Malacanang reiterated today President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s commitment to bring to a conclusive end the decades-long conflict in Mindanao by coming up with a "comprehensive solution" that will benefit all stakeholders longing for lasting peace and prosperity in the country and around the world.

Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesperson Ignacio R. Bunye said the President is so determined to achieve this long overdue process of bringing peace to Mindanao that she has placed the implementation of the 1996 Government of the Republic of the Philippines-Moro National Liberation Front (GRP-MNLF) peace accord on top of her agenda.

"President Arroyo is determined to come up with a comprehensive solution to the decades-old Mindanao conflict in a way that will bring together all the elements of a durable peace," Bunye said in statement this morning.

"This is a complex task that is firmly in the President’s agenda," he added.

Among the comprehensive solutions the President has expressed support for are the immediate implementation of the doable provisions of the peace accord agreed upon by the GRP and MNLF and the holding of an Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC)-brokered tripartite meeting next month in Saudi Arabia.

Bunye noted that the President’s plan of attack may face some rough sailing but he expressed confidence that with the help of all stakeholders, it is achievable.

"There will be the usual ups and downs in the peace process but we are confident all the issues will be resolved under a complete design for peace that will involve all stakeholders – the rebel groups, political leaders, traditional leaders, the Christian and Lumad constituencies and the international community -- while isolating and defeating terror," Bunye said.

"She (the President) is determined to make Mindanao a global model for peace building based on economic development, interfaith dialogue and international cooperation," he stressed.

Malacanang described today the unsuccessful auction of the country’s sole power transmission company as a "temporary snag" that will not in any way affect the investment outlook of the Philippines due to its growing economic strength and political stability.

Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesperson Ignacio R. Bunye made the assessment to allay fears that the failed bidding could dampen investor enthusiasm on the privatization of the National Transmission Corporation (Transco) and could eventually impact negatively on investments.

"This is a temporary snag in the process that does not detract from the overall upbeat outlook on the Philippines, which is now riding high on our growing economic strength and political stability," Bunye stressed in a statement.

Considered as the country’s biggest privatization effort with an estimated value of $3 billion, Transco has been on the auction block since 2003.

The latest bidding, the fourth attempt to privatize the 25-year concession, drew only one consortium, the Filipino-owned investment firm Citadel Holdings, Inc. and Italian power grid operator Terna SPA.

To ensure success of the next auction, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has ordered Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla and other concerned Cabinet officials to improve the bidding process.

She had earlier said that the government has to make Transco more attractive to investors. Her energy team, she said, will be more professional in the bidding process and improve the paperwork.

"The President has full confidence in the energy team to carry this privatization effort forward and we leave to the Secretary of Energy to clarify the next steps to be taken on the Transco sale," Bunye stressed.

For his part, Trade and Industry Secretary Peter Favila, a member of the PSALM board, said they do not see the failed Transco auction as a major setback in the government’s privatization effort.

A planning meeting aimed at facilitating the convening of the election summit will be held tomorrow to map out measures that would ensure the conduct of credible and peaceful mid-term elections in May.

This was disclosed today by Cabinet Secretary Ricardo Saludo, who has been designated by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as point man for the four-party summit involving the Commission on Elections (Comelec), the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), and non-government organizations (NGOs).

"Ang habol natin dito sa summit, ang sabi ng Pangulo, ay makabuo ng action plan para ang ating halalan ay maging mas credible, malinis, maayos at mapayapa," Saludo said during a media briefing this afternoon in Malacanang.

A broad group of various organizations would be represented at tomorrow’s planning meeting to be held at the Barbara’s Restaurant in Intramuros, Manila, he said.

Aside from the Comelec and PNP, among those attending are representatives of the Department of Education (DepEd), National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel), including Sister Roseanne Malillin as an observer of the National Secretariat for Social Action of the CBCP representing Marbel Bishop Romualdo Gutierrez, the head of CBCP’s Episcopal Commission on Social Action, Justice and Peace.

Others are Rev. Rey Cortez, representative of Bishop Ignacio Soliva, the head of the National Council of Churches of the Philippines (NCCP), and two representatives of Bishop Ephraim Tendero of the Philippine Council for Evangelical Churches (PCEC).

Saludo said they are also following up invitations to the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) and the Ulama League of the Philippines.