President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo directed today the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to take immediate steps to stop the perennial flooding in Barangay 593, Zone 58, District Vl in Sta. Mesa, Manila.

The President also ordered the National Housing Authority (NHA) to relocate 13 families living along the railroad tracks in the barangay.

The Chief Executive issued the twin directives during a visit to Barangay 593 this morning for an informal interaction with residents and officials of the barangay and find out their concerns.

With her were MMDA General Manager Roberto Nacianceno and NHA Administrator Federico Laxa, who presented to the President their "plans of action" to address the flooding problem in the area and the relocation of the informal settlers living along the railroad tracks.

The flooding has worsened over the years that wide areas of the barangay remain flooded even during sunny weather.

Barangay Chairman Luisito Yumang told the President that 13 squatter families living along the railroad tracks should be relocated immediately to keep them out of harm’s way.

For his part, Nacianceno said the MMDA is setting aside P4 million for the rehabilitation of a drainage project to ease flooding in the area.

As soon as the "work plan" is signed and approved, work on the project will start immediately, he said.

Laxa said that NHA is eyeing Cabuyao in Laguna, Cavite and Bulacan as possible relocation sites for the 13 squatter families in Barangay 593.

Aside from the informal meeting, the President awarded to Barangay Chairman Yumang a permit to operate a Tindahan Natin convenience store in the barangay. She also inaugurated a newly opened Botika ng Barangay and distributed 125 "PGMA Training for Work Scholarship Certificates" to qualified barangay residents.

The Tindahan Natin convenience store is a continuing project of the President through the auspices of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the National Food Authority (NFA) to provide affordable quality basic and food commodities to Filipinos nationwide.

Among the basic commodities the Tindahan Natin offers at lower than retail prices are coffee, noodles, sugar, rice and sardines.

A project of the President, the Botika ng Barangay offers a wide array of generic medicines such as amoxicillin, ascorbic acid, paracetamol, mefenamic acid and multivitamins at lower than drugstore prices.

The scholarships, also a project of the President through the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), are intended to provide 125 deserving residents with the needed skills to qualify as Call Center agents, welders and butchers.

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President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo posthumously awarded today the Orden ng Gintong Puso (Order of the Golden Heart) with the rank of Officer to the late US Peace Corps Volunteer Julia Campbell who died in Ifugao last April.

The United States Peace Corps, which has been sending volunteers to the country since October 1961, was also given the same award, with the rank of Grand Cross.

Wearing a pretty avocado green dress and dressy pump heels of the same color, the President handed Campbell’s citation and medal – handcrafted and assembled in gold and avocado green metal by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas – to US Ambassador to the Philippines Kristie Kenney who was in a cream skirt ensemble.

Kenney was assisted by a Peace Corps volunteer, Joshua Corbett, who is presently assigned to a Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) youth facility in Magalang, Pampanga.

The late Campbell was a hardworking and persistent journalist in New York before she joined the US Peace Corps. She was killed while vacationing in Banaue, Ifugao province in Northern Luzon. Her self-confessed killer is set to be arraigned this month.

The award for the US Peace Corps was received by Country Director Carl Beck.

So far, more than 8,000 volunteers have served the Philippines since the arrival of the first group of 130 education volunteers in 1961. While the assignments of volunteers are regularly rotated, some 120 volunteers are always in the Philippines at any one time.

The US Peace Corps has been addressing the country’s development priorities with emphasis on mentoring and life skills development for the youth.

It has also been assisting and enhancing the English language teaching in the primary and secondary levels; promoting improved environmental governance and education through grassroots projects; and working with communities to improve and promote business development and training.

Among those who attended the awarding rites at Malacanang’s Reception Hall were Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, Armed Forces Chief Hermogenes Esperon and Philippine National Police Chief Oscar Calderon.

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Sweden has donated P100 million to beef up the government’s revenue collection programs, including its campaign against tax cheats.

Swedish Ambassador to the Philippines Annika Markovic disclosed her government’s donation during her farewell call on President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo at Malacanang’s Music Room this afternoon.

Markovic was accompanied by her husband Darasko, and Swedish Counsellor and Deputy Head of Mission Britt Hartig.

The President conferred the Order of Sikatuna with the rank of Datu (Grand Cross) on the outgoing Swedish ambassador for her sterling and exemplary work as a representative of her country in the Philippines.

Markovic told the President that she had signed, on behalf of her country, a "new trust fund" with the Department of Finance (DoF) and the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) for the development of a statistics-gathering program, including tax mapping, that would be useful in weeding out tax evaders.

The P100-million trust fund will help further strengthen the "many good tax laws" and revenue collection programs of the Philippine government, she said.

Markovic told the President that during her four-year stint in the country she followed "with interest" the progress of the peace talks between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

She said her government had been very supportive of the Philippines’ quest for lasting peace in Mindanao, as she expressed hope that a sustainable peace agreement would finally be reached for the country to entice more investors to invest here.

A sustainable peace agreement between the government and the MILF will boost the "fantastic" performance of the Philippine economy, she added.

Markovic pointed out that the "negative perception in Europe" about the Philippines being "a dangerous place" would change drastically once a sustainable Mindanao peace accord is in place.

The President thanked Sweden for its generous gesture, saying the P100-million donation would go a long way in helping the government pursue the second phase of her administration’s economic reform program that calls for heavy investments on human and physical infrastructures.

"Thank you very much for helping us move forward," the President told Markovic.

Before parting ways, Markovic presented to the President a picture of the majestic Philippine eagle with its wings spread wide open. She said the picture, which was taken by her husband, represented the Philippines "flexing its muscles" for its maiden flight to greatness.

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President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo accepted the credentials of four foreign ambassadors to the Philippines in separate ceremonies this afternoon in Malacanang.

Ambassador Armindo Maia of the Democratic Republic of Timor Leste was the first to present his credentials to the President at the Rizal Hall.

Maia extended the greetings and appreciation of Timor Leste President Jose Ramos-Horta for the solidarity and support of the Philippines for Timor Leste which officially gained independence from Indonesia in 2002.

Three other non-resident ambassadors also presented their credentials.

They were Ambassador Ben Mathias Rugangazi of Rwanda who is based in Beijing, China; Hungarian Ambassador Mihaly Illes who is based in Jakarta, Indonesia; and Colombian Ambassador Alejandro Borda who is based in Seoul, South Korea.

The new envoys conveyed warm greetings to the Filipino people and desire for better relations between the Philippines and their respective countries.

In accepting their credentials, the President said she looks forward to a fruitful and ever improving relations between the Philippines and the ambassadors’ countries during their tour of duties.

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