The quarantine is part of the preventive measures we are undertaking.

We are being extra careful and this should not be cause for alarm as we are still SARS free since we successfully warded off the spread of the virus last year.

If necessary, we are ready to wage the battle anew against SARS.

But we must start with full public cooperation and understanding just like the way the public responded at the height of SARS scare last year.

The Cabinet discussed "doables" in its first meeting of the year, Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye said today.

"Essentially, we discussed the doables as far as the Cabinet is concerned. And we concentrated on areas like peace and order, anti-kidnapping, anti-drugs, anti-terrorism and also some economic programs," Bunye said in a press briefing after the Cabinet meeting.

"And in terms of programs that would benefit the poor, the program ‘Sulong’ (Small and Medium Enterprises Unified Lending Opportunities for National Growth) was also discussed. Some infrastructure projects that need to be fast-tracked were likewise discussed," Bunye added.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo welcomed new Cabinet members Cesar Purisima and Joe Nathan Tenefrancia.

Purisima, former Sycip, Gorres, Velayo chairman, replaced Manuel Roxas II as Secretary of Trade and Industry.

Tenefrancia is now Acting Chief Presidential Legal Counsel vice Avelino Cruz Jr., who resigned to join the campaign full time.

Appointed before Purisima and Tenefrancia were Delia Domingo Albert as Foreign Affairs Secretary, Merceditas Gutierrez as Acting Secretary of Justice, and Gen. Victor Mayo, officer-in-charge of the National Security Council with the resignation of Roilo Golez.

There are now nine female members of the Cabinet – Albert, Patricia Sto. Tomas (Labor), Corazon Juliano-Soliman (Social Welfare), Elisea Gozon (Environment and Natural Resources), Marita Mapili-Gimenez (Presidential Adviser on Absorption of Official Development Assistance), Gutierrez, Teresita Deles (Presidential Adviser on Peace Process), Emilia Boncodin (Budget) and Juanita Amatong (Finance).

Newly designated Trade and Industry Secretary Cesar A.V. Purisima today vowed to continue the programs started by his predecessor, Manuel Roxas II, who resigned effective Dec. 31 last year to run for a Senate seat.

Purisima, who was presented today to the media by Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye along with new Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Joe Nathan P. Tenefrancia, said his goal is to attract more foreign investors and for existing investors to re-invest in the Philippines.

He particularly mentioned programs intended to strengthen small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and information technology (IT).

"I think the challenge for the Philippine economy really is to make sure that we develop our entrepreneurial base," Purisima said, adding that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was correct in pushing for the development of SMEs throughout the country.

Purisima also said that based on his discussions with industry leaders, the semi-conductor industry would lead the country’s export growth this year.

He said that this forecast is based on the projected growth of the semi-conductor industry in the United States from 10 percent to 30 percent this year.

"This means that in the Philippines, the semi-conductor industry will grow by a minimum of 10 percent this year," Purisima said.

Bunye said that the President appointed Purisima to head the DTI due to his professional competence and integrity.

Purisima, chairman and chief executive officer of the auditing firm Sycip, Gorres, Velayo & Co. (SGV&Co.), strongly supports the development agenda of the Macapagal-Arroyo administration, according to Bunye.

Tenefrancia took over the post vacated by Avelino Cruz. Jr., who quit last month to help in the presidential campaign.

Tenefrancia worked as Assistant Secretary for Legal Affairs at the Presidential Management Staff under the Office of the President from February to September 2001 before moving on to the Villaraza & Angangco Law Offices as a senior partner in May 2003.

He took his Bachelor of Laws at the University of the Philippines where he graduated salutatorian in 1990.

Malacanang today formally announced the designation of Lt. Gen. Victor Mayo as officer-in-charge (OIC) of the National Security Council (NSC), vice Roilo Golez who is eyeing a congressional seat in Paranaque City.

"The President announced this morning that the OIC for the National Security Council is General Victor Mayo," Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye said in a briefing in Malacanang.

Mayo, 59, is the next in rank being the deputy director general of the NSC.

Golez is running for congressman in the second district of Paranaque City.

Mayo took his political science major at the Manuel L. Quezon University and gained his master’s degree in Public Administration at the University of Oklahoma, USA.

He graduated with honors from the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) in 1966.

Before his stint at the NSC, Mayo was vice chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the 43^rd Superintendent of the PMA.

As AFP vice chief of staff, Mayo oversaw the AFP Modernization Board, the AFP Housing Board, AFP Disaster Response Task Force, Office of Ethical Standard and Public Accountability (OESPA), and the Technical Working Group for Legislative Affairs.

Mayo received five Distinguished Service Stars for his work performance in various military units from 1988 to 1998.

The government’s fiscal position at the start of the year 2004 showed positive signs, with the budget deficit for 2003 reaching only P198.6 billion, or about P3.4 billion less than the projected P202 billion for the whole year.

Another positive sign was the inflation rate for the whole year that averaged only 3.1 percent, even less than the government target of 4.5 to 5.5 percent.

Commenting on the better-than-expected inflation rate, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Gov. Rafael B. Buenaventura said, "It is a good base to start the year and gives us room."

Complementary to this, the peso strengthened at the start of 2004, with the peso-dollar rate closing at P55.l50 to the dollar at the end of Wednesday’s trading. It almost hit an all-time high of P56 to the dollar in November last year.

These positive developments certainly give impetus to the government’s thrusts as reflected by a statement of new Trade and Industry Secretary Cesar Purisima, former chairman of Sycip, Gorres and Velayo, who joined the government service to help make sure the Philippines stays in the investment plans of big business abroad.

"The eight-point agenda of the President, I think, is right on the spot. It focuses on areas that we need to work on to ensure that we not only continue to grow, but we help Filipinos improve their living conditions," Purisima said after attending his first Cabinet meeting today.

The first Cabinet meeting of the year focused on "doables," some of the economic programs and infrastructure projects that would benefit the people and enhance the image of the Philippines to foreign investors.

Finance Secretary Juanita Amatong attributed the government’s fiscal position to tighter budget controls and significant improvements in revenue collections of the Bureau of Internal Revenue and Bureau of Customs, which both surpassed their targets.

Customs Commissioner Antonio Bernardo said that Customs revenues has already reached P106.047 billion, way above the P100.057 billion target set at the beginning of 2003.

Bernardo said that the Bureau of Customs has surpassed its target as early as November when its collections reached P103.058 billion with two weeks still left before the end of the year.

BIR Commissioner Guillermo Parayno said that BIR’s collections for the whole year are expected to be at least P1 billion more than its full-year target although the bureau is still finalizing its figures.

Amatong holds high hopes that the 2004 deficit target of P198 billion will be met or even lowered with the same fiscal strategies used last year.

According to AB Capital economist Jose Vistan, the low inflation rate was brought about by adequate food supplies, particularly rice, the country’s staple.

That the stock market registered its highest figures in three years today indicate a positive perception of the voters in the administration and its Koalisyon ng Katapatan at Karanasan para sa Kinabukasan (K-4)

This was the view expressed by Presidential Campaign Spokesman Michael Defensor today as he noted the capture of the biggest drug lord yesterday and the pursuit of the clean water campaign in all the barangays as positive developments for the administration slate headed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and running mate "Kabayan" Sen. Noli de Castro.

"The K-4 slate is on a roll. The nation is moving forward with the President and the voters are for the platform and the continuity of the achievements and accomplishments," Defensor said during a press briefing early today.

"While we are united, the opposition is breaking down. While we are gathering speed, the opposition is in disarray and divided. And while we are pursuing our reforms, the opposition is bickering," Defensor said.

He brushed aside opposition claims that the administration had a hand in the decision of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to accredit both the Angara and Aquino factions of the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP), saying there is nobody to blame but the opposition themselves.

"In the first place, we were not part of the intramurals and the bickerings and the divisions that they themselves have created. So I hope that the opposition stops pointing at us for the situation that they are in right now," Defensor said.

He stressed that the Comelec is independent of the administration and challenged the opposition to unite if they really want to fix the situation.

Defensor, who is also the administration’s housing czar, denied that the ruling party is raiding the opposition ranks, saying there has been a mutual acceptance of the personalities in question.

He cited the case of Senator John Osmena and ex-Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago who lamented the disunity in the opposition and embraced the healing and reconciliation platform of the administration ticket.

Defensor denied that the administration has left Lakas Spokesman Heherson Alvarez out in the cold, saying the President fully understands his situation and the grievances that he is raising.

The ‘Grand Dame’ of Manila’s theaters, the Manila Metropolitan Theater (MET), whose art deco architecture dates back to the 20s and 30s, will soon have a big facelift, thanks to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

The President witnessed the signing of the tripartite agreement between the Manila City Mayor Lito Atienza, Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) President Winston F. Garcia and National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) Chairperson Evelyn B. Pantig in a simple signing ceremony held this afternoon at the Rizal Room of Malacanang.

In line with administration’s commitment to preserve and promote national cultural heritage, the President has earlier allocated P50 million for the restoration and rehabilitation of the MET, favorite venue for revivals of zarzuelas and all-time favorite musicals.

The President has directed the NCCA to allocate the P50 million to preserve and promote the national cultural heritage and landmark, chargeable to the NCCA funds of the Program for the Conservation of Cultural Properties—Restoration and Conservation of Tangible Heritage.

The President underscored the restoration and rehabilitation of the MET as one of her administration’s priorities to provide an accessible culture and arts venue for the widest strata of the population.

The City of Manila, GSIS and the NCCA put together their resources to spearhead the restoration of the MET to its former grandeur befitting the country’s center of the arts and culture for the masses.

Under the agreement, the GSIS turns over the administration of the restoration and rehabilitation of the 7,633 square meter MET to the City of Manila.

The City of Manila will take charge of the enhancement and improvement not only of the MET’s physical structure but also its cultural and historical significance.

The agreement will have a full force and effect for a period of 25 years from the date of its execution. Restoration and rehabilitation will take effect immediately.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today said some 300 waterless communities in Metro Manila would be provided with potable water by January 20, this year.

"By January 20, all of the identified waterless areas, around 300 communities, will be provided with water either by direct connection or by water tank," the President said before she formally switched on the static water tank in Barangay 601 in Sta. Mesa, Manila.

The President said the newly opened communal water tank and the provision of an additional stationary water tank this week would benefit some 5,000 families in Sta. Mesa.

The static water tank in Sta.Mesa is the fifth pilot project delivered under the "Patubig ni Pangulong Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo" program.

Static water tanks with a capacity of 2,460 gallons have been installed in Barangay 186 in Tala, Caloocan City; Barangay Payatas in Quezon City; Barangay 571 in Sampaloc, Manila; and in Barangay 129 in Smokey Mountain-NHA Housing in Tondo, Manila.

Myrna Cipriano, 45, of V. Mapa Extension St., said Barangay 601 residents used to haul and fetch water from 11:00 p.m to 4:00 a.m. for almost three years. Not anymore.

"Thank you very much President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for the help," she said.

The President said an earlier census showed that some 300 communities or 160,000 families in Metro Manila lack access to clean and safe water.

Because of this, the President tasked the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), the Metropolitan Waterworks Sewerage System (MWSS), and the private concessionaires Maynilad and Manila Water, to speed up the provision of water to these 160,000 families by January 20.

During their meeting Jan. 6, Maynilad and Manila Water reported to the President they agreed to identify key waterless barangays, provide clean water from the watering points, and disinfect the mobile water trucks.

The MWSS agreed to shoulder the cost of water for the mobile and static water tanks as well as barangay public faucets. PAGCOR provides the funds for the different components under the Patubig project and in the procurement and installation of static water tanks.

The President said PAGCOR allotted P160 million to provide potable water for the 160,000 families in the identified areas of Metro Manila.

As of today, the President said the group has already completed almost one-third of the target.

Ram Agoncillo, community relations chief of PAGCOR, reported to the President that 60,808 families have already been served under the Patubig project in Metro Manila as of January 7.

After Metro Manila, the President said next in line are the waterless communities in the Cavite-Laguna-Batangas-Rizal-Quezon (CALABARZON) area.

The President also said the country’s foreign policy has attracted at least two foreign investors who are eyeing the water interconnection project in the country.