The Philippines’ dollar earnings from export zones went up by 23.39 percent to $25.086 billion in the first 11 months of 2003 compared with only $20.335 billion for the same period in 2002.

Philippine Export Zone Authority (PEZA) director general Lilia B. de Lima said that electronic companies located in different PEZA economic zones contributed to the bulk of export receipts from January to November last year.

De Lima said that the local electronics industry disputed earlier export figures for January to November 2003 indicating a drop in electronic exports.

Based on PEZA records, de Lima pointed out, it is evident that the electronic sector has started to make a rebound and that prospects for continued growth look brighter than ever.

The electronics industry is forecast to grow by at least 10 percent this year due to an expected rise in global demand.

The government said that the projected growth rate is significantly higher than the five percent posted last year when shipments stood at $25.47 billion.

Of the PEZA economic zones, four are public economic zones, which were able to export $6.380 billion worth of goods during the period. These are the Bataan Ecozone, the Baguio Ecozone, the Mactan Ecozone and the Cavite Ecozone.

Likewise, the value of information technology (IT) investments approved by the PEZA reached P2.69 billion during the period spanning January to August 2003, or nearly three times the P822 million posted in 2002.

The continued surge of IT investments is due mainly to the investment perks offered by the PEZA that include:

• four to eight years of income tax holiday (ITH);
• five percent tax rate discount after the lapse of ITH period;
• tax and duty exemption on imported capital equipment;
• exemption from wharfage dues; and
• unrestricted employment of foreign nationals

The Supreme Court directive reinforces our pursuit of justice no matter how long the time had passed by.

I shall continue to work with Congress to ensure that the victims of human rights violations during martial law are compensated under fair and equitable terms.

Under my instructions, the Agrarian Reform department is coming up with programs and projects to utilize these recovered resources to further uplift our agrarian reform communities.

This is at the core of social agenda which encompasses jobs, healthcare, housing and clean water.

The issue of citizenship is now before the court and is also pending before the Comelec.

The executions will push through as scheduled unless they are stayed by the High Court.

Commuters, reeling from the choking traffic north of Metro Manila, can now heave a sigh of relief.

A light rail transport system starting from Tala in Caloocan City North passing through Lagro, Fairview, Commonwealth Ave. and ending at a joint station with MRT Line 3 in North Ave. EDSA, is now in the works in line with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s program of alleviating the traffic condition in the metropolis.

Called Mass Rail Transit Line 7 –Novaliches Batasan Line or MRT 7, the P66.5 billion project has already been endorsed by the Investment Coordination Committee-Technical Board (ICC-TB) to the ICC-Cabinet Committee with some conditions.

In a report to Malacanang, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said the project proponents led by the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) has been required to assure conformity with the build-operate transfer (BOT) law and the manageability of the financial burden to the national government.

The DOTC has also been asked to further improve the investment efficiency of the project, negotiate for the best financial terms from funders and equity shareholders and settle for a more reasonable rate of return.

MRT 7 is expected to provide a more efficient, faster and safer alternative mode of passenger transport along Commonwealth Ave. and alleviate traffic conditions there. It will serve commuters to and from the north of Metro Manila, including Novaliches, Fairview, Caloocan and Bulacan.

It also involves construction of a 17-km. asphalt private road starting at Marilao Exit of the North Luzon Expressway and terminating at the intermodal terminal in Tala.

Other benefits expected from the project include minimizing air pollution, creating employment opportunities for those living and working in the communities along the proposed project route and inducing additional passenger users and optimizing the ridership capacity of the other light rail transit line systems in Metro Manila.

Just recently, President Macapagal-Arroyo inaugurated the light rail transit loop in Metro Manila composed of LRT 1, MRT 3, and LRT 2.

The ICC-TB is composed of the undersecretaries of the Department of Finance, NEDA, Department of Budget and Management (DBM), Department of Energy (DOE), Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Board of Investments-Department of Trade and Industry (BOI-DTI) and Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) Center.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today said the economy has grown stronger under her administration as shown by improved employment rates and growing business confidence in the domestic market.

"Three million jobs have been created under my administration compared to only one million created in the same (comparable) period before I became President," Mrs. Macapagal-Arroyo said in a radio interview.

She said more workers landed jobs at the home front at 3.175 million compared to 2.624 million who opted to work abroad.

The President revealed that 2.564 workers enhanced their skills through the government’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).

An average of 854,752 workers annual average were trained by the TVET annually, representing a 200 percent growth compared to the figure under the previous administration.

The average minimum wage of workers under the Macapagal-Arroyo administration went up by 29.2 percent as against that of her predecessor.

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

The President also said business confidence in the Philippines market surged in the short time she has been in office, citing as proof the recent unprecedented highs of the stock market and surging foreign investments.

"Prices were also stable under my term. The price of rice, which is being bought by the poor, remained affordable," Mrs. Macapagal-Arroyo said.

The President said interest rates on borrowings of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) remained relatively low compared to previous administrations.

"More than P20 billion were borrowed by SMEs during the last 10 months. These funds helped in creating more jobs," she said.

President Macapagal-Arroyo also noted that huge investments from abroad came in during her term.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo stressed anew the importance of resolving the decades-old insurgency problem of the country.

In a radio interview this morning, the President said that the government is using the "holistic approach" in solving the insurgency problem, with the right hand of enforcement and the left hand of peace.

The President, however, said that the insurgency problem was borne out of severe poverty. "The reason why there are many recruits," she said.

The President said she is trying to develop the poor places by putting the necessary infrastructure like roads and bridges to enable the people to go to the market and sell their products.

The Chief Executive said that many areas in Bicol have been accorded opportunity for progress so they can graduate from brutal poverty.

Meanwhile, the President said in a statement that she will pursue the peace talks because it is morally right and required by the national interest, while the Armed Forces and the police will continue to enforce law and order.

She said that formal talks between the government of the Republic of the Philippines and the Communist Party of the Philippines, New People’s Army and National Democratic Front (CPP/NPA/NDF) will resume next month in a foreign venue.

Details are being threshed out by the panels in consultation with the Royal Norwegian government, the third party facilitator in the peace talks.

Malacaņang today said that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo would abide by any Supreme Court decision on the case of the two death convicts scheduled for execution this month.

"Kung sabihin ng Supreme Court, after reviewing the alleged new evidence, na karapatdapat ibalik ito sa lower court, ay iyan ay pakikinggan ng ating Pangulo (If the Supreme Court, after reviewing the alleged new evidence, says that the case should be returned to the lower court for review, that would be considered by the President," Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye said this morning in a radio interview.

Bunye said that the President’s decision to lift the moratorium on the death penalty, although against her will, is only for kidnapping and high profile cases.

He said that due to representations by the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO), the only thing that could make her change her mind is a Supreme Court decision ordering a review of the case in question.

"Malinaw po and sabi ng Pangulo (The President’s directives are clear)," Bunye said. "Kung wala pong desisyon from the Supreme Court ay tuloy po iyong implementasyon ng death penalty (In the absence of a Supreme Court order, the implementation of the death penalty would be carried out)."

Bunye said PAO chief Persida Acosta was only doing her duty in presenting an alleged witness that could reverse the decision on a certain death convict.

"We congratulate her for that, but let’s wait for the decision of the Supreme Court," Bunye said.

In a related development, Bunye said Malacanang respects the position of the European envoys who visited the National Penitentiary in Muntinlupa and called for the postponement of the executions.

The Macapagal-Arroyo administration is vigorously pursuing a life-style check on personnel and officials of revenue-generating agencies of the government in line with its continuing efforts to weed out graft and corruption in the bureaucracy.

Highlighting President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s agenda for good governance is her issuance last Dec. 17 of Executive Order No. 259 providing for the creation of an anti-graft body, known as Revenue Integrity Protection Service (RIPS), under the Department of Finance (DoF).

"The fight against corruption is part of changing the political system and we are fighting for change for the average Filipino," the President said.

EO 259 tasked the RIPS to investigate allegations of corruption among officials and employees of the DoF and all other agencies under it, such as the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and the Bureau of Customs (BoC).

The EO said that reports of graft and corruption in the BIR and the BoC have been identified as the perennial and major causes of revenue shortfalls, thereby comprising the government’s capacity to efficiently generate revenues for delivery of basic services and to fund development projects.

It said the "unrelenting, systematic, and focused campaign" to prevent graft and corruption in the revenue collecting agencies of government and to protect the integrity of revenues is imperative and is a top priority of the government.

The President directed the probe body to look into reports of "unusual or unjustified accumulation of wealth disproportionate to the earning capacity of government officials and employees under its jurisdiction."

The RIPS was also authorized to initiate or, and assist in the prosecution of cases for recovery or forfeiture of ill-gotten wealth by government officials and employees.

Apart from gathering evidence, the RIPS was empowered to initiate criminal, civil or administrative charges against government officials and employees within its jurisdiction, as well as assist state prosecutors handling such cases.

The RIPS was likewise mandated to review current systems, processes and procedures in the DoF and attached agencies, and to recommend reform measures to "enhance integrity, reduce opportunities for corruption and ensure efficient and transparent delivery of public services."

The anti-graft drive has so far resulted in the filing of 706 cases against presidential appointees, 40 of which carried punitive recommendations.

Last year, the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission acted on a total of 101 complaints about extravagant life-styles of appointed government officials, among them five judges who were slapped with administrative and criminal charges. One of the judges has been dismissed from the service.

From Metro Manila, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today brought her "Patubig" program to nearby Rizal province allowing 15,000 more waterless families in Taytay to have safe and clean potable water.

This is in line with the directive of the President to the project’s task force to continue giving services to identified communities in need of safe drinking water.

Rizal Governor Rebecca Ynares, Taytay Mayor June Zapanta and Barangay Captains Chito Esguerra, Vener Eustaquio, Julio Burgos, Efren Cruz and Jun Macabuhay joined the President in the project launching held at the Barangay Extension Hall, Lupang Arenda, Barangay Sta. Ana, Taytay, Rizal.

The "Patubig ni PGMA" is expected to benefit Barangays San Isidro, Sta. Ana, San Juan, Muzon and Dolores in Sitio Arenda, Taytay where two mobile water tanks to be used in delivering the precious commodity was installed.

During her visit, the President received a warm welcome from the Taytay residents who flocked to the occasion to express their appreciation for the solution to their long-time woes which has long been neglected by past administrations.

Earlier, the Chief Executive proudly reported that her water project exceeded the 160,000 target households among the 300 waterless communities in Metro Manila alone.

The President earlier instructed the task force to serve until January 20 this year the identified 160,000 households in the National Capital Region (NCR) that do not have access to safe drinking water.

Malacanang today formally announced the appointments of Alipio F. Fernandez, Jr. and Ronald O. Solis as new Commissioners of the Bureau of Immigration and National Telecommunications Commission, respectively.

Presidential Spokesman Ignacio T. Bunye said President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed the appointments with separate dates on Jan. 8 and 15 and to take effect upon receipt of the appointees.

Fernandez is taking over the post of resigned Bureau of Immigration Commissioner Andrea D. Domingo who opted to vacate her post and run for mayor in San Fernando, Pampanga in the coming May polls.

He was an undersecretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government prior to his new appointment.

Solis, a senior partner of the Solis & Medina Law Offices, will replace Armi Jane R. Borje.

Solis has served as one of the volunteer private prosecutors in the impeachment trial of former President Joseph Estrada in 2001.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today assured victims of human rights violations that they would be justly and equitably compensated after the Supreme Court (SC) decided with finality to order the Sandiganbayan to start forfeiture proceedings on the $658-million Marcos Swiss account being held in escrow by the Philippine National Bank (PNB).

In her statement, the Chief Executive said the decision of the high tribunal only reinforces government pursuit of justice no matter how much time was spent for the purpose.

She also vowed to continue working with the Congress to ensure that the victims of human rights during martial law are compensated under fair and equitable terms.

"This is the core of our social agenda which encompasses jobs, healthcare, housing and clean water. This is part of the fight for change for the average Filipino," the President said.

Meanwhile, in a press briefing, Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye confirmed that the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) has submitted to the President the detailed plans for the utilization of the recovered asset.

Bunye said the Chief Executive has earlier directed DAR to come up with a specific plan to guarantee that the bulk of the funds are used for the government’s agrarian reform program and to compensate the victims of human rights during the Marcos regime.