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13 FEBRUARY 2004 |
| The Good News: Government to save billions from renegotiated power contracts |
The renegotiated contracts of 20 independent power producers (IPPs) of the National Power Corporation (Napocor) have given the government an average of 9.8 centavos per kilowatt hour in savings for the remainder of the contracts’ term, an official of the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation (PSALM) said. PSALM president Raphael PM Lotilla said the savings would reduce the power rates for end users as well as shave the Napocor’s overall costs. Lotilla said savings, obtained from the renegotiated contracts whose costs could be passed on to consumers through a universal charge, would reduce the 2.6 centavo per kilowatt hour charge collected for the stranded costs of eligible contracts. The universal charge is a non-bypassable charge imposed on all power consumers. PSALM is mandated to collect the charge, which is broken down into six components. Among the components is a collection of a charge for the recovery of stranded contract costs of eligible contracts of distribution utilities. Meanwhile, the renegotiation of the ineligible contracts, or the contracts that are not part of the universal charge, would lower Napocor’s overall costs. "Savings on the contracts which are eligible will accrue to end users through a reduction in the universal charge, which amounts to P0.026 per kilowatt hour. For the ineligible contracts which have to be absorbed by Napocor, the savings will be on reduction of overall costs," Lotilla said. He said further that from the 20 renegotiated IPP contracts, the expected savings of the government would amount to $1.036 billion in real terms, or $2.949 billion in nominal terms. "This is equivalent to three years’ worth of fixed payments to IPPs," Lotilla said. Last December, former PSALM president Edgardo M. del Fonso said that PSALM successfully renegotiated 31 contracts, giving the government savings of $1.042 billion, in net present value terms. The government opted to renegotiate the power supply contracts of Napocor and its IPPs because the contracts are believed flawed and biased towards the IPPs. The flawed contracts are also one of the main causes of high electricity rates. |
| Statement of Secretary Ignacio R. Bunye: Re Peace talks |
We are committed to a durable peace based on principle and the national welfare. We are hopeful that both sides can find a way out of the impasse that can quiet down the political atmosphere and serve the peace of mind of the people. We need peace to turn around the economy and effectively change the political system. We need peace to win the fight for change. |
| GMA cites people's vigilance & participation in success of anti-kidnapping drive |
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo hailed today the people’s vigilance and cooperation with enforcement authorities that led to the capture of the No. 17 man on the National Anti-Kidnapping Task Force’s (NAKTF) updated list of most wanted kidnappers for ransom, in Kalibo, Aklan. The President said that this is yet another evidence of greater and enhanced community participation and cooperation in the fight against criminality in the country, particularly kidnapping. "I am thankful that the community is being involved in our kidnapping drive. The success of our anti-kidnapping campaign is greatly attributed to the vigilance and participation of the people," she said Operatives of NAKTF and the Aklan Provincial Police led by Provincial Director SSupt Nemesio Neron arrested Arnel Suellen in Oyotorong, Poblacion, Kalibo Aklan at 4:30 A.M. Thursday (February 12). Suellen was involved in the kidnapping of 10-year-old Filipino-Chinese Martin Angelo S. Guevarra on September 23, 2002 and has a standing warrant of arrest issued by the Regional Trial Court, Mabalacat, Pampanga. There was also a half million peso reward for information leading to his capture or neutralization. He was hiding in his mother’s province of Aklan when the Aklan Police Provincial Office (APPO) received a tip from a concerned citizen who recognized him from NAKTF’s infomercial on the most wanted kidnappers shown in local television. He was the eighth suspect in the most wanted list captured by NAKTF. The Chief Executive, at the presentation to media of Suellen held at the Bulwagang Kalayaan, Villamor, Airbase in Pasay City, also lauded the participating units in the successful operation, particularly the APPO. The other seven kidnap for ransom suspects now under the custody of NAKTF are Roberto Yap, Jose Arnuco, Reynaldo Cacho, Allan Niegas, Vilmor Catamco, Ronnie Tan and Joel Buņales. Among the officials present were NAKTF chief Angelo T. Reyes, Aklan Police Director Sr./Supt Nemesio Neron, Region 7 Police Director George Alino and NAKTF assistant executive director Colonel Emmanuel Bautista. |
| RP panel still hopeful in talks with NDF |
OSLO, Norway – Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Deles on Thursday exhorted the 7,000-strong Filipino community here to support and pray for the success of the ongoing peace talks between the government and the National Democratic Front, saying everybody has a stake ‘if we want to be a nation at peace’. In a speech before members of the Philippine Norwegian Society (PNS) at a civic center here, Deles cited the importance of the talks as she conveyed President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s wish for a unified Philippines. "This is a very difficult task and everybody needs your prayers and support," said Deles as she explained the government position before the members of the PNS headed by Jean Langerud. Deles is here as head of the government delegation negotiating with the NDF in hopes of ending the longest running insurgency not only in Asia but the whole world. She took time out from the ongoing talks which as of late Thursday had yet to make headway with both sides locked in an impasse over the issue of the terrorist-listing of the CPP-NPA and the NDF’s chief political consultant, Jose Ma. Sison. "It’s in a difficult stage of negotiations with the issue of terrorist listing placed at the forefront of the discussions," Deles explained the status of the talks scheduled to end Friday. "We are still lobbying for a way to resolve the issue. We hope to find a way out of this impasse." As of Thursday evening, the government panel, headed by Silvestre Bello III, and the NDF, chaired by Luis Jalandoni, agreed to prepare their respective draft proposals for the joint statement anent the terrorist listing issue and the enhanced process of negotiations. They agreed to present their respective drafts at the start of Friday’s sessions. The two panels met earlier in the morning and tried to thresh out the delicate issues before deciding later in the afternoon to form two sub-committees that would draft proposals for the joint statement anent the terrorist-listing issue and how to speed up the whole process. "It’s a good sign," Deles observed referring to the willingness of both sides to go back to the negotiating table and break the impasse. |
| Malacaņang leaving to Supreme Court decision on FPJ's citizenship, says Bunye |
Malacaņang is leaving the case regarding the citizenship of opposition presidential candidate Fernando Poe, Jr. to the Supreme Court (SC), which can be expected to be fair to all concerned, Presidential Spokesman Ignacio R. Bunye said today. In a radio interview with RMN Networks this morning, Bunye said that he saw "nothing unusual" in a move of the Supreme Court to appoint four "friends of the court" to help decide whether or not Poe is a natural born Filipino. "They have been doing this (appointing friends of the court) in cases where public interest is at stake," Bunye said. He said that the SC also asked help from the "friends of the court" during the impeachment proceedings against Supreme Court Justice Hilario Davide, Jr. "This move by the SC is provided for by the law. We are leaving the case of Fernando Poe, Jr’s citizenship to the Supreme Court. We believe that they will be fair to all concerned," he said. Bunye said that Filipinos should abide by any ruling of the SC regarding the issue of Fernando Poe, Jr’s citizenship. "Our nation is a country of laws. We should follow our laws and the decisions of the Supreme Court," he added. He also said that it is wrong for lawyers to threaten an EDSA-type revolution if Poe would be disqualified. "We should not advocate any EDSA-type prescription. This kind of talk is counter-productive, especially coming from lawyers. They should be officers of the court and be the first one to uphold any decision of the Supreme Court," he said. In a separate interview, Deputy Spokesman Ricardo Saludo said that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo respects the independence and authority of the SC and does not seek personal favors from her appointees in resolving judicial matters. |
| GMA to be guest of honor at PMA Alumni Homecoming |
BAGUIO CITY – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will be the guest of honor at the 99th Philippine Military Academy Homecoming which will be highlighted by the Alumni Parade and Testimonial to the Flag at 9:45 A.M. Saturday (Feb. 14). Included in a program to be held at the Borromeo Field is the awarding ceremonies for distinguished alumni and PMA cavalier awards for graduates with outstanding accomplishments in various fields. Among the distinguished alumni awardees are: Cav. Rodolfo Biazon, Senator; Cav. Leandro Mendoza, Secretary of Transportation and Communications; Cav. Hermogenes Ebdane, Jr., PNP chief; Cav. Narciso Abaya, AFP Chief-of-Staff; and Cav. Ernesto de Leon, Flag-officer-in-Command, Philippine Navy. Defense Secretary Eduardo Ermita, who will the guest speaker, will assist the President in giving awards to celebrators of the Diamond Jubilee Year, Golden Jubilee Year, and Silver Jubilee Year. Ermita will also swear in the newly elected members of the board of directors of the PMAAAI. |
| Give new Comelec Commissioner Garcillano a chance to do his job, Bunye asks Senate President |
Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye asked Senate President Frankllin Drilon today to give newly-appointed Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) a chance to perform his duties. "We respect the opinion of the Senate President," who has asked President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to recall her appointment of Carcillano to the Comelec, Bunye said in a radio interview this morning. "(But) we believe that Commissioner Garcillano should be given a chance to do his job." Garcillano and the other new Comelec Commissioner, Manuel Barcelona, "have good credentials," he said, adding that "the President believes that they can do a good job." He added that the appointments of Garcillano and Barcelona to the Comelec are still subject to confirmation by the Commission on Appointments, which will not convene until Congress resumes session in June 2004. Bunye said that there was nothing wrong with the appointments of Garcillano and Barcelona since they were found to be the most fit to fill the posts vacated by Commissioners Luzviminda Tancangco and Ralph Lantion, who retired last February 2. "What is important is that the functions of Comelec will continue to be dispensed effectively with the appointments of Garcillano and Barelona," he stressed. |
| February 25, EDSA People Power Revolution, declared special national holiday |
To give the citizenry full opportunity to honor the memory of the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today declared Feb. 25 a special national holiday. The President’s declaration is contained in Proclamation No. 549 which she signed today. It states the EDSA People Power Revolution, which happened Feb. 22-25, "restored our democratic institutions and ushered in meaningful political, social and economic reforms in the country." Text of proclamation No. 549 is as follows: Declaring Wednesday, February 25, 2004, as Special National Holiday" "WHEREAS, Wednesday, February 25, 2004, marks the 18th anniversary of the February 22 to 25, 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution; WHEREAS, the EDSA People Power Revolution restored our democratic institutions and ushered in meaningful political, social and economic reforms in the country; WHEREAS, it is fitting that people of the Philippines be given full opportunity to honor the memory of the EDSA People Power Revolution with appropriate ceremonies. "NOW THEREFORE, I, GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby declare Wednesday, February 25, 2004, as a special national holiday. "DONE, in the City of Manila, this 13th day of February, in the year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Four." |
| Pre-Valentine callers pledge one million votes for GMA |
For President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Valentine’s Day comes with a pledge of one million votes. The President, who is seeking a full six-year term in the May 10 elections, cannot be any happier, and thanked the various groups who called on her at Malacaņang Thursday night to express their unqualified support to her leadership. The multi-sectoral group called Sulong Mamamayan sa Pagbabago para sa Gloria ng Taumbayan (SAMA-PAGKAT) also presented at the Palace ground a pre-Valentine program called "Daupang Puso ng Batayang Sektor kay Pangulong Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo." "I am already convinced that you can now explain to the people the needs to continue our good start to uplift the lives of our countrymen and to improve our economy. Thank you, that you will campaign for me and for the one million minimum votes that you pledge in the upcoming elections," the President said in her remarks. Oscar Francisco, president of the 7,000-strong SAMA-PAGKAT, said they decided to support Mrs. Macapagal-Arroyo because of her initiatives to institute reforms to improve the quality of life of the urban and rural poor sectors. Francisco said the President’s reform agenda have a deep impact on the grassroots, and she needed six more years to sustain her poverty alleviation programs, heal social divisiveness and attain national unity, as well as arrest the worsening budgetary deficit and turn around the economy. Mrs. Macapagal-Arroyo assured her callers consisting of representatives of the farmers, fishermen, youth, women, senior citizens and labor sectors, and non-government organizations that she would continue what she had done for the welfare of the majority of the Filipino people. They came from various parts of the country. "These are only the down payments," the President said, adding that she needed a fresh mandate to finish her plans for the country’s future. |
| GMA to get bouquet of roses from First Gentleman |
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo may be busy with her governance concerns and her political campaign but her husband, First Gentleman Jose Miguel T. Arroyo is not about to let her forget it’s Valentine's season. He said he will gift the President a special bouquet of 11 red roses and one white rose. Parties close to the First Couple said the red roses symbolize Mr. Arroyo's overwhelming love for the President, while the white one supposedly represents a union made in heaven. Mr. Arroyo is expected to give the bouquet to the President in Baguio City, where he will join her in time for the Valentine's Day celebration. The First Gentleman regularly gifts the President a bouquet of red and white roses during Valentine's Day and on special occasions. As part of the Valentine's Day celebration, the First couple is expected to have dinner together with their children -- Pampanga Vice Gov. Mikey and his wife, Angela; Luli; and Dato and his wife, Kakay, and their one-year-old granddaughter Mikaela Gloria "Mika". The First Couple has been married for 36 years. |
| GMA foresees oversupply of rice in the country |
PINAMALAYAN, Or. Mindoro—President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo predicted today rice sufficiency not only in this province, but of the whole country as a result of bumper harvest of Gloria Rice variety which is being propagated by her administration. In a dialogue with local residents at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Academy here, the President said farmers could triple their harvest by planting the high-yielding Gloria Rice variety from China. Allaying fears that a glut of Gloria Rice could bring down prices, Mrs. Macapagal-Arroyo said government support services were already in place, including an increase in the rice procurement fund of the National Food Authority (NFA) from P1 billion to P4 billion. The President said the decision to strengthen the NFA’s rice procurement program was made in anticipation of the expected bumper harvest due to the expansion of Gloria Rice farms from 100,000 hectares as of last year to 500,000 hectares this year. Mrs. Macapagal-Arroyo said it is also likely that the country would become a rice exporter in the near future. She revealed that the introduction of Gloria Rice in the Philippines was a result of her state visit to China in November 2001. The variety was first tested in a pilot farm Munoz, Nueva Ecija. The Chief Executive also cited as support services of the government the vigorous implementation of her Strong Republic Nautical Highway program involving the introduction of the roll on-roll off fleets in major seaports nationwide, and the construction of more bridges, farm-to-market roads and irrigation projects. President Arroyo and running mate Sen. Noli de Castro made a one-day campaign sortie in Oriental Mindoro, covering Calapan City, Pinamalayan, Roxas, Bansud, and Pola, de Castro’s hometown. She described Bansud as the "rice basket" of Oriental Mindoro, with the whole province partly feeding the entire country. "Sa bawat tatlong kaban na dinadala mula dito sa Bansud, isang kaban ang kinakain ng Mindoro, ang dalawang kaban kinakain ng ibang bahagi ng Pilipinas (For every three cavans coming from Bansud, one cavan is consumed by Mindoro, while the two others are consumed by other parts of the country)," the President pointed out. On the problem of depletion of marine resources due to over-fishing and poaching by international fishing vessels, President Macapagal-Arroyo said the propagation of tilapia could well be an alternative source of income for fishermen, while at the same time ensuring food sufficiency for every Filipino family. |
