The NAPC holds regular meetings to discuss its anti-poverty thrusts in various fronts.

We respect the opinion of Archbishop Rosales and we acknowledge his call for fundamental reforms.

President Gloria has made a strong start in the past two and a half years in meeting the challenges of political and economic change, but she knows much more is to be done.

It appears that Mr. Ronnie Poe is not participating in the Comelec-PPCRV sponsored debate or any debate for that matter.

We urge Comelec to exercise its moral suasion to convince Mr. Poe to appear and explain his platform of government on nationwide TV and on prime time.

Should the Comelec fail to convince Mr. Poe, President Gloria, much to our regret, will have to beg off from any debate.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s approval rating has gone up in the latest survey, because she remains focused on governance even during the election campaign period, Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye said today.

In an interview with Radyo ng Bayan this morning, Bunye said that the President’s survey ratings have been observed to be on the upward trend since December 2003.

"Itong trend na ito sa ating palagay ay magpapatuloy at nakita nga natin na itong latest survey ay nagpakita na naka-ungos ang ating Pangulo (This upward trend, we believe, is continuing. As we’ve seen, the President has surged ahead of her rivals in the latest survey)," Bunye said.

The Presidential Spokesman said that the opposition candidates and observers, who dispute the results of the surveys conducted by Pulse Asia in January and February 2004,"are entitled to their opinion."

He said, however, that "tayo ay naniniwala sa integridad nitong survey outfit na naglabas ng resulta na ito (we believe in the integrity of the survey outfit that released the results)."

Bunye said that the people gave President Macapagal-Arroyo high approval rating because "she’s very active in governance even during the time of (election) campaign."

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo encouraged nursing students today to finish their course and take advantage of the big demand for Filipino nurses abroad.

"Alam naman natin ngayon na in great demand ang mga Filipino nurses sa buong mundo. Kulang na kulang ang supply ng Filipino nurses sa buong mundo. Iyong mga nursing students dito maganda ang kinabukasan kung mag-graduate kayo (We all know that there is a great demand for Filipino nurses abroad. A better future await the nursing students here once you graduate)," the President said.

The President made the exhortation to some 2,000 nursing students during the launching of the Students’ Assistance Fund for Education for a Strong Republic (SAFE 4 SR) at the World Citi College (WCC) gymnasium along Aurora Boulevard in Quezon City.

The President was welcomed by WCC president Arlene Grace Guico, WCC vice president Ramon Guico III, and student leader Josiah Clarissa.

Accompanying the President were Presidential Assistant for Youth Affairs Dennis Cunanan and League of the Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) president Ramon M. Guico Jr.

The President said many poor students, particularly the working ones, have a hard time getting clearances at the end of each semester due to the non-payment of tuition and other school fees.

The President lamented this situation has contributed to the 40 percent drop out rate among college students in the country.

The President said the SAFE 4 SR ensures that 3^rd year and 4^th year college students would finish their respective courses and eventually contribute to the country’s economy.

The President added that she has encouraged the opening up of 40 new nursing schools since the start of her administration.

If talks between Energy Secretary Vince Perez and gasoline station owners prove fruitful, the transport sector in the provinces may also enjoy privilege of buying fuel at a discount at selected outlets as in Metro Manila.

There are 97 gasoline stations in Metro Manila and outlying areas where public transport vehicles can buy fuel at a discount to lessen the impact of the oil price hikes since last year.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said today she has instructed Secretary Perez to talk with gasoline station owners with an eye to setting up the same system in the provinces in response to a request for help from Camarines Sur for the same privilege to be extended the public transport sector there.

Naga passenger jeepneys and buses have already filed a petition with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board.

The President’s announcement was made in an interview aired over a radio station in Naga.

"Inutusan ko si Secretary of Energy Vince Perez na magkonsulta sa mga may-ari ng mga gasoline stations na iyong diskuwento ay dalhin din sa probinsiya (I have instructed Secretary of Energy Vince Perez to consult with owners of gasoline stations to bring the discount to the provinces)," the President said.

Malacaņang wants to keep the transport fare "as stable as possible" so as not to pull up with it the prices of basic commodities, Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye said today.

Bunye told a news briefing at Malacaņang that the government has taken steps to avert a new round of fare hikes by increasing the number of gas stations selling fuel at discounted rates to public transport operators/drivers and suspending tariffs on jeepney and bus spare parts.

"The implementing rules on the suspension of tariffs on spare parts have been signed as of last week. The new rules will be for a temporary period of six months," he added.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has directed Energy Secretary Vincent Perez to consult with gas station owners on the possibility of setting up a system, like in Metro Manila, whereby jeepney drivers in the provinces could buy fuel at discounted prices.

Bunye said that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will be represented by Transport Secretary Leandro Mendoza, Land Transport Franchising and Regulatory Board chief Maria Elena Bautista, and officials of other relevant offices at a meeting that may be called prior to an impending transport strike on Monday.

In opposing the proposed fare hike, Bunye also said the Department of Energy feels that the world price of oil will be going down very soon.

Executive Secretary Alberto Romulo described today the $400 million North Rail project as a very important landmark in the ‘many-splendored’ performance of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, saying it is one project that is crucial to the country’s economic development.

In the signing of a loan agreement between the government and the Export Import Bank of China, held this afternoon at the Premier Guest House of Malacanang, Romulo said the North Rail project, one of the several being fast tracked by the administration, is a testament to the desire of the President to improve the rail system in the country and develop the countryside.

"I’m happy that the people are now beginning to realize that we have a President who is performing, that we have a President who delivers," Romulo said before the ceremonial toast.

The Executive Secretary said the North Rail project is a dream come true for one like him who used to commute by train from Tutuban to Tarlac as a young student. The railway system which runs from Tutuban to Damortis in La Union in the north and to Legaspi, Albay in the south has since deteriorated due to neglect.

"I’m happy that this dream (to be able to travel by train again) will soon be a reality," he said.

The $400 million which Eximbank will pour for the project is the biggest investment by China in the Philippines. Construction for the first phase, a 32-km stretch from Tutuban to Malolos will start soon under the China National Machinery and Equipment Group (CNMEG).

It has been the desire of President Macapagal-Arroyo, according to Romulo, to fast track the railway program while at the same time meeting the housing and resettlement needs of poor families living along the tracks.

Aside from the North Rail project which is being undertaken by the North Luzon Railway Corp., the government has advanced talks with other international donor agencies to finance other projects.

Recently, the government signed with Korean officials a loan agreement amounting to $35 million to fund the construction of the South Rail project that runs from Calamba in Laguna from Manila.

The project involves rehabilitation of the old tracks of the Philippine National Railways (PNR) in two phases: the Caloocan-Alabang phase and the Alabang-Calamba portion.

The rehabilitation and upgrading of the PNR will greatly help daily commuters from nearby areas of Metro Manila. The PNR railroad tracks originally ran from Malabon in the North up to the Bicol region in the south.

MARAWI CITY—President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said today that peace and development are the main objectives of her government platform for Muslim Mindanao.

Macapagal-Arroyo arrived in this city at 1:30 P.M. today to open a Mindanao sortie that will also take her to Pagadian City; Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay; and Dipolog City before returning to Manila.

The President, accompanied by her vice presidential running mate Sen. Noli de Castro and the senatorial candidates of the Koalisyon ng Karanasan at Katapatan para sa Kinabukasan (K-4), met with political leaders and local officials, led by Lanao del Sur Governor Mamintal Adiong, at the provincial capitol.

Presidential Adviser for Legislative Affairs Gabriel Claudio, Press Secretary Milton Alingod and Rep. Prospero Pichay of Surigao del Sur also attended the meeting.

The President then proceeded to the Mindanao State University gymnasium for the proclamation of Governor Parouk Hussin of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao as one of the K-4 senatorial candidates. Ten of the 12 K-4 senate bets were present at the rally that was attended by some 4,000 people.

Speaking at the rally, President Macapagal-Arroyo said, "Dito sa Muslim Mindanao, ang ating patakaran, kambal ang kapayapaan at kaunlaran (Here in Muslim Mindanao, our platform calls for peace and development)."

As part of her government platform for Muslim Mindanao, she promised to exert efforts to establish a muilti-ethnic society, including the formation of a unified military and police command. She said that she would also allocate funds for a Madrasah school.

She pointed out that the peace she envisions in Mindanao is one that respects territorial integrity and constitutionality. In this connection, she said that on February 20, 2004, the exploratory talks in Kuala Lumpur between the government and the Moro Islamic Front (MILF) forged an agreement to resume formal peace negotiations.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo today said eradicating graft and corruption is one of the changes that she has been advocating for the good of every Filipino, stressing that no amount of effort towards peace and development would succeed without good governance.

"I refuse to stand by and watch our people suffer as a result of corrupt practices. Good governance is our ticket to political stability and prosperity. We in government should set the example," the President said.

The President made the statement in a speech read by Presidential Chief of Staff Rigoberto Tiglao during the Anti-Corruption Summit spearheaded by the Philippine Government Employees Association (PGEA) and the National Convention of Government Employees Working Council (NCGEWC) at the Bahay Pangarap in Malacanang Park.

Among those who participated in the one-day summit were Presidential Anti-Graft Commission (PAGC) Commissioner Teresita Baltazar, Assistant Ombudsman Ernesto Nocos, Civil Service Commission (CSC) Assistant Commissioner Mary Ann Fernandez, Assistant Secretary Nicasio Conti from the Office of the Presidential Chief of Staff, Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Director Anita Chauhan, and Dr. Emil Bolongaita, group manager of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

When she assumed the highest post in the land, the President said her first Administrative Order banned government agencies from dealing with her relatives, whether by blood or affinity, as she wanted to set the example from the top.

To date, the President said the government’s anti-corruption drive has made gains both in prevention and prosecution.

With the aid of computers, the President said the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), and the Bureau of Customs (BOC) have increased transparency and reduced opportunity for corruption.

Partial operation of the DBM’s e-procurement system, part of the reforms she certified under the new Procurement Law, already saved some P130 million in advertising alone, she said since bidding terms need not be published in newspapers anymore.

In the next few months, the President said full electronic bidding and awarding is to commence, bringing the process into full view of the Internet-surfing public.

"We expect a repeat of the kind of reductions we saw with textbook prices, which fell from an average of P80 to P30," the President said.

The President said the BIR also used computers to match sales and purchase data, and uncovered massive under-declaration of sales to avoid the Value-Added Tax (VAT).

The President said the BIR is now collecting about P15 billion in evaded taxes and putting erring company executives on trial.

The President added that charges have been filed against almost 250 personnel of the BIR and Customs; five officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) implicated in its P139 million vehicle repair scam; ranking officials of the Land Bank of the Philippines for diverting P200 million corporate tax payments to private accounts; and a commissioner and an assistant commissioner of the Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC).

The President said five judges face cases --one was for suspicious decisions in a smuggling case and four in drug cases whom past administrations have tended to leave alone because of their clout in the courts.

"The one in the smuggling case has been dismissed from service. Moreover, the prosecutor in the Rowena Tiu kidnapping has been fired for incompetence and inefficiency in handling the case," the President said.

On lifestyle checks, which the World Bank has acknowledged, the President said at least nine ranking officials of the DPWH, BIR and Customs have been charged with graft for their unexplained wealth.

The President revealed the government has also created the Revenue Integrity Protection Service to institutionalize anti-graft investigations and lifestyle checks on officials and staff of the revenue agencies.

The President stressed that both the computerization and anti-graft measures helped the BIR and Customs exceed their last year’s collection targets and keep the budget deficit under P200 million.

PGEA president Esperanza Ocampo said the summit would provide key resolutions to eliminate graft and corruption including the creation of Dulugan ng Bayan that they are trying to put up in every government agency nationwide.

Ocampo said the President signed last December 2003 Memorandum Order No. 126 enjoining all heads of national government agencies, government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs), state universities and colleges, and local government units (LGUs) to support the Dulugan ng Bayan, an employee-initiated anti-corruption program of the PGEA, PAGC, and the Office of the Ombudsman.