October 17 2007

PGMA's Speech at Camiguin's 28th Lanzones Festival
Mambajao, Camiguin
October 17, 2007

Halos matag tuig sukad milingkod ako nga Presidente, ani-a ako sa inyong festival.

Sa akong pagbisita, nitanaw ko paunsa ninyo gigamit ang mga oportunidad nga gihatag kaninyo aron mo-ayo ang inyong kinabuhi.

Kaniadto kauban sa pulo ka labing pobreng probinsiya sa nasod. Apan sa kakugi sa Camiguingnon ug sa bisyon ni kanhing Gobernador, karon Congressman Pedro Romualdo, nawala na ang Camiguin sa gitawag nga Club 10.

Bisan pa ug ang Camiguin usa sa labing gamay natong probinsiya, ani-a dinhi ang labing tam-is nga lanzones sa Pilipinas ug ang inyong tourist spots dili lang nindot kung dili sab lain kumpara sa makit-an sa ubang bahin sa nasod. Ang gikinahanglan ninyo kaniadto mao ang tsansa aron ma-ilahan sa tibuok kalibutan kung unsay ikahatag ninyo; ug karon, na-a na kaninyo kining higayona.

Aduna sab kamo’y Lanzones Festivals ug mga perya nga nagadala ug daghang turista.

Camiguin offers excellent opportunities in a range of sectors, particularly various forms of tourism including eco-tourism.

We have a unique opportunity to get it right from Day One: to introduce industries that are clean and profitable. This includes eco-tourism.

We believe in the power of the global trading system, kauban ang turismo, to alleviate poverty and modernize nations through market forces.

Ang turismo ang labing maayong istratehiya sa paglambo alang sa inyong probinsiya.

Ang pagpalambo sa inyong probinsiya ang nag-encourage kanako aron iapil kamo dayon sa Central Nautical Highway.

Kining nautical highway maoy gadala dinhi sa mga katawhan gikan sa Bohol ug Cebu, agi sa Guinsiliban, ug makadala sa inyohang mga lanzones sa mga uban ng probinsya agi sa Bohol.

Alang sa Camiguin, kining mga unang benepisyo mao ang pagpa-ayo sa RORO (Roll-on, Roll-off) port dinhi sa Mambajao ug ang pagpa-ayo sa karsadang Guinsiliban-Mambajao.

Gusto nato karon nga mangita ug investor sa RORO ferry boat kan kinsa makahatag ug Development Bank of the Philippines ug concessional loan.

Our economy has reached a new level of maturity and stability with some of the strongest macroeconomic fundamentals in 20 years. Six years ago, no one thought we could get more revenues, cut down on tax cheats, strengthen the peso and move the stock market. And no one thought we could bring our budget deficit to almost zero, pre-pay our debts and raise employment, salamat sa mga congressman sama kan Governor karon JayJay Romualdo.

Today, the Philippines is on a path to permanent economic growth and stability. Investments are pouring in, the peso is strong, our stock market has reached historic heights and we have created six million jobs in six years. And the world is taking notice.

We take great pride in the discipline of our administration to focus on the economy and our overall economic health. I am proud of the fact that we are pre-paying our external debt. We will balance the budget in 2008, two years ahead of schedule. We are making sure to use the gains to invest in vital social and economic needs.

Ang mosunod nga proyekto ang P10 million alang inyong cross-country road ug P10 million alang sa inyong palengke. Giabi-abi ko ang mga Camiguingnon! Malipayong Lanzones Festival kaninyong tanan ug daghang salamat sa inyong kanunayg’ suporta!

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PAGC investigating alleged Palace incident

A full-scale investigation by the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission (PAGC) into the alleged Oct. 11 incident at Malacanang is already underway as ordered by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo last Friday yet, Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said today.

Bunye made the statement after the President authorized him to disclose to the media the ongoing PAGC probe of the alleged cash giving at Malacanang even as he maintained that no official Palace fund was released for that reported purpose.

He said the President ordered the probe Friday after learning through media reports that certain lawmakers and local officials have admitted receiving cash gifts when they attended separate meetings in Malacanang last Oct. 11, although the common denominator in all these accounts is that they do not know the source of the said funds.

Bunye noted that PAGC chairman Constancia de Guzman had already begun the probe a day after the alleged incident took place but was not authorized to disclose details of the investigation given the confidential nature of such PAGC investigations.

“The investigation will focus on who gave these supposed cash gifts to the congressmen and governors,” Bunye said. “Nobody in Malacanang can just disburse or distribute any fund without the proper budgetary allocation and standard auditing procedures.”

He noted that the reason that the President had not been commenting on the issue was because she had already ordered a thorough probe on this matter.

“President Arroyo wants the PAGC to find out who was the source of the funds and what he or she was doing at the Palace during an official function,” Bunye added.

Bunye said the probe would also find out whether there was bribery involved and for what reason.

He noted that Pampanga Gov. Ed Panlilio himself and the other personalities who claimed they received cash all pointed out that what they had received were not bribes.

All of them also said they received the cash gifts but with no advice nor directive whatsoever about what they would do in exchange for the money.

As to claims that these alleged cash gifts were given to local chief executives and lawmakers to help push a supposed weak impeachment complaint against the President in Congress and thus, insulate her from further moves to topple her, Bunye said this was totally absurd and unnecessary.

Bunye said that it does not matter whether a weak or strong impeachment complaint is lodged against the President in the House of Representatives, because only 30 or so congressmen would support it, given the dominance of the administration-backed coalition in the chamber.

He pointed out that 80 votes are needed to allow the House to forward an impeachment complaint against the President to the Senate, which the opposition cannot achieve because it can only muster, at most, 30 votes.

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PGMA allocates P20 M for Camiguin's development

MAMBAJAO, Camiguin—President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo announced here today the allocation of P20 million for the cross-country road and market project development of this island province which, she said, should put one of the erstwhile poorest provinces in the Philippines in the radar map of tourists.

In a speech kicking off the 28th Lanzones Festival here this morning, the President said that the development of the province is foremost in the agenda of the national government as it forms a vital part of the Central Nautical Highway which would bring people from Bohol and Cebu and other parts of the country through Balbagon and Guinsiliban.

“For Camiguin,” she said, “these are the initial benefits of the development of the RORO (Roll-on, Roll-off) port in Mambajao and the repair of the Guinsiliban-Mambajao road.”

"Gusto nato karon nga mangita ug investor sa RORO ferry boat kan kinsa makahatag ng Development Bank of the Philippines ug concessional loan (We would like to look for an investor for the RORO ferry boat who can get from the DBP a concessional loan),” she added in the vernacular.

The Chief Executive said she had instructed Transportation and Communications Secretary Leandro Mendoza to establish a pier or port in southern Cebu “so that the RORO ferry transport system will be realized and the route profitable."

She pointed out that almost every year since she became a President, she has always attended the Camiguin Lanzones Festival.

"Every time I visit here, I look at how you used the opportunities that were given to you to improve your life,” she said.

The President pointed out that Camiguin used to be among the 10 poorest provinces in the country but because of the hardwork of the Camiguignons and the vision of the former Governor now Congressman Pedro Romualdo, Camiguin is now out of the so-called Club 10.

She stressed that even if Camiguin is one of the smallest provinces, one can find here the sweetest lanzones in the country while the tourist spots “are not just wonderful, but also comparable to those we have seen in other parts of the country.”

"What you needed was the chance to be known to the whole world what you can offer and now you already have this chance. You also have your lanzones festival and fairs which bring tourists here,” she added,

The President said that Camiguin offers excellent opportunities in a range of sectors particularly various forms of tourism, including eco-tourism.

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President graces opening of 28th Camiguin Lanzones Festival

MAMBAJAO, Camiguin - President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo broke today the ceremonial “lucky pot” during the “Pabuenas rites” opening the three-day 28th Camiguin Lanzones Festival in this island province.

The opening rites were followed by street dancing presentation by students from the Yunbing National High School.
The President arrived on board the presidential chopper at the Mambajao airport at 10 a.m. with Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano and Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus Dureza.

She was welcomed at the airport by Camiguin Gov. Jurdin Jesus Romualdo, Rep. Pedro Romualdo, Mambajao Mayor Ma. Luisa Romualdo and Presidential Assistant for Northern Mindanao Jojo Pupos.

From the airport, the President proceeded to the Camiguin Provincial Plaza where she installed Governor Romualdo as the new chair of the Regional Development Council for Region 10.

The Romualdos thanked the President for always finding time to grace the Camiguin Lanzones festival’s opening salvo, an annual major event in Camiguin which has evolved into a major tourist attraction in the country. It showcases the bountiful lanzones harvest, sports competition, street dancing and parade.

The Chief Executive’s next stop was the Camiguin Agro Fair, Trade, Tourism Pavilion. Here, she cut the ribbon that formally opened the Agro-Industrial-Technology Trade Fair.

She tasted approvingly samples of sweet Camiguin lanzones with Governor Romualdo and Secretary Dureza. This was followed by her tour of the fair trade booths, exchanging pleasantries with traders particularly Vjadep Bakeshop owner Ella Jose, maker of the Camiguin's bread embossed with yema flavor.

The Agro-Industrial-Technology Trade fair displays the wealth of agriculture produce in the province paticulalry the industrial projects and programs of the five municipalities of Camiguin.

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Malacañang declares Oct. 29 a special non-working holiday

Malacañang has declared Oct. 29, Monday, a special non-working holiday throughout the country for the synchronized Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections.

Proclamation No. 1403, signed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Tuesday, Oct. 16, states that: “ It is important to give the people the fullest opportunity to participate in the said elections and exercise their right to vote.”

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has said that 51,376,318 registered voters--- 48,221,863 for barangay and 3,154,455 for SK polls--are expected to troop to 238,486 precincts established for the Oct. 29 polls.

Voters are expected to elect a total of 671,120 barangay and SK officials in 41,945 barangays nationwide.

The synchronized barangay and SK elections are based on the newly amended Republic Act No. 9340, approved on Sept. 22, 2005 by the 13th Congress of the Philippines which prescribed that the said polls would occur on the last Monday of October 2007 and in subsequent elections after three years.

The last synchronized barangay and SK polls were held in July 2002.

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PGMA to distribute land patents in Sarangani

ALABEL, Sarangani -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will distribute here Thursday some 350 land patents covering a total of 3,210 hectares spread out in seven Sarangani municipalities.

The awarding, which will be held at the stately provincial capitol here at 11 a.m., will have President Arroyo handing out 50 patent certificates each to the mayors of the towns of Alabel, Glan, Kiamba, Maasim, Malapatan, Maitum and Malungon.

The President will be assisted in the patents distribution by Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Lito Atienza and a representative of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

In the same venue, the President will also lead in the ceremonial turnover of the P357-million Septage Treatment Facility Project of the DENR which covers six towns of Sarangani and one town of Davao del Sur.

Aside from the DENR projects, the President will also grace the regional cooperatives summit here whose highlight will be the awarding of the five most outstanding cooperatives per identified sector in Region XII for the year 2007.

A project of the Regional Cooperative Development Council (RCDC) of Region XII, winning cooperatives belong to the following sectors: multi-purpose agriculture; non-agriculture; credit; health services; and transport services.

In-between the opening DENR and closing RCDC activities, the President will have three other “turnover” activities for three other government agencies – the Department of Agriculture (DA), the Department of Health (DOH), and the Department of Education (DepEd).

For the DA, President Arroyo will turn over three projects – the P7.1-million Tahayako-Datal Basak Farm-to-Market Road (FMR) in the town of Maasim; the P3.4-million Sufatubo-Baliton FRM in the town of Glan; and the completed P4-million lower Biangan Communal Irrigation System (CIS) Rehabilitation Project in Barangay Poblacion Malungon.

Still for the DA, specifically for the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), President Arroyo will turn over five units of multi-purpose boats totalling P1 million for the five coastal municipalities of Alabel, Glan, Kiamba, Maitum, and Malapatan.

Sea-side Sarangani province is the southernmost mainland province of Mindanao.
For the DOH, the President will turn over P100,000 worth of Botika sa Barangay medicines for four barangays at P25,000 worth each: Barangays Lebe and Suli in Kiamba; Barangay Lumastil in Maasim; and Barangay Glan Padidu in Glan town.

The DepEd, together with the DA’s National Food Authority (NFA), will have the President distributing a kilo of rice each to pre-school to Grave VI pupils who belong to its Priority Accelerated Hunger Mitigation Program.

President Arroyo is expected to touch down at 9:30 a.m. at the General Santos City International Airport in South Cotabato where she will be met by regional, provincial and municipal local government and military and police officials.

She will then motor for some 30 minutes to Sarangani in the southwest for the turnover ceremonies.

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PGMA assures: No Pinoy to ever go hungry again

ESPERANZA, Agusan del Sur - President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo assured here Wednesday that her administration will do everything to ensure that no Filipino will experience hunger again in the near future.

In an impromptu speech highlighting the observance of the National Week for Overcoming Extreme Poverty, the President said she wants this agricultural and aquacultural town of Agusan del Sur to be the model in the national government’s war against poverty.

“I decided to observe the National Week for Overcoming Extreme Poverty here because I want Agusan del Sur to be the national model in our war against poverty,” she said in the vernacular.

Coming from Camiguin province where she graced the 28th Lanzones Festival, the President flew here to personally turn over some important agricultural projects and health services facilities.

The Chief Executive led the inaugural rites and ribbon cutting of the P30 million newly-built Esperanza Medicare Community Hospital and officially turned over the supervision to Hospital Chief Eliza Gunay. Construction of the hospital was begun on Feb. 2, 2003 and completed only last October

The 78- bed hospital is one of the priority projects of then Gov. Adolph Edward Plaza.

Assisting the President in the ribbon-cutting were Agusan del Sur Gov. Maria Valentina Plaza, Lone District Rep. Rodrigo Plaza, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) vice president Edward Plaza, Esperanza Mayor Leonida Manpatilan, National Anti-Poverty Commission Assistant Secretary Maya Santos, and Barangay Poblacion Chairperson Flordeliza Calderon.

After the inaugural rites, the President turned over a P63-million check to Governor Plaza for the construction of farm-to-market roads and the rehabilitation and improvement of agricultural infrastructures.

She also turned over the hybrid seed corn, hybrid malunggay seedlings, rice and corn thresher, and hand tractor to the Mahagkot Farmers Association.

The President then awarded the certificate to operate Botika ng Bayan to Esperanza Mayor Manpatilan while the certificate to operate the Botika ng Barangay was given to Barangay Chairperson Calderon.

She also awarded 100 Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) scholarship vouchers, 10 units of sewing machines, 10 goats for the Act for Peace Program of the province to all rebel returnees, and 10 cows for the Baka Alang sa Kauswagan ng Agusan del Norte (BAKAS) program and hybrid seedlings of fruit bearing trees for the Program on Reform and Utilization of Trees in Agusan del Sur (PRUTAS).

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PGMA sees death knell for red movement by 2010

BUTUAN CITY - President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said today that Communist rebels and similar armed groups should be a thing of the past by 2010 to advance the peace and development of a modern Philippines.

The President said this before some 2,000 participants during the culmination of the two-day Local Peace and Security Assembly (LPSA) and the first anniversary celebration of the Caraga Conference for Peace and Development (CCPD) at the Almont Inland
Resort here this afternoon.

Among those present were Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus Dureza, Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano, Philippine National Police (PNP) Director General Avelino Razon, Butuan Bishop Rev. Juan de Dios Pueblos, and the local chief executives of Agusan del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Surigao del Sur, and Surigao del Norte -- the provinces comprising the Caraga region.

The President said that although the Communist rebels have spent years as a low-level threat, they have impeded the progress and development of a number of rural areas, including in the Caraga region.

"We cannot deny that they are responsible for a wide range of human rights abuses. So, if we are to become a First World country, we have to put a stop to their ideological nonsense and criminal acts once and for all and we want that this will end by 2010," the President said.

She said the same is true with terrorist groups such as the Abu Sayyaf.

"The Abu Sayyaf (terrorists) stand in the way of bringing peace, stability and order to the Southern Philippines. We must wipe them out once and for all," the President said.

She added that forging a final peace agreement with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) would certainly bring total peace and development in Mindanao.

"We are close to an agreement with the MILF. We remain optimistic we can overcome the final barriers on ancestral domain issue so that we can bring finality to the peace," the President said.

Even without a final peace agreement, the President said Mindanao has vastly improved in terms of safety, security and economic growth "and I hope the world sees that."

"So the current negotiations are making things better; but Mindanao will really take off if we achieve lasting peace and the millions of foreign aid promised comes pouring in. Because the world wants peace in Mindanao and the world is ready to support the peace in Mindanao moving towards irreversible development," the President said.

She said the way to peace is not through the barrel of a gun but through the provision of jobs, food on the table, social justice.

As a result of various reforms, the President said the government is now able to heavily invest in human and physical infrastructure such as in education, healthcare, roads, bridges and schools.

The President said the government has long been offering an amnesty program for armed rebel groups that include their social integration as productive members of the mainstream.

The President expressed gladness on the positive outcome of the two-day assembly including the local peace workers' various conflict resolution and peace building initiatives.

"I am glad that part of your resolution is urging Congress to append the amnesty proclamation that we have made. I look forward that congressmen from Caraga
who are here to be the sponsors of the affirmation of this amnesty resolution," the President said.

She said she has also ordered Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Secretary Jesus Dureza and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) National
Development Service Command to submit to Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita the list of priority areas for the conduct and implementation of local peace
initiatives.

"As Commander-in-Chief, I have ordered the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, headed by Jess Dureza, and the Commanding General of the Armed Forces of the Philippines National Development Service Command -- a newly created Command whose job is not to fight but rather build infrastructure and community projects -- to submit to the Executive Secretary a list of areas scheduled for local peace initiatives such as what we are doing here in Caraga," the President said.

The President said the list should include the priority programs and projects due to be sustained, extended and/or launched in such areas in tandem with the peace efforts.

"The Executive Secretary shall then disseminate the list to agency heads for priority funding and implementation, based on the OPAPP-AFP schedule of peace initiatives and subject to regular updating based on conditions and requirements of the ground," the President said.

At noon, the President arrived at the Bancasi Airport here from Camiguin and was welcomed by local officials led by Butuan City Mayor Democrito Plaza II and Agusan del Norte Gov. Eripe John Amante.

After the tarmac welcome, the President boarded the presidential helicopter for Esperanza, Agusan del Sur to inaugurate the community hospital in the area.

Afterwards, the President went back here for the anniversary celebration of the CCPD and the local peace and security assembly, which is a multi-sectoral undertaking to strengthen local mechanisms in addressing peace and security problems for the development of the region.

Before her speech, the President witnessed the awarding of plaques of appreciation to CCPD peace builders.

Five Manobo-Higaonon leaders also offered the Royal Vestments to the President after the tribal ritual for peace locally known as "Pangapog."

Later in the evening, the President would host a dinner for members of the religious groups and other peace workers, local government officials, and the media also at the Almont Inland Resort here.

The President will stay overnight here and leaves Thursday morning for Sarangani Province.

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17 OCTOBER 2007