The closing budget gap is fueling the confidence that creates jobs, and we are speaking of well-paying jobs as evident in the finding that Philippine salaries growth is the third fastest in the Asia Pacific.

And we are proving that good salaries are not a bar to investment but a guarantee of more profit to the firms that are putting a stake in our country.

No one can beat the Philippines when it comes to fiscal discipline, and the Filipino people when it comes to productivity and excellence. But economic strength is more than fiscal stability and a good payback to our human resources; we have to pump prime the system and guarantee that its returns are felt in the countryside and grassroots levels through better infrastructure, quality education and a healthier people.

At the same time, this social flow down of economic gains must be reinforced by plugging revenue leaks, prosecuting tax cheats and smugglers and nipping graft in the bud through less red tape and stricter controls on wayward spending.

The strategic partnership of the Philippines and the United States remains steadfast and firm despite the issues that tend to invite transient controversy.

Our ties have withstood the test of time through generations past and will never be dispirited as the Philippine-American alliance is anchored on the overall platform of democracy and prosperity, in the fight against terror and poverty.

We take the interest shown by the United States in the Philippine human rights situation as a constructive gesture coming from a time-honored ally.

APALIT, PAMPANGA -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said today that the string of investments being pledged, undergoing construction or entering the final stages of completion are evidence of renewed investor confidence in the Philippines.

In her speech at the inauguration of the newly constructed Sulipan Bridge in Apalit, Pampanga this morning, the President noted that her tough economic reform measures have finally paid of with the favorable outlook of foreign investors towards the country.

The President said the inauguration of United Laboratories’. (Unilab) newest manufacturing subsidiary, Amherst Laboratories, and Toyota’s groundbreaking of its P5-billion transmission plant both in Laguna this week showed that the Philippines is now emerging as the next best investment location in the Asia Pacific.

Aside from Unilab and Toyota’s investments, the President said that various infrastructure projects such as the recently inaugurated bridge in Isabela and now the Sulipan bridge were undertaken and heavily invested in by foreign corporations such as the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) and Hanjin Heavy Industries, Inc.

"Lahat ng mga investments na ito: ay dahil sa kompiyansa sa ating ekonomiya, dahil sa ating pagmaneho ng ating budget," she pointed out.

The closing budget gap, according to the President, is fueling confidence that creates jobs.

"We are speaking of well paying jobs gaya ng mga welders sa Hanjin shipyard. Noong araw, mangingisda (sila) at subsistence fishermen, ngayon highly paid welders. Gaya ng mga trabaho sa Toyota transmission plant ang daming mga inhinyero, mga technical factory people. Sa Unilab naman, madaming mga chemists," she explained.

"All these high paying jobs are evident in the finding that the Philippines’ salary growth is the third fastest in the Asia Pacific," she added.

The President countered criticisms that the increase in salaries of Filipino workers would be detrimental to corporations especially small and medium enterprises which make up a big chunk of companies in the Philippines.

"Good salaries are not a bar to investment but a guarantee of more profits to the firms that are putting a stake in our country," she explained.

The Chief Executive pointed out that all these: increased investments, more jobs and fiscal discipline, contribute to the sustained economic stability.

She stressed however that several factors have to be thrown into the mix to guarantee that the economic benefits will be felt by the people.

"No one can beat the Philippines when it comes to fiscal discipline and the Filipino people are world class when it comes to productivity and excellence but economic strength is more than fiscal stability and a good payback to our human resources," the President said.

"We have to pump prime the system and guarantee that it returns our stake in the countryside and grassroots level through better infrastructure gaya ng tulay para sa mga magsasaka sa Isabela at gaya ng itong tulay na ito sa Sulipan," she added.

The President stressed that "we also have to provide payback in quality education and a healthier people," while reinforcing economic gains by "plugging revenue leaks, prosecuting tax cheats and smugglers, and nipping graft in the bud to less red tape and stricter controls on wayward spending."

The Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) reported to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo Friday night that box office revenues from the local film industry grew 40 percent in 2006 to P1.437 billion, up from the P1.025 billion of the previous year.

FDCP Chairman Rolando Atienza told the President during a dinner with the entertainment media in Malacanang that this was the first time in the last seven years, "and maybe this century," that local box office revenues have increased, outgrowing even foreign major studios whose sales in the Philippines dipped from P2.492 billion in 2005 to P2.370 billion last year.

Despite the rise in movie ticket prices, Atienza attributed the growth to the increasing quality of local movies and the government’s sustained fight against piracy as well as the creation of the FDCP with the signing of Republic Act No. 9167 on June 2002.

The FDCP then was tasked to establish a Cinema Evaluation Board (CEB) which, in turn, provided an incentive reward system for movie producers based on the degree of excellence in direction, screenplay, cinematography, editing, production design, music scoring, sound and acting performances.

In 2006, the CEB graded 32 local films based on quality as A or B, which granted a 100 percent and 65 percent tax rebate, respectively, representing 76 percent of the total films that applied for evaluation.

Social Welfare Secretary Esperanza Cabral and famous hairstylist Ricky Reyes reported to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo Friday night that more than 2,000 jobs were generated during the "Bangon Bicol" livelihood project conducted this year in the provinces of Camarines Sur and Albay.

Cabral and Reyes submitted their report to the President during a dinner with the entertainment media in Malacanang.

Reyes told the President that they conducted livelihood trainings in hair cutting and hair styling from Jan. 27 to Feb. 12 in Camarines Sur and Albay that generated 2, 236 jobs in the area.

Last December, Reyes said the President encouraged their organization to conduct livelihood trainings in Bicol to help those affected by the series of typhoons that hit the country last year.

Reyes heads the Filipino Hairdressers Cooperative (Fil-Hair Coop), the oldest association of hairdressers in the country with thousands of members in 18 chapters nationwide.

TAKING a break from her hectic schedule, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo launched on Friday (Mar 16) a "Go Negosyo" book, which focuses on entrepreneurial success stories.

The President autographed the books of 20 lucky individuals who were given complimentary copies in rites held at the National Bookstore (NBS) in SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City.

She also watched a video presentation of the government’s micro-finance program, which now boasts of 2.44 million beneficiaries nationwide.

The President was joined by Presidential Assistant for Entrepreneurship Jose Concepcion III, NBS owner Socorro Ramos, Presidential Management Staff Head Cerge Remonde, GMA President Atty. Felipe Gozon, and Vivian Tan, daughter of taipan Lucio Tan.

During a tour of the store, Ramos gave the President eight books along with a copy of the World Map as part of her coffee table book references.

Concepcion thanked the President for giving her time to the book launch and signing complimentary copies.

The "Go Negosyo Book of 50 Inspiring Entrepreneurial Stories" as authored by Jose Concepcion III is a 317-page compilation of the success stories of top entrepreneurial mavericks who have influenced a professional life out of revolutionary ideas and sheer determination.

Aimed at inspiring Filipinos to acquire a stable livelihood to battle poverty’s incessant lashings, it showcases the life transformations of 50 business magnates.

Malacaņang expressed confidence today that the United States will not tie up its military aid to the Philippines to any human rights conditions, saying Washington is well aware of the efforts of the government to solve the series of unlawful killings which is now the subject of a probe by the U.S. Senate.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said the Arroyo administration is heartened that American officials have taken positive note of government action on the issue of the so-called extra-judicial killings, referring to Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Eric G. John’s statement before the U.S. Senate Sub-Committee on East Asian and Pacific Affairs recognizing Philippine government efforts.

In a statement, Ermita quoted President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as saying that the developments in the US "are one more sign of the international community’s support for the Philippines in fighting those human rights violations. "

"They are not out to condemn us; they want to learn more so they can see how to help," he quoted the President as saying.

Before the US Senate Sub-committee, John said, " we (US government) stand ready to be of additional assistance to the Philippine authorities."

He also stated, "we are encouraged that President Arroyo has taken several steps to address this problem, including establishing a police task force to investigate the killings and file charges against the murderers, as well as a commission under the leadership of former Supreme Court Justice Melo."

The United Nations and other Diplomats have likewise expressed their desire to increase assistance, according to Ermita.

"Perhaps some U.S. military assistance could be dedicated towards human rights training in the field and the needs of the new AFP Human Rights Office," said Ermita, who also chairs the Presidential Human Rights Committee.

Press secretary Ignacio R. Bunye assured in another statement that the strategic partnership of the Philippines and the U.S. remains steadfast and firm despite the issues that tend to invite transient controversy.

"Our ties have withstood the test of time through generations past and will never be dispirited as the Philippine-American alliance is anchored on the overall platform of democracy and prosperity, in the fight against terror and poverty," he pointed out.

Bunye said the Arroyo administration is taking the interest shown by the U.S. as a constructive gesture coming from a time-honored ally.

The International Peace Foundation (IPF), a Vienna-based independent, apolitical and religious foundation with the common patronage of the 21 Nobel Peace Prize Laureates, will host a first ASEAN wide 50-event series in the Philippines from November 2007 up to April 2008.

His Serene Highness (HSH) Prince Alfred of Liechtenstein, chairman of the IPF Advisory Board told President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo during his call at the Malacanang Music Room this afternoon that the 21 Nobel Peace Prize Laureates have confirmed their participation on the upcoming event.

"We are honored to come to the Philippines. We will bring 21 Nobel Peace Prize Laureates and they are excited to come," the Prince told the President.

President Arroyo expressed elation over the choice of the Philippines as the first country to host the event.

"Welcome to the Philippines. I am glad that you chose my country to be part of this event," she said.

The IPF, which also has an Asian office in Bangkok, will host an ASEAN wide series called "Bridges – Dialogues Towards a Culture of Peace" starting in the Philippines in November to stimulate the intellectual, scientific and cultural exchanges in the ASEAN region and to enhance its further development.

This is part of the foundation’s previous successful "Bridges" series of events in Europe and Asia where it carried out more than 700 programs and hosted 250 events with 26 Nobel Laureates in Thailand.

Each Nobel Laureate will visit various parts of the Philippines including Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao for at least 4-6 days.

During their visits, the Nobel Laureates will conduct public lectures, seminars, workshops and dialogues in partnership with the Asian Institute of Management, University of Santo Tomas, Department of Science and Technology and the Department of Foreign Affairs and various institutions.

The topics will cover wide range of issues in the fields of politics, economy, science, culture and will highlight the challenges of both globalization and regionalism and its impact on development and international cooperation.