I acknowledge the confidence expressed by Director General Lamy of the WTO on the reopening of the Doha Round of trade negotiations.

This is a strong agenda of the ASEAN that seeks to level the playing field, uplift the millions in our region from the mire of poverty, and protect the welfare of future generations.

The world indeed is getting flatter and as the velocity of trade in goods and services increases, the Philippines is poised for the big game of competition and complementarity.

We shall continue to draw on our innate strengths, especially the excellence of our work force, and mark our niches in the global realm, even as we fight for our security in food, energy, and the environment—and build wealth evenly across all sectors.

We are up to the challenge and will work in concert with the rest of the developing world to get our fair share of the trade pie, protect the interest of our exporters and producers as well as our farmers and fisherfolk.

The recommendations of the Melo Commission will be implemented without letup. Special courts are being created to try cases while the witness protection program is being beefed up.

The investigation of cases is going into a deeper level and evidence is being consolidated.

Rest assured that these cases will be resolved under the rule of law even as Government clamps down on election-related violence that has been the bane of our democratic system.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo reiterated today the country’s commitment to the global free trade, saying the reopening of the Doha Round of trade negotiations will level the playing field and uplift the millions in Southeast Asia from poverty.

The President made the pronouncements following the assurance given by World Trade Organization Director general Pascal Lamy on the benefits of liberalization to fragile economies.

"This is a strong agenda of the ASEAN that seeks to level the playing field, uplift the millions in our region from the mire of poverty and protect the welfare of future generations," she said in a statement.

Lamy, who met with President Arroyo during his brief visit Friday, affirmed the development dimension of the Doha round, saying it ensures that the contribution from developing countries would be less than that of developed nations.

The Doha round, which began in 2001, got stalled following disagreements over the rich nations’ granting of subsidies to sectors that would be affected by trade liberalization.

The WTO official thanked the ASEAN for pushing the resumption of the talks.

President Arroyo said that while the country fights for security in food, energy and the environment and build wealth evenly across all sectors, it will continue to draw strength on its innate strengths like the excellence of its workforce.

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan --- President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo said here today the midterm elections on May 14 is all about the future of the Filipinos-- a future that is secure and progressive.

In her brief message during the proclamation rally of the administration's senatorial candidates at the Narciso Ramos Sports Center here, the President said the future of the Filipinos means more jobs, a peaceful place to live in, enhanced health care, a roof above each family's head and a clean environment.

"The May elections is about our future. That is why I am asking you to support our candidates in the Senate. They will be my partners in uplifting the lives of the Filipinos," she said in the Panggalatok dialect.

The President expressed confidence that the Pangasinenses would support TEAM Unity—the popular name of the administration slate -- just as they had supported her when she was senator then vice president and in 2004 as president.

"Pro-poor, Pro-Growth, Pro-Administration. TEAM Unity," the President intoned as she introduced the candidates, describing each with his achievements and eventually raising their hands.

TEAM Unity is composed of reelectionist Senators Edgardo Angara and Joker Arroyo, Mike Defensor, Vic Magsaysay, Cesar Montano, Sultan Kiram of Sulu, Tessie Oreta, Prospero Pichay, Chavit Singson, Tito Sotto and Migs Zubiri.

Together with the President, who was described by local politicians as a "true daughter of Pangasinan," they blitzed through the packed sports center amidst warm cheering of local supporters.  

Pangasinan is the second vote-rich province in the country, next only to Cebu, with some 1.3 million voters.

BINALONAN, Pangasinan -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo expressed hope today that the Agno River Integrated Irrigation Project (ARIIP) would help the farmer-folk of Pangasinan and other nearby provinces in their planting needs.

"With this, I hope that we will always have a bountiful harvest," she said during a brief inspection of the ongoing rehabilitation works being carried out on the Lateral-E Canal portion of the project here.

Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap briefed the President on the project upon her arrival from nearby Lingayen where she presided over the Proclamation Rally of her administration's senatorial ticket popularly known as Team Unity.

Earlier, the President visited the Grotto of the Immaculate Concepcion in Rosales town also in Pangasinan where she and her senatoriables attended a Eucharistic Celebration signalling the start of the northern leg of their campaign.

During the tour of the Canal, the President mingled and shook hands with farmers and residents of Binalon who came out to meet her.

Joining the President were Pangasinan Governor Victor Agbayani, Pangasinan 5th District Representative Mark Cojuangco, Binalonan Mayor Ramon Guico, Jr., National Irrigation Administration Deputy Administrator Mar Tugawen and ARIIP Project Manager Reynaldo Mencias.

At a cost of P100-million, the ARIIP will irrigate an area of 3,416.50 hectares benefiting some 2,627 farmer-families when completed.

The ARIIP, which forms part of the North Luzon Agribusiness Quadrangle (NLAQ), is an integral portion of the Super Regions program of the government.

The NLAQ is an ambitious P56.8-billion project that aims to build, rehabilitate and propagate several key infrastructure projects namely: airports (Batanes, Cagayan, Nueva Vizcaya, Aurora and La Union); ports (Salomaque Port, Cabugao, Ilocos Sur and Port Irene in Sta. Ana, Cagayan); roads (Tabuk-Tuguegaro-Bontoc road upgrade and the Halsema Highway in Moutain Province); irrigation (ARIIP, Casecnan Irrigation, Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija and Banoaong Pump Irrigation Project in Bantay, Ilocos Sur); and a Bio-diesel Project in Palayan City, Nueva Ecija.