President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo formally administered the oaths of office of Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Arthur Yap and four other ranking DA officials in simple ceremonies in Malacaņang this morning.

Yap, who was formerly Director-General of the Presidential Management Staff (PMS), took his oath of office barely a week after the powerful Commission on Appointments (CA) had unanimously approved his appointment as DA Secretary.

In approving Yap’s appointment in record time, the CA Committee on Agriculture and Food believed that Yap could adeptly "perform the exacting balancing act" of helping the Arroyo administration "deliver on its commitment of social payback to farmers, fishersfolk, agribusiness groups and the consumers in general" in the face of an economic turnaround brought about by the tough reform measures put in place by the President since 2001.

Aside from Yap, the four other DA executives who took their oaths of office before the President were: Undersecretaries Bernie Fondevilla and Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, Assistant Secretary Josyline Chio-Javelosa and National Food Authority (NFA) Administrator Jessup Navarro.

Prior to their new postings, Fondevilla was president and chief executive officer of the Food Terminal Inc. (FTI); Romulo-Puyat was Deputy Cabinet Secretary under the Office of the President; Chio-Javelosa was policy director-designate; and Navarro was deputy NFA administrator for operations.

The DA has its work cut out for itself as it has pledged to propel farm growth by at least four to five percent and a higher seven to eight percent for 2007.

Malacanang stressed today the P1.126-trillion 2007national budget for 2007 would be spent on the people’s needs that include enhanced education, social services and vital infrastructure projects that would further increase the momentum of the country’s economy.

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) had earlier said the President would review the 2007 outlay once it is submitted to Malacanang for her signature to ensure that it bodes well with her disciplined spending policy.

"President Arroyo wants a lean and mean budget focused on modernizing the economy, providing the infrastructure to boost investments and jobs, and bringing reliable basic services to every household," Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesperson Ignacio R. Bunye said in a statement.

"A tighter 2007 budget would target clear priorities, enforce discipline in spending, and increase confidence in the Philippines. This is a people’s budget that will be spent on the people’s needs and nothing else," Bunye added.

The 2007 budget has been touted by the Arroyo administration as a "social payback" to the people who had demonstrated patience at the time the government was implementing tough economic reforms.

With increased revenue collections, funds for government programs and projects essential in improving the lives of the poor are now available.

The President has vowed that the benefits of a growing economy would be felt by the poorest of the poor and every household even in the farthest barangay in the country.

The bandwagon for positive change is on.

No less than President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo made this marching order today as she reminded her Team Unity for this year’s mid-term polls to put the campaign on high ground.

"President Arroyo’s bidding to the ruling party’s national and local candidates is clear: do away with character assassination and instead concentrate on explaining to the people how they can be part of the bandwagon of positive change," Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesperson Ignacio R. Bunye said in a statement.

In his regular press briefing on the day the campaign for senatorial positions started nationwide, Bunye said the President wants the administration candidates to engage in a high level of campaign, not dirty politics.

"We want a nurturing campaign, not a contest of mudslinging or muckraking. We join the people on the high ground and urge them to leave the haters and destroyers," Bunye stressed.

He said there are some messages that the government would like to bring to the people in the campaign and that is the message of hope that "we can really move the country forward especially if we have a unified country."

Bunye also said the political campaign will serve as an avenue for the administration candidates to educate the people on their platform of government.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo welcomed in Malacaņang this afternoon Singaporean President S.R. Nathan who is in Manila on a four-day state visit to discuss and further strengthen bilateral relations between Singapore and the Philippines.

The official entourage of Singaporean President Nathan and his First Lady, Mrs. S.R. Nathan, arrived at Malacanang’s Courtyard at exactly 5:30 p.m.

President Arroyo, accompanied by First Gentleman Atty. Jose Miguel Arroyo, met the visiting couple as soon as they alighted from their official car.

Looking very much relaxed in a bright red evening dress, the President shook hands with President Nathan and ushered him to the platform fronting a platoon of Presidential Security Group (PSG) honor guards before the welcome ceremony began.

The two Presidents then proceeded to the Saluting Dais. A 21-gun salute boomed in the background as the PSG Band played the national anthems of Singapore and the Philippines in succession.

President Arroyo then led President Nathan in a pass-in-review of the PSG honor guards.

After the welcome ceremonies, the President accompanied Nathan to the second floor of the Palace where the latter signed the Presidential Guestbook at the Reception Hall.

They later proceeded to the Music Room for the "Meeting of the Two Leaders," which was followed by an expanded bilateral meeting.

The President was joined by some of her Cabinet members in welcoming the Singaporean leader. Among them were Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo, Education Secretary Jesli Lapus, Social Welfare Secretary Esperanza Cabral and House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr.