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| 02 FEBRUARY 2007 | ||
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| 02 FEBRUARY 2007 | ||
| Statement of the President: Re Balanced budget |
A balanced budget heightens the signals to the world that the Philippines is seriously back in business; and we are making gains way ahead of schedule. I would like to commend our revenue collection team as well as the whole Cabinet down to the agency level for keeping faith with our goals to boost the public coffers, cut spending and curb graft. Putting our fiscal house in order makes the Philippines shine in the eyes of investors, breaks the shackles of the debt cycle and clears the way towards an economic homerun. Closing the budget gap also means pouring money where it works most to improve productivity and to dent poverty. The welfare of the average Filipino is at the core of a balanced budget, which not only drives a strong market and generates investments and jobs, but enhances our economic diplomacy and political stability through the long term. |
| Statement of the President: Re Anti-terror drive |
I congratulate our law enforcement and military operatives for fusing their intelligence and tactical resources to crack a terror ring threatening the metropolis and preventing evil from taking more innocent lives. We aim for the peak of readiness to secure our people from harm every minute of the day. We will never put our guard down until terror is defeated, whether home-grown or spawned beyond our shores. I am directing the authorities to dig deep into this latest conspiracy, expose the conspirators and their plans, and work with our communities to obtain effectively networked and synergized public vigilance. |
| Statement of Cabinet Secretary Ricardo Saludo: Summit planning meeting program proposed |
Preparations for the election summit are proceeding well, and we are encouraged by expressions of support for the call to collaborate on a nationwide scale for honest, orderly and peaceful elections. Based on positive responses from most invited organizations, the planning meeting for the proposed summit on election measures is suggested to be held on Wednesday, the 7th of February, 9 a.m.-12 p.m. The proposed venue will be announced when approved by the participating organizations. We have faxed to participating organizations the details of the planning meeting, and are awaiting confirmation and comments by Monday morning. Even if an organization might or would not join the summit, we requested that it send a representative to get firsthand information on how the summit would be conducted, its objectives, participants, issues, activities, and other aspects of the event, which may help in finalizing its position on the summit. Observers are welcome to fully participate in the planning meeting deliberations. For the summit planning meeting, it was suggested that each attending organization prepare the following materials:
The Commission on Elections, the Philippine National Police, and the Department of Education have been requested to prepare 10-minute reports on their preparations, personnel and logistics deployment, and other operational matters relating to the elections, to be presented at the planning meeting. The following program for the planning meeting is proposed: 9.00-9.20 a.m. - Opening Remarks and Initial Statements By Participants/Observers 9.20-10.00 a.m. - Presentations by Comelec, PNP and DepEd and Discussion 10.00 a.m.-12.00 nn - Summit Planning The final program, participants, observers and other details of the summit planning meeting, including press arrangements, will be announced on Tuesday. Joining hands as Filipinos, we can make the elections more honest, orderly and peaceful. For any questions, please contact Mr. Aniceto Maghirang, executive assistant to the Cabinet Secretary, tel. 734-2091 or 0928-3602248. |
| PGMA's English Proficiency Program get P5-M grant from TeleTech |
BACOLOD CITY -- TeleTech Holdings Inc. (TeleTech), a leading global business process outsourcing (BPO) company, pledged a P5-million grant to support the English Proficiency Program (EPP) of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo during ceremonies marking the grand opening today of the company's newest office here. The grant, according to TeleTech vice president and general manager Maulik Parekh, will be spread over a period of three years to allow a greater number of students to avail themselves of the donation. President Arroyo said she would give the grant to the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) so that the agency could make it immediately available to deserving students. "I will pass this grant to TESDA to provide scholarships and to develop more English speaking call center agents," she said. The President has made the promotion of the EPP as part of her administration’s plan to propel the country to First World status by 2020. During the National Competitiveness Summit held in Malacaņang last year, the delegates came up with a proposed Competitiveness Action Plan that identified six sources of competitiveness designed to enable the country to reacquire the edge it enjoyed over its Asian neighbors about 40 years ago. The Action Plan identified and recommended: seamless infrastructure network, competitive human resource, efficient public and private sector management, effective access to financing, improved transaction flows and costs and energy self-sufficiency and cost competitiveness, among others. Some of the more specific recommendations were: first, the recommendation to the League of City Mayors to set a 50 percent target of being ISO certified within the next two years; second, the prioritization of English, mathematics and science in all schools by 2010, and third, a 300 percent increase of government and business investment in strategic infrastructure in 2007. The President came up with the EPP based on the recommendations and since then has been getting favorable support for it. The program is designed to improve the level of proficiency in English among teachers and students in both the formal and non-formal sectors. It will involve training and certifying English teachers at the collegiate and secondary school levels using a blended approach of classroom teaching and computer-aided instruction. The program, which will run for an initial three years, envisions a total of 50 computerized English Language Centers with 250 teachers and 42,000 students trained and certified in that period. The Chief Executive arrived here this morning to formally open TeleTech’s first ever Western Visayas office which is touted to bring countless job opportunities to the region. She was met by Parekh and TeleTech's executive directors Michael Sendall, Scott Sim and Belle Bales upon her arrival at the company's headquarters located at the 2nd Floor of Robinsons Metro Bacolod mall here. Also with the President were Presidential Chief of Staff Michael Defensor, Philippine Economic Zone Authority Director General Lilia de Lima, Representatives Monico Puentebella, Ignacio Arroyo, and Miguel Zubiri and Negros Occidental Governor Joseph Maraņon. The President presided over the ribbon cutting and plaque unveiling ceremonies formally opening TeleTech’s Bacolod City BPO Center before being given a brief tour of the 70,000-square foot facility that houses up to 1,000 modular work stations, world-class training rooms, e-learning laboratories and employee- and client-friendly amenities. In attending the inauguration of TeleTech's newest office, the President has acknowledged the company's contribution not only in helping boost the country's BPO industry, which has been providing promising growth that translates to rewarding career opportunities for many Filipinos both in the urban and rural areas. The President had earlier met with TeleTech's chairman and chief executive officer Kenneth Tuchman at the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) held last month in Davos, Switzerland. During their meeting, Tuchman expressed his desire to expand his company's operations in the Philippines, particularly in the provinces. Aside from Bacolod and other provinces in the country, the Chief Executive also recommended Valencia town near Dumaguete City in Negros Oriental for TeleTech's expansion plans "to take advantage of the power subsidy given by the local government there." TeleTech provides a full range of "front-to-back" office outsourced solutions including customer management, transaction-based processing, and database marketing services. TeleTech's ability to deliver innovative solutions globally over a centralized and standardized delivery platform ensures a high quality, consistent customer experience enabling clients to increase revenue, improve profitablity, and develop stronger customer relationships around the world. |
| PGMA swears in New Holy Angel U president |
ANGELES CITY, Pampanga –President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo inducted into office yesterday Dr. Arlyn Sicangco-Villanueva as the 8th president of the Holy Angel University (HAU). In solemn investiture ceremonies at the Plaza San Jose of the school’s main building here, the President emphasized education as the key to the country’s continued economic growth. The one-hour rites coincided with the HAU’s jubilee celebration. It was preceded by a mass and blessing of the original image of the Holy Guardian Angel at the same venue. HAU Corporate Secretary Elfren Hipolito read Dr. Sicangco-Villanueva’s appointment following the welcome remarks of HAU Chairman and San Fernando, Pampanga Archbishop Paciano Aniceto. Education Secretary Jesli Lapus presented the University Mace while Carlito Puno, chairman of the Commission on Higher Education, presented the academic collar. The apostolic blessing was given by Archbishop Aniceto and San Fernando Auxiliary Bishops Roberto Mallari and Virgilio David. In her oath, Sicangco-Villanueva vowed to observe the laws and regulations governing private education in the country. "I will try to achieve the goals and ideals and vision of the founders of this University and enshrine the mission statement," she said. The Chief Executive congratulated the incoming HAU president and greeted members of her family, relatives, friends and fellow "cabalens" after the oath. |
| PGMA says 8-year low budget deficit clear signal that RP's back in business |
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said today the historic eight-year low budget deficit in 2006 is a clear signal to the world that the country is seriously back in business "and making gains way ahead of schedule." "Putting our fiscal house in order makes the Philippines shine in the eyes of investors, breaks the shackles of the debt cycle and clears the way towards an economic homerun," she pointed out in a statement. The President was reacting to the eight-year low P62.2-billion budget deficit registered in 2006 which was less than half the P125-billion target set for the year. The better-than-expected fiscal performance, attributed to tight government spending and higher-than-expected revenue collection, brings the country closer to the goal of achieving a balanced budget by 2008, according to Finance Secretary Margarito Teves. The deficit declined for a fourth straight year, hitting its lowest level since 1999 when the budget gap hit P111.7 billion. After reaching a historic high of P210.74 billion in 2002, the deficit slid to P199.9 billion in 2003, P187 billion in 2004, and P146.8 billion in 2005. Analysts said the drop was a result of revenue raising measures implemented by the administration to avert a fiscal crisis. The President attributed the better-than-expected fiscal performance to the unequivocal support of her Cabinet down to the agency level. "I would like to commend our revenue collection team as well as the whole Cabinet down to the agency level for keeping faith with our goals to boost the public coffers, cut spending and curb graft," she said. Closing the budget gap, according to the Chief Executive, means pouring money where it works most "to improve productivity and to dent poverty." "The welfare of the average Filipino is at the core of a balanced budget, which not only drives a strong market and generates investments and jobs, but enhances our economic diplomacy and political stability through the long term," she said. |
| PGMA inaugurates new Silay Hospital in Negros |
SILAY CITY, Negros Occidental -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo inaugurated here today the newly-constructed Teresita L. Jalandoni Provincial Hospital, considered as the latest addition to the government of Negros Occidental's commitment to providing the best in medical services to its people. The President arrived here at around 2 in the afternoon via Presidential chopper after coming from a prior commitment in nearby Bago City. She was accompanied by Presidential Chief of Staff Michael Defensor, Representatives Monico Puentevella, Ignacio "Iggy" Arroyo and Miguel Zubiri. On hand to welcome her contingent were Silay City Mayor Carlo Gamban, Negros Occidental 3rd District Rep. Jose Carlos Lacson, Governor Joseph Maraņon, Vice Governor Isidro Zayco and Hospital Administrator Dr. Maria Estrella Ledesma. The President led all guests in the ribbon cutting, officially opening the hospital to the public. She was then ushered into the hospital foyer where she and Mayor Gamban unveiled the hospital's project marker. Constructed at a cost of P162 million, the 7,000 square meters, 200-bed capacity hospital replaces the old provincial hospital also located in Silay City. It is composed of the Main Building (worth P117 million); the Ancillary structures (P16.5 million) which house the dietary building, power house with generator set, morgue, multipurpose hall and walkway canopy; the Water Supply System (P3.9M); Hospital Equipment/Systems (P2.5M); Hospital compound site development (P11.6M) and Additional works (P10.5M). Funds for the construction of the new facility was provided by the Provincial Government, the Municipal Development Fund Office and the Department of Finance through the Procurement Policy Loan. During a brief tour of the hospital's world-class facilities, the President interacted with the hospital staff and some of the patients recuperating in the numerous wards located at the second floor. She was then ushered to the multipurpose hall where she had "merienda" (afternoon snacks) composed of the province's well-known piyaya, lumpia shanghai and suman (rice cakes) with fellow government officials, workers, hospital staff and friends. |
| PGMA underscores importance of energy self-sufficiency in economic growth |
BAGO CITY, Negros Occidental --- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo underscored today the importance of being energy self-sufficient and independent from imported oil in sustaining the country's economic growth and achieving a First World status in the next two decades. "Part of a bright new future for our nation is to take control over our reliance on energy, to become free from dependence on foreign oil and become self-sufficient through the use of sustainable, alternative forms of energy," the President said during the formal commissioning of the Philippine National Oil Company-Energy Development Corporation's 49-Megawatt Northern Negros Geothermal Plant (NNGP) in Barangay Mailum here. She said the government has been harnessing the sun, wind and geothermal resources to produce sufficient energy in a move to wean the country away from imported oil dependence and help increase its dollar savings. She cited the PNOC-EDC's new NNGP project that stands to help the government save some $15 million from oil imports once it is fully operational. "I am very happy we are here in this very modern plant. Thank you, PNOC-EDC for being an important engine of national growth," the President said. She also cited the importance of the newly-approved Biofuels Law in the country's quest for energy independence particularly the development of ethanol which when produced sufficiently in the country could result to more savings from oil imports. The commissioning of the NNGP today signaled the start of the plant's commercial operation tomorrow, thus augmenting the power supply in the interconnected Visayan region. The NNGP is a critical installation in the Visayas which requires 1,498 MW to meet peak demand projected at 1,214 MW this year. It is intended to provide energy to an estimated 800,000 households. The P8-billion geothermal development project, which was started in 1995, has a life span of 15 to 20 years. It is the fifth geothermal field developed and operated by PNOC-EDC and the first power plant to be constructed and fully-owned by the company. The President said the host communities would also benefit from the geothermal plant through the royalties paid and the Balik Biyaya Program where the residents would be supported and put into the mainstream of development. These benefits come in the form of education, healthcare, environment and livelihood projects. |
| PGMA orders authorities to dig deeper into Taytay raid |
BAGO CITY, Negros Occidental -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ordered today the concerned authorities to dig deeper and unveil thoroughly those behind the foiled conspiracy to stage bombings in Metro Manila. In her statement at the formal commissioning of the Philippine National Oil Company-Energy Development Corporation’s Northern Negros Geothermal Plant here, the President also commended the military operatives and the police "for fusing their intelligence and tactical resources to crack a terror ring threatening the metropolis." " I am directing the authorities to dig deeper into this latest conspiracy, expose the conspirators and their plans, and work with our communities to obtain effectively networked and synergized public vigilance," the President said. She stressed that the government is working hard to secure the people not only in Metro Manila but in the whole country as she ordered the authorities not to let their guards down until all terror is neutralized. "We will never let our guard down until terror is defeated, whether homegrown or spawned beyond our shores," the President said. The military and the police arrested yesterday three former members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and killed another in a shootout in Taytay near the cities of Pasig and Taguig in Metro Manila. |
| "Let's modernize our land reform" -- PGMA |
BAGO CITY, Negros Occidental—President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo batted Friday for the modernization of the government's land reform program to make farmers all over the country become modern agri-businessmen. In a one-on-one interview with local media here, the President said she wants the farmers to be like the small and medium entrepreneurs in the country who have their own land and opt for legal transactions for loans from banks. "I have been proposing since 2001 a law that allows farm lands as collaterals for loans be passed by Congress," the President said. She also said that the opening up of more lands to agribusiness and giving landless farmers the first option to own land would be a very ideal program to improve the lives of thousands of farmers in the whole country and avoid more bloodsheds. The President said that although the government has lined up two million hectares of land for agribusiness development, more should be opened up. "I will continue to push and make land reform open new lands for agribusiness," the President said. She said she also wants to put a stop to the practice of farmers to acquire loans from landholders and instead transact business with banks. |
| PGMA pushes for comprehensive Green Philippines environmental plan |
BAGO CITY, Negros Occidental—President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is pushing for a Green Philippines environmental plan that is comprehensive in scope and thorough in execution. In her message during the formal commissioning today of the Northern Negros Geothermal Plant (NNGP) located in Barangay Mailum here, the President stressed the importance of a clean environment in sustaining the country’s economic growth and achieving a First World status in the next two decades. "We have a vision to take our place alongside other First World nations by 2020. To that end, no nation can aspire to become modern without thinking of our environment," she said. According to the President, the plan must include projects and programs in reforestation, preservation of reefs and waterways, clearing the land and air of pollutants that endanger the health of the people, and energy independence. The P8-billion NNGP, which was started in 1995, is the fifth geothermal field developed and operated by the Philippine National Oil Company-Energy Development Corporation (PNOC-NDC). The President said the PNOC-EDC corporate social responsibilities include the care for the environment and encouraging farmers’ organizations to be actively involved in reforestation and social forestry programs. In the same breath, the President ordered the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to closely coordinate with the Singapore-based Italian firm SONSUP on the massive siphoning of the remaining bunker fuel from the sunken MT Solar 1 off Guimaras Island. She said work would start in the last week of February and is expected to be completed by March 16 this year. |
