The people themselves will guard the ballot and fight fraud to protect their votes, and they can be assured of the support of non-partisan law enforcement agencies.

This will be a clean and peaceful election despite the tainting and taunting of the opposition.

We stand beside the people in calling for a high level campaign based on the issues of economic security and political stability, not a low level debate on cheating, machinations or personal attacks.

We come to the contest armed with a superior platform, reaching out for unity and with a prime focus to serve the poor.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said today the National Government’s declining foreign debt is resulting in greater investor confidence in the Philippines as more investors are now pouring in their money into the country

In a roundtable discussion this morning in Malacaņang, the President spelled out the benefits derived from lower foreign debt, such as stronger peso, lower prices of commodities and more funds to build vital infrastructure facilities that would attract investors.

"For investors to come in, we have to have the (needed) infrastructure," the President said as she cited the boom in call center/business process outsourcing (BPO) and tourism sectors.

The National Government’s total debt declined from P3.888 trillion in 2005 to P3.851 trillion in 2006, that resulted in a reduction in the NG debt-to-gross national product (GDP) ratio to 64 percent from 72 percent.

The President said because the Philippines had invested in communications infrastructure and connectivity, investments in the information and communications technology (ICT) sector, specifically calls centers and BPOs, came pouring into the country.

She also said the government would be investing in tourism infrastructure to attract investments into one of the country’s "natural competitiveness" – its tourist attractions – which have caught the attention of foreign investors, the latest of whom is the 13^th richest man in the world, Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal bin Abdulaziz Alsaud.

The President said Prince Alwaleed, whom she described as an "investment genius," is deeply interested in investing in the development of beach resorts and dive spots in the country.

The proposed investment is aside from the $153-million joint venture of the "most successful businessman in the Middle East" and the Ayala Land Inc. to develop a luxury hotel at the heart of Makati central business center.

"Prince Alwaleed’s group’s investment in the Philippines is a clear vote of confidence from the Middle East which is a bastion of our national interest because of the presence of more than a million Filipino workers in that part of the world," the President said.

"As we help build the mega-modern cities in the Middle East, we are glad that investors from there are taking a closer look at the Philippines," she added.

The President vowed to "match the growing confidence" in the Philippines with "stronger action to build the infrastructure, generate incentives and promulgate law and order."

She said with lower debt service and greater investor confidence, the Filipino people would "continue to reap the returns of growth, confidence and jobs."

Socioeconomic Planning Secretary and National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Director General Romulo Neri said that with lower foreign debt, the government has more funds now to spend for more productive expenditures that would uplift the lives of the people.

Relocation areas for families affected by the North and South Rail Linkage Project are adequately-equipped to provide basic amenities such as water, electricity, malls, schools and job opportunities.

Vice President and Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) Chairman Noli de Castro gave this assurance to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today when the latter visited Barangay 630, Zone 63, District 6 in Manila to check on the status of relocation procedures for 1,632 informal settler families (ISF) affected by the project.

The North and South Rail Linkage Project hopes to connect the northern and southern railways into a seamless and modern system envisioned by the President as a national railway system under an integrated Philippine National Rail Authority (PNRA).

Some 50 residents representing 1,500 households came out and met the President who motored from Malacaņang.

Joining the President and De Castro were Barangay Chairman Doroteo Mabanan and several members of the Sannguniang Barangay.

During the interaction, the residents aired their concern over the availability of potable water, schools and sources of livelihood and jobs at the relocation areas.

The affected residents have a choice of either relocating to: Cabuyao, Laguna; Trece Martires City in Cavite; Bocaue, Bulacan or to be brought back to their respective provinces under the Balik-Probinsiya program of the government.

De Castro said the affected residents had nothing to be worried about as the relocation centers are not like the relocation areas of two decades ago that were characterized by tall cogon grass and really isolated from the rest of Metro Manila.

An additional 544 informal settler families (ISFs) are scheduled for relocation between April 2 and April 25, 2007 as follows: 52 – Trece Martires City; 39 – Cabuyao, Laguna; and 453 – Bocaue, Bulacan.

Teresa Abong, one of the residents affected by the railway project expressed relief upon being informed of the amenities available to them.

"Salamat at kahit papaano, magkakaroon kami ng kabuhayan doon," she said.

The President also allayed the fears of residents who would remain at the unaffected portion of the barangay, assuring them of the availability of basic foodstuffs through a Barangay Food Terminal (BFT) which would be set up in their area.

The BFT is similar to a Tindahan Natin convenience store, another government project which provides affordable basic commodities to the people on a larger scale.

The BFT will sell food staples such as fruits, vegetables, meat products, aside from the basic rice, noodles and coffee, at lower than store prices.

During the event, the President also turned over to Mabanan 120 Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) scholarship vouchers which qualified residents could avail of.

Reiterating her declaration in her first State-of-the-Nation Address in 2001 that "Technology is the foundation of the future economic development" of the Philippines, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo expressed support today to the proposal of seven universities in the country to "develop capability in generating knowledge in science and technology."

"This is an important project for us. I am excited to have this project (implemented)," the President said during a power point presentation of the "Program for Engineering Research and Development for Philippine Global Development and Competitiveness" prepared by a consortium of seven universities.

The seven universities are the University of the Philippines-Diliman, De La Salle University, Mapua Institute of Technology, Central Luzon State University, Mindanao State University, University of San Carlos, and Iligan University.

Dr. Reynaldo Vea, president of the Mapua Institute of Technology, said the proposal was all about the "build up research and development capabilities of engineering in the next 10 years."

"We have proposed the setting up of engineering research and development consortium among the seven universities," Dr. Vea said, adding that "this is the most important thing that has to be done now so we could catch up with the world globally."

Vea said the President has "indicated some ways of realizing the program of expenses that involves P800 million a year over the next 10 years."

Among the key thrusts in science and technology contained in the Medium Term Philippine Development Plan (MTPDP) are to: make S&T policies supportive of national development goals and policies; enhance competitiveness of the human capability; speed up knowledge creation and dissemination for greater productivity and jobs creation especially in rural areas; and, improve mechanisms and programs to promote and encourage technology-based entrepreneurship.