SunPower Philippines Corporation, a unit of US-based SunPower Corporation, has signed a pact with the Philippine government to build a $330-million solar wafer factory, the largest such facility in Southeast Asia.

The Department of Energy (DOE) said that SunPower chose the Philippines over India after the government assembled a team comprising of private firms and state agencies that assured SunPower a steady supply of electricity for the plant.

SunPower Corporation is an affiliate of US technology firm Cypress Semiconductor.

Energy Undersecretary Eduardo Manalac said the government has signed a memorandum of understanding for the provision of high-quality electricity, which is one of their top requirements, aside from being reasonably priced.

He said that officials of DOE and SunPower Corporation are presently working on the actual contract.

The project would make the Philippines an export hub for solar wafers, which trap heat from the sun and convert it into electrical energy.

"They should start producing solar wafers by first half of this year," Manalac said.

Energy Secretary Vincent Perez said that the SunPower solar wafer facility would have an initial capacity of 25 megawatts and is expected to increase to 150 megawatts in a few years.

SunPower would build the facility in Laguna Technopark Special Economic Zone, south of Manila. This is expected to create some 760 jobs.

The project will greatly help the government’s electrification program, particularly for remote provinces.

Around 1,500 households in the Banawe, Mountain Province in Northern Philippines are already using solar energy as a source of electricity. Some remote villages in the Southern Mindanao also have solar home systems.

It could be noted that the government’s rural electrification program is among the most successful of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s July State of the Nation (SONA) directives.

The Comelec is entitled to appeal its case in the High Tribunal, but it is vital to our national interest that the elections proceed as scheduled, even if we have to revert to manual counting.

The commission must ensure that the polls are held in May even as it seeks legal remedies.

It is also vital that our faith in both the Comelec and the Supreme Court is unsullied, and that the whole nation stand behind the integrity of the electoral process.

I respect the decision of the Senate, although the shift to the parliamentary and federal form of government remains in my platform agenda.

I will pursue this issue because I believe it would pave the way for greater economic prosperity and genuine political agenda.

The President has always respected the managerial autonomy of government corporations as well as the prerogative of the Senate to conduct inquiries into their operations.

It is good that this specific transactions be brought into focus so that the SSS members will be enlightened as to where their contributions go.

If anybody benefited from any shady deals, they will certainly be brought the bar of justice.

The President has been serious in the fight graft and corruption and her efforts have been acknowledged by the World Bank.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said today that "it is vital to our national interests" that the synchronized national and local elections be held as scheduled on May 10, 2004.

The President made the statement even as her spokesman, Secretary Ignacio R. Bunye, Jr., disclosed that, in an emergency meeting at Malacanang Tuesday night, the leaders of Congress agreed to allocate additional P300 million to ensure the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) can conduct the polls without delay.

The date of the election has come into question since the Supreme Court declared Tuesday as illegal a contract between the COMELEC and a private firm on computerizing the May 10 balloting.

In her press statement this morning, President Macapagal-Arroyo said that the COMELEC is entitled to appeal the Supreme Court decision. "(But), the Commission must ensure that the polls are held in May even as it seeks legal remedies," she added.

The President stressed that "it is also vital that our faith in both the COMELEC and the Supreme Court is unsullied, and that the whole nation stand behind the integrity of the electoral process."

"I call upon all political parties and concerned sectors," she added, "to be actively involved in the pursuit of honest, orderly and peaceful elections."

In a radio interview, Presidential Spokesman Bunye said that the President, COMELEC representatives, including Chairman Benjamin Abalos, Sr., Senate President Franklin Drilon, Speaker Jose de Venecia, Jr., and other congressional leaders discussed, in an emergency meeting at Malacanang Tuesday, measures to ensure holding the elections – automated or manual -- as slated on May 10.

"… Ang COMELEC chairman ay humingi ng dagdag na pondo… kung hindi tayo nagkakamali ay mga P300 million, at itong halagang ito’y ipagkakaloob ng Kongress para matuloy itong procesos natin sa May 10 (The COMELEC chairman requested for additional fund… if I’m not mistaken about P300 million, and Congress agrees so the election can proceed on May 10)," Bunye said.

Presidential Spokesman Ignacio R. Bunye said today that Philippine-United States relations will remain strong despite the re-assignment of US Ambassador to the Philippines Francis Ricciardone to the Middle East.

"We consider Ambassador Ricciardone as a friend of the Philippines and we are saddened that he was recalled from his present assignment," Bunye said in a radio interview.

"Ang ating relasyon ay hindi naman nababatay sa personalidad. There are personalities that will come and go, pero ‘yong ating relasyon ay mananatiling matatag (Our relationship with the US is not based on personalities. Personalities will come and go, but our relations will remain strong)," he added.

Bunye said that the Philippine government wishes Ambassador Ricciardone success in his new assignment.

Bunye allayed fears that the recall of Ambassador Ricciardone would have a negative effect on RP-US relationship, especially after some 30 Filipino telecommunication executives had been issued subpoenas by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) while attending an international conference in Hawaii.

Malacanang stressed today that the sale by the Social Security System (SSS) of its 29 percent stake in Equitable-PCI Bank (EPCI) to Banco de Oro (BDO) is above board.

According to Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye, the Palace believes the decision of SSS president Corazon de la Paz to enter into an agreement to dispose its P8.17 billion stake is clear of any irregularities.

Bunye said this after Sen. Sergio Osmena III had alleged that P2 billion changed hands to facilitate the so-caled controversial sale.

"If they only give the SSS board or Mrs. Corazon de la Paz the chance to explain the contract, the Palace is confident she can prove the transaction is everything above board," said Bunye in a radio interview this morning.

In a separate official statement, Bunye said that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo "has always respected the managerial autonomy of government corporations."

Bunye added the President also respects the prerogative of the Senate to conduct inquiries into their operations.

"It is good that this specific transaction be brought into focus so that the SSS members will be enlightened as to where their contributions go," Bunye said.

He also stressed that "if anybody benefited from any shady deals, they will certainly be brought before the bar of justice" because of the President’s all-out campaign to eradicate graft and corruption in the government which even the World Bank has acknowledged.

The Presidential Spokesman said the fight against corruption by the Arroyo administration is part of changing the political system and fighting for change for the average Filipino.

Earlier, in a forum at the University of the Philippines, the President said she would not interfere in the business transactions of government financial institutions (GFIs).

"That was the problem of the previous administration. It meddled too much in the business transactions of the GFIs," the President said Tuesday as she maintained her full trust and confidence in the administrative capability of de la Paz.

De la Paz said the transaction has been very transparent and that the proceeds from the sale will be used by the SSS to diversify its investment portfolio in accordance with its charter.

"SSS entered into this transaction in order to dispose off its non-performing asset, in this case, our shares in the EPCI, which were not earning interest or dividends for more than four years because the bank was not earning," de la Paz said.

De la Paz explained the offer by BDO to purchase for P14 billion the entire SSS exposure in EPCI was the highest market price since 2002.

The sale involves 188 million shares at P43.50 per share which is 30 percent higher than the average trading price of P33.50 per share. EPCI shares have been trading at a low of P16 in 2001 and a high of P33.50 last December.

SSS carries the investment in EPCI in its books at P14.2 billion. It is expected SSS will recover the amount under the deal which is a combination of cash and a six-and-a-half year term-secured promissory note.

Malacaņang today clarified that Presidential Adviser on Special Concerns Norberto Gonzales voluntarily stepped down to gain more flexibility in campaigning for President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo who is seeking a full six-year term in the May 10 elections.

In a press briefing, Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye issued the clarification in the light of allegations that Gonzales quit the Cabinet because of his disappointment in not getting the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) portfolio.

"I take the word of Secretary Gonzales for his reasons for resigning and he said precisely he wanted to have flexibilities as far as campaigning is concerned," Bunye said.

Bunye also confirmed that Gonzales has also personally informed the President about his reason for giving up his Cabinet position.

"He said he wanted to have some flexibility and elbow room in the way he’ll be campaigning this election, but he has expressed his full support for the President," Bunye added.

A dream becomes reality today as two "havens" open their doors to society’s most neglected – street children and abused women.

The two havens are now opened to care and accept women victims of rape, incest and forced prostitution and street children after President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today inaugurated the Haven National Center for Women and Haven for Children.

The President motored here to personally congratulate the Congressional Spouses Foundation, Inc. (CSFI) headed by Gina De Venecia, for its concern on addressing the needs of the abused women and street children by providing them a permanent shelter that would start them on a new and bright future.

"Thank you very much Manay Gina De Venecia and to all congressional spouses for your concerns, first of all, to all battered wives and abused women and now to all abused street children," the President said in her impromptu speech.

During the program, the President, together with Speaker Jose De Venecia, Jr., witnessed the turnover ceremony of the nine newly built buildings of the Haven for Children and the additional six buildings of the Haven for Women Phase II at Marillac Hills in Barangay Alabang, Muntinlupa City.

Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman personally accepted the symbolic key of the two facilities during the turnover. DSWD personnel will manage both complexes.

Both complexes are projects of the CSFI, headed by Gina De Venecia, DSWD.

De Venecia thanked the President for her encouragement and unwavering support for the project.

"Even when you were still vice president and secretary of the DSWD, you provided the first inspiration for the center," De Venecia said in her speech.

The Haven for Children is a complex of eight two-storey buildings and one recreation center that will give special attention to drug dependent boys ages 6 to 12.

The complex has also a productivity center, therapy center, special education center and administration building which will house the offices for the social workers.

The Haven for Women Phase II has six cottages, an ecumenical house of prayer, family cottage, activity cottage, livelihood cottage and a day care cottage. Women who are ready to join the outside world will live in the transition cottage.

Encouraged by the success of her "Patubig" program in Metro Manila, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today said that the project’s task force would continue identifying areas in dire need of the precious commodity.

In a press briefing that followed the inauguration and turnover of two septic tanks in Barangay Sampaloc in BF Homes Paranaque, Paranaque City, the President said the Kapit Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan (KALAHI) program has already identified 200 waterless communities in the CALABARZON (Cavite,Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon) area.

She hopes to replicate the ‘Patubig ni Pangulong Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’ there.

During the rites, the President told Paranaque City residents who graced the inauguration at the Sampaloc Elementary School to conserve water, particularly with the onset of the summer months.

The President was warmly welcomed at the area by the residents and local officials led by Paranaque City Mayor Joey Marquez, Lone District Rep. Eduardo Zialcita and Barangay Chairperson Florencia Amurao.

Early this week, the President has declared her water project as a success after the Patubig task force served more than 190,000 households exceeding the 160,000 households identified in the 300 waterless communities in Metro Manila.

The task force is composed of officials of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), Metropolitan Waterworks Sewerage System (MWSS), and the two Metro Manila water concessionaires—Maynilad Water and Manila Water Company Inc. (MWCI).

Malacanang today said that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) remains on top of the situation amid speculations there is unrest in the military as claimed by some retired military officers.

In a press briefing, Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye denied that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has ordered the AFP leadership to conduct counter-intelligence to check the stepping up of the ante by some retired generals to fuel their agitation propaganda against the government.

"Wala tayong alam (we don’t know of) any specific instructions on that particular matter. But we know that we can only say that the AFP hierarchy is on top of the situation," stressed Bunye.

Bunye also advised those retired and active AFP officers to await the official statement to be issued by AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Narciso Abaya regarding the allegations made by the so-called Association of Generals and Flag Officers for Poe (Agpoe) about a possible uprising in the event of massive cheating in the May 10 elections.

Bunye reiterated that the President is firm on her stand in pushing for clean and honest elections, even with manual or automated counting, on the date specified by the Constitution.

The incumbent chairman of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Business Advisory Council (ABAC) today called on President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo at Malacaņang with a message that business leaders in the Asia-Pacific region will focus their efforts this year towards restoring the business community’s trust and confidence in the region.

Hernan Somerville of Chile, who is also the president of the Chilean Association of Banks and Financial Institute, told the President that he is in Manila to meet with top government officials and business leaders to gather support for his country’s efforts to promote ABAC.

His visit is being hosted by ABAC Philippines chair Roberto Romulo and members Benigno Ricafort and Imelda Nicolas.

In keeping with Chile’s aspirations as a Pacific economy more than a Latin economy, the ABAC theme for 2004 is "Bridging the Pacific: Coping with the Challenges of Globalization."

The theme recognizes the challenges to global prosperity, which have undermined business confidence, particularly terrorism and the consequences of anti-terrorism measures, the continuing vulnerability of the global financial system, the lack of progress in the WTO Doha Round, and the uneven distribution of benefits from globalization.

Romulo said ABAC’s theme this year supports Philippine aspirations as a member of APEC. "And that is to fully enjoy the benefits of increasing global integration by complementing greater openness in trade and investments with capacity building and addressing causes for instability," Romulo said.