It is clearly reflected in the BSP (Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas) survey that consumer sentiments are actually rising in the Metro Manila and we expect these sentiments to eventually flow down to the provinces as we continue to improve incomes through jobs and enterprise, fight inflation and bring more basic goods within the reach of the poor.

The Filipino people have more than enough reasons to be optimistic as the economy continues to ride on the crest of stability and resiliency, which not even poisoned politics can shake.

Concerns over the forthcoming elections are understandable but should not be cause for undue apprehension as all Government institutions, with COMELEC at the lead, are working closely together to ensure clean and peaceful elections.

We will not allow lawlessness or fraud to disrupt our hard earned political stability and the gains of the economy.

The President remains focused in shoring up confidence in order to increase investments and attract more jobs that will improve the lives of the poor and protect our people’s purchasing power.

We welcome the visit of a high official from the US State Department to take an extensive and objective look at this issue; and we take it as an opportunity to get the facts straight for the benefit of the American people, especially FilAms in the United States.

We are an ally of the United States in democracy and the protection of human rights; and we intend as we have done in the case of all well-meaning international institutions to be transparent and candid in these matters, whether they pertain to violations by the revolutionary left or a few misguided soldiers.

To ensure that basic services are directly delivered to the poor communities, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo visited the biggest barangay in Sampaloc, Manila today and awarded 120 scholarship vouchers for out-of-school youths.

The scholarship certificates are for the training of the youth as call center agents, welders and in the slaughtering of swine and cattle as part of the PGMA Training for Work Scholarship Project of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

The President awarded the certificates to Barangay Chairman Arturo Regala after her roundtable discussion on anti-hunger and anti-poverty as social payback in Malacaņang.

The President arrived at exactly 11:00 this morning at No. 218 A.H. Lacson Street where she was welcomed by some residents and barangay officials led by Chairperson Regala and Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Bayani Fernando.

The President then awarded to Hones Baustista a certificate to operate a "Tindahan Natin" which sells basic commodities, such as rice, sugar, coffee, among others, at very low prices.

During her meeting with barangay officials, the President assured them that the national government in coordination with the Manila City government would attend to their basic problems on informal settlers under the bridge, lack of potable water, illegal water and electricity connections, peace and order, and livelihood assistance.

"We expect these sentiments to eventually flow down to the provinces as we continue to improve incomes through jobs and enterprise, fight inflation and bring more basic goods within the reach of the poor," she pointed out in the vernacular.