Unemployment is the biggest problem in the minds of our people and we have taken the bull by the horns.

We have created 3 million jobs since we started and we are creating more through good governance and economic strategies that strengthen law and order, generate investments and push development to the countryside.

The challenge is tough but we have made a solid down payment in expanding educational opportunities and improving our overall labor competitiveness.

This is an old issue and the palace has never been implicated.

Nevertheless, we welcome any evidence the Vice President may have to back up his charges.

We urge him to exercise the circumspection required of his high post.

DAVAO CITY - The indigenous peoples (IPs) and a big religious group in Mindanao yesterday endorsed President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as their official candidate in the coming May 10 elections.

More than 200 IP leaders and representatives from 18 provinces in Mindanao expressed their support to the President's candidacy during her investiture as "Biyya" (Queen) of the Indigenous People of Mindanao at the Girl Scouts of the Philippines (GSP) headquarters at the Camp Alano Regional Program and Training Center in Toril District here.

Datu Cesar Calumpitan Betil, the chairman of the Mindanao Indigenous People Elders Advisory Council, said they are endorsing the President because of her support to the IPs in the country and for principally authoring the Indigenous People's Rights Act.

Betil, also founding chairman of the IP for GMA Movement, said that as early as July last year, the IPs in Mindanao have planned to "attack" Luzon and the Visayas with their cultural caravans to urge the residents there "to cast their votes for GMA" to "attain lasting peace desired by the people of Mindanao."

Betil said they launched the IP for GMA Movement because they have full faith in the President as catalyst of peace in Mindanao.

"Your victory, Madame President, is also our victory -- a victory of peace, of progress, of development and a victory of democracy for Mindanao and the Philippine Republic," they said in their manifesto.

Afterwards, the President proceeded to the Mindanao-wide conference of the Baptist Philippines, Inc. (BPI) held at the Felis Resort Complex in Matina Playa here where more than 150 pastors declared the President as their official candidate in the May elections.

Dr. Claro Loquias, BPI founder and director, said they support a leader who is God-fearing and loving and one who would lead the nation toward moral recovery and transformation.

"Madame President, it is our prayer that you will be the model, an example to the rest of our government officials, the right model to our youth and our children," Loquias said.

Loquias said it is sad to note that the Philippines has been called the only Christian nation in the Far East but "stands prominent among the most corrupt countries on this side of the globe."

Loquias said they have observed in the past three years that remarkable changes occurred that are "undeniably manifested as the fruit of the efforts of our present government."

"Our President's first-hand and close working relationship with the US government in the policies against terrorism and communism has brought us the stability our nation needs to attract more business opportunities for the upliftment of our economic struggle," he said.

Loquias said the President is very much qualified to lead the country because of her experience, efficiency and good performance as shown in her previous government positions.

The mayors of the cities of Silay and La Carlota, as well as the mayors of the towns of E.B. Magalona and Murcia, all in Negros Occidental and identified with the Reporma Party, have unanimously agreed to throw their "full and unqualified support" behind President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in the May elections.

The mayors made their unanimous decision after a recent meeting in Malacaņang with Senior Deputy Executive Secretary Waldo Q. Flores. They agreed that the President is the most qualified candidate to win the presidency and govern the country until 2010.

The mayors said that performance and proven capacity to govern and deliver on promises proved to be an effective capital in attracting political support during elections and the President has all these qualities.

They noted that the sugar industry is well managed and benefited under the Macapagal-Arroyo administration. They also expressed appreciation for the relentless campaign against smuggling that abated the flooding of smuggled sugar, which was rampant during the Estrada administration.

To them, the mayors said, the President is sincere in alleviating poverty in Negros Occidental as well as throughout the country.

Malacanang today said that the appointments of three top government officials to their posts were made by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo before March 12, the day when the election ban on new appointments took effect.

In his regular press briefing, Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye said that among the appointments signed by the President were those of Press Undersecretary Robert Mananquil, former Congressman Pacifico Fajardo as administrator of the Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA), and Manuel Morato, former chairman of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB), as director of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).

Mananquil, a veteran journalist, used to write a daily opinion column at the People’s Journal and was a member of the board of the Journal Group of Publications. He also has a daily program on Angel Radio and was vice mayor of La Paz, Tarlac during the time of former President Corazon C. Aquino.

Morato has replaced former radio broadcaster Resty de Quiros, who is running for a local post in his hometown in Bicol, in the PCSO board.

Morato was the chairman and general manager of PCSO from 1994 to 1998, during the time of President Fidel V. Ramos.

Earlier, Malacanang also announced the promotion of another veteran journalist, Jose Capadocia, as Assistant Press Secretary.

Capadocia, a former manager of radio station DZXL, the forerunner of RMN 558, used to head of the Office of the Press Secretary Operations Center (OPCEN), before assuming his new post.

In what could be the biggest endorsement ever by a group of migrant workers and their families, the Coalition of Genuine Migrants and Advocates (CGMA) announced today their support for President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, saying that only she, among the presidential candidates, has a solid track record of helping the OFW community.

The coalition, which has a 200,000 strong card-carrying members, announced their support in a press conference at the Jade Vine Restaurant in Manila to mark the death anniversary of Flor Contemplacion, who was executed in Singapore on March 17, 1995.

These organizations include the Kalahi, Kaibigan ng OCWs, United Filipino Seafarers (UFS), Kapisanan ng mga Migranteng Manggagawang Pilipino at Pamilya (KAKAMPI) and Akbay-Pinoy,

In a press statement, CGMA chairman Poe Gratela said Filipino migrants and their families need a President who acts decisively on issues and concerns.

Gratela said that an "inept, lame duck, ignorant, and unschooled" President will definitely bring disastrous consequences to millions of Filipino migrants and families and would affect the economy of our country since the remittances of Filipino migrants have been keeping the Philippine economy afloat.

"There is no doubt that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has proven herself to millions of migrants and families that she represents their concerns and aspirations. These we cannot see in other presidential aspirants," he added.

Kaibigan ng OCW chairman Noel Josue, on the other hand, said majority of migrant workers and their families appreciate the pro-poor programs implemented by the President, citing as examples the PhilHealth cards and the "Groceria ni Gloria".

UFS chair Nelson Ramirez lashed at opposition presidential candidates who had been egging the President to stop the distribution of PhilHealth cards.

Bong Guro, chairman of Akbay-Pinoy, said the coalition decided to support President Macapagal-Arroyo in recognition of her commitment to protect the rights and welfare of OFWs and their families.

Aside from the PhilHealth cards and Groceria ni Gloria, other government programs and policies that benefited the OFW community include:

Malacaņang today gave assurances that the fundamentals of the Philippine economy remained strong, and predicted that the peso "will rebound to a stronger level" after the elections.

"We maintain that the long term prospects of the Philippines are okay, and we have the assessment of some foreign banks to that effect," Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye said in a press briefing at the Palace.

Bunye cited as example the Standard Chartered Bank’s assessment that the prevailing economic climate in the country is temporary.

The Palace official clarified that any move foreign investors make in relation to the realities taking place in the country are solely their own decision.

"But we believe that based on the programs that are ongoing, based on assessments of other financial institutions, the Philippines is doing well," Bunye added.

Bunye was asked to comment on the reported move by the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (Calpers) to wait for another 30 days before finally deciding on whether to sell its investments in the Philippines estimated at about $67 million.

The Calpers Investment Committee agreed to spend 30 more days to review a recommendation by Wilshire Associates that the Philippines be removed from the pension funds list of viable markets.

Malacaņang today shrugged off as "pure harassment and without legal basis" a petition filed by the political opposition seeking a court order enjoining President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to take a leave of absence while campaigning for the May 10 presidential elections.

In a press briefing at the Palace, Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye said the case filed this morning with the Supreme Court by opposition senatorial bets Amina Rasul and Boots Anson Roa has "no legal basis" and is meant only to harass the President.

Bunye said they expect more suits of such nature from the opposition, but Mrs. Macapagal-Arroyo would continue to perform her official functions even as she pursues her quest for a full six-year term.

"What we know is that the President is clearly a frontrunner and I believe they will do whatever they think is needed to stop the momentum of the President," Bunye added.

In the same briefing, Bunye admitted that he and representatives from the other political parties had a meeting at the Commission on Election (Comelec) where they signed a memorandum of understanding on the details and mechanics of a proposed debate on April 13.

Bunye told reporters that he informed the debate organizer, the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV), and the Comelec that the President would participate in the debate if her top contender movie actor Fernando Poe Jr. would also take part.