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13 MARCH 2004 |
| The Good News: Businessmen show trust and confidence in GMA |
Strong work ethics and indefatigable campaign style have earned for President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo the trust and confidence of the business community, not only here but also abroad. In an analysis of the Philippine political situation, the United States-based Citigroup, the world’s largest provider of financial services, cites the trust and confidence of the foreign business community in President Macapagal-Arroyo’s administration as compared to that of Fernando Poe, Jr., her chief opposition rival. "Despite its flaws, continuing an Arroyo presidency is the least risky option for the Philippines," Citigroup said. "We think the risk of policy mistakes under a Poe administration is high to deserve caution." Citigroup forecasts, in its March 10 study, a victory for Mrs. Macapagal-Arroyo in the May 10 elections. Why? "Ms. Arroyo has a more clearly defined strategy to win the election than Mr. Poe, but the fight is expected to be close. We think Ms. Arroyo has a better chance of winning than Mr. Poe but the margin of victory will likely be narrow," Citigroup said. When the campaign period for national candidates opened on February 10, 2004, a wide gap separated President Macapagal-Arroyo from the leading opposition candidate, who was ahead in the opinion surveys. Undaunted, the President has barnstormed in cities and in the countryside without, however, losing focus on governance. Her campaign has been conducted at a high level; mudslinging or personal attack on her rivals is not allowed. Instead, she has concentrated on bringing the government closer to the people by explaining to them, in Pulong Bayan or townhall-style of meetings, her platform of government. In the short period of her presidency she states, for example, that some three million jobs had been created, and then promises to do better if given a new mandate in the May 10 elections. Her patience, persistence and stamina in the campaign, which sometimes covers more than a dozen towns in the stretch of one day, appears to be paying off. By the first week of March, or just two months before Election Day, she has not just closed the gap between her and Poe, but has even overtaken his lead. In a recent radio interview, Deputy Presidential Spokesman Ricardo Saludo said that despite the turn of events in her favor, President Macapagal-Arroyo is determined to carry on a relentless political campaign, with verve and enthusiasm. The President’s campaign has not yet reached its peak, Saludo said, pointing out that the ruling party, Lakas Christian Muslim Democrats, has fielded local candidates in all provinces, cities and towns, while the main opposition party, Koalisyong ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino (KNP) has only 25 percent local candidates. |
| Statement of the President: Re Vice President Guingona |
We welcome the reported alliance between the Vice President and the opposition. This is not surprising as the Vice President and I have had principled disagreements and there has never been any rancor between us. We hope he can clarify the platform of the opposition and encourage FPJ to join the debates now that he has an experienced adviser in the person of the VP. In this election, it is not so much a matter of who joins whom, but what one has to say about the issues affecting the lives of the average Filipino. Everyday, I am bringing the issues to the people while the opposition seems to be caught in an endless storm of bickering and infighting. The people deserve more than this from their claimed leaders. The people deserve service and enlightenment, not petty fights and recriminations. |
| Statement of the President: Re Anti-terrorism |
As often stated, the price of freedom is perpetual vigilance. The world and the Philippines have to live with the threat of terror as ever present, anywhere. The security of our communities as well as of our means of livelihood and our public goods—is the business of every citizen. Working together, we have reduced the threat of terror but we cannot let our guard down. The tragedy in Madrid is another wake up call that democracy must be defended nationally and globally. We are working in our shores and with other nations on this universal task. |
| Palace welcomes VP Guingona's move to opposition |
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said today that she "welcomes" the reported alliance between Vice President Teopisto Guingona, Jr. and the opposition Koalisyon ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino (KNP). In a statement, the President said, "this is not surprising as the Vice President and I have had principled disagreements, (although) there has never been any rancor between us." President Macapagal-Arroyo expressed hope that Guingona would be able to help clarify the platform of government being espoused by the opposition and "encourage FPJ (Fernando Poe, Jr.) to join the debates now that he has an experienced adviser in the person of the Vice President." Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye echoed the President’s sentiments in a radio interview this morning. But, Bunye said that he doubted the veracity of reports that 56 pro-administration congressmen would follow Vice President Guingona and affiliate themselves with the opposition. The Presidential Spokesman said that not 56 Lakas-CMD congressmen, although perhaps a few of them, might bolt the administration party as had been suspected. He expressed confidence that majority of the congressmen would remain loyal and would support President Macapagal-Arroyo’s bid for a full six-year term in the May 10 elections. In her statement, President Macapagal-Arroyo pointed out that in an election, "it is not so much a matter of who joins whom, but what one has to say about the issues affecting the lives of the average Filipino." She said that while she is bringing the issues to the people everyday, "the opposition seems to be caught in an endless storm of bickering and infighting." "The people deserve more than this from their claimed leaders," she added. "The people deserve service and enlightenment, not petty fights and recriminations." |
| GMA: Madrid tragedy ' a wake up call ' for defense of democracy |
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today said that the terrorist attacks in Madrid, Spain, Thursday "is another wake up call that democracy must be defended nationally and globally." The President said, in a statement, that the world and the Philippines "have to live with the threat of terror," which is ever present anywhere. Noting that the price of freedom is perpetual vigilance, she pointed out that "the security of our communities, as well as of our means of livelihood and our public goods, is the business of every citizen." "We cannot let our guards down," she added. Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye said, in a radio interview this morning, that vigilance and civilian cooperation are among the lessons to be learned from the terrorist attacks in Madrid that blew off four commuter trains, killing at least 198 persons and injuring more than a thousand others. Bunye said the Madrid attacks prove that terrorism is rampant and that "terrorism can strike anywhere, anytime, in a powerful or a small country, if there is an opportunity to do so." For the Filipinos, Bunye said the lesson is not to lower the level of alertness, particularly in guarding possible targets. "Napaka importante rin ‘yong partisipasyon ng mga mamamayan. Sila ang mga mata at tainga natin, silang ang unang makakaalam sa mga kilos ng mga kapwa nila sa kapaligiran (The participation of ordinary people is also very important. They are our eyes and ears. They are the first to know what’s happening within the community)," he said. |
| DSWD committed to helping children of Payatas |
The three children of Payatas, Quezon City, who "floated" paper boats on Pasig River to Malacanang in 2001, are assured of government assistance for their education until they finish high school. Secretary Corazon Juliano "Dinky" Soliman of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) today took exception to reports that the government has stopped its support to Jayson Vann Banogan, Erwin Dolera and Jomar Pabalan as well as to three other children – Christian Custodio, Rachel Manadong and Ricardonna Sayson – also from Payatas, Quezon City. "Hindi totoo ang sinasabi nila na tumigil ang tulong (It’s not true that our assistance has been stopped)," she said in a radio interview. The children were among those who survived the landslide in 2000 that killed several residents in one of the country’s largest garbage dumps. Soliman said that the assistance to the six children will go on, and that the DSWD is committed to provide it until they graduate from high school. "They are our scholars, and we have made arrangements for them to receive benefits even if we are no longer in office," she added. The DSWD chief said that she was "puzzled" over the reports about DSWD stopping the financial aid and what could have been the motivation for those who circulated such rumors. She said that DSWD provides assistance to some 400 children of Payatas. Media gave prominent treatment to the story of Jayson, Erwin and Jomar, when President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo made it a focal point of her first State of the Nation Address (SONA) in 2001. The President then said she had received the three children’s separate letters of request for assistance in the form of paper boats. The Macapagal-Arroyo administration has taken the "ships of hope" as symbol of the people’s needs -- jobs, education, homes, food and justice to the marginalized sector of society. |
| GMA to award Presidential Saber to PMA's top cadet in commencement rites tomorrow |
BAGUIO CITY—President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will award the Presidential Saber to top Philippine Military Academy (PMA) graduating cadet Rolly Angeles Joaquin in tomorrow’s 2004 commencement exercises to be held at the CAP Convention Center inside Camp John Hay. This will be the second time that the PMA will hold graduation ceremonies outside of the Borromeo Field in Fort del Pilar. The first was in 1981 at the Baguio Convention Center. Angeles Joaquin, who hails from Pangasinan, will also be awarded the Philippine Army Saber, PGMA Achievement Award for Academics, Philippine Army Professional Award, Natural Science Award, Management Award, Academic Group Award and the Jusmag Army Award. He is also the graduating class’ cum laude. Making up the top ten graduating cadets are Gerald Philip Taduran Escalante, who will be awarded the Vice Presidential Saber, Mark Sibonga Tabo, the Secretary of National Defense Saber, Jerry Tibay Catbagan, Ruel Carillo Acero, Garry de Vera Hilario, Ronald Barrias Juan, Marvin Inocencio, Julie Enjambre Javier and Rene Torres Dao-ayan. The President is expected to be accorded arrival honors upon her arrival at Camp John Hay at 9:55 a.m. tomorrow. The Commander in Chief, to be assisted by the PMA Superintendent Maj. Gen. Edilberto Adan, and the Dean of the Academic Affairs Col. Carlos Canilao, will distribute the diplomas and special awards to the graduating cadets. Tomorrow’s graduation ceremonies will be attended by relatives and families of a total of 139 graduates to be fielded in the different Armed Forces of the Philippines’ major services. The President, who is expected to deliver her address before noon tomorrow, will motor back to Dagupan City and then by chopper to Manila. The President will hold a press conference for local and national media before the graduation rites. |
| GMA orders setting up of more one-stop-shops for beneficiaries of gov't socialized housing program |
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today ordered the setting up of more one-stop-shops for land processing to speed up the distribution of home lots to their beneficiaries, particularly in areas that she has declared as socialized housing sites. In a Pulong Bayan or town hall meeting held this afternoon in Tatalon, Quezon City, the President said that while she was still the trade and industry undersecretary, she initiated the setting up of one-stop-shops for foreign businessmen who wanted to invest in the country. She said this resulted in a more efficient setup where red tape and delays have been avoided. "Kung nakagawa ako noong nasa DTI pa ako ng one-stop-shop para sa mga negosyante, bakit hindi one-stop-shop para sa mga mahihirap (If I was able to set up one-stop-shops for businessmen when I was at the DTI, why not do the same for the poor)," the President said. The President said that from the time an area is proclaimed as a site for socialized housing, the beneficiaries have to go through at least six agencies before they can get their titles or home lot certificates. According to the President, in areas where there are one-stop-shops, the beneficiaries would get their clearances from the six agencies in just one place, usually found in the barangay halls. Agencies that usually set up offices at one-stop-shops include the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council, National Housing Authority, Metro Manila Development Authority and the concerned local government units. One-stop-shops have already been established in Escopa, Parola, Taguig, Caloocan City and Paranaque City. |
| Urban poor benefits from government housing program |
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed today a Memorandum Order directing the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) and the National Housing Authority (NHA) to dispose the land at the National Government Center Development Project to qualified beneficiaries at P700 per square meter. The signing, held at the Commission on Audit Grounds in Barangay Batasan Hills, was witnessed by Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte, HUDCC Acting Chairman Amado Bagatsing, Presidential Commission on the Urban Poor (PCUP) Chairman Percival Chavez, and NHA Officer-in-Charge Atty. Jopet Sison. With the President looking on, Belmonte then led the signing of the implementing rules and regulations of the National Government Center Housing and Land Utilization Act of 2003 entitling 40,000 families to own the lots they have long been occupying. Present during the rites were Barangay Batasan Hills Chairman Ranulfo Ludovica, Barangay Holy Spirit Chairman Chito Valmocina, and more than 2,000 members of various urban poor groups in Batasan Hills. "Ito ay tunay na palupa at hindi na kayo matatawag na squatters sa sariling bayan (This is a genuine land acquisition program of the government. And from now on you will not be called squatters anymore in your own land)," the President said. Julita dela Paz, president of the Pagkakaisa sa COA Block 5, said they are very grateful to the President for finally awarding them the lots they have been occupying for more than 20 years. "Maraming, maraming salamat sa Pangulong Gloria at natupad na rin ang mahigit 20 taon na naming paghihintay (Thank you very much President Gloria for finally answering our more than 20 years of waiting for these lots)," she said. Last May 17, 2003, the President signed Republic Act 9207, known as "The National Government Center Housing and land Utilization Act of 2003." Under this law, the National Government Center Administration Committee (NGCAC) composed of the chairpersons of the HUDCC, NHA, PCUP, the mayor of Quezon City, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and representatives from people's organizations in Batasan Hills held consultations and deliberations to promulgate its implementing rules and regulations. After the signing, the President proceeded to the other end of Commonwealth Avenue opposite the University of the Philippines grounds and rode the presidential helicopter bound for Pangasinan. Earlier, the President held a Pulong Bayan with some 200 representatives of various urban poor groups at the Diosdado Elementary School in Barangay Tatalon, Quezon City where she instructed the NHA and HUDCC to put up an additional one-stop shop at the Quezon City Hall to speed up the land acquisition process for the urban poor in Metro Manila. |
