The Municipal; Peace and Order Council (MPOC) of Balilihan, Bohol  has passed a resolution lauding the decision of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to grant amnesty to communist rebels, a move signaling the sincerity of the national government to attain genuine peace and reconciliation in the country.

The MPOC chaired by Balilihan Mayor Victoria M. Chato thanked the President “for granting amnesty to members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) and other communists rebel groups” in the country.

In the resolution, which was coursed through the Bohol Provincial Peace and Order Council (BPPOC) and forwarded to Presidential Assistant for Central Visayas Felix C. Guanzon, the MPOC noted the longing of the Boholanos for lasting peace and cited the Presidential amnesty as an expression of genuine reconciliation.

“Lasting peace in the countryside cannot be achieved in the country unless a community is secured from any form of disturbance that hinders the attainment of peace,” the resolution said.

Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Regional Director Pedro Noval Jr. forwarded the resolution to Guanzon last Oct. 31.

The President signed last Sept. 6 Proclamation No. 1377 granting amnesty to communist rebels, saying the proclamation is “essential to attaining peace and reconciliation.”

The amnesty program is itself “an integral component” of the Arroyo administration’s comprehensive peace efforts as mandated in Executive Order (EO) No. 3 dated Feb. 28, 2001 -- one of President Arroyo’s earliest peace overtures.
 

Proclamation No. 1377, which shall take effect upon the concurrence by a majority of the members of Congress -- is also part of the Social Integration Program for former rebels as provided under Administrative Order No. 172 which the President issued on March 23 this year.

Under AO 172, the principal body at the national level that would coordinate and monitor the implementation of Proclamation 1377 which was designated as the National Council for Social Integration (NCSI).

In issuing Proclamation 1377, the President stressed that “accepting rebels back into the folds of the law through amnesty, and eventually providing them access to the government’s existing socio-economic services, are essential to attaining peace and reconciliation in the country.”

Amnesty, added the Chief Executive, is an “instrument of reconciliation,” aside from being a “path for their (the communist rebels’) return to a peaceful, democratic, and pluralistic society.”

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Saying that those who have more in life should share their bounty with the less fortunate especially during the holiday season, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo called on the “new generation” of Chinese businessmen to keep rice affordable to the poor this Christmas.

The President made the exhortation during the launching and induction of officers of the Philippine Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCCI) at the Manila Hotel Saturday night.

She pointed out that “rice is not only a staple for our people, it is symbolic of our ability to deliver on our promise to feed those less fortunate.”

“We are committed to ensuring that the needy throughout our nation have access to affordable rice during this important holiday season. I ask you to help me in this project,” she told the PCCI officers and members.

The President also expressed her appreciation to the Filipino-Chinese community for being “instrumental in realizing our gains in the fight against poverty and for peace and security.”

“Eradicating poverty is the central mission of this government and our society. As we enter the holiday season, it is essential that every person of means helps those in need. The government is doing everything in its power to be a catalyst for this process,” the President said, as she congratulated the newly inducted PCCCI board of directors headed by chairman emeritus Francis Chua, board chairman John Co, and president Anson Tan.

“We can’t say that we have moved forward as a nation if we don’t lift up the poor and hungry amongst us… In the near term, we must address the very real issues of hunger and poverty that affect us here and now,” she said.

While noting that an independent survey, which came out last Monday, showed that those living in poverty have declined, the President pointed out that a lot remains to be done.

She stressed the need to “accelerate the trend to eliminate poverty more aggressively. That is why, during the holiday and beyond, we will do everything in our power to bring rice to those who need it most and work hard to protect the poor from high prices. I ask for your help in this hard work.”

The President also called on the PCCCI to be part of the non-government organization (NGO) network that will distribute food via support feeding programs that will be funded out of the P1-billion hunger-alleviation fund that she had just ordered released.

The allocation is intended to boost the government’s food production and distribution program to mitigate hunger during the remainder of 2007.

The President called on the new PCCCI leadership to support all her administration’s anti-poverty programs by “working hand in hand with the government to create more jobs and broader business opportunities.”

She said the Filipino-Chinese community could contribute a lot to the country’s wellbeing as there are “much more that needs to be done to improve human rights, secure budgets for healthcare and education, invest more in peace and order and advance our national interests with other nations on trade, economy and security issues.”

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President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo attended the weekly Mass of the El Shaddai religious community last Saturday (Nov. 10).

Wearing a green dress, the President arrived as scheduled at 6:15 p.m. for the Mass dedicated to birthday celebrant Mrs. Belen Velarde, wife of El Shaddai “servant-leader” Mike Velarde at the Amvel Business Park in San Dionisio, Paranaque.  

Before the President’s arrival, an El Shaddai lady member who was called on stage to make a “testimony” about her life said she was very happy that former President Joseph Estrada had been released from detention, and thanked the President for granting him presidential pardon.  

Also in the Mass that was attended by the usual horde of white-clad El Shaddai members were Environment Secretary Jose L Atienza Jr. and Sen. Edgardo Angara. 

The Mass – dubbed “Saturday Family Appointment with El Shaddai” -- was officiated by Bishop Teodoro Bacani, El Shaddai spiritual adviser. 

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President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said her administration will continue to boost investments in new elementary school buildings and other facilities to ensure that deserving students have greater access to education.

Speaking at the induction of the new officers of the Philippine Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (PCCCI) at the Manila Hotel Saturday night, the President also said she would strengthen the government’s “college scholarship program” to allow graduating secondary education students a crack at “higher education.”

“Education is a core value of Philippine society and family life. The hard working men and women of this nation put their family first. The best gift a family can give to a child, and any nation can give to its people, is access to a good education,” she said.

“Education is the foundation of economic prosperity and individual liberty, justice and self-worth. That is why we will continue to invest in new school construction at the elementary school level,” the President said adding, “We will continue to bolster our college scholarship program for those high school students ready for higher education.”

The Department of Education (DepEd) has reported an increase of 1,180 classrooms in both private and public institutions for the elementary sector since academic year 2002.

This increase in the number of classrooms also translates to an increase of student-enrollees from 12,996 in 2002 to 13,121 this year.

The Commission on Higher Education (CHED), meanwhile reported that more than 52,000 students availed themselves of the various study grants and loan packages offered by the commission and its affiliates for academic year 2003-2004.

These scholarships, which include the well known Student Financial Assistance Program (STUFAP), have opened the doors for numerous and deserving students a chance to garner tertiary level education and a chance at a better life.

In the same speech, the President lauded the selfless men and women who make up the bulk of the teaching profession calling them the “backbone of the educational system.”

She called on the PCCCI and all Filipinos to “help” her in making these teachers feel the praise and respect they richly deserve.

“We are deeply indebted to the hard work and dedication of all of our teachers. Their work is noble and patriotic. They deserve the praise and respect of every Filipino,” the President said.

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President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s job-creation program to alleviate poverty has a new gained the unqualified support of the first set officers of the newly launched Philippine Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCCI).

In a “Manifestation of Support to the Ten-Point Agenda” of the President, the chamber promised to help generate not only “six million” but “10 million jobs” in six years.

Under her Ten-Point Agenda, the President is targeting the creation of six-10 million jobs by 2010 through interventions in priority development areas.

Signed by 44 Chinese business leaders, the manifesto expressed the chamber’s “unqualified support” for the President’s Ten-Point Agenda, “more particularly in the generation of ‘opportunities for 10 million jobs’ by bringing in more investors in the area of tourism, agriculture, mining and other manufacturing industries.”

In her speech at the PCCCI launching and induction of officers led by chairman emeritus Francis Chua, board chairman John Co and president Anson Tan, the President asked the “new generation” of Chinese leaders to work “hand in hand with the government to create more jobs and broader business opportunities” to help eradicate poverty which, she said, is the “central mission of this government and our society.”

President Gloria Arroyo’s Ten-Point Agenda is as follows:  

1.       The creation of six million jobs in six years via more opportunities given to entrepreneurs, tripling of the amount of loans for lending to small and medium enterprises, and the development of one to two million hectares of land for agricultural business.

2.       The construction of new buildings, classrooms, provision of desks and chairs and books for students, and scholarships to poor families.

3.       The balancing of the budget.

4.       The "decentralization" of progress around the nation through the use of transportation networks like the roll-on, roll-off and digital infrastructure;

5.       The provision of electricity and water supply to barangays nationwide.

6.       The decongestion of Metro Manila by forming new cores of government and housing centers in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

7.       The development of Clark and Subic as the best international service and logistic centers in the region.

8.       The automation of the electoral process.

9.       A just end to the peace process; and

10.  A fair closure to the divisiveness among the Edsa 1, 2 and 3 forces.

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Presidential Management Staff Director General Secretary Cerge Remonde said he remains hopeful that politics will not derail the implementation of the 80.2 kilometer, $1.126-billion North Rail, a flagship project of the administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Remonde, who is also the government’s infrastructure czar, aired his concern over the possible adverse effect of “politics” on the project in an interview with Radyo ng Bayan.

Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile and House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. have tangled over the North Rail, a project designed to boost the development of the Urban Beltway Super Region.

"The North Rail is one of the most important projects of the government. We hope that this won’t be delayed because of politics," Remonde said.

The PMS official said the North Rail would be one of the President’s legacy projects to boost the country’s competitiveness, as well as uplift the lives of the people.

Enrile earlier said De Venecia had asked him to go easy on the Chinese contractors of the project. The Speaker admitted having discussed the issue with Enrile in 2005 but "only to ask him not to rock the boat because the Chinese government threatened to withdraw (from the project) after Enrile attacked it."

The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) has assured the President that it would keep its construction timetable for the first phase of the project which is scheduled to be completed by February 2010, while the second Phase is set to be finished in 2011.

North Rail President Jose Cortes Jr. said full blast construction of the first section of the project would definitely start in January 2008, as the remaining squatters residing along the old train line to be revived would be relocated by December.

The project is divided into two sections: Section I spans Caloocan, Valenzuela, Meycauayan, Marilao, Bocaue, the Guiguinto Multi-Modal Station up to Malolos; while Section II starts from Malolos to Calumpit in Bulacan up to Apalit, San Fernando, Angeles and the Clark Multi-Modal Station, all in Pampanga.

Section I is "generally along the PNR ROW (right of way) at-grade (and) partly elevated," specifically along the 3.7-km. Valenzuela Viaduct, the longest viaduct along the Caloocan-Clark railway line.

Section II, on the other hand, is also "generally along PNR ROW, at-grade, partly elevated, partly tunneled."

Section I will cost $452.32, while funding for Section II was placed at 673.67 million.

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