BATA, Equatorial Guinea – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo cited Tuesday the world-class Filipino workers here for their contribution to the development and progress of this Catholic nation in Africa.

The President made the statement when she addressed the Camara de Representantes del Pueblo, the counterpart of the Philippine House of Representatives, at noon yesterday (7 p.m. Manila time) at the People’s Representative Chamber here. She was the first Philippine President to address the chamber.

Among those present were Guinean House Speaker Salomon Nguema Owono, Philippine House of Representatives Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr., Trade Secretary Peter Favila, Equatorial Guinean ministers, and members of the diplomatic corps.

"We are proud of the contribution of Filipino workers to the development of this country, particularly the 2,500 Filipino professionals employed in the banking, finance and oil sectors of Equatorial Guinea," the President, who was much applauded, said.

The President said reciprocating the visit of Equatorial Guinea President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo to the Philippines last year would further open and explore new areas of cooperation and opportunities between the two countries.

The President said Equatorial Guinea has expressed interest in acquiring technical know-how in agriculture, fishing, and finance sectors, while the Philippines is keen on the possibility of getting oil concessions from this country.

Although far from each other, the President said the legislative bodies of the Philippines and Equatorial Guinea would work together to close the gap between Asia and Africa as they share a common legacy and culture, being both the only Hispanic nations in Asia and Africa.

The President said the Asia-Africa Summit held in Indonesia in 2005 strengthened bilateral and multilateral ties when the leaders signed a Declaration on the New Asian-African Strategic Partnership.

Before her speech, the President witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on parliamentary cooperation between Speaker De Venecia and his counterpart.

President Arroyo and her lean delegation arrived in the Equatorial Guinean capital of Malabo at 7 a.m. Tuesday (Malabo time, 3 p.m. in Manila) after a 12-hour flight from Singapore, where she earlier made a one-day state visit Monday.

While in Singapore, the President, who is the current chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), also addressed the opening ceremonies of the June 24-25 World Economic Forum on East Asia 2007 held at the Shangri-La Hotel in Singapore.

DISCURSO ANTE LA CAMARA DE REPRESENTANTES DEL PUEBLO

Su Excelencia Salomon Nguema Owono

Distinguidos miembros de la Camara de Representantes del Pueblo

Colleagues in the Philippine delegation,

Seņoras y seņores,

Buenos dias.

Muchas gracias a la Camara de Representantes del Pueblo de Guinea Ecuatorial por esta sesion especial en mi honor.

La legislatura es la voz del pueblo, en Africa asi mismo en Asia. We are proud to say that in Asia, the Philippine Congress has been a beacon of freedom for one hundred years now.

Our two countries share a legacy and a similar culture though we are located far away from each other, you in the western edge of Africa and we in the eastern edge of Asia, and the color of our skin is different from each other. Equatorial Guinea is the only hispanic country in Africa and the Philippines is the only hispanic country in Asia.

At the Asia-Africa Summit held in Bandung, Indonesia in April 2005, the leaders of Asian and African countries signed a Declaration on the New Asian-African Strategic Partnership, which identified concrete measures for partnership. Asimismo, los lederes trataron de fortalecer los lazos tanto multilaterales como bilaterales.

Por eso nos alegriamos much cuando el Presidente Obiang realiz una visita de estado en Filipinas en Mayo del aņo pasado. Se fue el para realizar los lazos bilaterales entre Filipinas y Guinea Ecuatorial, y explorar las maneras para la cooperacion y una mayor interaccion entre los pueblos de los dos pases.

Exploramos las nuevas areas de cooperacion y hablamos de las oportunidades que cada pais ofrece.

Durante su visita, el Presidente Obiang expres interes en las oportunidades para la formacion y un mayor conocimiento tecnico, en particular en los sectores agricola, pesquero, financiero, mientras que nosotros por nuestra parte expresamos interes en las concesiones en el petroleo.

Nosotros presenciamos la firma del Acuerdo General en la Cooperacion Economica, Cultura, Ciencia y Tecnologia, y un Acuerdo sobre la Promocion y Protecion Reciproca de Inversiones - los dos primeros acuerdos bilaterales entre Filipinas y Guinea Ecuatorial.

Agredecemos la oportunidad de reunirse de Nuevo con el Presidente Obiang para renovar las relaciones bilaterales entre Filipinas y Guinea Ecuatorial.

Esta es mi primera visita de estado a un pais Africano desde que asumi la presidencia en 2001.

He venido a Guinea Ecuatorial para fortalecer aun mas los lazos entre nuestros dos pases y continuar las iniciativas que nuestros pases han empezado durante la visita a Filipinas de su Presidente el aņo pasado.

Nuestra visita de estado aqui es una buena ocasion para fomentar estas formas de cooperacion y fortalecer aun mas los lazos bilaterales y, basandonos en nuestros lazos historicos, a un mayor desarrollo y progreso.

We are proud of the contribution of Filipino workers to the development of this country, particularly the 2,500 Filipino professionals employed in the banking, finance and oil sectors of Equatorial Guinea.

Estamos muy dispuestos a ayudar a Guinea Ecuatorial en el desarrollo de su capacitacion humana y la infraestructura.

El Gobierno Filipino esta dispuesto a forjar colaboraciones con Guinea Ecuatorial.

We reiterate the Philippines' readiness to enter into arrangements for joint ventures in petroleum upstream activities on the basis of equitable sharing and mutual benefit.

(President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s speech before the Filipino Community in Equatorial Guinea during her June 26, 2007 State Visit to that West African nation)

Mga mahal kong kababayan, maraming salamat sa mainit na pagsalubong sa inyong lingkod.

I have come here to build on our commitment to enhance the bilateral relations between the Philippines and Equatorial Guinea.

President Obiang undertook a state visit to the Philippines in May last year to enhance Philippine-Equatorial Guinea bilateral ties, seek avenues for cooperation and greater interaction between the two countries' peoples.

Given our shared history and common past, dahil kapwa tayong dumaan sa pamamahala ng Espana, Equatoguineans and Filipinos can learn from each others' experiences and build on these for greater peace and prosperity.

We agreed that it would be of strategic importance for the Philippines and Equatorial Guinea to strengthen ties and increase cooperation in all forms, despite the geographical distance between our two countries.   All of this is for the benefit of our people, including you, those of you who live and work here.

We are proud of the contribution of Filipino workers to the development of this country, particularly the 2,500 Filipinos employed in the banking, finance and oil sectors of Equatorial Guinea.

Sinisikap nating lalo pang mapabuti ang inyong kalagayan.

Pinararangalan ng pamahalaan at taumbayan ang mga Pilipinong manggagawa sa ibayong dagat sa inyong sakripisyo at malasakit sa inyong trabaho, inyong pamilya at inyong bansa.  Tinatanggap nang buong loob ang inyong kontribusyon.  Nguni't karangalan din nating sabihin na ang mga ganansya sa ekonomiya na nakikita natin ngayon sa Pilipinas ay inihahanda ang araw kung kailan hindi na kailangang mag-abroad pa ang mga Pilipino para sa trabaho, and the day when overseas work is just another option and not the only choice you have to earn a living.

Nasa landas ng permanenteng pagsulong at katatagan ng ekonomiya ang Pilipinas. 

Ang pagpasa ng ating value added tax ang siyang pinakamalaking kilos na naghatid ng pag-angat ng ating ekonomiya.    Sa isang matapang na kilos, nakaangat ito ng napakalaking kita ng bansa.  Nagpadala rin siya ng di- mapag-kakamaliang senyas na seryoso tayo tungkol sa pagsulong ng ekonomiya.   Nguni't hindi lamang iyon.  Tumutulong ito na mabuo ang mga ganansya ng ating ekonomiya ng buo nating pagtukoy sa ekonomiya, sa disiplina ng kaban ng bansa, sa pagbalanse ng budget at sa pangangailangan ng napakatagal nang dapat ginawang pag-ibayo ng human at physical infrastructure. Nagbubunga ang ating mga pagsisikap.

Bumubuhos ang investments, pinakamataas sa buong kasaysayan ang ating stock market. Nakalikha tayo ng anim na milyong bagong trabaho sa nakaraang anim na taon.

Pinakamababa ang ating unemployment rate sa loob ng isang henerasyon.  Pinakamababa rin ang ating poverty rate. 

Nakakahalata ang mundo: Isa sa mga best values sa Asia ang Pilipinas para sa mga Pilipino at dahuyang namumuhunan.

Naka-angkla ang pag-angat ng mga pamumuhunan sa pag-ulat ng Texas Instruments na ito ay mamumuhunan ng isang bilyong dolyar upang magtayo ng electronic chip plant sa Pilipinas.

Namumuhunan rin ang Hanjin ng Korea ng $1.65 billion upang magtayo sa Pilipinas ng pang-apat na pinakamalaking shipyard sa buong mundo.   Noong isang linggo, bumili ang Marubeni at Tokyo Electric ng mga power plant sa Pilipinas sa halagang $3.4 billion at magdadagdag pa ng half a billion dollars.

Ito ay nangyayari sa iba't ibang industriya.   Nagtatrabaho tayo upang masostento ito. Tumutulong ang ating mga ambisyosong reporma na mabuwag na iyong offshore cycle.        Sa pagtutuloy sa landas na ito, we will increasingly be keeping our best and brightest right in the Philippines, higit na malapit sa mga kaibigan at mga pamilya, tumutulong sa pagtayo ng ating mga pamayanan, at binibigay ang susunod na henerasyon ng liderato. 

Desidido tayong ibuo ang mga ganansya ng mga bagong kita ng pamahalaan sa matagal nang dapat ginawang pamumuhunan sa human at physical infrastructure. Kasama dito ang bilyon-bilyon piso para sa edukasyon, kalinga sa kalusugan at training kasama ng bilyun-bilyon sa mga bagong tulay, kalsada at pantalan upang umangat ang kakayahang makipag- kumpetensya ang Pilipinas.

Ipinagmamalaki natin ang disiplina ng ating administrasyong tukuyin ang ekonomiya at ang ating pangkalahatang kalusugan sa pangkabuhayan.  Ipinagmamalaki natin na binabayaran natin ang ating mga utang kahit na hindi pa nagkokobra ang nagpautang sa atin. Malaki ang ating pag-asa na mababalanse natin ang budget sa 2008. Sinisigurado nating gamitin ang mga ganansya upang mamuhunan sa mga napaka-importanteng social and economic needs. Hindi natin isasakripisyo ang pangmatagalang biyaya para sa pansamantalang political expendiency.

Ipinakita ng nakaraang halalan ang buhay na buhay na system ng demokrasya ng bansa.  Pinayagang sumali ang lahat na may iba-ibang paniniwala nguni't nagkakaisa sa mga parehong aspirasyon ng kapayapaan at kaunlaran para sa buong bansa. Tagumpay siya para sa reporma sa ekonomiya, katatagan ng pulitika at kapayapaan at katiwasayan. 

Inaasahan natin na magtatrabaho ang Senado at Kamara ng Pilipinas kasama nating siguraduhing isosostento natin ang ating mga biyaya sa ekonomiya.  Nakalingon tayo sa makabuluhang pag-uusap at pagtutulungan sa ating mga gumagawa ng mga patakarang masiguradong tuloy tayong sumulong sa reporma sa ekonomiya.

We have turned the corner on our economy.

Mayroon nang mga kapansin-pansin na tagumpay.   Nguni't di-hamak na may higit pang magagawa at gagawin. 

Sa unang pagkakataon sa isang henerasyon, binibigyan tayo ng kakayahan ng ating mga biyaya sa ekonomiya at kaban ng bayang gumawa ng malalakas na pamumuhunan sa ating bayan at ating taumbayan. Patungo doon, naglikha tayo ng estratehiyang pamumuhunang nakatukoy sa apat na pinaka-inisyatibo: 1) pag-ibayuhin ang ating imprastraktura upang lumikha ng kapaligiran kung saan may kumpyansa ang mga negosyong mag-expand at mag-employ ng higit pang tao, dahil kahulugan ng higit na trabaho ay bawas sa kahirapan; 2) pag-ibayuhin ang social services gaya ng health insurance subsidies para sa mga dukhang pamilya at nutrition programs para sa mga mag-aaral at kanilang mga pamilya;  3) pagpapalakas ng suporta sa edukasyon sa ating pagsisikap na bawasan ang kahirapan sa pamamagitan ng pamumuhunan sa mas mabuting school buildings,   mga bagong libro at teaching materials, at training programs para sa mga guro at school administrators; at 4) pagputol ng red tape at pagpapatuloy na tanggalin ang katiwalian sa sistema. 

Ito ang mga paraan upang mai-ahon ang mga mahihirap.   Ginagawa natin ito sa unang pagkakataon sa isang henerasyon.

Kaakibat kayo at ang buong pamilyang Pilipino, maisusulong natin ang ating layunin.

Together, we will push forward and fulfill our common dreams of peace and prosperity.

Plans and programs for the implementation of the Anti-Terrorism Law will be discussed during the Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC) meeting tomorrow in Malacanang.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita announced in his weekly press briefing in Malacanang this afternoon that the ATC, a special body composed of high-ranking officials from the different law enforcement agencies, will try to get feedback on the actual organization of the Anti-Terrorism Law, also known as Republic Act 9372.

"The ATC will get an update from the ATC secretariat if the council will have to organize a body or even designate a chairman or executive officer, or come up with another body that would implement the law," he explained.

The National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) serves as the head of the ATC, with the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, National Bureau of Investigation and Philippine Coast Guard as the member agencies.

"Through these details, the council shall come up and formulate the actual plans and programs of the country’s security law and its implementation in the appropriate time," Ermita said.

The Executive Secretary admitted that he does not expect the council to tackle the ATC’s implementing rules and regulations (IRR) since " they need to implement first the law before presenting it to the public."

On the issue of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA), Ermita clarified that the government needs to study whether to support the lifting of the terrorist tag on the leftist group.

"As long as the CPP-NPA commits acts that could fall under the definition of terrorist activities, then the group will continue to fall under such list," he pointed out.

Ermita said that the CPP-NPA attacks against civilians, military and police detachments were the basis for their listing by the European Union, the United States and Canada as an international terrorist organization.

Presidential appointees in government-sequestered corporations under the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) have been directed to submit their courtesy resignations not later than June 30.

The order is contained in a memorandum issued by Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita on June 22, two days after the issuance of a circular directing presidential appointees in Government-Owned and Controlled Corporations (GOCCs) and Government Financial Institutions (GFIs) to submit their courtesy resignations.

Ermita explained that the courtesy resignations were intended to give President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo a free hand in reorganizing the management of GOCCs, GFIs, and now, the government-sequestered companies.

In his regular press briefing in Malacaņang this afternoon, Ermita said that out of 117 presidential appointees in GOCCs and GFIs, 115 have already submitted their courtesy resignations.

He added that all resignation letters would pass through a "search committee" which will evaluate the performance of the various firms and their officials, as well as determine who will be asked to stay, who will be put "on hold order" or whose appointments may have already lapsed.

Ermita said he has asked the help of members of the Cabinet in evaluating the resignation letters and to provide the search committee with a comprehensive recommendation on what action to take on the resignations.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has declared July 8, 2007 and every year thereafter as National Allergy Day to address the problem of allergies and to increase public awareness on the growing occurrence of this disease among Filipino children.

In his weekly press briefing in Malacanang this afternoon, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said President Arroyo signed Presidential Proclamation No. 1313 after a study conducted by the International Study of Allergic and Asthma in Children (ISAAC) showed Filipino children aged 13 to 14 years exhibited one of the highest rates of allergic diseases in the region.

The study placed the Philippines on top of Asian countries like Thailand, Indonesia and South Korea with high prevalence rates of common allergies like rhinitis and asthma.

In signing the proclamation, the President and the whole country join a worldwide effort to reduce the incidence of allergies and asthma by educating those who deal with allergic disorders and providing practical action to be taken by the government, healthcare professionals, lay organizations and patients at a national level.

We returned today from our state visits to the Republic of Singapore and the Republic of Equatorial Guinea. Both visits have been truly fruitful in strengthening our robust partnership with Singapore, and broadening our ties with Equatorial Guinea. The visits were also an occasion for us to touch base with our overseas Filipino workers, many of who look forward to the promise of a better future, as our economy continues its record-breaking growth.

In Singapore, we addressed the World Economic Forum on East Asia and made a strong push for our vision of an East Asian Community taking off from our regional grouping, the ASEAN. We were also able to signal our ascendance as ASEAN's best value investment and tourism haven.

Our dream for a better future requires building strong bridges for international cooperation. Our state visits yielded productive discussions about the prospects of increased bilateral cooperation

In Equatorial New Guinea, the way forward is in combining Filipino talent with development opportunities in the country such as in infrastructure in the sectors of education, hospitals, airports, maritime transport and ports, agriculture, fishery, forestry development, telecommunications, and information and communications technology. 

Both President Nathan and President Obiang Nguema Mbasogo acknowledged the valuable contributions of the Philippine citizens working in their country and we in turn thanked them for the hospitality granted to our citizens.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo returned this evening from her state visits to Singapore and the West African nation of Equatorial Guinea that gave further impetus to accelerating economic and other aspects of bilateral relations between the Philippines and those countries.

The presidential party arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Centennial Terminal II in Pasay City at about 8 p.m. on board a Philippine Airlines (PAL) flight from Equatorial Guinea’s Malabo International Airport.

The welcoming party included Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr., and Philippine National Police Director General Oscar Calderon.

President Arroyo left Manila on Saturday afternoon for Singapore where she delivered the opening speech at the June 24-25 World Economic Forum on East Asia 2007 which was held at the Shangri-La Hotel in Singapore.

After her attendance in the Singapore forum, a regional version of the Geneva-based World Economic Forum, the President made a one-day state visit to Singapore Monday, highlighted by her meetings with Singapore President S.R. Nathan and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

From Singapore, she proceeded the next day to Equatorial Guinea for a similar state visit to that oil-rich West African country upon the invitation of President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo who made a four-day state visit to the Philippines in May 2006.

During her stay in Equatorial Guinea, the President addressed the Camara de Representantes del Pueblo, the counterpart of the Philippine House of Representatives. She is the first Philippine head of state to address the lawmaking chamber of the tiny West African nation which became independent from Spain in l968.

After her meeting with President Obiang Tuesday afternoon (Malabo time), President Arroyo was awarded by the Guinean leader with the Great Independence Order Band, a high distinction granted to a visiting head of state.

In an arrival statement issued by the Office of Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesman Ignacio R. Bunye this evening, the President said her fruitful state visits to Singapore and Equatorial Guinea also enabled her "to touch base with our overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the two countries."

Following is the full text of the arrival statement:

"In Singapore, we addressed the World Economic Forum on East Asia and made a strong push for our vision of an East Asian Community taking off from our regional grouping, the ASEAN. We were also able to signal our ascendance as ASEAN's best value investment and tourism haven.

"Our dream for a better future requires building strong bridges for international cooperation. Our state visits yielded productive discussions about the prospects of increased bilateral cooperation

"In Equatorial New Guinea, the way forward is in combining Filipino talent with development opportunities in the country such as in infrastructure in the sectors of education, hospitals, airports, maritime transport and ports, agriculture, fishery, forestry development, telecommunications, and information and communications technology. 

"Both President Nathan and President Obiang Nguema Mbasogo acknowledged the valuable contributions of the Philippine citizens working in their country and we in turn thanked them for the hospitality granted to our citizens.