Health Secretary Manuel Dayrit has been granted full powers by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as over-all crisis manager for the Avian Influenza (bird flu virus) pandemic influenza under Executive Order No. 280.

Named co-manager was Agriculture Secretary Luis Lorenzo, Jr. in the executive order signed by the President on February 5.

As over-all crisis manager, Dayrit can call on all agencies of the government, particularly the Departments of Agriculture, Interior and Local Government, Foreign Affairs, Transportation and Communications, Finance, Education, Labor and Employment and National Defense and the Office of the Press Secretary, to help him carry out his functions.

Dayrit’s task as spelled out by the executive order is "to prevent, restrict, or otherwise regulate the entry, movement, or surveillance of people coming from infected countries or in any instance where highly pathogenic avian influenza has infected, or suspected to have infected, humans."

If the virus does enter the country, Dayrit must prevent, minimize and regulate the spread and local transmission of the virus and render care, assistance, cure, or minimize death or sickness.

For Lorenzo, his task is similar but related to poultry, fowl, birds, or other animals, including the imposition of total or partial ban on imports of poultry and other animals.

The EO also set aside P250 million to cover its financial requirements.

Dayrit also stood at the forefront of measures in the control of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) which hit almost all of Asia last year.

Although SARS managed to get into the country, the measures adopted by the government through Dayrit successfully held down its effects to a minimum.

Dayrit said they have adopted a system in the model of that instituted during the SARS scare.

Malacaņang today asked the public to give the two new commissioners of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) a chance to prove their worth before condemning them in the wake of negative comments following their appointment yesterday by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye described, in a radio interview this morning, as unfair prejudgment the negative comments that lawyers Manuel Barcelona, Jr. and Virgilio Garcillano are allegedly incompetent and beholden to the President.

"It is unfair to judge their competence and integrity at this point. Let us give them a chance to prove their worth and we are confident they will pass the test," Bunye said in a statement.

Bunye said the President chose Barcelona and Garcillano from a number of candidates as the most fit to fill the vacant posts based on their educational background, extensive work experience, and proven commitment to the job.

"She is confident they will play an important role in forging the much-needed teamwork in the electoral body to ensure clean, honest and orderly elections," Bunye said.

"Nothing is uppermost in the President’s mind than the credibility of the May elections and she has selected two officials who have the capability and potential to contribute to that goal," he added.

Barcelona and Garcillano replaced Luzviminda Tangcangco and Ralph Lantion who retired as commissioners Feb. 2 at the end of their fixed terms.

Bunye cited Garcillano, 66, as a career officer of the Comelec. His last position was as Comelec director for Region 10.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today congratulated the National Anti-Kidnapping Task Force (NAKTAF) for the rescue of an American kidnap victim at 8:50 this morning in Barangay Panapaan, Bacoor, Cavite.

The NAKTAF Chief, Secretary Angelo Reyes, brought the rescued kidnap victim, Alastair Joseph Onglingswan, a 35-year-old American of Chinese descent, to the President. Onglingswan was presented to media this morning at the Presidential Security Compound (PSG) Hospital at Malacanang Park.

Reyes said that Onglingswan, single and a business executive, was rescued by NAKTAF elements at Camilia Sorrento Subdivision, in Barangay Panapaan. He was abducted at about 1:00 P.M. of January 20, 2004 in Makati City.

The NAKTAF chief identified the alleged kidnapper as George Yaw, who is now undergoing interrogation.

Initial investigation disclosed that on January 20, Onglingswan went out of the hotel, where he and his family were billeted, to go to a nearby gymnasium for physical workout. He disappeared and was subsequently reported to the authorities as missing by his family.

On January 21, the victim’s girlfriend, identified only as Iris and working in New York, received an e-mail message from Onglingswan asking for $4,000 to be sent through his Citibank account for his food and other personal needs.

On the same day, the victim’s friend and business partner, Brenda Piquero Tuazon, also received a text message from Onglingswan informing her that he was kidnapped and asked her to produce P20,000 for his daily expenses while in captivity. He also instructed her not to report the kidnapping to the police.

"This is a unique kind of operation because the kidnapper operates almost alone. He kidnaps the victim, detains him in a private chamber, in chains, handcuffed, no sunlight, no visitor. The kidnapper himself was wearing a mask all the time," Reyes said.

SANTA ROSA, Laguna -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has stated that a peaceful community attracts investments that help create job opportunities for the ordinary Filipinos.

"Para maganda ang trabaho, kailangan natin ang mamumuhunan. Para dumami ang mamumuhunan, kailangan ang kapayapaan (We need investors to create more jobs. To attract more investors, we need a good investment climate)," the President said during a stopover in this town.

The President arrived at the Santa Rosa Elementary School Central 3 here Tuesday evening as she led the Koalisyon ng Katapatan at Kaunlaran sa Kinabukasan (K4) candidates in opening the election campaign in Laguna.

The President and her party were warmly welcomed by some 5,000 students, teachers and local officials led by Governor Teresita Lazaro, Mayor Leon Arcillas, Vice Mayor Joey Catindig, and 1st District Rep. Uliran Joaquin.

President Macapagal-Arroyo was accompanied on the school stage by Interior and Local Government Secretary Jose Lina Jr., senatorial candidate Manuel Roxas II and Senator Francis Pangilinan. The other members of the K4 political caravan arrived later as they had to go through thousands of residents who lined up the streets of the town.

The Chief Executive handed 21 motorcycles and cabs, courtesy of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), to Governor Lazaro for use in maintaining peace and order, particularly in drug-affected barangays.

She also presided over the oath-taking of the members of Laguna's Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council (BADAC) auxiliary force, which would use the motorcycles and cabs.

The President said it is everybody's concern to put a stop to the drug menace because 70 percent of street crimes are attributed to illegal drugs.

"Sa aking maikling panguluhan nakalikha tayo ng higit sa tatlong milyong trabaho, kasama na rin dito sa Sta. Rosa, ang Detroit ng Pilipinas (In my short incumbency, I have created more than three million jobs, including those in Santa Rosa, the Detroit of the Philippines)," she said.

The President likened Santa Rosa to Detroit, Michigan due to the big automotive companies that have set up manufacturing and assembly plants in the city.

Mayor Arcillas thanked the President as more than 10,000 of his constituents are now covered by the PhilHealth insurance program of the government.

Arcillas also expressed gratitude to the President for her help in the construction of a four-storey 20-classroom Santa Rosa Science and Technology High School Building in Barangay Poblacion.

On behalf of his constituents, the mayor said they are hopeful the President would soon sign the bill converting Sta. Rosa town into a city.

From here, the President and the entire K4 bets proceeded to their political rallies in Calamba and San Pedro towns.

TARLAC CITY – Presidential Campaign Spokesman Michael Defensor urged law enforcers today to arrest people who illegally post bills of K-4 candidates, including President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her running mate Sen. Noli De Castro.

Defensor made the call after receiving information from the K-4 Headquarters in Makati City that some posters of the President and her candidates had been posted outside the campaign propaganda areas designated by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) by some individuals not belonging to their camp.

"If law enforcers see people illegally putting up posters in areas not designated by the Comelec, they should arrest those people, " Defensor said in an ambush interview at Hacienda Luisita Complex in Barangay San Miguel, Tarlac City.

The President and her party motored to San Miguel from Matatalaib, where she graced the 20th foundation of Independent Baptist Mission for Asia (IBMA) and inspected the public market.

Defensor warned individuals behind the illegal posting of the President’s posters to refrain from further doing so or else they would be arrested and punished.

"Kaya binabalaan namin ang mga taong ito at hinihingi rin naming ang pagtulong ng mga tao na kung may makikitang tao na gumagawa ng ganito ay ireport kaagad sa k-4 headquarters sa Buendia, Makati City (We are warning these people and we are requesting anyone who may see them to report to our headquarters)," he said.

MATATALAIB, Tarlac City – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today said that the unprecedented achievements of her administration’s drive against graft and corruption in government are only down payment and she will keep on with the campaign.

Speaking before the Independent Baptist Mission for Asians (IBMA) at their auditorium here on their 20^th anniversary, the President told the missionaries, pastors, religious workers and church members of the necessity to change the culture of corruption to bring good governance to the people.

President Macapagal-Arroyo said she will continue the fight to change the culture of corruption with the knowledge and experience she has gained since taking over stewardship of the country in 2001.

She said that during her short presidency she has strengthened the campaign against erring government officials through the lifestyle checks that led to the prosecution in court of big fish, such as undersecretaries, directors, judge, prosecutors and others.

"We must change the culture of corruption. That is the basic way to bring good governance," the President told a huge crowd inside the church who attended the special church service for their anniversary.

The President recalled the Philippines was cited recently by the International Monetary Fund-World Bank (IMF-WB) for the strict and successful implementation of the lifestyle check against corrupt government officials and employees and also the passage of the Procurement Law that has made transparent, centralized and speeded up procurements of government agencies.

The President assured the 1.7 million population of IBMA that she wants to sustain the fight against corruption through education, which is among the important sectors she wants to modernize.

"That’s why in your 20th year anniversary I ask you to join me. Let us be united. At dahil panahon ng kampanya puwedeng sabihin ng lantaran, magkaisa tayo, Baptist at K-4, para labanan ang katiwalian sa gobyerno, (And because it’s already campaign time, I can call on you, the Baptists, to unite with K-4 to fight corruption)," the President said.

It will take time to do it, the President said, citing it took Hong Kong seven years to do it. But her administration has had a good start, which is just a downpayment.

After her speech, the President received a special prayer from the officials of the group led by IBMA president Dr. Myron Guiler.

From auditorium, the President and vice presidential candidate Noli De Castro and the K-4 senatorial candidates were escorted by the IBMA officials to a covered court inside the IBMA center to interact with some 5,000 church members from the National Capital Region, Regions 1 and 3 and residents of Tarlac.

Joining with the President in her visit here are K-4 vice presidential candidate Noli De Castro, senatorial candidates Manuel Roxas II, Orly Mercado, ARMM governor Parouk Hussin, Rodolfo Biazon, Pia Cayetano, Lito Lapid, Robert Jaworski, Ramon "Bong" Revilla, Jr., Robert Barbers and Richard Gordon.