President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo filed today her certificate of candidacy in this year’s elections under the banner of Koalisyon ng Katapatan at Karanasan sa Kinabukasan (K-4) while vowing unprecedented changes that will make Filipinos socially and economically more secure.

The President spoke before a large crowd of supporters at Plaza Roma, in front of the Manila Cathedral where a holy mass and a prayer-vigil were held prior to her filing of candidacy at the nearby Commission on Elections (Comelec).

During the program, the President introduced the administration’s senatorial line up, which includes: Senator Robert Barbers, Senator Rodolfo Biazon, Atty. Pia Cayetano, Tourism Secretary Richard Gordon, Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao Governor Dr. Parouk Hussin, Senator Robert Jaworski, Pampanga Governor Lito Lapid, former Defense Secretary Orlando Mercado, Senator John Osmena, Videogram Regulatory Board Chairman Ramon Revilla, Jr., and former Trade and Industry Secretary Manuel Roxas III.

Led by the President, the K-4 candidates then walked to the Comelec office and filed their certificates of candidacy.

Saying she is married to the country, the President said she would continue to fight for changes for the good of the common Filipino.

"Ipaglalaban natin ang pagbabago para sa karaniwang Pilipino, para magkaroon ng pagkain sa bawat mesa, tiyak na tahanan, kalusugan, magandang edukasyon (We will fight for the common Filipino, food for every table, housing and healthcare as well as education)," she said.

The President noted that the country has experienced a good start in the short time that she became President, saying she was able to turn around an ailing economy and instilled order to a chaotic political environment that she had inherited.

"Nakamit ang wala pang kapantay na pagsulong sa palupa. Nakaabot ang health insurance sa nakararaming pamilya, nakalagay na murang gamot sa mga botika ng pamahalaan, nakalagay na sistema laban sa katiwalian (An unprecedented land reform program was made under my administration. Health insurance was made available to more families. Low cost medicines were sold in government drugstores, and an effective anti-corruption measure was put in place)," President Macapagal-Arroyo said.

The Chief Executive said: "It will take time to resolve and overcome the strong forces which are trying to divide us, but K-4 stands for resolve, K-4 stands for clout, K-4 stands for the experience to change the economy and to do unprecedented changes that will make us more secure, strengthen our families (and) will stamp out corruption."

The President said that K-4 could make the future brighter for the average Filipino.

"We have made progress but we will need your support to get the job done for the fundamental change in our political system," she said.

President Macapagal-Arroyo said that K-4 would fight for the Filipino people in order to obtain a parliamentary and federal form of government.

"Ipaglalaban ng K-4 na palitan ang kultura ng katiwalian. Ipaglalaban ng K-4 na pigilin ang salot sa droga. Ipaglalaban ng K-4 na ubusin ang terorismo (K-4 will fight against the culture of corruption. K-4 will eradicate the scourge of illegal drugs and K-4 will fight to eliminate terrorism)," she said.

"Ang K-4 ay ipaaabot sa lahat ng pamilya ang health insurance. Lahat ng pamilyang Pilipino. Ang K-4 ay ipaglalaban ang pabahay, palalawakin ang karapatang panglupa. Ang K-4 ay lilikha ng higit na trabaho at mas mataas ng suweldo. Magkakaroon tayo ng malinis na tubig at malinis na pamahalaan (K-4 will enable all families to have access to health insurance. K-4 will fight for the right of every Filipino family to have a home and own land. K-4 will create more jobs and provide higher salaries. We will have clean water and government)," the President said.

President Arroyo has emphasized the need for Constitutional reform.

This has nothing to do with the May elections but is out of a sincere desire for change.

She is fighting for change in the political system and this is part of her platform.

The President has ordered the Philippine National Police to leave no stone unturned in the conduct of the investigation of this recent bombing incident.

The early arrest of the perpetrators is imperative so that we can unravel the real motive behind the incident.

All concerned agencies have also been mobilized to assist the victims and their kin.

We have met our fiscal targets and we will do better this year as we reduce the budget deficit.

The fiscal sector has been steady through uncertainties generated by the war in Iraq, the July 27 failed coup, and the SARS scare.

This is an accomplishment in itself and is no small feat.

It shows that the President has the clout and experience to hold the economy firm and to turn it around to bring in more investments, build infrastructure and create jobs.

Uncertainties over the elections are exaggerated.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo formally launched this morning her bid for a full six-year term with a pre-dawn prayer vigil and a Mass to invoke Divine intercession in healing the "deep division in society" and making the May polls peaceful and orderly.

After the 7:30 a.m. Mass, the President introduced to the public her entire ticket during a short program at the Plaza Roma in Intramuros, Manila before marching to the nearby Commission on Elections (Comelec) general headquarters to file their respective certificates of candidacy.

First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo, sons Juan Miguel and Diosdado and daughter Evangeline Lourdes accompanied the President during the entire proceedings.

Malacaņang announced earlier that Mrs. Macapagal-Arroyo has decided to replace the People’s Power Coalition with the newly formed Koalisyon ng Katapatan at Karanasan sa Kinabukasan (4-K) as their official political party.

The First Family arrived at Manila Cathedral at around 4:15 a.m. for the prayer vigil followed by the Eucharistic Mass officiated by Bishop Ramon Arguelles.

In his brief homily, the prelate stressed that the "Filipino people need a religious and workaholic leader that would lead the country to peace and prosperity in the future."

Members of the Macapagal-Arroyo Cabinet who attended the launching rites were Executive Secretary Alberto Romulo, Agriculture Secretary Luis Lorenzo, Press Secretary Milton Alingod; Defense Secretary Eduardo Ermita, Health Secretary Manuel Dayrit, Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Elisea Gozun, Social Welfare and Development Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman, Labor Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas, Budget Secretary Emilia Boncodin;

Housing Secretary Michael Defensor, Transportation and Communications Secretary Leandro Mendoza, Presidential Adviser on the Official Development Assistance Absorption Marita Jimenez; former National Security Adviser Roilo Golez, former Trade and Industry Secretary Manuel Roxas III and Teresita Quintos-Deles, lead convenor of the National Anti-Poverty Commission.

Also present were former President Fidel V. Ramos, Speaker Jose De Venecia Jr. and wife Gina; Manila Mayor Joselito Atienza, and Representatives Raul Gonzales, Benigno Aquino II, Florencio Abad, and Juan Miguel Zubiri

Thousands of placard-bearing youth volunteers gathered at the Plaza Roma in front of the Manila Cathedral as early as 1 a.m. to show their unwavering support for the President and her partymates.

The Philippines posted significant gains in public health and education services, a United Nations agency stated in its 2003 report.

The latest quality of life report released by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) contained the annual Human Development Index (HDI) which ranked 175 countries based on 2001 data on income per person, life expectancy, literacy and school enrolment.

"The per capita income rank minus the HDI rank of the Philippines slightly improved from rank 20 to rank 19," the report stated.

It noted that although the Philippines is still behind Thailand in terms of per capita income, both countries have a similar HDI. Thailand’s per capita income is $6,400 while the Philippines’ income is $3,840.

"So with the right policies, countries can advance human development even with low incomes," the UNDP pointed out.

It also said as a percentage of gross domestic product, public spending in education increased from 3.4 percent in 1995-97 to 4.2 percent in 1998-2000. As a percentage of total government expenditure, public spending in education also went up from 15.7 percent to 20.6 percent.

On the other hand, youth literacy rate (for ages 15.24) steadily grew through the years. From 96.3 percent in 1985, literacy rate improved to 98.8 percent in 2001.

Life expectancy among Filipinos likewise improved from 69.3 years in 2000 to 69.5 years in 2001.

Infant mortality rate dropped from 30 per 1,000 live births in 2000 to 29 in 2001. The same trend was noted in the incidence of undernourished people.

The UNDP also reported that the number of cigarette smokers among Filipinos has been decreasing during the period in review.

In telecommunications, users of mobile phones posted the biggest increase with 84 per 10,000 people in 2000 to 150 in 2001.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo extended her "Patubig" project to some barangays in Smokey Mountain, Tondo which she visited this afternoon.

"Patubig ni Pangulong Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo," funded by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation, seeks to provide potable water to 40 blighted communities in Metro Manila with an estimated 160,000 families.

The President, who launched the project in Payatas, Quezon City last December 31, hopes that by January 22 this year, 45,000 families will have benefited from her project which was realized with the help of the Manila Water Company, Inc. (MWCI) and Maynilad Water, Inc. (MWI).

The project provides potable water to waterless areas via four ways – a static water tank, a public faucet in each barangay, water interconnection, and deep wells.

The President said water will be continuously provided barangays via these means until they get direct and regular connections, adding that she will keep a close watch on the project which she considers most important for residents of the blighted areas.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo reiterated this morning her determination to restore permanent peace in Mindanao as she endorsed the senatorial bid of Gov. Parouk Hussin of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

Formal peace talks are set to resume between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, a breakaway faction of the mainstream Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) which has forged a peace accord with the government in 1996.

The President viewed Hussin as a "symbol of the government’s sincerity to pursue the peace process in the South, and a champion of the Muslims’ right to peace and prosperity."

Hussin was a former leader of the MNLF which forged a peace agreement with the government in 1996 under the watch of former President Fidel V. Ramos.

He later won as ARMM governor replacing Nur Misuari who was arrested and detained on rebellion charges arising from a failed mutiny in Zamboanga City with a handful of his erstwhile henchmen.

Hussin said he was encouraged to join the President’s senatorial ticket representing Mindanao because of the slate’s sheer composition which, he said, was made up of "the most competent young leaders of the country."

In a press briefing in Intramuros following the filing of certificates of candidacy by Mrs. Macapagal-Arroyo, her running mate Sen. Noli de Castro and the 11 senatorial bets of the ruling coalition, Hussin cited fellow candidate Orlando Mercado, a former defense secretary and senator, as a member of the government panel in the successful peace negotiations with the MNLF.

Hussin also cited reelectionist Sen. Rodolfo Biazon, as a "former general whom I know very well, who has demonstrated seriousness and sincerity in whatever endeavor he has to do.