We are satisfied with the overall trend of the polls but we know it is time to work harder.

The President is not taking the voters for granted.

She realizes that there are millions of Filipinos out there who are crying for change and reform and she will continue to fight for change way after election day.

She is determined to deliver her message to the people in a manner that will enlighten them and convince them of the hope that lies ahead.

She is waging the campaign on a high plane, without mudslinging or denigrating any of her opponents, and with a strong pitch for clean and honest polls.

This latest destabilization attempt has been nipped in the bud and is being dealt with by routine disciplinary measures.

Any such attempts are doomed to failure because of the loyalty of the Armed Forces to the Constitution and our people’s adherence to democracy.

Let us not dwell on untoward rumors and scenarios and wait instead for the official report of the investigation.

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union—President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, on the occasion of the 154th foundation anniversary celebration of La Union last night, ordered the release of P66 million from Republic Act 7171 (Tobacco Excise Tax) fund for the province.

The amount is part of the 2003 RA 7171 fund from which the national government owes the province of La Union.

"I am the only President who was able to wipe out this utang for La Union from RA 7171," the President said.

RA 7171 provides funds from the tobacco excise tax for the tobacco producing provinces in Northern Luzon. These include Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte, La Union and Pangasinan.

The President also announced the separation of the John Hay Development Corporation from the Poro Point Development, Inc. to enable the Poro Point people, who are mostly from La Union, to decide what is good for this corporation.

She said that in her short stint as President, she created more than three million jobs for Fillipinos compared to a half a million created during the time of former President Joseph Estrada.

The President said this is just a "down payment." Given the opportunity she will create six million jobs more or one million jobs annually for the next six years. "In six years, we can wipe out the problem of unemployment," she said.

La Union was part of three provinces – Pangasinan, Ilocos Sur, and Montanosa. The President said that if La Union is a daughter of Pangasinan, and she is a daughter of Pangasinan (her Mother hailed from Binalonan, Pangasinan), then "we are all brothers and sisters."

The President, who came from a luncheon-meeting with the local leaders of La Union, witnessed part of the finals of the search for the "Mutya ng La Union." The winner will participate in the Binibining Pilipinas search for Miss World, Miss International and Miss Universe Philippines.

With the President at the Plaza where the finals were held were Gov. Victor Ortega, San Fernando City Mayor Mary Jane Ortega, municipal mayors and other local executives from the different towns of La Union.

Also in the audience were Ilocos Norte Congressmen Roquito Ablan and former Ilocos Sur Governor Chavit Singson. Also present was Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) Chairman Michael Defensor, K-4 Campaign Spokesman.

The President delivered her speech before the announcement of the winners.

Malacanang called on the people today to accept whatever decision the Supreme Court would hand down on the citizenship issue of presidentiable Fernando Poe, Jr.

In a radio interview this morning, Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye emphasized that the Supreme Court, as a final arbiter of the law, should be respected.

"Whatever the decision is, whether for or against Mr. Poe ay dapat kilalanin ng ating mga kababayan (should be respected by the people)," Bunye said.

The Supreme Court is expected to give its verdict on the Poe case after conducting oral arguments two weeks back where it invited four friends of the court.

The case was elevated to the highest tribunal after the Commission on Elections ruled that the movie actor is qualified to run.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who had overtaken Poe in the latest surveys of both the Social Weather Stations (SWS) and Pulse Asia after trailing for most part of the campaign, had earlier stated her belief that Poe is a Filipino.

However, the President has said that the court is still the final arbiter of the case. She had called on the people, particularly the actor’s supporters, to stay calm and respect the rule of law.

Despite the controversy, the President, according to Bunye, believes that the more candidates there are, the better for the country’s democratic institutions since there will be more choices for the voters.

SAN FERNANDO La Union—Instead of jubilating over the results of the latest SWS survey which showed her finally overtaking actor Fernando Poe Jr., President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said today it only confirmed her resolution to do more governance and leave more of the campaign to the K-4.

The survey, conducted Feb. 17 to 25, showed the President overhauling Poe’s erstwhile imposing lead, garnering 31.8 percent to the actor’s 30.5.

This confirmed Pulse Asia’s earlier poll, done Feb. 16-20, which had the Chief Executive nosing out Poe by less than one percent, indicating a tight, two-cornered fight.

The President today met with officials of the Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA) and took the Clark-Subic Road which is scheduled for ground-breaking on March 22.

The President also met with tobacco farmers of La Union at the Session Hall of the La Union’s Provincial Capitol to announce her release of P66 billion from the funds of RA 7171 and what to do with it.

The President explained that the tobacco farmers need subsidies because of the low price of tobacco nowadays, partly due to the anti-smoking campaign all over the world.

"Governor Ortega has been putting together a subsidy program for some of the very important tobacco products. And the solution is not necessarily to increase the volume but to improve the quality of tobacco so that the price per unit will be better," the President said.

The Chief Executive said local and national government leaders are looking for the diversification of the tobacco farmers’ sources of income just like the marginal fishermen.

The President earlier unveiled the marker of the La Union Botanical Garden as part of its 8^th anniversary.

SAN FERNANDO City, La Union—President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today thanked La Union Gov. Victor Ortega and the people of La Union for the warm reception accorded her while on a visit to the province.

The President viewed the heavy turnout of supporters here as a manifestation of support to her quest for a full six-year term in the May 10 elections.

"It is a sign of your big support for me," the Chief Executive told a huge crowd that started massing up at the Ortega Gym here as early as 2 p.m. Tuesday.

Gov. Ortega and his wife, Mayor Mary Jane Ortega of this city, along with the rest of the local officials, led the local supporters in welcoming Mrs. Macapagal-Arroyo and her K-4 team.

Ortega said the President was instrumental in releasing the P66 million in tobacco excise tax to finance construction of certain infrastructure projects and other programs designed to assist local tobacco farmers.

"We are helping her so that she will be able to help us more in the future," the governor said.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has redefined the functions, duties and responsibilities of the Cabinet Officers for Regional Development (CORD) for them to be more effective and responsive to the needs of their regions.

The amendment is spelled out in Administrative Order No. 95 signed by the President on February 27.

Primary in the CORD’s functions, duties and responsibilities now are:

• Assist in articulating the region’s concerns and perceptions in the Cabinet, with other Departments, the Office of the President and concerned agencies;

• Assist the President in the speedy, efficient and orderly resolution of problems in government operations in their respective regions;

• Assist in defining priorities and projects in the region in coordination with the Regional Development Councils (RDCs) and other special local bodies;

• Monitor government programs and insure they are well-implemented;

• Identify and clarify issues and concerns affecting peace and order and security thru the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) and the Cabinet Oversight Committee on Internal Security sub-national levels;

• Be prepared to report on high-impact matters/concerns and the measures taken by the government to address them for public information purposes; and

• Submit reports as necessary to the President through the Executive Secretary.

Following are the CORD officers and their regions:

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo eyes stronger bilateral ties between the Philippines and Papua New Guinea which is set to popularize the use of Philippine-made jeepneys to address its mass transport problem.

"I am looking forward to the expansion of our bilateral relations because we are neighbors in the Asia-Pacific region," the President told visiting Papua Transportation and Civil Aviation Minister Don Poyle who called on her at Malacanang this afternoon.

Mrs. Macapagal-Arroyo thanked the Papuan official for tapping the uniquely Filipino jeepney as a solution to their mass transport problem.

The Chief Executive recalled that increasing trade and relations was part of the bilateral agreement forged with PNG during the last Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting held in Bangkok, Thailand.

For his part, Poyle said the "Philippine jeepney is one of the solutions in our transportation problems as replacement to our ailing mass public transport."

He said the PNG is buying 4,000 jeepneys at P500,000 per unit.

He concurred with President Macapagal-Arroyo’s observation that the jeepney is a much cheaper mode of transportation than the taxi.

Poyle also said some 7,000 Filipinos are currently working in his country.