Malacaņang welcomes a proposal to hold the new round of peace talks between the government (GRP) and the National Democratic Front (NDF) in Beijing, People’s Republic of China, on March 29, 2004, Presidential Spokesman Ignacio R. Bunye said today.

The venue and date of the next peace talks were proposed by the NDF, political wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP). The date marks the 35^th anniversary of CPP’s military arm, the New People’s Army (NPA).

In a radio interview this morning, Bunye said that the GRP peace panel is ready to meet with its counterpart "anytime."

"Ang ating pamahalaan sa pangunguna ni Pangulong Gloria ay wine-welcome itong ganitong pahayag mula sa NDF (Our government, under President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, welcomes the NDF’s proposal)," he said.

Bunye pointed out that the government is earnestly looking for a solution to the insurgency problem involving the NDF-CPP-NPA.

DIPOLOG CITY -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo assured the people today that Secretary Leandro Mendoza of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) could handle well the planned transport strike by bus and jeepney drivers and operators on Monday.

"I can assure you that Larry Mendoza is a very, very good general," the President told a press conference held this morning at the Isaiah Room of the Top Plaza Hotel here.

The President said that Mendoza, a Philippine Military Academy alumnus, was able to handle past similar situations without causing public inconvenience.

Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye said in a radio interview in Manila today, that DOTC officials are continuing their dialogue with public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers and operators. Government programs designed to ease burden of the transport sector amidst the oil price increases, like the sale of diesel at discounted prices by some gas stations and the tariff reduction on bus and jeepney spare parts, are being explained to the PUV drivers and operators, he said.

During her conference, the President was asked about the presence of Filipino humanitarian and peacekeeping forces in Iraq. "They are volunteers," she said. "Those who want to come home, they are welcome to do so. There are other volunteers who want to go there."

President Macapagal-Arroyo was also asked if she was surprised by the result of a recent survey showing her overtaking her nearest rival in the presidential race. Her high rating, she said, confirmed her decision to spend more time on governance than on campaigning was right.

Instead of flying from Pagadian City to Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay, on Saturday --before coming here --, the President said she traveled by land through the Pagadian-Zamboanga road, a major project of her administration that residents of the Zamboanga peninsula have long been waiting for.

The President said that she has released P2 billion since the start of her administration for improvement of the road, which is now 65 percent completed.

After the press conference, the President, together with Governor Isagani Amatong of Zamboanga del Norte and City Mayor Roberto Uy, led the reopening ceremonies of the long-stalled P27-million Quezon Bridge in Barangay Estaka also in this city.

The bridge is a vital route linking this city to Dapitan City and the two Misamis provinces, including Cagayan de Oro City.

DIPOLOG CITY -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today handed out cheques worth P2.35 million to assist coconut farmers in five towns of Zamboanga del Norte.

The President handed out the cheques during the Pulong Bayan held at the Zamboanga del Norte Division Teachers' gymnasium in Barangay Estaka here.

Some 2,000 farmers and fishermen, led by Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Sharif Adzhar Sarahadil, gave the President an enthusiastic reception.

The President said the cheques from the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) would fund municipal projects in Liloy, which received P500,000; Opao, P250,000; Salog, P400,000; San Nicolas, P400,000; and Maras, P800,000.

After the Pulong Bayan, the President was interviewed by the Zamboanga-based media at a restaurant of the Zamboanga del Norte Convention and Exhibition Center, also in Barangay Estaka.

Afterwards, the President had lunch with local businessmen at the Francisca Ballroom of the Top Plaza Hotel here.

DIPOLOG CITY -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo directed various government agencies today to help the large Subanen tribe in Zamboanga del Norte improve its living conditions.

At the Pulong Bayan, held this morning at the Zamboanga del Norte Division Teachers' gymnasium in Barangay Estaka, a Subanon informed the President of the lack of shelter, health facilities and teachers in their area. Aside from the Subanons, farmers and fishermen participated in the forum

The President directed Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) Chairman Michael Defensor to make a special project, under the core shelter program, for the Subanen.

She also tasked Defensor with helping the urban poor in this city to acquire the land they have long been occupying in Barangay Miputak.

President Macapagal-Arroyo likewise asked the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) to recruit teachers, preferably Subanons, whose salaries would be drawn from the Department of Education (DepEd).

In another directive, the Chief Executive said that the local governments should provide the Subanons with training, and eventually absorb them as rural health workers.

When she was a senator, Mrs. Macapagal-Arroyo was the principal author of the Ancestral Domain Bill that led to the signing of the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA).

Previously, the President said there had been only very minimal distribution of ancestral domain to the indigenous people.

Under her watch, the President said 535,000 hectares of ancestral domain were distributed to the indigenous peoples, a figure that is expected to increase to more than one million hectares by this year.

The President also directed the National Mapping and Resources Information Authority (MARIA) to delineate the 15-kilometer shoreline of the province to protect marginal fishermen from the operations of big fishing vessels in the area.