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| 24 SEPTEMBER 2007 | ||
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| 24 SEPTEMBER 2007 | ||
| President Arroyo to witness turn over of 4 geothermal plants in Leyte |
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President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will witness
tomorrow (Tuesday) the turnover of four geothermal plants in Leyte under the
build-operate-transfer (BOT) contracts with Ormat Leyte Co. Ltd. to the
Philippine National Oil Co.-Energy Development Corp. (PNOC-EDC).
The turnover of the four facilities: the Mahanagdong A and B Topping Cycle Plants, Tongonan Topping Cycle Plant, and Malitbog Bottoming Cycle Plant, which have a combined installed capacity of 51 megawatts (MW), comes at a time when prices of crude oil in the world market have reached $81 per barrel. All of these plants use geothermal energy from PNOC-EDC's Leyte Geothermal Production Field (LGPF). PNOC-EDC said geothermal fluids go to the optimization plants either before they are directed to the main power plants, referred to as "topping," or after being directed to the main power plants called "bottoming" for additional electrical output. The Tongonan 1, Malitbog and Mahanagdong A and B plants provide power to the National Power Corp. for distribution to Cebu, through the Leyte-Cebu transmission interconnection project, and to Luzon through the Leyte-Luzon interconnection project. With the turnover tomorrow, all geothermal plants under the BOT scheme would be now under the PNOC-EDC operations as the four plants are the only ones under BOT contracts that PNOC-EDC has yet to take over. PNOC-EDC assumed last July the operation of the 232.5-MW Malitbog and 180-MW Mahanagdong geothermal power plants from CalEnergy International Ltd. when the 10-year cooperation period under the plants' respective energy conversion agreements ended. PNOC-EDC took over last year the operation of the 132-MW Upper Mahiao power plant, also from CalEnergy. The Leyte Optimization Plants, together with the Upper Mahiao, Malitbog and Mahanagdong facilities all use steam from the LGPF. The LGPF is PNOC-EDC's biggest steam field,
powering nearly 60 percent of the company's total installed capacity. The President has been an advocate of the development of clean alternative energy sources like geothermal power so as to lessen and eventually eliminate the country’s dependence on imported crude oil for power as well as contribute to the lessening of gas emission that contributes to climate change. This is so because the Philippines is the second largest producer of geothermal energy in the world next to the United States. |
| PGMA names Razon new PNP Chief |
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ILIGAN CITY - President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
announced here today the appointment of Philippine National Police (PNP)
Deputy Chief for Administration, Chief Supt. Avelino Razon, as new PNP Chief
to replace retiring Director General Oscar Calderon, effective Oct. 1. The President made the announcement in her address at the Iligan Business Forum at the Maria Cristina Hotel in Barangay Poblacion, this city. Razon, a graduate of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class 74, served as director of the former Western Police District Command (WPDC) now Manila Police District, Southern Police District Command, National Capital Regional Police Office (NCRPO) and head of the Presidential Security Group (PSG) during the term of former President Fidel. V. Ramos. Razon will take over the PNP Chief portfolio on the exact date Calderon goes on compulsory retirement. In her speech in the business forum, the President congratulated Iligan City Mayor Lawrence Cruz and its city councilors for the realization of the P8.9 million surveillance and security camera system project that would protect the civilian populace against the threat of lawlessness and terrorism. Before her speech, the President inaugurated the multimillion-peso surveillance and security camera system project upon her arrival at the Iligan City National High School gym at around 2:30 p.m. In that program, the President switched on the button for the official operation of the project, inspected the computer systems and took a look on the computer monitor showing the peace and order situation in all public markets, public plaza, shopping malls, churches, commercial/business establishments, among other areas where the 40 units of surveillance cameras were installed. The new technology, she said, is really a big help for the PNP in protecting their communities. "Congratulations for your new equipment to secure Iligan City. The camera security system will not only help the Iligan City Police, but also incoming PNP Chief Avelino Razon," the President said. The President then inducted the 992 purok/zone presidents of the 42 barangays of the city and witnessed the pledge of loyalty and allegiance of some 2,000 civilian volunteer organizations (CVOs) to augment the ongoing campaign against crime and lawlessness. |
| Gov't close to inking peace pact with MILF - PGMA |
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ILIGAN CITY – An optimistic President Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo said today the government is now close to signing a peace
pact with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). The President based her optimism on the fact that majority of Filipinos living in Mindanao are now helping the government realize their long-cherished dream of peace that would bring a new era of economic development in the region. "We are very close to an agreement with the MILF. With your support, I remain optimistic we can overcome the final barriers on ancestral domain so that we can bring finality to the peace process," she said in her speech at the Iligan Business Forum this afternoon. The President informed the business leaders of Iligan that in the last six years, Mindanao vastly improved in terms of safety, security and economic growth. She also told them that despite the ancestral domain issue, the current agreement between the GRP and the MILF are making things better “and it will take off if both sides achieve lasting peace that would signal the pouring in of millions (of dollars) in foreign aid.” The President noted that the terrorist group Abu Sayyaf remains a big obstacle in the way of bringing peace, stability and order to Southern Philippines. "They are the menace to peace and a beacon for international thugs who wish to join their ranks," she pointed out. . The President informed the business leaders that her government is ready to provide amnesty to all communist rebels who want to return to the mainstream. She said she believes that for the Philippines to become a modernized country, the government should "put a stop to the ideological nonsense and criminal acts" of the communist group. She noted that based on the record of the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) is now a low-level threat to the country. |
| PGMA may tap local phone firms for Nat'l Broadband Network and Cyber Education Project |
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ILIGAN CITY - President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
assured today business leaders here that despite the suspension of the
$329-million National Broadband Network (NBN) deal with state-owned Chinese
telecom provider ZTE Corp. and the cyber education project, her
administration will continue to look for an alternative way to fulfill her
digital infrastructure dreams for the entire country that would provide
high-end learning methods not only for students in the urban communities but
also in the rural or far-flung areas. The President issued the assurance as she directed Transportation and Communications Secretary Leandro Mendoza to ask local telephone companies how they can help the government fill the gap created by the suspension of the NBN project. She issued the directive during her speech before some 300 businessmen and investors who attended the Iligan Business Forum held this afternoon at the 7th Floor Sky Room of Maria Cristina Hotel here. Last Saturday, the President suspended the implementation of the NBN deal and the cyber education project due to escalating political noise the two projects have created. The President directed Trade and Industry Secretary Peter Favila to convey her order to his Chinese counterpart. The President told Iligan businessmen that her administration would increase its investment for better social services in the form of health insurance subsidies for the indigent families, food for school children, and for construction of more school buildings, acquisition of new textbooks and teaching materials, and training programs for teachers and school administrators. "We have moved on as a nation. The people are much, much more concerned about taking advantage of our economic progress than to backslide to political protest," she said as she stressed the fact that Filipinos now prefer peace, order and stability. "We have been through many upheavals. Time and again, the people have indicated we want a stable government and economic progress. That is what we are getting now. That is the sentiment, I believe, will prevail," the President added. |
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PGMA's
Speech at the Iligan Business Forum Maria Cristina Hotel, Iligan City September 24, 2007 |
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Malipayong piyesta kanatong tanang mga Iliganon! We celebrate St. Michael’s Feast Day with the good news that our economy has reached a new level of maturity and stability with some of the strongest macroeconomic fundamentals in 20 years. We have aimed high and have met the challenge: 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 into balance, pre-pay our debts and raise employment, but we have. 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: the Philippines is one of the best values in Asia for domestic and foreign investors. We are committed to consolidating the gains in new revenue by making long overdue investments in human and physical infrastructure. This includes billions of pesos in education, healthcare and training along with billions in new - bridges, apil na ni-ini ang Panguil Bay bridge nga mokonekta sa Misamis Occidental ug Lanao del Norte; - airports, apil na ni-ini ang Laguindingan Airport, nga gihatagan ug pondo nga duol sa P1billion alang sa tuig 2007. Gisugdan na ang iyang civil works ni-adtong Pebrero; and - roads apil na ni-ini ang Iligan-Bukidnon Road, nga tibuok budget kinahanglan labaw sa P1 billion ug naga-schedule nga mokompleta sa 2012, apan ongoing na ug naa ta bag-o nga release nga P50 million aron aron sigi’g padayon ang trabaho, ug ang Iligan C-3 Road nga city road apan nitabang ang DPWH sa feasibility study, ug naa allocation sa 2008 budget nga P50 million isip contribution sa city government, all these infrastructure to upgrade the competitiveness of the Philippines. Sa mga manguuma, gihatagan ug alokasyon nga P200 million matag bulan ang Farm to Market roads sa Mindanao. Karong tuiga, 24 ka FMR sa Lanao del Sur ug pito sa Lanao del Norte, nga gabili ug P 62 million ang humanon. Apil ini ang karsadang Tangcal-Tinago sa Linamon nga magpalambo sa agrikultura ug sa turismo. Ang alokasyon alang sa irigasyon sa tibuok nasod P500 million matag bulan, ug ang P200 million ni-ini gihatag sa Mindanao. Apil sa gipasulabing proyekto sa irigasyon mao ang Malaig Irrigation project sa Butig, Lanao del Sur. Sa koryente, kaugan kita sa inyong katuyuan alang sa pag-amyenda sa EPIRA aron dili na moapil ang 10% systems loss charges kaninyo tungod kay dool kamo sa gigikanan ug koryente. On digital infrastructure, in my inaugural address last 2004 I said: Hangad kong makapasok sa eskuwela-ang-bawat bata, may sapat na lugar sa silid aralan at may computer linkage sa bawat paaralan. I also said that by 2010 the network of digital infrastructure will have linked the entire country. But due to political noise, we have suspended the national broadband and cyber education projects. Meanwhile, I have instructed our Secretary of Transportation and Communication to discuss with the telephone companies the gap created by the suspension and ask them how they can help. I assure our hardworking, competent civil servants planning and implementing projects that we appreciate their laudable work. I take great pride in the discipline of my administration to focus on the economy and our overall economic health. Dakong parte sa pag-uswag ang gihatag sa mga negosyante sa Iligan ug mga probinsiya sa Lanao ug ang ubang negosyante sa tibuok nasod . We see signs of a wave of entrepreneurial activity in the Philippines. We need a vibrant middle class if we are to join the ranks of modernized nations in 20 years, which is my aspiration. In several key areas we have promoted a new entrepreneurial class. One is microfinance, where we have extended more than P100 billion in loans to low and middle income men and women all over the country who want to start their own businesses. In addition, our Central Bank has created a series of investment incentives and programs for foreign remittances to be invested in capital enterprises. Gipangutana ko kan Secretary Favila kung nganong wala pa gipatuman ang BAMBE Law. Ang implementasyon naa sa level sa local officials. Unya sa dinner kauban ang local officials usa ni sa atong agenda items. Ang inyong tema – Preserving economic gains through investments in peace and order – nagpa-ila sa inyong ka-andam aron mas aktibo kamo sa kalinaw ug kalambo-an. Congratulations sa labing bag-ong gamit sa seguridad sa atong syudad, ang Camera Security System. Makatabang ni-ini sa trabaho sa incoming Chief PNP Avelino Razon. A peace agreement with the MILF will bring a new era of economic development to Mindanao. Coupled with this is our new paradigm for peace in the region. At a time when hard power has not proven its value in the world, our model for dealing with the flashpoint of Mindanao has focused on a unique combination of soft and hard power to promote peace. We have been able to meld together confidence-building measures grounded on strong interfaith dialogue and cultural awareness; investment in economic and basic infrastructure development; and mutual security arrangements to keep the peace in Mindanao. We are very close to an agreement with the MILF. With your support, I remain optimistic we can overcome the final barriers on ancestral domain so that we can bring finality to the peace. However, we have achieved a great deal. The region is vastly improved in terms of safety, security and economic growth. So the current agreements are making things better; it will really take off if we achieve lasting peace and the millions of foreign aid promised comes pouring in. The Abu Sayyaf stand in the way of bringing peace, stability and order to the Southern Philippines. We have decided we must wipe them our once and for all. They are a menace to peace and a beacon for international thugs who wish to join their ranks. The Communist rebels have spent years as a low-level threat. It is time for their disruption and violation of human rights to be put to rest so that the nation can move ahead. They impede the progress and development of a number of rural areas. They are responsible for a wide range of human rights abuses. If we are to become a modernized country, we have to put a stop to their ideological nonsense and their criminal acts once and for all. Gitanyag ko ang amnestiya alang sa mga rebeldeng komunista nga bu-ot nang mabuhi sa kalinaw. Ang atong labing importanteng inisyatiba alang sa kalinaw mao ang atong human investment program aron ibalik sa katawhan ang mga bunga sa atong kalambo-an. Over the next three years, we will translate the positive results of our reforms to real benefits for the people. We will increase investment in our country and our people to: 1) improve social services such as health insurance subsidies for indigent families and food for school programs and 2) boost educational support in our efforts to reduce poverty by investing in better school buildings, new textbooks and teaching materials, and training programs for teachers and school administrators. Alang sa Mindanao, ang atong konsentrasyon ana-a sa pagpadaghan sa mga serbisyo alang sa health ug edukasyon para sa labing pobreng mga probinsya. We have moved on as a nation. The people are much, much more concerned about taking advantage of our economic progress than the backsliding of political protest. People want peace, order and stability. We have been through many upheavals. Time and again, the people have indicated we want a stable government and economic progress. That is what we are getting now. That is the sentiment I believe will prevail. Ani-a sa atong mga kamot ang pagmantene sa kalinaw ug kauswagan. Pakusgan nato ang atong panaghi-usa aron padayon nga motubo ang ekonomiya ug aron momantene ang kalinaw dinhi sa atong pinanggang syudad. |
| Statement of Secretary Ignacio R. Bunye Re: Secretary Neri |
| At 6:45 p.m. today, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita advised Secretary (Romulo) Neri of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s instructions for him (Neri) to stay behind and attend the Senate hearing. |
