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| 02 FEBRUARY 2005 | ||
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| 02 FEBRUARY 2005 | ||
| Statement of the President |
The average Filipino will soon reap the fruits of confidence in the economy, which will not only bring in more investments, in jobs but also drive the overall agenda of urgent reforms. These positive developments do not happen by accident, these are the results of hard nosed assessments by objective analysts of the great potentials of our country and excellence and hard work of our people. These assessments are not limited to the economy but extend to the gains we have made in unifying our political institutions to put our fiscal house in order; in fighting corruption, terrorism and crime; in waging peace and in delivering on our pro-poor agenda. Philippine stability is dawning upon the whole range of national affairs and cutting across the regions and sectors. We must stay the course, seize the opportunity for reform and close ranks behind a brighter future. |
| Statement of Secretary Ignacio R. Bunye: On illegal logging |
The crackdown on big-time illegal loggers and their cohorts in the government goes hand in hand with our resolve to look for alternative livelihood for local residents affected, in order to win their full cooperation in the anti-illegal logging campaign. We will never forget the horror and pain brought by the landslides and flashfloods that recently hit the country. Our collective consciousness has been awakened on the need to protect our environment as a social, political and economic responsibility. |
| Statement of Secretary Ignacio R. Bunye: On cha-cha |
The time for amending the Constitution will come after putting our fiscal house in order for the sake of the people. We respect the wisdom of Congress on this vital area of national reform but let us not lose the momentum we had gained in the economy. Once the economy is on solid footing, we can take off towards political reform. We are grateful for the sense of urgency and cooperation with which Congress has been supporting the President’s reform. |
| Feb. 3 declared as special non-working day in Bulacan |
The province of Bulacan will enjoy a special non-working day tomorrow (Thursday, February 3) to mark the 78th birth anniversary of the late Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas F. Ople. The declaration is contained in Proclamation 773 signed yesterday (Tuesday) by Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, by authority of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. "Blas F. Ople, former Secretary of Foreign Affairs, former Senate President and Secretary of Labor, had devoted decades of his life to selfless, dedicated and sincere service to our country and our people. It is but fitting and proper that the people of the Province of Bulacan be given full opportunity to celebrate the occasion with appropriate ceremonies," Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita cited in the proclamation. Bulacan Governor Josie Mendoza-dela Cruz welcomed the issuance of the proclamation, which has the support of the provincial government. She said the Bulacan Provincial Board unanimously approved a Sangguniang Panlalawigan Resolution last January 24 requesting the President to issue such a proclamation. "Bulacan will always cherish the memory of Ka Blas Ople who has the rightful claim to the title, "Father of Overseas Employment," Governor de la Cruz added. A special mass will be offered by the Ople family at 8:00 a.m. on Thursday at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in observance of the late Secretary’s birthday. The first Ka Blas F. Ople Memorial Golf Tournament will also be held at the same time at the Wack-Wack Golf Club to be attended by the late Secretary’s friends from government and the media. The tournament intends to raise funds for a college scholarship fund for deserving children of Filipino journalists. The scholarship program is a joint initiative of the Blas F. Ople Training Institute and the Samahang Plaridel, an organization of veteran newsmen. At 11 a.m. Thursday, Labor officials led by Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas would lead the unveiling of a signage on top of the POEA Building at Ortigas Avenue corner EDSA that has been officially renamed as Blas F. Ople Building. Separate resolutions will be filed in the Senate and the House of the Representatives in recognition of the late secretary’s role in crafting the country’s overseas employment program which has significantly helped the national economy particularly in times of serious financial crises. The entire Thursday afternoon would be devoted to a major jobs fair, mobile passport field service and medical mission to be held in Hagonoy, Bulacan – the late Secretary’s birthplace. |
| GMA: Average Filipinos will shortly reap fruits of improving economy |
BINMALEY, Pangasinan -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo assured today here the average Filipino will shortly reap the fruits of the country’s improving economy. Speaking before the 401st founding anniversary of this town and inauguration of its People’s Park here, the President also commended the Filipino people for their excellence and hard work that resulted to significant gains by the national economy. Earlier this week the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) confirmed that the country posted a 6.1 percent gross domestic product (GDP) growth in 2004. "The average Filipino will soon reap the fruits of confidence in the economy, which will not only bring in more investments and jobs, but also drive the overall agenda of urgent reforms," the President said. Among the indicators she cited to show the growing strength of the economy are the sustained surge of the peso against the US dollar, the recent decision by the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS), the largest pension fund in the United States to pursue its investment in the country, and the Supreme Court’s decision upholding the law that allows foreign investments in the country’s mining industry. "These positive developments do not happen by accident; these are the results of hard-nosed assessment by objective analysts of the great potentials of our country and excellence and hard work of our people," she stressed. She said these developments are not limited only to the economy, "but extend to the gains we have made in unifying our political institutions to put our fiscal house in order; in fighting corruption, terrorism and crime; in waging peace and in delivering our pro-poor agenda," she added. The Chief Executive explained that the country’s stability is dawning upon the whole range of national affairs and cutting across the regions and sectors. "We must stay the course, seize the opportunity for reform, and close ranks behind a brighter future," she stressed, addressing directly the residents of Binmaley and the entire Filipino nation. |
| GMA kicks off tour of on-going projects under her 10-point legacy agenda |
SAN CARLOS CITY – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo kicked off her month-long tour of ongoing projects under her 10-point legacy agenda by inaugurating the P96.8-million Dona Eva M. Macapagal School Complex here today. Together with Education Secretary Florencio Abad and Secretary Dodie Limcaoco, Cabinet Officer for Provincial Events (COPE), the Chief Executive arrived here 10:30 a.m. on board the presidential helicopter and led the unveiling of the marker of the Central I and Central II Elementary School both inside the school complex named after her late mother Dona Eva Macaraeg-Macapagal, whose parents were from Barangay Guelew here. The school complex stands on a five-hectare lot. It also houses the City Schools Division Office and the Regional Library Depot of the Department of Education (DepEd). Welcoming the President were Pangasinan provincial officials led by Governor Victor Agbayani, Vice Governor Oscar Lambino, 3rd District Rep. Generoso Tulagan and other local officials including Mayors Julian Resuello of San Carlos City, Simplicio Rosario of Binmaley and Mojamito Libunao of San Fabian. Clouds of dust permeated the school complex grounds as some 5,000 students, teachers, residents and local officials virtually mobbed Mrs. Arroyo during her visit here. The Chief Executive and her party then proceeded on to inaugurate the People’s Park. The Presidential visit and inaugural rites coincided with the 415th founding anniversary of Binmaley, Pangasinan and the media interaction at the Binmaley North Elementary School. During the interaction, Mrs. Arroyo said she would issue an executive order shortly tasking the DepEd and DA to use the remaining untapped portion of the 42-hectare area of the Dona Eva Macapagal School Complex for agribusiness to benefit the local Parent-Teacher Community Association. She said the project forms part of her medium term development program to open up two million hectares for agribusiness to raise six to 10 million jobs in the next six years. After lunch at the school, the President inaugurated the seaweed nursery in Barangay Mabilao, San Fabian town, and formally launched the Seaweeds Development Program of the Department of Agriculture (DA). The project’s implementation along the Lingayen Gulf coast would benefit more than 17,000 fisherfolks in the province and is expected to increase the country’s seaweed production from last year’s 90,000 metric tons (MTs) to 225,000 MTs. |
| Palace condemns killing of Laoag Vice Mayor |
Malacaņang strongly condemned today the killing of Laoag City Vice Mayor Jimmy Chua and has directed the Philippine National Police (PNP) to see to it that the perpetrators of the crime are promptly brought to justice. Chua was reportedly killed early morning today in a shooting incident in Laoag City. In a press briefing this afternoon at the Palace, Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye issued the condemnation when asked by the reporters on the shooting incident that killed Chua. "We strongly condemn the killing of Vice Mayor Chua. And President Arroyo has already directed the concerned agencies, particularly the Philippine National Police, to look into the bottom of the slaying and see to it that the perpetrators are brought to justice," Bunye said. |
| GMA leads Filipinos in prayers for Pope's speedy recovery |
Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesman Ignacio R. Bunye said today President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo now leads the entire Filipino nation and has joined the whole Christian world in offering prayers for the speedy recovery of Pope John Paul II, who was reportedly rushed to the hospital earlier. Bunye made the statement in a press briefing at the Palace this afternoon, after learning about the health condition of the Pope. "Let us all join the rest of the nation and the rest of Christianity in praying for the recovery of the Holy Father," Bunye said. He said the President, however, has not yet received any official reports yet from the Philippine Embassy in Rome regarding the Pope’s health condition. The Palace has obtained information about the problem from newswire and electronic media accounts, as well as from the Internet. Bunye said reports from the Philippine Embassy in the Vatican are probably in transit and will be forwarded promptly to the President. Reports said Pope John Paul II was rushed to the hospital due to acute respiratory infection. |
