President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo presented last night the Franchise Excellence Awards (FEA) 2006 to local and foreign franchisers who have been recognized for their outstanding contributions to the growth and development of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the country.

The FEA is an annual project of the Philippine Franchise Association (PFA), the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), and the Philippine Retailers Association (PRA).

The award is the only seal of recognition and excellence given to the country's business franchisers who have epitomized the model of a successful franchise both in terms of business growth and ethical practices.

Assisting the President during the awarding held at the Grand Ballroom of the Crowne Plaza Galleria Hotel in Ortigas Center, Quezon City were PFA president Robert Trota, PCCI president Samie Lim, and Alegria Limjoco, a former two-term president of PFA.

Among those present were Canadian Ambassador Peter Sutherland, PCCI Chairman Emeritus Miguel Varela, and Philippine Exporters Confederation (Philexport) President Sergio Ortiz Luis Jr.

Leading the awardees were Pancake House and Julie's Bakeshop (Outstanding Filipino Franchise/Hall of Fame), Waffle Time (Most Promising Filipino Franchise), Philippine Seven Corporation (International Master Franchise), Reyes Hair International and SeaOil Philippines, Inc.
(Outstanding Filipino Franchise); and Max's Restaurant and Julie's Bakeshop (Franchisee of the Year). 

There are currently over 900 franchisers in the country who have become a tool for national development and sustainable economic growth and providing millions of jobs to Filipinos.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo cited today the invaluable cooperation between the National Government and the Provincial Board Members League of the Philippines (PBMLP) for the strengthened peace and order situation in the country at present.

In her speech keynoting the 15^th Annual National Convention of the PBMLP held at the Grand Ballroom of the Century Park Hotel in Manila, the President said the board members are the "backbone" and partners of the government in pushing the national agenda of creating an atmosphere of more stable politics, a stronger economy and a favorable peace and order situation in the country.

"At isinulong natin ang bansa sa ating malaki at malakas na pakikipag-balikat sa mga lokal na opisyal gaya ninyong mga board member ng probinsya – ang backbone ng pamahalaan," the President said.

"Kayo ang dahilan kung bakit higit na ligtas, mapayapa, at matatag ang mga kabayanan, lalawigan, at bansa dahil sa inyong tulong sa ating liderato," she added.

The President said that to further enhance the favorable peace and order situation in the country, she scheduled the signing into law today of the anti-terrorism bill, which has been renamed the Human Security Act of 2007.

The "landmark" anti-terror bill, which was ratified by Congress during a special session last Feb. 19, seeks to impose a prison term of 40 years on any act of terrorism.

"The anti-terror bill is a landmark in the battle against evil waged by all freedom-loving Filipinos and allies in the world. It upgrades our preemptive capability to check the conspiracies of harm and mass murder, and to contain the movement of arms and funds to sow mayhem," the President said.

"We will keep bombers at bay as we drive up confidence in the Philippines, grow jobs, increase incomes and lift the people from poverty," she added.

The President enjoined the convention participants to continue to work with the government so that the "social payback" resulting from the "tough economic reforms" carried out by her administration would be felt by the people.

She pointed out that the economic reforms, such as the Expanded Value Added Tax (E-VAT) Law which increased the VAT imposed on goods and services from 10 to 12 percent, allowed P15 billion to be added to the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) for each LGU this year.

"Dito sa ating pinag-ibayong pakikibaka, nagtitiwala ako sa inyong mga board members na patuloy tayong magkakapit-bisig sa landas tungo sa reporma, katarungang panlipunan at kaunlaran ng ekonomiya," the President said.

"Hinubog ninyong mga lokal na opisyal ang centerpiece ng demokratikong Pilipino. Nasa harapan kayo ng dakilang pagbabago," she added.

In the same speech, the President vowed to just focus on the national agenda including the generation of jobs, maintaining stable prices and peace and order, and leave politicking to the candidates.

"Ipapaubaya ko na sa inyo ang ating Team Unity," the President said, referring to the administration senatorial candidates who are now on the campaign trail in the different parts of the country.

"Magsisikap tayo upang ma-garantiya ang edukasyon at kalinga sa kalusugan. Magsusulong tayo ng Green Philippines agenda upang alagaan ang ating kapaligiran at pagandahin ang ating pamayanan. At gagawin natin ito sa pakikipagbalikat sa inyo -- mga opisyal natin sa probinsya -- upang masiguro na umabot ang mga biyaya ng bagong ekonomiya sa bawat sulok ng Pilipinas, hindi lamang sa Metro Manila," the President stressed.

Malacaņang assured today the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 would definitely be opened to the public as soon as all safety matters are resolved.

Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesperson Ignacio R. Bunye said in a statement President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo wants a full assurance of public safety in relation to the opening of the mothballed facility.

"The President has instructed the transport authorities and the Manila International Airport Authority to thoroughly resolve the remaining structural issues and put the early inauguration of the terminal back on the fast track," he said.

The MIAA has postponed the opening of the NAIA-3 to ensure the safety of the public against structural defects. It was originally scheduled to open this month.

NAIA general manager Alfonso Cusi said the decision of the MIAA board was based on the formal recommendation of TCGI Engineers Inc. and Ove Arup and Partners HK Ltd., which reviewed the structural design and construction of NAIA-3.

Bunye said as soon as all safety matters are resolved, the facility will be opened to the public

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ordered the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) today to spearhead talks with other government agencies in extending livelihood projects to Muslim merchants in Quiapo, Manila.

In an informal dialogue held at Barangay 647, Zone 67 in San Agustin St., San Miguel, Manila, the President instructed MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando, Optical Media Board Chairman Edu Manzano, and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Director General Augusto Syjuco to initiate talks with the Land Bank of the Philippines on the possible conversion of a repossessed lot along Carlos Palanca St. into a livelihood site such as pearl making and selling.

Fernando along with the other officials, vowed to initiate a meeting with Land Bank officials.

The President then turned over a certificate to operate the "Tindahan Natin" to Jamira Buleg. The business is worth P20,000 as funded by the National Food Authority (NFA).

She also gave 120 TESDA certificates of training scholarship worth P5,000 each to Barangay 647 Chairman Suharto Buleg to be distributed to his constituents. Fifty of the certificates are for scholarship training for call centers, 50 for welding training and 20 for butchery skills development.

During the visit, Syjuco presented three out of 15 scholars who have finished their scholarship from TESDA and are ready for deployment to Dubai.

The President urged Chairman Buleg and his fellow barangay officials to seek for an alternative source of income aside from buying and selling pirated compact discs (CDs).

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed into law today the landmark anti-terrorism bill, giving legal muscle to the government’s war against terrorism.

In ceremonies held at the Heroes Hall of Malacanang this afternoon and attended by the diplomatic corps, Cabinet secretaries and legislators, the President signed Republic Act No.9372 or the "Human Security Act of 2007," described as "An Act to Secure the State and Protect our People from Terrorism."

The new law, considered by the President as an "institutional landmark of the 13^th Congress" as it comes at a time when the "world looks upon the Philippines as a strong global player in the fight against terror," was the result of the consolidation of House Bill 4839 and Senate Bill 2137.

Principal authors of the law were Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile and Rep. Simeon Datumanong, chair of the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights and House Committee on Public Order and Human Rights, respectively.

The President had said earlier that an anti-terror law would give the government’s all-out war against terror "legal teeth" as terrorism would now be a crime.

"Now that we have more legal teeth in this fight, we shall continue to sharpen the intelligence and operational capabilities of the Armed Forces and Police, modernize and further professionalize them, and broaden the domestic and international alliance that will give us the edge to win and prevail," the President said when the Senate ratified the anti-terror bill before Congress went on recess last February.

The law’s Declaration of Policy states that: "It is the policy of the State to protect life, liberty, and property from acts of terrorism as inimical and dangerous to the national security of the country and welfare of the people, and to make terrorism a crime against the Filipino people, against humanity, and against the law of nations."

The President said with an anti-terror law in place, the inevitable defeat of the homegrown terror group Abu Sayyaf and the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) and Al Qaeda terror cells would happen in the very near future.

Under the law, the crime of terrorism includes piracy in general or mutiny in high seas; rebellion or insurrection; coup d’etat, including acts committed by private persons; murder; kidnapping and serious illegal detention; and, crimes involving destruction such as arson.

The crime of terrorism is punishable by 40 years of imprisonment without the benefit of parole.

Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Counter-Terrorism Task Force Chair Benjamin Defensor , in an interview, described the (anti-terror) law as "very concerned on human rights, in totality, compared to other countries’ anti-terror laws."

"It has protection clauses not found in other countries (laws)," he said, adding that the international community is "concerned on what help (the anti-terror law) is to the regional and international fight against terrorism."