President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo asked Congress to enact laws to transform state response to political violence as she emphasized her administration’s determined drive against terrorism in her seventh State-of- the-Nation Address (SONA) she delivered at the joint opening session of the 14^th Congress in Quezon City this afternoon.

Describing it as a threat to the country’s sovereign, democratic, compassionate and decent way of life, lawless violence, according to the President, must be fought using values, which the Filipino people hold dear.

"It is never right and always wrong to fight terror with terror," she pointed out.

Among the laws that she expects Congress to pass are those that will protect witnesses from lawbreakers and law enforcers, guarantee swift justice from more empowered special courts, and impose harsher penalties for political killings.

She also asked Congress to enact laws reserving the harshest penalties for the rogue elements in the uniformed services "who betray public trust and bring shame to the greater number of their colleagues who are patriotic."

"We must wipe this stain from our democratic record," she stressed.

The implementation of the Human Security Act (HSA) of 2007, more popularly known as the anti-terror law, had been the subject of criticisms from various sectors, particularly critics of the administration who expressed apprehension over its possible abuse.

The government, however, allayed such fears, saying that the HSA has built-in safeguards to prevent the law from being abused.

These safeguards include the award of P500,000 for every day that a person falsely accused of terrorism spends in detention.

The Filipino talent is unbeatable.

This was how President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo described today’s young Filipino achievers who won medals in international educational competitions for their "unbeatable talent and intellectual capability."

In her hour-long seventh State-of-the-Nation Address during the opening of the 14^th Congress at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City, the President congratulated these Filipino students for showing to the world their unprecedented talent.

The achievements of the Filipino students were attributed to the administration’s P3 billion investments in English, Mathematics, Science and Engineering Research and Development Technology.

Proof of this is the Scientist of the Year award given by the Harvard Foundation to Biochemist Baldomero Olivera of the University of Utah recently.

In the International Math and Science Olympiad 2006 in Jakarta, Indonesia, Robert Buendia of Cavite Central School and Wilson Alba of San Beda in Alabang, Muntinlupa City won gold medals.

Six Filipinos, namely: Ivy Ventura, Mara Villaverde, Hester Mana Umayam and Janine Santiago of Philippine Science High School; Melvin Barroa of Capiz National High School, and Luigi John Suarez of Benedicto National High bagged the highest award in the May 2007 Intel Young Scientists competition in New Mexico.

Another Filipino student, Amiel Sy of the Philippine Science High School also dominated the Mathematics World Contest in Hong Kong last week.

Earlier this month, Diona Aquino of the Presidential Management Staff (PMS) together with her team from the University of the Philippines (UP) won the Youth Innovation Competition on Global Governance in Shanghai, China.

In Information Technology (IT), the President cited Warren Ambat of Baguio City High School for winning the most innovative teacher and leadership award in Cambodia last February, topping contestants from 70 countries.

During her speech, the President also lauded the Gawad Saka awardees or the first agrarian reform beneficiaries of 2007. The awardees were Ananias Cuado of Compostela Valley, Demetrio Tabelon of Butuan City, Nelson Taladhay of Sultan Kudarat.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo urged Congress today to resurrect and approve the Cheaper Medicines Bill which had been archived after it failed to pass the congressional mill after it was overtaken by the adjournment of the 13^th Congress last month.

"I ask Congress to pass the Cheaper Medicines Bill that was almost enacted in June. Almost is not good enough," the President said in her 7th State of the Nation Address (SONA) before the joint session of Congress in Quezon City this afternoon.

The Philippines has one of the highest drug prices in Southeast Asia.

The President called for strong support for the measure that would reduce prices of medicines for the benefit especially of the poorest of the poor.

She said that way back in 2001, she had taken steps to reduce the prices of medicines, especially those commonly used by the people, by putting up barangay drug outlets.

To date, a total of 10,000 "Botika ng Barangays," also known as people’s drugstores, have been opened all over the country, the President said.

Paracetamol, a generic medicine which costs P3 per tablet in drugstores, is available at only P1 at the "Botika ng Barangay," she said.

She also said that antibiotics, which is sold by big drugstores at P20 per capsule or tablet, can be bought at the "Botika ng Barangay" for only P2.

"Kaya sa isang survey, halos kalahati ang nagsabing abut-kaya na ang gamot, kumpara sa 11 percent noong 1999," the President said.

It is doable, opposition Congressman Roilo Golez of Paranaque City said of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's development targets and strategies to sustain the country's progress even beyond her term which the President mentioned in her State-of-the-Nation-Address (SONA) this afternoon at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City.

"Mukhang doable naman itong mga targets. These are very modest targets and if Congress and Malacanang and the Cabinet can work together we can achieve a lot of these things and make it really easy for the new President by 2010 to take over," Golez said.

Golez said the President showed in her speech that she really wanted to work with Congress as she cited the accomplishments and cooperation of even members of the minority and opposition.

"This augurs well for a very good working relationship between Malacanang, the President and Congress including members of the minority," Golez said.

By citing the contribution of even the opposition, Golez said the President is "on a very reconciliatory mode and that is good."

"We in the minority are prepared to have a very good working relationship with Malacanang and with the majority here in the House of Representatives. I think we can assure the public on that," Golez said.

Since the last SONA, Golez cited several reforms that include the lifestyle checks, strengthening of the Office of the Ombudsman, and the creation of six million jobs in six years, as "very notable achievements."

Golez said the President made very good objectives   such as the call for legislations for the provision of cheaper medicines, electoral reforms, harsher penalties for political killings and rogue members of the military and police, and amendments to the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) of 2001 which, he said, is crucial to accelerate the modernization of the energy sector.

In an interview before the SONA, Sen. Manuel A. Roxas also said that opposition senators would support legislations being pushed by the administration as long as it would benefit the general public.

"We will not be obstructionists as long as it is for the good of the people," Roxas said.

Former First Lady Imelda Marcos said she is very optimistic on the country's future as she called on everyone to unite and work for the good of the nation.

"For the sake of the Filipino people, let us all get united so that we will have progress for this country," Mrs. Marcos said.

Trade and Industry Secretary Peter Favila said   that during the President’s speech, he was seated in front of the country's business leaders who all agreed that the SONA was a nice presentation and the people are now beginning to see the fruits of the implementation of government reforms.

By 2:24 p.m., about one hour before President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s scheduled 3:30 p.m. touchdown at the House of Representatives helipad, a composite team of 28 military men from various branches of military service were already practicing how to receive the President. They would later don the white pants and blue shirt uniform of the reception line, complete with rifles.

By 2:30 p.m., an hour before the President’s arrival, two helicopters landed and unloaded the AFP Chief of Staff, Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, and other top military officials. Esperon would later welcome the President as she alighted from the Presidential car, and led her through the ceremonial guards on the way up the north entrance of the House of Representatives.

Senate President Manuel "Manny" Villar arrived at 2:40 p.m. At 2:45 p.m., House Speaker Jose de Venecia was reelected to his post, and would acknowledge the arrival of Villar as he was delivering his ready acceptance speech.

PGMA’s helicopter landed at exactly 3:30 p.m. as scheduled.

PGMA was wearing red terno with billowing skirt, paired with red heels; while her daughter Luli was in green.

A slimmed-down First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo, in black pants and cream Barong, escorted the President. The First Couple was also accompanied by their daughters-in-law, whose husbands are both congressmen – Mikey, of Pampanga (2^nd District); and Dato, Camarines Sur (1^st District).

Reception Line included:

Senate President Manuel Villar; House Speaker Jose de Venecia; Sen. Francisco Pangilinan; Sen. Miriam Santiago; Sen. Lito Lapid; Sen. Ramon Revilla Jr.; Sen. Miguel Zubiri; AFP CS General Esperon; and the three service branch commanders, among others.

SONA PROPER:

The President started delivering her SONA at 4:05 p.m., and ended it at 5:04 p.m.

Pre-SONA greetings: The President greeted her predecessor, former President Fidel Ramos; Chief Justice Reynato Puno; and the host city mayor, Mayor Feliciano Belmonte.

Rounds of applause:

The first volley of claps started with the introduction of the President; followed by claps for the third paragraph which was actually PGMA’s opening salvo: "tapos na and halalan at pamumulitika; panahon na para maglingkod nang walang damot…"

Widely applauded by the audience was the President’s recalling the 14 fallen Marines who were on mission to locate and rescue kidnapped Italian priest Giancarlo Bossi: "We pay tribute to the fearless fourteen who were savagely massacred at Tipo-Tipo trying to pursue a peaceful and progressive Philippines. We will not disappoint their hopes. We will not waste their sacrifice. We will not be swayed from the course we have set in this conflict for peace with justice throughout our land."

The loudest claps/ovations went to five items of the President’s SONA:

With the improvement of the country’s economic conditions, an energized investment climate, a strong peso and sound fiscal situation, the government is now able to invest in programs and projects whose economic benefits would trickle down to the masses of the Filipino people

In her 7th State of the Nation Address (SONA) this afternoon before the joint session of the 14^th Congress, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo cited the accomplishments her administration had achieved in terms of projects and programs that would let the people feel the fruits of an improving economy and the path to her vision of a modern and globally competitive Philippines.

"With the tax reforms of the last Congress, and I thank the last Congress, we have turned around our macroeconomic condition through fiscal discipline, toward a balanced budget. We are able to pay our debts, interest rates are low and increased revenue collection for the progress of the Filipinos," the President said.

She said her goal is for the Philippines to join the circle of First World nations in the next two decades. "By then poverty shall have been marginalized; and the marginalized raised to a robust middle class."

Stressing that infrastructure is the backbone not only of peace and security but more importantly of a modern nation, the President said the government has been investing hundreds of billions of pesos in physical and human infrastructure.

She said the next three years will see record levels of well thought out and generous funding for the following priorities:

---Investments in physical, intellectual, legal and security infrastructure so as to increase business confidence and more new jobs;

---Investments in a stronger and wider social safety net such as cheap but quality medicine, low-cost housing, quality education, quality teachers, quality books, more scholarships and English proficiency training; and

---Investments in achieving a long-lasting peace in Mindanao, anti-terrorism campaign and in putting a stop to human right abuses.

In spreading the economic development throughout the entire region, away from imperial Manila, the President said her blueprint for building a future, the Super Regions are well on their way to development with the needed infrastructures almost in place.

"The Super Regions was not a gimmick for the occasion but the blueprint for building a future," she said.

Using a wide screen in her power-point presentation, the President enumerated the various projects already completed or in various stages of development in the Super Regions.

She said two executive departments – Agrarian Reform (DAR) and Agriculture (DA) -- would devote 30 percent of their budgets for the development of Mindanao as the Agribusiness Center in the South.

To underscore the priority she has given to the development of southern Philippines, the President said she has ordered the transfer of the DAR to Davao.

She also stressed that roads and bridges were being constructed in Mindanao and roll on-roll off (Ro-Ro) facilities have been established not only in the South but in order parts of the archipelago to ensure safe and faster movement of goods and services.

Among the major infrastructure projects in Mindanao are the Dapitan-Dakak, Sibuco-Siraway-Sioco-Baliguin, Dinagat Island Network, Manay-Mati, Maguindanao-Lebak roads.

"We want better airports, new bridges and ample energy for Mindanao’s rising economy," she said.

The President said the Dipolog, Cotabato and Pagadian airports would be improved this year.

She also said that in Central Philippines, the tourism Super Region, there is a need to "protect its natural wonders and provide the means to travel to those wonders."

For Boracay, "the leading overall destinations," the Kalibo airport is now an international terminal while the Aklan-Libertad Pandan Road would connect Boracay to the natural park in northwest Panay Peninsula.

"Meanwhile, we are improving other Panay roads—the Iloilo-Santa Barbara Road and Metro Iloilo Radial road would be completed in 2009, she said.

The President said that in Guimaras, the road from Jordan to Sibunag Ro-Ro would be built in 2009. The Puerto Princesa-Taytay road was opened last March.

The Taytay-El Nido road was also opened last March while the Puerto Princes-Bataraza road is set for completion in December 2009.

More roads and airports, as well as seaports, are being upgraded and constructed in the Visayas in a move to link the islands. These include the Bohol Circumferential Road, Maasin Ro-Ro port, and Jagna Ro-Ro port.

For the Bicol region, the President mentioned the Bicol River Basin and Watershed Project funded by the World Bank.

She said that for North Luzon to become an agribusiness center in the north, a total of 1,000 kilometers of farm-to-market roads are programmed for construction. Of this number, 200 kilometers have already been completed.

The Halsema Highway from Mt. Data to Bontoc and Tabuk-Tinglayan Road are under construction, while airports are being built in Baler and Batanes.

The Poro Point international terminal is being built while the Bangui Bay Wind Power Project is being expanded.

For the Urban Beltway, "our top magnet for industry and investment," the President said that the Subic-Clark Tarlac Express Road is in its final stages of construction while the Clark airport now has an approach control radar.

The Coastal Road is being constructed while the NLEX-SLEX interconnection project is ongoing.

The President underscored the need to take care of the environment while achieving a modern Philippines.

"Investing in vital infrastructure includes building up on the environment as a reflection of commitment to quality life. People need to breathe clean air and swim in clean water while we build manufacturing and bridges to span our waters," she said.

The President also underscored the need to invest in education, saying the government has invested P150 billion this year or P29 billion more than that of last year in the construction of classrooms and the acquisition of more books and fund scholarships.

She said it is her "ardent wish that the vision that I have outlined will be fully achieved when I step down."

"It is my unshakable resolve that the fundamentals of this vision will be permanently rooted, its progress well advanced and its direction firmly fixed with our reforms already bearing fruit," the President said.