The food industry placed second top export performer, next to wearables, among the 10 priority sectors identified by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) as major drivers of the country’s export growth in 2003.

Total food exports rose 32.79 percent to $1.319 billion in 2003 from $993.49 million in 2002, according to the DTI.

Increases were specifically noted in processed food and beverages which rose to $475.73 million from $390.60 million; fruits and vegetables, up $601.72 million from $544.13 million; and raw coffee, which went up $241.78 million from $58.76 million.

"The continuing increase in food exports is significant in that it occurred just when the global economy was being threatened by fallout from infected fowls and cows," DTI Undersecretary for International Trade Thomas Aquino said.

"It is good news and a warning at the same time. With the bird flu still very much in the air, we can expect the guidelines for allowing entry of food imports in the international market to get tougher and can change anytime," he said.

Thus the DTI urged the food industry to be more vigilant in complying with international food safety standards in order to preserve the gains it made in 2003.

According to Aquino, the Philippines achieved competence in certifying food companies and processed food products for Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) and Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) system.

Some 175 companies in Cebu and Davao have complied with the provisions of the Bioterrorism Act, which was instituted by the US government in 2002 to facilitate and ensure an efficient flow of safe food imports.

To sustain the competitiveness of the Philippine food exporting industry in the world market, Aquino said DTI has recommended that a coordinated effort should be implemented to enhance the capacity of exporters to implement international food safety standards in their respective plants.

The survey results are a clear signal that the people are primed to vote on the basis of a credible, concrete capacity to lead and govern.

The maturing electorate is showing a strong and growing solidarity behind the changes in the economy and the political system that we are fighting for.

The survey results are a call for leadership with the clout and expertise to turn the economy around, bring in investments to create jobs and build modern infrastructure.

We must forge on with a principled and informative campaign that banners clean government, clean elections and clean water.

"But the President says that this is not the time to be complacent in spite of the trend in her favor in both SWS and Pulse Asia surveys, and that she has to focus on governance; it is her belief that, in the end, the people will give her mandate to finish what she has started," he said.

The five-man Presidential Commission has cleared former Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes and Brig. Gen. Victor Corpus of any involvement in the bombings of the Sasa Wharf Seaport and the Davao International Airport last year.

There is no evidence linking either Reyes or Corpus to the bombings, Commission Chairman Monsignor Pedro B. Maniwang of the Sta. Ana Parish Shrine in Davao City said today in a briefing at the Palace after submitting their report to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo through Executive Secretary Alberto Romulo.

The commission also belied the claim of Capt. Milo Maestrecampo, one of the leaders of the Oakwood mutiny last year, that he was ordered to bomb the Davao City mosques.

It said that neither the military nor the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) was involved in the April 2, 2003 incidents.

The fact-finding body said it is not convinced that Montaser Sudang, the prime suspect, staged the bombing of the Davao International Airport which lacked the necessary security personnel then.

The commission also said the widely circulated OPLAN Greenbase documents were fake.

Maniwang said they made their report based on documents and the testimonies of 49 witnesses.

Despite surveys showing her finally taking the lead in the presidential derby, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is not about to let her guard down.

Early this afternoon, the indefatigable President opened her barnstorming of Metro Manila, starting off in Marikina as part of her efforts to bring the government closer to the masses and explaining her platform of government.

In a caucus with various sectoral groups at the Taņong covered court along Lopez Jaena St., Marikina City the Chief Executive proclaimed the 12 K-4 senatorial candidates before some 8,000 residents.

During her speech the President traced the family roots of First Gentleman, Atty. Jose Miguel Arroyo, making her, she said, a daughter of Marikina.

"The grandmother of my husband, Teresa de la Paz was among the original settlers here in Marikina," she said, "making my family and my children part of the Marikina community."

Present in the proclamation rally were vice presidential bet Sen. Noli ‘Kabayan’ de Castro and senatoriables Mar Roxas, Robert Barbers, Miriam Santiago, Robert Jaworski, Rodolfo Biazon, Orly Mercado, Pia Cayetano and Ramon "Bong" Revilla, Jr.

Sen. John Osmena, actor Lito Lapid and Farouk Hussin were indisposed but were nevertheless introduced by the President.

With the citizenship issue virtually resolved in favor of opposition presidential candidate Fernando Poe Jr. (FPJ), Campaign Spokesman Michael Defensor today said there is no more obstacle to his joining a presidential debate.

Defensor noted that the ruling handed down on Wednesday should pave the way for the debate among all the presidential contenders.

"Now that his citizenship case is over, it’s time for him and the President to explain to the public their separate platform of government because it is the duty of both the opposition and the administration to inform the voting public about their plans, dispositions, belief and policies…and just basically how they intend to lead the Filipino people," Defensor said in a radio interview.

At the same time, Defensor took exception to allegations that the Palace was disappointed with the Supreme Court (SC) ruling declaring Poe a natural-born Filipino and therefore, qualified to run for the presidency in the May 10 elections.

"We are actually happy over the SC decision and we respect its legal process…because we want the President to win the elections fair and square," Defensor stressed.

He pointed out that the high tribunal’s verdict leveled the playing field between President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Poe.

According to Defensor, President Macapagal-Arroyo is willing to accede to any conditions for the debate that may be set by Poe’s camp, provided that the movie actor would participate in the debate and lay down his platform of government before the people.

Defensor also expressed belief that Poe’s rating in the poll survey would no longer go up following the SC decision. He asserted that Poe’s camp had been desperately trying to replicate former President Joseph Estrada’s strong showing at the survey even as he has not yet signified his intention to vie for the presidency.

Confident after moving to the top of the surveys, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today asked people of Biak na Bato in San Francisco Del Monte in Quezon City to campaign for her party, the Koalisyon ng Karanasan at Katapatan sa Kinabukasan (K-4).

Ang hihilingin ko sa inyo hindi ang inyong boto, dahil naniniwala naman akong boboto sa K-4. Ang hinihingi ko sa inyo at sa inyong lider, magkampanya kayo para sa K-4. Puwede bang asahan? (I ask not for your votes because I know you will vote for K-4, what I ask of you is to campaign for K-4)," the President told a crowd packed at the Manresa Covered Court.

With the President on the second of a three-stop sortie in Metro Manila were running mate Sen. Noli "Kabayan" de Castro, and senatorial candidates Robert Jaworski, Miriam Defensor Santiago, Mar Roxas, Robert Barbers, Orly Mercado, Ramon Revilla Jr. and Parouk Hussin.

She warmly wished the whole barangay of Manresa a happy fiesta and vowed to include their families in the PhilHealth insurance coverage.

During her speech, she also raised the hands of reelectionist Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte, Jr. in tribute to his being an outstanding mayor and thanked Sen. Manuel Villar for his presence indicating his support for her administration and K-4.

Officials present included Quezon City Vice Mayor Herbert Bautista, Presidential Campaign Spokesperson Michael Defensor and Press Secretary Milton Alingod.

The government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front welcomed today a World Bank proposal for a Joint Needs Assessment (JNA) and expressed support for its successful conduct in conflict-affected areas.

In a joint statement, the two panels said the move assured that the security concerns and requirements of the JNA process will be brought to the two panels for appropriate consideration.

The JNA, targeted to commence by next month, will be conducted in conflict-affected areas with particular focus on MILF communities as a basis for designing and financing the Multi-Donor Trust Fund’s comprehensive strategy, programs and projects for the reconstruction, rehabilitation and development of the area in a post-conflict scenario after a final peace agreement had been reached.

Dr. Fermin Adriano, a World bank representative, gave the briefing on the JNA during the two-day joint meeting of the Coordinating Committees on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH) held at the Insular Waterfront Hotel in Davao City.

During the executive session, the committees acknowledged the commitments made by both panels during the exploratory talks on the phased redeployment of troops from the Buliok Complex and affirmed their active role in the monitoring of the implementation of agreements made in Kuala Lumpur.

The committees also finalized the details of the preparations for the nine-day area visitation of the advance survey team in Mindanao, including guidelines on the operational and administrative details.