The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) will grant incentives to any government entity that makes an effort to spend funds more efficiently.

DBM Secretary Emilia Boncodin said, "At the moment we are offering perks for departments and agencies that are performing well, which means they are budget conscious. These incentives in the form of budget flexibility are for spending efficiencies."

The DBM is now fully implementing the public expenditure management program (PEM), including performance indicators and an evaluation system. The department is upgrading and rationalizing government compensation based on performance, as well as strengthening the incentive structure, Boncodin said.

"We will implement greater flexibility in exchange for financial discipline," she added.

Boncodin said the government is planning to grant expenditure autonomy for low-budget agencies as long as transparency will be maintained.

"We will not bother anymore with agencies with small budgets in line with our effort to relax our incentives structure," she said.

In the meantime to keep the national budget deficit at tolerable levels, the DBM is securing Malacañang’s go-signal to streamline operations to ensure control of the fiscal situation by maintaining budget gap at current sustainable levels.

She said that an executive order would implement streamlining operations at the department side so that the budget deficit would still be controlled even under the next administration. The plan involves the removal of duplicate functions and unnecessary work related descriptions.

The DBM’s overhaul is part of the administration’s thrust to rid the government of bureaucratic loopholes.

This is in line with recommendations of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The implementation is tied with the country’s foreign financial aids.

It would be recalled that the IMF has asked the government to implement civil service reforms as part of bureaucratic streamlining since this would free up budgetary resources.

It is also part and parcel of the country’s 10-year deficit reduction program through increased tax collection and containing the budget deficit.

I am saddened by the way the opposition is conducting its campaign and I appeal to my detractors not to shackle the Presidency from serving the people by filing harassment suits in court.

I am prepared to mount my defense against the charges against me but I will not stop delivering clean water, health care, shelter and peace and order to our people.

My oath is to serve and I shall never renege on it.

I can forgive my political detractors but I ask them to give the people the chance to understand what they want for our country.

This election is not about me, it is about the people.

Let us join hands in serving and enlightening the people.

I am not going to fall into this malicious trap.

In the first place, I am not using public funds for campaigning.

Secondly, I shall not allow the opposition to stop me from serving the people.

The opposition wants me to stop delivering clean water, to stop me from building shelter for the people, to stop me from constructing classrooms in the Barangays and maintaining the roads.

I would rather go to jail than to stop serving the people.

They should help me serve the people and not throw obstacles along the way.

The Anti-terrorism Task Force is already tightening up security measures in the metropolis.

We will have more police patrols and barangay-level alerts, inspection of private security procedures, and joint drills.

Second, I have directed a more intensive public information campaign on current terrorist networks and linkages so our people will know how to collectively face this threat.

National security is everybody’s business.

Malacañang today hailed the decision of the Supreme Court (SC) junking a petition for the ouster of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for alleged misuse of public funds.

This developed as President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo maintained that she was not using public funds for her presidential campaign.

In tossing out the petition filed by opposition senatorial candidates Boots Anson-Roa and Amina Rasul, the SC said the President did not violate any law in seeking a full six-year term.

The high tribunal pointed out that Mrs. Macapagal-Arroyo was not seeking reelection since she has not been elected as president.

"Neither does she fall under the prohibition against a person who has succeeded as President, for she shall not have served more than four years as such successor," the court noted.

Mrs. Macapagal-Arroyo merely took over the presidency in January 2001 following the ouster of former President Joseph Estrada through the EDSA II revolt triggered by charges of massive corruption.

The SC also invoked the principle of separation of powers among the judiciary, legislative and executive branches of government.

"Wherefore, the petition and the supplemental petition are hereby dismissed for lack of jurisdiction and cause of action. The Motion to Set the Case for Oral Arguments and the prayer for a Temporary Restraining Order are, consequently, denied," the high tribunal said.

The SC also declared as without basis the petitioners’ prayer to declare the President on leave while running for the presidency, saying there is no constitutional provision or any law that supports such action.

"Our fundamental law allows her to run for President and remain as President with all the concomitant powers and duties of that office," the SC stressed.

On the petitioners’ allegation that there was misuse of public funds in the President’s campaign, the SC it has no jurisdiction over the case.

"It is the Commission on Elections that has primary jurisdiction over alleged violation of election laws. Furthermore, factual issues are involved, necessitating a suit in a forum that is a trier of facts," the ruling stated.

In a statement, President Macapagal-Arroyo declared that she would not allow the opposition to stop her from serving the people.

"I would rather go to jail than stop serving the people," the President said.

"They (opposition members) should help me serve the people and not through obstacles along the way," Mrs. Macapagal-Arroyo added.

K-4 senatorial candidate Miriam Defensor-Santiago, who was acting as legal counsel of the President, said that the petition was an exercise in futility right at the start.

She said issuance of the SC ruling came as she was about to hold a press conference in her law office in Quezon City.

Santiago, an expert in constitutional and international law, noted that the petition committed the fatal error of mistaking the "concept of constitutional supremacy for the concept of judicial supremacy, which are two entirely different things."

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today scored a major victory over the opposition as the Supreme Court (SC) tossed out a petition for her removal from office while campaigning for a full six-year term.

In tossing out the petition filed by opposition senatorial candidates Boots Anson-Roa and Amina Raul, the SC said the President did not violate any law in seeking a fresh mandate in the May 10 elections.

In a statement, the President maintained that she was not using public funds for her campaign. She also said she would rather go to jail than stop serving the people.

The high tribunal pointed out that Mrs. Macapagal-Arroyo was not seeking reelection as alleged by the petitioners since she has not been elected as president.

"Neither does she fall under the prohibition against a person who has succeeded as President, for she shall not have served more than four years such successor," the Court noted.

Mrs. Macapagal-Arroyo merely took over the presidency in January 2001 following the ouster of former President Joseph Estrada through the EDSA II revolt triggered by charges of massive corruption.

The SC also invoked the principle of separation of powers among the judiciary, legislative and executive branches of government.

The Court ruled as without basis the petitioners’ prayer to declare the President on leave while running for the presidency, saying there is no constitutional provision or any law that supports such action.

"Our fundamental law allows her to run for President and remain as President with all the concomitant powers and duties of that office," the SC stressed.

On the petitioners’ allegation that there was misuse of public funds in the President’s campaign, the SC it has no jurisdiction over the case.

BATANGAS CITY–Making it easy for graduates to find jobs after college would be the focus of the administration once given the opportunity to serve for the next six years.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo stressed this today as she attended the commencement rites of three top universities in the province of Batangas.

The President had also graced graduation ceremonies at the Batangas State University and the Lyceum of Batangas.

She hailed and congratulated the graduates of the three top Batangas universities and promised to create six million jobs in the next six years if ever she gets another term.

She said that in the last three years, she has created three million jobs for the Filipino people.

At the three graduation rites, the President was accompanied by former Justice Secretary Hernando Perez, Mrs. Gina De Venecia, wife of House Speaker Jose De Venecia, National Defense Secretary Eduardo Ermita, Congressman Frank Perez, and Presidential Campaign Spokesperson Michael Defensor.

The President initially graced the 36^th commencement exercise at the Feliciano Leviste Memorial Gym of the Batangas State University (BSU) here.

She was warmly welcomed by BSU University President Dr. Ernesto M. de Chavez and later conferred a degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa.

The Chief Executive also led the distribution of diplomas and certificates to the 1,100 BSU graduates.

After BSU, the President proceeded to the Lyceum of Batangas for its 37^th commencement exercises at the Arsenio Dodie Laurel Sports Center where she was welcomed by university head Peter P. Laurel.

She witnessed the awarding of medals and distribution of diplomas to the 1,800 Lyceum graduates.

The President then proceeded to the University of Batangas for its 57^th graduation rites at the multi-purpose hall.

She was welcomed by University President Dr. Abelardo B. Perez and Board of Regents Chairman Atty. Vicente A. Mayo.

She came, she saw, she conquered.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Tuesday shattered the myth that Bicol region is solidly behind opposition presidential candidate Raul Roco.

The President stormed the region south of Metro Manila and charmed its political bigwigs.

Mrs. Macapagal-Arroyo, standard bearer of the ruling Koalisyon sa Katapatan at Karanasan para sa Kaunlaran (K-4), mustered the all-out support of six governors of the region for her candidacy.

They are Governors Luis Villafuerte of Camarines Sur, Jesus Typoco of Camarines Norte, Al Francis Bichara of Albay, Leandro Verceles Jr. of Catanduanes, Raul Lee of Sorsogon and Antonio Kho of Masbate. Camarines Sur Vice Governor Imelda Papin also hopped into the K-4 bandwagon.

Roco’s camp had been bragging that Bicol is a bailiwick of Roco who hails from this region of pili nuts and the majestic Mayon Volcano.

In a multi-sectoral dialogue on Tuesday in Pili town, Camarines Sur, President Macapagal-Arroyo said the ongoing rehabilitation plan of the famed Bicol Express, the train service between Manila and Legazpi City, includes the extension of its line up to the province of Sorsogon.

During the Pulong Bayan at the Eco Village at the Capitol Grounds here, the President said the rehabilitation plan of the Philippine National Railways (PNR) for the Bicol region is already at the "pre-construction stage."

The President said this means that the feasibility study of the rehabilitation plan has already been approved by the foreign creditors and is just waiting the approval by the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) before its implementation.

BATANGAS CITY - President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today assured that government expenditures are within bounds and that the budget deficit is still under control.

In her speech at the 36th commencement exercises of the Batangas State University (BSU) here, the President dismissed allegations she was using government resources and that her campaign expenditures are already above the limit.

She said that before she came to the graduation rites, she met her economic managers in Malacanang where they discussed the turn around of the economy in the first quarter of this year.

The President expressed elation on the positive outcome of the first quarter report, particularly on the budget deficit, on revenue collection and expenditures.

She said she has instructed Labor and Employment Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas to conduct jobs fair for the three universities she visited as well as other schools in Batangas.

The Chief Executive called on the new graduates to think long and hard with regard to their future endeavors.

She said that in the May 10 polls, they have two options for their future.

"Sa darating na halalan may pagkakataon kayong pumili ng dalawang kinabukasan. Ang isa na may karanasan sa paglikha ng trabaho o yung isang kinabukasan sa ilalim ng walang karanasan, walang plataporma at napaliligiran ng mga palpak sa ekonomiya ng nakaraan kaya kayong mga kabataan kayo ang may pinakamalaking taya sa kinabukasan (In the coming polls, you have a choice between two futures – one is from one who has the experience in creating jobs and the other from an untested, inexperienced leadership that has no platform and surrounded by economic misfits of the past. You have the biggest stake here)," she said.