The opposition can do their worse during the campaign while we try to do our best to serve the people. This plan of producing a malicious movie against the administration will backfire.

The people no longer wish to belabor the past but want an earnest discussion of our agenda--investments, jobs, lower prices rolled up in a package of hope and opportunity.

As part of her administration’s efforts to bring the benefits of a stronger economy to the people, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo mobilized today several government agencies to address the concerns of the residents of Barangay 662, Zone 71 in Paco, Manila.

During her visit to the area this morning, the President instructed the National Housing Authority (NHA), the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to come up with ways to solve the problems raised by the residents of the barangay.

Among the concerns the residents brought to the President’s attention were their desire to have a barangay hall and a basketball court constructed on a parcel of land that formerly belonged to the Philippine National Railways (PNR) but now owned by the city government of Manila.

This way, the residents said, important barangay activities would not be disrupted by the lack of appropriate venue. They added that the youth of their barangay would also have a venue for sports events and other useful activities instead of remaining idle.

The President also instructed the DSWD to look into the plight of 10-year-old Kenneth Flor who is stricken with adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD), a progressive degenerative myelin ("insulation" around nerves) disorder.

Doctors said ALD breaks down myelin over time. Without myelin, nerves cannot function normally, or at all. Unfortunately, the body cannot grow replacement myelin, so the disorder is progressive and gets worse over time.

Remia Tapispisan, Assistant Director of the DSWD-National Capital Region, said the agency will immediately look into Kenneth’s condition and pledged to assist the family in purchasing Pediasure milk supplement, the child’s main source of nutrition.

Teresita, Kenneth’s mother, heaved a sigh of relief upon being assured by no less than the President of the government’s assistance on Kenneth’s condition.

Also during the barangay visit, the President awarded a Certificate to Operate a "Tindahan Natin" outlet to Melocita Anillo, whose family has been a resident of the barangay since 1952.

The President also inaugurated a Botika ng Bayan kiosk that has been set up in the area.

The Tindahan Natin and the Botika ng Bayan offer basic goods and commodities and medicines, respectively, at prices much lower than those of commercial outlets.

The President also awarded 150 PGMA Training for Work Scholarship Certificates to Barangay Chairman Rolando Granada.

The scholarships, broken down into 50 for skilled metal arc welders, 50 for call center agents and 50 for slaughtering (butchering), are part of the Arroyo administration’s efforts to generate six to 10 million jobs by 2010.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo presided over the awarding of Presidential Medals of Merit (PMM) to the "Legends of Philippine Komiks" and Filipino world body-building winners in simple ceremonies this morning at the Rizal Hall of Malacaņang.

The komiks awardees are:

• Manuel Rodriguez, Jr. – a visual artist credited for being the Father of Print Making in the Philippines;
• Don Emilio Yap – the publisher of Liwayway, a well-known literary-entertainment magazine that allowed the Filipino reader quality entertainment and temporary respite from the hardships of daily life;
• Antonio Velasquez (posthumous) – father of Filipino komiks and author of the comic series "Mga Kabalbalan ni Kenkoy" whose career spurred the birth, development and full maturity of the industry;
• Francisco Coching (posthumous) – multi-awarded artist who started his craft at the age of 15 in 1934 and pioneer of "Katha at Guhit sa Komiks," and creator of "Pedro Penduko," "Condenado," among others;
• Mars Ravelo (posthumous) – legendary creator of the iconic "Darna," "Dyesebel," "Captain Barbell," and other well-known and loved Pinoy super heroes;
• Larry Alcala (posthumous) – known as the Dean of Philippine cartoonists and Illustrador ng Kabataan, creator of "Asiong Aksaya" and "Kalabog En Bosyo;"
• Carlo Caparas - for his exceptional accomplishments as a master storyteller, most notably his creation of "Flavio" in his masterpiece "Ang Panday."

Likewise awarded Presidential Medals of Merit were Francisco Borlain and Crishiela Abantao, winners of the Mr. and Ms. Universe Body Building Championships in Germany last year.

In a short "collective response" to the honor bestowed upon them, Caparas thanked the President for being "the only sitting President who has recognized the invaluable contribution of Filipino cartoonists and novelists in shaping the consciousness of the Filipino people."

He also thanked the National Commission on Culture and the Arts, headed by Executive Director Cecile Guidote-Alvarez, and the Komisyon ng Wikang Filipino chaired by Dr. Rolando Nolasco, for organizing and sponsoring the National Komiks Congress of the Philippines yesterday, Feb. 27, at the NCCA Building in Intramuros, Manila.

The congress, which drew more than 300 participants, highlighted the celebration of the National Arts Month.

Also during the event, the President witnessed the formal signing of the agreement between Harvey Davis, director of ESPN Star Sports, and Yen Makabenta, Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines chairman and Raya Sports president for the holding of the 2007 World Pool Championship in the Philippines.

Makabenta said that the decision to once again play host to the top 128 players in the world was due to the insistent demand of Filipino billiards fans who wish to see once more the world class act at the Philippine International Convention Center.

Malacanang announced today the appointment by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo of outgoing Government Corporate Counsel Agnes V.S.T. Devanadera as new Solicitor General.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita made the announcement in his regular press conference this afternoon at Malacanang’s New Executive Building Briefing Room.

Devanadera replaces former Solicitor General Antonio Eduardo Nachura who had earlier been picked by the President as the 15^th member of the Supreme Court from a set of nominees submitted by the Judicial and Bar Council.

At the same time, Ermita said the President picked Alberto Agra as Government Corporate Counsel, Office of the Government Corporate Counsel (OGCC) of the Department of Justice (DOJ), to replace Devanadera.

The President also named Guillermo Hernandez as Privatization Officer at the Privatization and Management Office (PMO) of the Department of Finance (DOF), and Jose C. Ibazeta as president of the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation (PSALM) of the Department of Energy (DOE).

Alarmed by the report of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has issued Administrative Order 171 creating a Presidential Task Force on Climate Change (PTFCC) that seeks to address and mitigate the impact of climate change in the country.

The PTFCC will be composed of Environment Secretary Angelo Reyes as chair, with the secretaries of the Departments of Energy (DOE), Science and Technology, Agriculture and the Interior and Local Government, and two representatives from the private sector/civil society as members.

Foremost of the PTFCC functions is to conduct rapid assessment on the impact of climate change to the Philippine setting, especially on the most vulnerable sectors/areas like water, agriculture, coastal areas, as well as on the terrestrial and marine ecosystems.

It will also ensure strict compliance to air emission standards and act with urgency to combat deforestation and environmental degradation as well as apprehend violators.

The IPCC report on climate change prepared by 2,500 experts from 150 countries revealed that the global temperature will continue to rise towards 2100, and in the short term, will rise by about 1.4-5.8 degrees Centigrade, leading to an increase in the sea level from 18 to 59 centimeters by 2010.

It indicated that the rise in temperatures had been "very likely" with 90 percent caused by human activity and due to increase in the release in the atmosphere of greenhouse gases, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, hydroflourocarbons, perflourocarbons and sulfur hexaflouride.

Being an archipelagic country located in the typhoon rings, the Philippines, according to the report, is highly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change. Truth of this are the recent high-intensity or three super typhoons that hit the country in 2006.

Signed by the President last Feb. 20, AO 171 will take effect 15 days after its publication in a national newspaper of general circulation.

The PTFCC’s other functions are to :

• Undertake/initiate strategic approaches and measures to prevent or reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the Philippines, including fuel efficiency, energy conservation, use of renewable energy, waste management, etc.

• Conduct a massive and comprehensive public information and awareness campaign nationwide to educate the public on the climate change situation and its adverse effects, and mobilize multisectoral actions on climate change.

• Design concrete risk reduction and mitigation measures and adaptation responses, especially to address short-term vulnerabilities, on sectors and areas where climate change will have the greatest impact.

• Collaborate with international partners at the bilateral, regional and multilateral levels to support global effort to stabilize greenhouse gas emissions and institute mitigating and adaptive measures, especially for developing countries; and

• Cause the integration and mainstreaming of climate risk management into the development policies, plans and programs of government.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo considers the latest reduction in power rates as a classic example of the country’s economic gains flowing down to the people.

In a roundtable discussion this afternoon in Malacanang, the President said the Filipino people are finally harvesting the seeds of fiscal discipline and good governance that the government has planted.

"The cut in power rates is part of the great story of economic gains flowing down to the people. This is a timely harvest on the seeds of fiscal discipline and good governance that we have planted in the field of optimism and hope," she said in a statement.

The President pointed out that this is a clear and compelling reason for all Filipinos to stay the course and not be distracted "by the pullback of destructive politics."

Housewife Cora Gloria, a mother of three who was among those in the roundtable discussion, told the President that her power rate bill was lower this month (February) compared to last month.

"Itong huling perfect power adjustments, pag mababa ang langis at dolyar bumaba rin iyong tsini-charge, doon nagre-reflect na bumababa ang electric bill, so nararanasan talaga. Lalo na ngayon na itong Napocor ay binabawasan iyong tsini-charge sa Meralco," the President explained.

The President told Gloria that through her barangay, she could seek micro-finance assistance for her to open up a small business.

Gloria, for her part, thanked the President for launching the "Pamilihang Bayan" and "Botika ng Bayan" where she could buy cheaper products and medicines.

Energy Regulatory Commission chairman Rodolfo Albano, Jr. said that the National Power Corporation (Napocor) power rate reduction by eight centavos per kilowatt-hour (kwh) will apply to the Feb. 26 to March 25, 2007 billing period. The reduction, he said, could go up by 18 centavos in the next 10 months.

Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla said all payments made by Napocor for the importation of oil had been reduced due to the stronger peso.

Lotilla informed the President that the official contract price of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) in Singapore will be reduced by one percent by next month. Kerosene prices, he added, had also been reduced by 30 centavos two days ago.

Consumer and Oil Price Watch chairman Raul Concepcion said the power rate reduction would have significant effect on consumers but extended his appeal to the banks to consider lowering their rates, too.

The President said she is considering the establishment of a credit bureau because the micro-finance system requires no collateral and is becoming very attractive because of its lower interest rates.

She said that while her detractors continue to scrape the bottom of the barrel for old, worn out issues, her administration is concerned with the issue of a modern Philippines fighting for the people and lifting them from poverty.