Stressing the need to further uplift the economic status of the Filipino people, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ordered today the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to make its livelihood program available to the residents of Barangay 635 on Valencia St., Sta. Mesa, Manila.

In another of her continuing visits to Metro Manila barangays, the President also instructed DSWD National Capital Region (NCR) Director Jose Cordero to pinpoint residential areas that would serve as food lanes for students.

"Mas makabubuti kung may pagkakakitaan ang residente natin dito sa Barangay 635, itong Self-Employment Assistance – Kabuhayan (SEA-K) program ng DSWD should be opened up to them," she told the officials present during the informal talks.

During the visit, the President turned over 100 certificates of training scholarships from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to Barangay Chairman Raul de los Angeles for distribution to the residents.

Out of the 100 certificates, 50 are training certificates equivalent to P3,000 each for English proficiency course for call center agents while the remaining 50 worth P5,000 are for skilled metal arc welders.

The President also awarded a certificate to operate a "Tindahan Natin" outlet to Pedro Mendoza as provided by the National Food Authority (NFA).

She instructed Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Bayani Fernando to relocate the 30 informal settlers presently living along the creek side.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo cited today the strong fiscal performance of the national government, particularly its strict implementation of programs on improving cash flow and revenue collection, for the lowering of the budget deficit which resulted in the "freeing up" of funds that can be used for priority projects nationwide.

The President extolled the Philippines’ "rosy economic outlook" during a round table discussion in Malacanang with some members of her economic team on "the strong performance of the national government as well as the improvement on operational efficiencies of government corporations and what they mean to the poor."

Among those present were Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya Jr., Presidential Chief of Staff Joey Salceda, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) Head Efraim Genuino, and outgoing Government Corporate Counsel and incoming Solicitor General Agnes Devanadera.

"Maraming konkretong hakbang ang ating isinusulong upang makamit natin ang mas magandang estado ng ating ekonomiya ngayon. Kasama na dito ang patuloy na pagliit ng ating budget deficit," the President said at the beginning of the discussion.

According to Andaya, the amount of money the government was supposed to borrow to bridge the country's deficit was halved from P125 billion to roughly P62 billion for 2006 due to the "overachieving" performance of the government on its fiscal reform programs.

He said that because of the lowering of the budget deficit, the government is now able to deliver a strong social payback to the people, among which are:

• An additional P200 billion has been added to the 2007 national budget that will be used to fund priority projects concerning education, health and infrastructure;
• P13 billion has been released to the more than 1.2 million government employees in the form of the P1,000 increase in their Cost of Living Allowance (COLA);
• Additional teachers and policemen can now be hired; and
• The 10 percent salary increase for all government employees will proceed as planned starting July 2007.

Salceda, meanwhile, said that aside from the lowering of the budget deficit, the economy grew by 5.4 percent last year, a record of sorts for the country.

He also said that the country's debt service had decreased considerably and this allowed for more funds to be used for the government's priority projects.

"Our debt service last year was pegged at P864 billion but due to Secretary Andaya's brilliant leadership at DBM and because of the strong overall fiscal performance of the government, it was lowered to just only P601 billion," Salceda said.

Genuino, on the other hand, said that under the leadership of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, PAGCOR's profit had doubled and allowed more "social projects" to benefit more and more Filipinos.

Genuino said that a big chunk of the increasing PAGCOR income is being used to fund social payback projects for the people, including the administration’s "Patubig ni PGMA."

During the discussion, Tess Lumactud, chairperson of Barangay Baseco in Manila, and one of her constituents, Rosalie Cabinan, said the "Patubig ni PGMA" has at least 250 beneficiaries in their area.

Cabinan said that by being assigned as caretaker of the water project in Baseco, she is able to earn enough and send her children to school.

Devanadera, meanwhile, said that under the directive of President Arroyo, she was able to aim for "Zero Backlog" in the delivery of legal services to government corporations which need the services of the office of the Government Corporate Counsel.

Under the Zero Backlog scheme, all requests of corporations for legal opinions and contract reviews are undertaken with dispatch so that the requesting corporations will have no downtime in fulfilling their mandate.

Devanadera said she managed to double her agency's output of providing legal assistance and legal opinions and was able to reach 100 percent accomplishment in 2006.

The President reacted happily on the report of Devanadera, saying this would further help in eliminating red tape in government transactions.

The President has been extolling the strong cash flow and revenue collection of the government's revenue generating agencies due to her administration’s implementation of radical fiscal measures such as the Expanded Value Added Tax (EVAT) Law and the National Attrition Law.

Malacanang welcomed today the statement of United States Ambassador Kristie Kenney lauding government efforts to get to the bottom of the extrajudicial killings of activists and other forms of political violence in the country.

"We appreciate the supportive words of Ambassador Kenney that the government is on the right direction on this issue," Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesperson Ignacio R. Bunye said in a statement.

Interviewed by reporters at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Monday, Ambassador Kenney said the government is on the right track as she called for a strict conduct of investigation to prosecute those responsible and exonerate those who were just implicated in the killings.

Bunye said the implementation of the key recommendations of the Melo Commission Report is proceeding accordingly and the public would be informed of important developments from time to time.

"The whole justice system is being brought to bear behind solving this issue, together with the Melo Commission and the Commission on Human Rights (CHR). We are on the right track and we expect results soon," he said.

The five-man fact-finding body, headed by retired Supreme Court Justice Jose Melo, submitted its preliminary report last Jan.30 to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo who immediately issued several directives to various executive departments and other agencies to attract witnesses and entice the families of victims and leftist organizations to cooperate in the conduct of investigations.

The Philippines could face up to any challenges and changes in the competitive world due to its sound economic fundamentals and the Filipino’s competitive spirit and resiliency, Press Secretary Ignacio R. Bunye said today.

Bunye made the remarks in the wake of the recent warning of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific that the present economic growth being enjoyed by the Philippines and other Southeast Asian countries would be short-lived and could lead to a repeat of the Asian financial crisis in 1997.

"The cautionary advice given by the UN body in the light of lessons from the Asian financial crisis ten years ago is well taken, although the Philippines and the region are far from such a volatile situation," he said.

Bunye said President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her economic team are aware of every macroeconomic trend and development.

He pointed out that investments in infrastructure and microfinance, and the promotion of micro, small and medium enterprises would guarantee investor confidence and sustainability of growth.

"We aim to keep investor confidence high not only through sound macroeconomic policies but also through a culture of transparency and accountability," he explained. "Our economy has been tried and tested and it will prove its resilience through any storm in the global markets."

President Arroyo herself said the government’s fiscal reforms have not only made the Philippines more progressive but also shown the excellence and resiliency of the Filipino in facing up with global challenges.

The President had earlier said that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and East Asia summits held last January in Cebu would strengthen solidarity, cohesiveness and cooperation in the region that is poised to become the center of global trade and investments.