President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo reminded today officials of the National Housing Authority (NHA) that whenever possible, informal settlers being relocated to government housing projects should continue to have access to their jobs and other sources of livelihood.

The President issued the directive to the NHA during a visit to Barangay Santol in Quezon City this morning to look into the plight of "multiple families" living in 60 decrepit structures outside the fence of the Carlos Albert High School campus, and to hold an informal dialogue with local barangay officials and residents.

Aside from the squatters huddled off the Carlos Alberto High School, 30 more are living on the sidewalks of Palanza St.

The NHA-National Capital Region (NCR) had proposed the relocation of the Barangay Santol squatters to Palawan but the President thumbed down the NHA plan, saying the proposed site "is too far" for their own good.

"Find more lands in San Jose del Monte… or in Montalban….because their jobs are here," she told Director Francisco Alican of NHA-NCR.

"In the meantime, let’s look at Montalban. The area is very conducive to family living," she added.

The President also awarded a certificate to operate a "Tindahan Natin" to Pacencia de Torres and handed over to Barangay Santol Chairman Daniel Sakay 100 "PGMA Training for Work Scholarship Certificates."

The "Tindahan Natin," one of the priority projects of the Chief Executive, seeks to reduce hunger and poverty of the poorest of the poor. The "Tindahan" program is under the auspices of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the National Food Authority (NFA).

The "Tindahan Natin" sells basic commodities, including rice, noodles, sugar and coffee, at prices lower than the prevailing retail market prices.

The "PGMA Training for Work Scholarship" program, which is being implemented by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), addresses the skills needs of workers, especially the out-of-school youth and the unemployed.

The President said the 100 scholarship certificates for the residents of Barangay Santol are for the skills training programs for welders, call center agents and butchers.

She expressed satisfaction that the "Botika sa Barangay" has maintained adequate inventory of cheap but quality medicines for common illnesses such as hypertension, cough and colds, diarrhea, among others.

The "Botika sa Barangay" is one of the other pro-poor projects of the Arroyo administration.

Other concerns brought to the attention of the President by the barangay residents included the need for more fire hydrants and a vehicle impounding area.

She instructed Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chair Bayani Fernando to act immediately on the problems raised by the residents.

The President was warmly welcomed by the residents, who gathered in front of the barangay hall as early as 9 a.m. Among her welcomers were about 40 Day Care Center pupils.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo declared the La Mesa Dam this morning as a watershed reservation as she launched the "Trees for Life" project that involves the planting of at least 20 million seedlings all over the country from today up to the end of the year.

The La Mesa Dam in Novaliches, Quezon City is a vital source of water supply for Metro Manila’s 12 million residents. It also serves as a holding facility or reservoir for water coming from the three watersheds upstream – Umiray, Angat and Ipo in Bulacan.

Aside from the La Mesa watershed reservation, the President also declared as a protected area and national park the Mt. Inayaowan range in Lanao del Norte.

In a well-attended pledging and planting ceremony at the 500-square meter grassland open area in the La Mesa watershed, the President thanked the crowd for its "endearing presence" which, she said, "strengthens our hope that Filipinos can do our share to protect the earth."

"Ako ay nasisiyahan at napakaraming mga kabataan and narito ngayon… dahil itong ginagawa natin ang makikinabang ay iyong kabataan. It is the youth who will benefit from any positive action we take to protect the environment," she said.

The President stressed that in this day and age, "we are no longer called upon to make the conventional choice which is economic development or the environment. Kailangang pareho nating piliin at kailangang piliin na natin ngayon."

The President thanked several "adoptor" organizations which pledged to plant the seedlings produced by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in waiting forest areas all over the country.

The planting sites have been divided into four thematic areas: (1) protected areas, critical watersheds and open lands; (2) mangrove and coastal areas; (3) agro-forestry and fruit-tree areas; and (4) urban parks, green campuses, camps, and subdivisions, including roadsides, parking lots, shopping malls, offices, mining rehabilitation areas, and riverbanks.

The adoptors of the DENR’s "Trees for Life" project handed their papers of adoption to the President as they were called onstage to be recognized.

Aside from planting the seedlings, the adoptors from various organizations, both government and non-government, also pledged to follow-though with the following post-planting activities: maintain and protect the planted seedlings; sustain partnership with the DENR where continuous coordination with adoptors and partners are maintained, especially in the first three years.

The DENR said the Trees for Life is the "lead forestry initiative under the President’s Green Philippines Program (GPP)," a four-point campaign consisting of reforestation, preservation of reefs and waterways, cleansing the land and air of toxic pollutants, and energy independence."

Following the pledging ceremony, the President then planted a seedling of the kalantas tree which is unique to the Philippines. The "toona calantas Merr. & Rolfe Meliaceae" grows along small streams in the molave forests, and also in primary forests of low to medium altitudes, particularly in the Philippine islands of Batanes, Luzon, Mindanao, Samar, Negros, Leyte, Cebu, Mindoro and Palawan.

Though widely distributed and well-known throughout the archipelago, the kalantas was previously not planted in abundant quantity.

Kalantas wood is the most preferred wood for high-grade cigar boxes because of its aromatic odor. It is also a favorite for making cloth chests and tennis rackets, small boats and bancas because of its durability and lightness.

The kalantas, which has a wide-spreading crown, grows to a height of 40-50 meters, and a diameter of 120-150 centimeters. It has a straight and cylindrical bole which is about one-half the height of the tree.

Aside from the kalantas, among the other trees to be planted are indigenous and endemic forest trees, ornamental trees and fruit trees.

Malacaņang announced today the appointment by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo of former Manila Mayor Lito Atienza as Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), vice Secretary Angelo Reyes.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita made the announcement during his regular press briefing at the Malacanang Premier Guest House this afternoon as he revealed that the President also approved the transfer of Reyes to the Department of Energy (DOE) to replace Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla.

Both Reyes and Atienza are expected to start their tour of duty at the end of July, Ermita said.

Ermita said the President also approved the promotion of Press Assistant Secretary Jose D. Capadocia to Press Undersecretary for Media Relations vice former Undersecretary Isabel C. de Leon.

A Japanese conglomerate involved in the gaming machine business has expressed interest in investing in the Philippines.

Trade and Industry Secretary Peter Favila said that a fruitful exchange of pleasantries, particularly on Philippine investment climate, transpired during a brief meeting between President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Aruze Corporation chairman Kazuo Okada this afternoon at Malacaņang’s Music Room.

Favila said that Okada congratulated the President for the continuous surge of the Philippine economy.

"We are very happy to visit Manila. The heavy Japanese presence here was brought about by the tremendous favorable business climate that gave us the keen interest in investing here," Okada told the President.

Favila said Aruze company officials are here on a three-day visit to study further their company’s proposed investment project in the country.

He also said that the President has instructed him and Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) chairman Ephraim Genuino to coordinate closely with the Aruze company on their investment proposal.

Okada was accompanied by his wife Takako and son Tomohiro.

Aruze Corporation, with Tokyo as its base of operations, was established in December 1969 with overseas subsidiaries in Las Vegas, USA, Sydney, Australia and South Africa.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s State-of-the-Nation Address (SONA) on Monday would showcase accomplishments since 2001 and strategies to realize her vision of a strong and sustained economy to improve the lives of the Filipinos even after her term ends in 2010.

In his regular media briefing this afternoon in Malacanang, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said this is what he noted when the President rehearsed her SONA during the Cabinet meeting in Malacanang Tuesday.

In general, Ermita said the President’s SONA covers investments in infrastructure, education and human capital as well as peace and order and security matter as strategic tools to eliminate poverty and attain sustainable progress.

"The President would have a very strong call for us to move forward so that by the end of her term in 2010, she shall have accomplished so much to improve the conditions of our people," Ermita said.

Listed in the President’s SONA are accomplishments from 2001 up to the present, particularly on infrastructures under the super regions concept, the creation of six million new jobs, increase in pay of government employees, and many educational and training scholarships under the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), he said.

Ermita said the President talked of the P4-billion education fund which she launched last July 16 which is expected to multiply five-fold the number of student loan beneficiaries from 40,000 last year to 200,000 this year.