise their fare rates)," the Chief Executive said in a radio interview.

In return, Mrs. Macapagal-Arroyo said she would instruct Energy Secretary Vince Perez to consult with owners of gasoline stations regarding the possibility of expanding the coverage of discounts on fuel products to include the provinces.

She added that the government would also look at the possibility of reining in fuel prices.

The President explained, however, that the recent hikes in the prices of gasoline and other oil prices were largely due to the winter season in the United States and in Europe that pushed up demand for fuel.