We condemn the latest attacks made against innocent civilians in Zamboanga.

Malacañang today condemned the series of three powerful bomb explosions in Zamboanga City last night that left at least 14 persons injured.

In a statement issued this morning, Press Secretary Ignacio R. Bunye said President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has ordered the police and the military to get to the root of the attacks and bring their perpetrators to justice.

"We condemn the latest attacks made against innocent civilians in Zamboanga," Bunye, who is also Presidential Spokesman, said.

In a broadcast interview this morning with Radio Mindanao Network (RMN), Bunye noted that the objective of the perpetrators behind the bomb blasts, was to scare and terrorize the people. He lamented that their victims were innocent civilians.

I would like to call on our people to clearly appreciate the looming crisis arising out of the unabated price of oil in the world market.

Let us face this challenge squarely and close ranks.

I have directed the Department of Energy to give regular bulletins to the public on the direction and impact of this threat.

The entire nation, all sectors and communities, must engage in a serious, consistent effort to conserve energy and support all means to bring down our overall consumption of energy and exploit alternative sources of fuel.

This is not a simple test of our resiliency as a people but a real challenge to our economic survival.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today inspected the P650-million coco bio-diesel plant of Chemrez Inc. at Libis, Quezon City, Asia’s first coconut bio-diesel plant.

Chemrez’s Coconut Methyl Ester (CME) coco bio-diesel product that goes by the brand name ENVIROTEK BIO-DIESEL PREMIUM is now being marketed by oil player Flying V initially through five of its existing gas stations in and around Metro Manila.

Accompanied by Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla, President Arroyo also graced the formal launching by Flying V of the product at its gas station in Cainta, Rizal.

The launch marked the commercial advent of coco bio-diesel in the local market, which is designed and expected to help counter the adverse impacts of rising oil prices in the world market.

Chemrez Inc. is one of two companies licensed and accredited by the Department of Energy (DOE) to produce coco bio-diesel in the country. The other is Senbel Sine Chemicals that has yet to complete its production facilities

President Arroyo hailed Chemrez’s P650-million pioneering coco bio-diesel investment which, she said, is critical for the country’s search for alternative fuel in the light of the progressively spiraling oil prices in the world market.

Oil has already hit US$65 per barrel in the world market from $30 per barrel only about a year and a half ago.

The President appealed to the motoring public to help optimize the use of fuel and energy by supporting the bio-diesel project. Coco bio-diesel, she said, as an alternative to regular diesel, is not only much cheaper but also more environment-friendly.

Coco bio-diesel now sells at P30.50 per liter compared to the regular diesel’s price of P29.90 per liter, but President Arroyo explained it comes out still cheaper because of its more mileage run per liter.

Studies showed that with coco bio-diesel, motorists can cover some 50 kilometers more per full tank or a savings of about P120 per full tank.

Chemrez operations manager Jun Lao said they decided to invest good money on coco bio-diesel development and production "because we can see the needs are pressing . . . and our motorists are suffering from rising costs of fuel and we can see this as an emerging industry."

Lao also noted that while other Asian countries are still formulating their bio-fuel programs, Chemrez Inc. has taken the cue from President Arroyo’s desire to develop renewable energy from indigenous sources to attain energy independence.

Lotilla, for his part, said the Chemrez plant, intended solely for coco bio-diesel production, would provide sufficient and reliable supply of this indigenous alternative fuel. The plant presently can produce 15 million liters annually.

"The first phase of the expansion project, targeted for completion by the first quarter of 2006, will increase the annual production capacity to 60 million liters. The second phase, to be completed in 2008, will further increase the capacity to 180 million liters," Lotilla added.

Lotilla and Quezon City 3^rd District Rep. Mathias Defensor, Jr., joined the President during the plant visit and inspection.

Earlier, President Arroyo and her party were welcomed by Flying V chair Ramon Villavicencio, chief operating officer Paul Tanjutco, and Rizal Governor Casimiro Ynares Jr. and 1^st district Rep. Michael John Duavit.

The President noted that Fying V is a new oil player but has taken the lead in helping the government promote programs to reduce dependence on imported fuel.

"We encourage others to follow this move and offer pre-blended CME diesel from the pumps to give motorists the convenience of using coco-diesel without the hassle of mixing it themselves," Lotilla said.

Outgoing Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff, General Efren Abu is likely to accept Malacanang’s offer to become the next Philippine ambassador to Indonesia.

Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesperson Ignacio R. Bunye said one of the major factors that would entice Abu to take over the post of Ambassador Shulan Primavera is his friendship with Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

Abu and Yudhoyono were classmates in 1991 at Forth Leavenworth in Kansas, USA.

"We still communicate. We’re good friends," Abu said in response to his association with the Indonesian head of state.

"The diplomatic assignment to Indonesia has long been planned for General Abu. It is most likely he will accept it," Bunye said in today’s media briefing at Malacanang.

Abu will retire as AFP chief on Monday. He will be replaced by the Philippine Army commanding general Lt. Gen. Generoso Senga.

A member of Philippine Military Academy Class 1972, Abu was supposed to retire last June when he turned 56.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo asked him to extend his stay due to then ongoing destabilization threats against the administration.

Abu also headed the troops that crushed the infamous Oakwood mutiny by a group of young military officers in Makati City on July 27, 2003.

He was likewise the Task Force Libra head that prevented supporters of jailed former President Joseph Estrada from entering Malacanang on May 1, 2001.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today underscored the need to implement energy conservation and efficiency measures to cushion the impact of escalating oil prices which she noted as having breached the critical $65 per barrel.

"I would like to call on our people to clearly appreciate the looming crisis arising out of the unabated price of oil in the world market. Let us face this challenge squarely and close ranks, the Chief Executive said in a statement.

She noted that the current record high crude price level compares with just $30 per barrel prevailing a year and a half ago.

In her statement, the President also said that she has directed the Department of Energy "to give regular bulletins to the public on the direction and impact" of the government’s various energy efficiency and conservation (Enercon) measures.

"The entire nation, all sectors and communities, must engage in a serious, consistent effort to conserve energy and support all means to bring down our overall consumption of energy and exploit alternative sources of fuel," President Arroyo said.

Malacanang plans to create a Consultative Constitutional Commission that would study proposed amendments to the Constitution to help expedite the tedious work of the contemplated Constituent Assembly (ConAss) or Constitutional Convention (ConCon).

The Commission is expected to be isolated from the influences of the negative results of surveys and other unfavorable comments about the proposed shift to a parliamentary-federal form of government.

Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesperson Ignacio R. Bunye made the disclosure about the Commission in a press briefing this afternoon.

Asked about the people to be named to the body, Bunye said he would not want to preempt President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on the composition of the team.

"I can only guarantee that all sectors would be represented," the Press Secretary assured.

Bunye said there are no definite and detailed proposals for Charter change, but stressed the advantages of the parliamentary-federal system over the existing US-style presidential system.

President Arroyo has also made known her intent to consult and inform the public, especially those living in remote provinces, about Charter change.

Interior and Local Governments Secretary Angelo Reyes and Defense Secretary Avelino Cruz are on the forefront of public consultations on Charter change.

In her State-of-the-Nation Address last July 25, the President urged Congress to start the great debate on Charter change.