Despite some unresolved issues hampering the full implementation of the 1996 peace agreement between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesperson Ignacio R. Bunye said today the government remains intent on implementing the accord so that its full benefits will finally be felt by the people.

In his weekly column "The View from the Palace" that comes out tomorrow (Monday), Bunye said the complete implementation of the accord will be done with the help of "all stakeholders, domestically and internationally" and all departments and agencies of the government.

"The Government is committed to the full implementation of the 1996 GRP-MNLF peace agreement, dovetailed closely with the ongoing GRP-MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Front) peace negotiations with the strong support of all stakeholders, domestically and internationally," Bunye said.

"We acknowledge that there are outstanding issues with the MNLF that need to be resolved under the principles of continuity and comprehensiveness of the peace process; and all departments and agencies are prepared to do their share to make peace work for the greater interest of the nation," he added.

"While there are no quick-fixes to the age-old Mindanao conflict, nonetheless, we are moving forward to a final peace through principled negotiations, socioeconomic amelioration, focused security measures and international cooperation," Bunes stressed.

He also said that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was closely monitoring the situation in Sulu involving the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Undersecretary Ramon Santos, Marine Major General Mohammad Benjamin Dolorfino, a certain Colonel Bayam and 11 other Marines.

News reports have said that the group of Santos and Delorfino, who were on a peace mission to the area, had been prevented from leaving a rebel camp in Panamao, Sulu.

"President Arroyo is monitoring the situation in Sulu closely and assures all parties that all means are being undertaken to resolve the situation peacefully without harm to anybody," Bunye said.

"This government will see through this incident systematically and with sensitivity," he added.

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Malacaņang has lauded the Bureau of Immigration for recording its highest collection of immigration fees totaling P1.468 billion last year.

The 2006 figure, which was 31 percent over the previous year’s P1.22 billion collection, was the highest so far in the 66-year history of the bureau, an attached agency of the Department of Justice.

"The immigration bureau, headed by Commissioner Al Fernandez, deserves commendation for posting the highest collection record last year," Press Secretary Ignacio R. Bunye said in his weekly column "The View from the Palace" which comes out Monday (Feb. 5).

"This shows not only the growing efficiency and integrity of a government agency that used to be stigmatized for corruption, but the fact that visitors are coming to the Philippines in droves and contributing to the national coffers as well as the overall run of investments and jobs," Bunye noted.

He also said that "with ongoing revenue gains on the back of a strong anti-graft and anti-red tape campaign, the Philippines continues to reap confidence and a buoyant investment outlook."

Immigration Commissioner Fernandez reported that the bureau’s P1.468 billion collection in 2006 was also 33 percent or P364 million higher that their target of P1.104 billion for the year.

Fernandez attributed the record increase in the bureau’s revenue to the continuing influx of foreigners into the Philippines, particularly tourists.

Record show that the bureau’s collection hit P1.07 billion in 2002 and increased consistently to P1.09 billion in 2003; P1.1 billion in 2004, and P1.22 billion in 2005.

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