A new construction technology utilizing Iso-Panel pre-fabricated material has been adopted by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to immediately address the shortage of 44,000 classrooms in the country.

The "Dura-Quick" building design which shortens the construction period of a typical two-classroom school building to only 12 days at a much lower cost than conventional materials was approved and endorsed by DPWH Secretary Florante Soriquez and concurred in by Education Undersecretary Ramon Bacani.

The accreditation for school building design and structure using Iso-Panel pre-fabricated materials was given to a consortium of five Korean companies, which offered the technology to the Philippine government in line with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s program of addressing classroom shortage.

The consortium is led by Lee Cheol-woo, president of Union Steel Corp., South Korea’s largest steel firm; and Lee Kyu-cheol, president of Kyoung Won Steel Corp.

Their representative in the Philippines, Dr. Chang Ik-jin of Bo-Ryoung Realty and Development Corp., presented to the DPWH Bureau of Design headed by Director Danilo C. Manalong the proposal, which was found to be suitable to solve the perennial classroom shortage, following tedious researches and studies.

The Matrix of Comparative Analysis prepared by the DPWH Bureau of Design demonstrated the great advantage of Iso-Panel modular material over hollow blocks and concrete in the areas of insulation, cost, construction period and maintenance.

The adoption of the Iso-Panel or Dura-Quick system, according to the analysis, will greatly benefit government contractors of school buildings as well as school children in the future.

The system, which uses a metal cladding with expanded polystyrene insulation, is widely used in various buildings in Korea and is ideal for school buildings because of its quick installation, comfortable ambient temperature, low maintenance, and durable features, made available at very affordable prices.

Dr. Chang, chairman of Bo-Ryoung Realty said their firm has actually erected prototype buildings and donated them as a gesture of goodwill to the Filipino people.

We are not disturbed at all by these allegations. They have been part and parcel of the opposition’s demolition job. The records of the media channels are open to all. We have strictly adhered to the Comelec time limits on political advertising. Our expenditures are well within bounds.

Malacaņang believes that the switch of loyalty of Vice President Teofisto Guingona, Jr. to the opposition has no negative impact on President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s bid for a full six-year term in the May 10 elections.

Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye said, in an interview with Radyo ng Bayan, that despite the lack of help from Vice President Guingona since the campaign period began on February 10, the President’s ratings in opinion polls have been on the way up.

Bunye said that while Guingona moved out, opposition stalwarts joined President Macapagal-Arroyo’s bandwagon. Among the opposition leaders, who have pledged support for the President in the upcoming polls, are former Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Antonio Cerilles, Governor Rebecca Ynares of Rizal, Governor Teresita Lazaro of Laguna, Governor Faustino Dy, Jr. of Isabela, Governor Tomas Joson III of Nueva Ecija, Puerto Princesa City Mayor Edward Hagedorn and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, he said.

Bunye said that the President and the Vice President have differences in principles, although they don’t harbor any personal enmity against each other.

"Alam na ng publiko na noon pa man ay hindi na kasama si Vice President Tito Guingona (It is of public knowledge that the Vice President has long been estranged from the President’s party)," he said.

Malacaņang today emphasized President Macapagal-Arroyo is vigorously pushing the use of the high-yield hybrid "Gloria Rice" to increase the hectarage planted to it and the resultant benefits to farmers.

"As of now, the area planted to the hybrid rice introduced from China in 2002 is about 100,000 hectares. We can easily up this to 600,000 hectares in the next six years," Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye said this morning in a radio interview.

On the average, "Gloria Rice" has doubled the harvest of farmers to about 6.6 tons per hectare but in one area in Mindoro, the yield has gone up as high as 11.1 tons per hectare that is considered a world record.

The introduction of "Gloria Rice" is part of the administration’s thrust to increase the yield and earnings to improve the lives of farmers in concert with the vigorous implementation of the Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act for which at least P20 billion a year has been spent each year since the President took over in 2001.

Bunye also said the President has released at least 30 percent of total funding requirement of the Student Assistance for Education for a Strong Republic (SAFE 4 SR) and he believes all these will be fully utilized before the next school year starts.

SAFE 4 SR is the administration’s solution to a sorry statistic – about 40 percent of third and fourth years students in college drop out because of lack of funds to pay for tuition, other school fees, books, etc.

The program allows graduating students loans up to P8,000 per semester to give them all the opportunities to finish college and earn their degrees. These are no-interest loans payable starting two years after graduation.

Bunye also said the Universal Family Health Insurance expansion by the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) is right on target with President Macapagal-Arroyo personally keeping tab on it.

Everytime the Cabinet meets, PhilHealth President Dr. Francisco Duque always makes a presentation on the status of the universal family coverage.

The President created the Universal Family Health Insurance with an executive order in February. This was meant to further expand the coverage of PhilHealth, this time focusing on family, not individual coverage.

Before the new program, PhilHealth already had enrolled 40 million individuals or about 56 percent of the populace. The new program targets to enroll five million more families which translates to about 25 million individuals, particularly the poor.

The days of water rationing and buying water at P30 per drum are over for residents of Barangay Sta. Monica in Novaliches, Quezon City.

This morning, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo brought her "Patubig" program to some 1,000 households there, assuring them of potable water supply without lining up for the precious commodity.

After inspecting the water facilities at Sitio Arguardiente in the said barangay, the President told the residents that the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS), in cooperation with the Maynilad Water Inc., will start the installation of the water pipeline in the area on Wednesday, bringing an end to their long-standing woes.

She said the project came to fruition when Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) managing head Ram Agoncillo conducted talks with barangay officials of Sta Monica led by chairperson Elenita Balajonda.

The President said it was about time to give credence to the water problem in the area particularly because the Sta. Monica residents composed of 1,000 families are dependent only on water rationing from the MWSS and the Maynilad while others opted to buy water at P30 per drum.

"Sa darating na Miyerkules, magsisimula nang i-install ang water pipeline dito sa inyong lugar at bahagi ito ng Patubig ni Pangulong Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo project (This coming Wednesday, it will start the installation of the water pipeline here and this is part of the water project of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo)," she said.

When other residents complained of lack of electric facilities, the President promised the installation and establishment of electric posts in the area and other nearby barangays.

Malacanang today expressed sympathy with Spain for the losses of lives it suffered in the March 11 terrorist attacks on the Atocha, El Pozo and Sta. Eugenia train stations in Madrid, Spain.

By order of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Executive Secretary Alberto Romulo signed and issued Proclamation No. 578 declaring March 15-17 as a period of national prayer and solidarity against terrorism in deep sympathy with the Spanish people, and the whole humankind for the unspeakable tragedy.

During this period, flags of all government buildings and installations, at home and abroad, shall be flown at half-mast.

The proclamation stated peace-loving peoples of the world condemn such dastardly and deplorable acts of terrorism and the grief of countless families will be felt for a long time – "pain that cannot forget falls drop by drop upon the heart until in our despair against our will comes wisdom through the awful grace of God."

Malacanang brushed aside today a petition filed by a non-government organization seeking the disqualification of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo from the May 10 election for allegedly exceeding the time limit for political advertisements on television.

Presidential Spokesperson Ignacio Bunye maintained that the President has stayed within the limits set by the Commission on Elections (Comelec), and branded the accusation as a mere "political black propaganda."

"We are not disturbed by this allegation because we know that we have complied with the requirements of the Commission on Elections," Bunye said.

In filing the petition, the Pro Constitution (ProCon) group claimed that Mrs. Macapagal-Arroyo had already consumed a total of 189 minutes for her political television advertisement from February 10 to March 11 in violation of the Fair Elections Act which allows candidates a total of 120 minutes of airtime for political ads.

Bunye said records on the expenditures of President Macapagal-Arroyo on political advertising is open for public scrutiny.

"As far as we are concerned we have strictly adhered to the Comelec (rules) on air time and we stayed within the limits on political advertising," the Palace official stressed.

Bunye cited Comelec Chairman Benjamin Abalos as having said that the total limit refers only to one television station, and not accumulative .

Bunye also said all political ad placements were subject to a contract and any interested party can simply ask for the records of the transactions which are public documents.

PANABO CITY, Davao del Norte—The influential Philippine Independent Catholic Church (PICC) expressed here today its full support for the bid of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for a full six-year term in the May 10 elections.

During a "Benediction Prayer" rites held at the Ma. Clara Resort here, Archbishop Felicito Aguisando of the Aglipayan Church’s Mindanao Archdiocese Council presented to the President a copy of the pledge of support for her candidacy.

"To our beloved President Arroyo, we humbly present to you a copy of our pledge of support for your candidacy and to each candidate of the administration party," Aguisandro said in handing over the document to the Chief Executive.

Speaking in Cebuano, Mrs. Macapagal-Arroyo expressed gratitude for the support, and cited her three-point agenda for the economic and social development of Mindanao, particularly the Davao region.

"Bishops and priests have done well in the promotion of peace in Mindanao. Through your teachings, our people would know what is good or what is bad for our country," the Chief Executive said.

In her speech, the President also outlined her four-point platform of government embodying promotion of peace and order, pursuit of the federal form of government, promotion and protection of the rich cultures of the indigenous communities of Mindanao under the principle of social justice, and the continuing fight against terrorism.

Mrs. Macapagal-Arroyo said Mindanao is a "special place for our country, for my family and myself." She spent most of her childhood in Iligan City, Lanao del Norte.

Leaders and members of the PICC Mindanao Archdiocese Council held a solemn pray over for the President, invoking Divine intervention for her victory in the forthcoming polls.

TAGUM CITY, Davao del Norte—President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today enacted House Bill No. 6562 creating the town of San Isidro as the 8^th municipality in the province of Davao del Norte.

Coinciding with the Women’s Month celebration held at the BSP Training Center here, the President signed into law the creation of the newest municipality in the province. The signing was greeted by a thunderous applause by some 10,000 women who attended the ceremony.

The newly created San Isidro town will be composed of 13 barangays namely, Sawata, Sabangan, Mamangan, Sto. Nino, Igangon, Kapalili, Dacudao, Datu Balong, Liburon, Pinamuno, Monte Dujali, Linao and San Miguel.

HB 6562, authored by Davao del Norte 1^st District Rep. Arrel Olano, was passed during the third regular session of the 12^th Congress.

Davao del Norte ranked third in population among the six provinces of Southern Mindanao which covers Campostela Valley, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, Saranggani and South Cotabato and the two highly urbanized cities of Davao and General Santos.

The President was accompanied by her running-mate Noli "Kabayan" de Castro, Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Corazon Soliman and Presidential Adviser for Mindanao Jesus Dureza during the signing ceremony.

Also present were Davao del Norte Governor Rodolfo del Rosario, Asuncion Mayor Leopoldo Monteroso Sr., Kapalong Mayor Dominador Cruda and Tagum City Mayor Gelacio Gementiza.

All the officials pledged to support the President and the K-4 ticket in the May 10 elections.

Addressing the Davao del Norte Province Council of Women (DNPCW) Women’s Day celebration, the President stressed the importance of women in her administration.