Jollibee Foods Corporation (JFC), the Philippines’ first food chain operator, is projected to earn a net income of P1.4 billion this year.

The assumption of JFC robust earnings for this year is reasonable given the profit trend of the giant food chain last year. For the first nine months of 2003, Jollibee’s net profit grew 17.2 percent year-on-year to P910 million.

On Monday, Jollibee opened its P1.5 billion processing plant in Canlubang, Laguna, which is considered the most advanced commissary plant in the country.

The fast food chain started operation 25 years ago and provides 10,000 jobs to Filipinos. This figure is expected to double once the new plant in Canlubang becomes fully operational.

JFC, which operates the country’s largest fast food network that comprises Jollibee, Chowking, Greenwich and Delifrance, has a total of 989 stores here and abroad at the end of 2003. JFC includes 468 Jollibee stores, 248 Chowking outlets, 213 Greenwich outlets and 27 Delifrance branches nationwide and 33 stores abroad.

Established in 1978, JFC was selected as the Best Company in the Philippines last year, for the sixth consecutive time based on a survey conducted by the Far Eastern Economic Review.

Starting as a two-branch ice cream parlor, it expanded its menu to include hot sandwiches and other meals. With encouraging success, JFC was incorporated in 1978 with seven outlets to fully explore the possibilities of a hamburger concept.

Jollibee continues to be the country’s leading food chain in terms of size, geographic expanse and breadth of its operations. It has grown exponentially from a handful Jollibee stores 25 years ago to more than 900 stores in the Philippines and several franchised outlets in countries like the United States and Hong Kong in China.

Jollibee became the first Philippine fast food chain to break the P1 billion sales mark in 1989. In 1993, Jollibee became the first food service company to be listed in the Philippine Stock Exchange, broadening its capitalization and laying the ground work for sustained expansion locally and beyond the Philippines.

As a corporate citizen, Jollibee is also committed to serve its host communities. The company not only nourishes bodies but also people’s spirits through countless social projects.

About 150,000 graduating but cash-strapped students will benefit from an emergency loan program for students to be launched this month by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye, in a radio interview this morning, said the program called the Students Higher Education Relief and Emergency Loan Fund, will have a seed fund of P300 million to P500 million.

He said the program is intended to help graduating students needing financial assistance to allow them to continue their education.

Presidential Chief of Staff Rigoberto Tiglao broke the news on the program yesterday in a press briefing in Malacaņang.

"We want this to be made available to the less privileged sectors of our society and we will try to make it as broad as possible. The President’s directive is to have it implemented nationwide within the next five months," Tiglao said.

The program involves providing low-interest loans of P3,000 to as much as P15,000 per semester to students graduating from college and vocational schools. The loan will be payable after a two-year grace period, to be amortized in five years.

In yesterday’s briefing, Commission on Higher Education (CHED) chairman Bro. Rolando Dizon said the program is a take off from CHED’s ‘Study Now Pay Later Plan’ which, due to lack of funding, has been very limited in scope.

Additional funding has made it possible for the expansion of the service, Dizon said.

"This is the time of the year when students need a lot of financial assistance," Dizon said, adding that many of the students cannot graduate because of lack of financial capability.

Dizon expressed optimism that the program will enable students, who are experiencing financial problems, to be able to graduate on time.

He cited statistics showing that up to 40 percent of students stop schooling after the first two years of college because of financial constraints.

Tiglao said that the program has been under gestation since last year, but had to be put on hold because of budget-deficit problems.

He said that the program has already received full support from Speaker Jose de Venecia, Jr. who assured that he would work for a supplementary budget for the program estimated to initially amount to P350 million.

The President, according to Tiglao, however, wanted a seed money of P500 million.

The students assistance fund program is one of several initiatives the President ordered undertaken this month as part of her overall campaign since 2001 to get government provide services to the people.

We are not questioning the powers of the US Justice Department, but we are disappointed at the manner and the timing of the serving of the summons in this particular case.

There could have been more deference to the long-standing goodwill and relations between the Philippines and the US.

The President feels strongly about the incident because our telecom executives were harassed and embarrassed in Hawaii in front of their foreign counterparts.

There was no point in treating them in this manner.

Despite the Supreme Court ruling, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo expressed confidence today that the Commission on Elections (Comelec), as an institution, can perform its mandated role to conduct peaceful, honest and orderly elections in May.

In a press conference that followed the launching of her latest "Patubig" program in Barangay Taņong, Malabon this morning, the President called on the people to keep their faith in the election process, saying that the future of Philippine democracy is at stake.

"Tulungan natin na matupad ng Comelec ang kanyang napaka-importante at maselang trabaho (Let us help the Comelec fulfill its important and delicate job)," she said.

The President called on all political parties to help the Comelec perform its vital role, saying it is important if we are to keep our economic and political stability.

"Ang malinis, matapat at matiwasay na eleksiyon ay ang ating hangarin at dapat hindi tayo nag-aalinlangan dito. Ibuhos natin ang ating kakayahan, ang ating kasiglahan sa pagtupad ng halalan sa tamang panahon (We must never waiver in our resolve to have clean, honest and orderly elections. Let us channel our energies, therefore, to have the elections as scheduled)," she stressed.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday nullified the contract for the computerization of the May elections, effectively blocking the holding of automated vote counting.

This, in effect, voided the agreement between the Comelec and the Mega Pacific Consortium which supplied vote counting machines and software, citing irregularities.

Comelec Chairman Benjamin Abalos had assured the public that the poll body would work to hold the elections as scheduled even if the high court has voided the contract.

The President had earlier stated that Malacanang would respect the decision of the high court but would steer clear of the issue, the Comelec being an independent body.

A joint resolution in Congress pushing for a partial automation is now in the works so as not to delay the scheduled polls, according to the President.

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) reported that the total employment generated during the Macapagal-Arroyo administration was 5.799 million, registering a 65 percent increase over the 3.516 million jobs generated under the Estrada administration.

Local employment registered the highest increase at 3.175 million or 215 percent higher than the 1.007 million generated during the Estrada administration.

The deployment of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) totaled 2.624 million or 4.6 percent higher than the total deployment of 2.509 million under the Estrada administration.

While certain policies and other market developments had dampened deployment level due to the intensified implementation of the nationalization policy in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates and Barhain, and competition from other labor exporting countries, the growth trend in the deployment of OFWs has remained positive under the Macapagal-Arroyo administration.

Under the Macapagal-Arroyo administration, the capability of 2.564 million Filipinos were enhanced though Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).

The annual average number of persons trained by the TVET under the Macapagal-Arroyo administration reached 854,752 persons, which is 200 percent more than the annual average of 285,192 persons trained under the Estrada Administration.

The DOLE also reported that the country’s labor force attained the lowest strike incidence in 21 years, under the leadership of President Macapagal-Arroyo.

Only an annual average of 39 strikes per year occurred under the Macapagal-Arroyo administration, compared to an annual average of 70 strikes under the Estrada administration, 104 under the Ramos administration and 308 under the Aquino administration.

Even the average nominal minimum wage of workers during the Macapagal-Arroyo administration was 29.2 percent higher than the average during Estrada’s term.

The average basic pay of workers in non-agricultural industries employing 50 workers and above in the National Capital Region (NCR) also posted an increase of 17.3 percent from P6, 969 per month in 1999 to P8,178 per month in 2002.

Landmark anti-child labor and anti-women trafficking laws were also passed under the Macapagal-Arroyo administration.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has said her administration is applying the "holistic" approach in resolving the decades-old insurgency problem in the country.

The President explained holistic approach as "using the right hand to enforce the law while extending the left hand as a gesture of reconciliation and understanding."

The Philippine government has been fighting insurgents on two fronts: local communism and Muslim secessionism.

Fielding questions during the Kilosbayan Forum on Jan. 9 at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City, Mrs. Macapagal-Arroyo said the government is also availing itself of the assistance of friendly nations such as Malaysia, Libya, Indonesia, the United States and member states of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC), in ending the insurgency problem and restoring permanent peace in the Philippines.

The President said Norway, with its vast experience in the conduct of peace talks, has been instrumental in the peace negotiations between the Philippine government and the National Democratic Front (NDF), the political wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).

On the other hand, Malaysia has also been hosting formal peace talks between the Philippine government and the separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

President Macapagal-Arroyo expressed satisfaction that the government’s peace initiatives on both fronts have been gaining ground, but declined to elaborate for fear of prejudicing the talks.

"It’s very hard to give you details of the negotiations. Kung minsan pag nagbibigay ka ng detalye, malamang na lalong nabubuwag (Sometimes when you give details, the more the talks collapse)," the President said.

Mrs. Macapagal-Arroyo theorized that the insurgency problem was primarily borne out of mass poverty. She said people were being lured to join the rebel forces "because they feel economic exclusion."

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today launched in Malacanang website www.gophilippines.ph, a project of the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) aimed at promoting and supporting the establishment of an efficient and cost effective roll-on/roll-off (Ro-Ro) terminal system throughout the country.

This DBP information technology (IT) project was designed to meet the need for affordable and accessible information that would enable micro, small and medium enterprises, merchants and traders, farmers and fishermen to efficiently sell, transport and deliver their products via the Ro-Ro system.

Gophilippines.ph will address the following development problems and issues that adversely affect the operational efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the Ro-Ro system:

---The absence of a centralized source of information for routes, schedules, modes of available transportation and prices;

---Government agencies separately and independently develop their respective portals focusing on different routes;

---Only big companies can afford to post their routes, schedules and prices online; and

---Several Ro-Ro routes, which are also possible tourist attractions, are unknown to the general public.

Journalists from the Filipino-Chinese community today declared their unqualified support for the leadership of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, adding they want her to keep the presidency beyond May 2004.

"Basically, we are fully supportive of your good governance, and most of the Filipino-Chinese community will definitely be behind your administration. We will support you in this coming elections, so I think we will see you again as president (of the country)," Ching Lay, president of the Filipino Chinese Columnist Association (PCCA), told Mrs. Macapagal-Arroyo during a luncheon meeting in Malacanang.

Lay said the Chinese media are willing to help the President in information dissemination about her achievements, notably in the all-out campaign against kidnap syndicates and other terrorist groups.

He said they deeply appreciated the President’s efforts to stamp out kidnapping which has mostly victimized members of the Filipino-Chinese community.

Lay added that they were "very happy" that no kidnapping incident took place during the holiday season.

Responding to Lay’s remarks, President Macapagal-Arroyo said she was also impressed by the achievement of the National Anti-Kidnapping Task Force headed by former Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes.

The President expressed belief that the such feat was made possible by the absence of a turf war among the various law enforcement agencies involved in the anti-kidnapping drive.

"It is different if a Cabinet rank official heads the anti-kidnapping task force. He can mobilize the police, the military and even the DOTC," Mrs. Macapagal-Arroyo said.

Other Palace officials present during the President’s luncheon meeting with Lay’s groupl were Press Secretary Milton Alingod, Presidential Chief of Staff Rigoberto Tiglao and Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye.

Presidential Campaign Spokesman Michael Defensor said today that there was no deception in the negotiations with Senator Noli "Kabayan" de Castro when he was offered to be the running mate of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in the coming May elections.

Defensor made the statement in reaction to Senator Joker Arroyo’s claims in newspaper reports that De Castro "would be reduced to irrelevance" if the charter change supported by the President succeeds and a parliamentary government is established.

"Senator De Castro is aware that it will not be the President or any political leader who will be deciding the proposed change. It will be the people who will decide whether they want political reform or not," he said.

Defensor said these things were not discussed during the negotiations with De Castro.

"In fact, as you can see now, there really is no strict agenda as to what will be the outcome or what will be the structure that we want. And so, the agreement, if you would call such an agreement, would be to undertake political reforms," he said.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today conferred the Carlos P. Romulo-United Nations Association of the Philippines (UNAP) Award to Ambassador Lauro Baja Jr., highlighting the observance of the 105^th birth anniversary of the late Gen. Carlos P. Romulo at the Rizal Hall of Malacanang.

Ambassador Baja’s wife Norma and eldest son, Lauro III, received the award. The younger Baja read the message of his father who is the Philippines’ Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York.

In his message, Ambassador Baja said Romulo was his role model and inspiration. He added that President Macapagal-Arroyo is "the chief architect of Philippine foreign policy."

"The President has given me the direction and vision to pursue a dynamic and pro-active international relations," the ambassador said.

He said other countries "now talk and negotiate with the Philippines with respect and dignity."

The President also conferred the United Nations Association of the Philippines (UNAP) Awards to Bulletion owner Don Emilio Yap and Cecille Guidote Alvarez for promoting the ideals and mission of the UN in the country.

The President also presented the UNAP President’s Award to Roderick Cruz, a young member of the association who has continuously spearheaded activities to promote the UN mission.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today cited the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) for being a dynamic partner of the government in the overall task of nation-building.

Addressing a delegation of DBP officials who called on her at Malacanang on the occasion of the state-run bank’s 57^th anniversary, the President said the DBP has provided crucial support for her administration’s efforts to realize the Filipino people’s vision for economic and social reforms.

According to the Chief Executive, the ordinary Filipino looks for improvements in livelihood such as jobs, low prices, food, housing and other basic needs.

In particular, the President thanked the DBP for its P9 billion exposure in Unified Lending Opportunity for National Growth Program (SULONG) which was meant to promote the growth of small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

"SULONG has released more than P21 billion in financial assistance to small entrepreneurs resulting in the generation of millions of jobs," the President said.

Mrs. Macacapagal-Arroyo also credited the DBP for its active involvement in the establishment of the roll-on roll-off (RO-RO) ferry systems that has reduced transportation costs by about 30 percent, resulting in stable prices of food commodities from Mindanao and sold in Metro Manila. She added that the cost-effectiveness of the RO-ROs has raised the farmers’ income.

Still on the drawing board is the North Eastern Pacific Coastal Service, another RO-RO project, envisioned to facilitate the transport of fish and other marine products from the South to Metro Manila markets.

In her speech, the President elaborated on the success of her administration to generate more jobs, increase food production, bring down prices of prime commodities and provide mass housing, adding that the DBP has supported her in these concerns under the bank’s sustainable logistics development program.

The DBP has assisted in the construction and rehabilitation of 14 sea ports nationwide that would benefit fishermen and traders alike.

President Macapagal-Arroyo said her administration has generated more that three million jobs compared to only one million under the previous administration. She attributed these accomplishments to the DBP’s efficient handling of official development assistance (ODA) funds.