As we continuously earn points on our economic scorecard, we urge all sectors to maintain our teamwork for urgent change.

The battle for the welfare of the average Filipino has just begun and we must not be overwhelmed by impatience to fully enjoy the economic gains we are experiencing.

The fruits will ripen in due time due to the resiliency and hard work of our people and the unity of our institutions, combined with a clear policy direction.

We are already headed in the right direction.

A ceasefire is one of the best ways the CPP-NPA can get off the perception of the international community that the former is a terrorist organization.

We shall exhaust all legal and diplomatic measures in appealing for a lesser sentence for our convicted national, and to ensure that his rights are protected under the laws of the host country.

Victims of the recent calamities in Luzon will soon get a reprieve with the launching last night of Kalinga–Luzon, a government-initiated project aimed at rehabilitating and reconstructing the typhoon-ravaged areas.

No less than President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo graced the launching of the project initiated by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC), Ateneo de Manila, ABS-CBN, Red Cross and the Gawad Kalinga.

The objective is to go beyond the relief stage and work out an effective program to rehabilitate and rebuild the affected community in close coordination with the Local Government Units (LGUs) and the multi efforts of the government.

The goal is to rebuild home, family and community of Luzon typhoon victims. The initial target is to build 2,500 homes by June 2005 and 40,000 houses by the end of the year 2006.

The pilot site for the six month development plan of building 2,500 are Dingalan, Aurora, Gabaldon, Nueva Ecija; General Tinio, Nueva Ecija; Cabiao, Nueva Ecija; San Isidro, Nueva Ecija; Roxas, Oriental Mindoro, Mansalay, Oriental Mindoro, Naujan, Oriental Mindoro; Bongabon, Oriental Mindoro, Real, Quezon, Infanta, Quezon; General Nakar, Quezon, Tinambac, Camarines Sur and Calabanga, Camarines Cur.

The President was presented with a model house worth P50,000 during the program.

Malacaņang today expressed optimism over the continued strengthening of the Peso against the US dollar, saying it could dramatically bring down the prices of goods in the local market.

In a radio interview this morning, Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye said that being a "net importing country" it will be beneficial for the country if the Peso keeps on improving.

"The Philippines is a net importing country, we’re importing a lot of imported raw materials and in the event that the Peso gained strength, it will make the importation of these raw materials cheaper and would mean lower prices of goods in the market," Bunye explained.

The Peso Friday closed at P54.680 to the US dollar, a new 15-month record high, as investor sentiment remained upbeat following a series of positive development in the country’s economy.

Fridays’ closing rate was the strongest since the local currency last touched the P54.640 to $1 on Oct. 20, 2003. It was also 23 centavos stronger than Thursday’s close of P54.910.

Malacaņang is hopeful the Senate would approve a pro-poor expanded Value Added Tax (VAT) measure, as deliberations in the plenary on the counter-proposals on the tax scheme are about to be completed.

According to Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye, the ball is on the court of the legislators in the Higher Chamber as they try to come-up with a people-friendly version of the proposed tax reform bill.

"Discussions on the issue of VAT is getting clear, all proposals are being discussed but at the end of the day, we believe that the Senate would eventually pass their VAT version which we expect to assist the government in reducing the deficit while at the same time hoping their version would be a pro-poor VAT measure," Bunye said.

The Senate version, according to the Press Secretary should not only cushion the effect of the tax measure among the poor but also should allay fears that it would only make their life miserable.

Bunye assured that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is all for providing safety nets on the VAT version to minimize the impact of the bill on the poorest sector of society.

Earlier, Malacanang stated that it is amenable to proposals being pushed by various sectors to cushion the tax measure’s any adverse effect on low-income groups.

Mulanay, Quezon - President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said today the government intends to sell its shares in the giant beverage conglomerate, San Miguel Corporation to further boost the agriculture business in the country.

The President made the announcement during the media interaction with local media here during her visit to promote agri-business for job creation. She was accompanied by Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap and his predecessor, Secretary Cito Lorenzo.

Her pronouncements come on the heels of a Supreme Court ruling declaring the coconut levy funds as public funds.

The Chief Executive said that since the government is one of the stockholders of San Miguel Corporation, she had instructed Trade and Industry Secretary Cesar Purisima to sell all the government stake holdings in the said company.

She said all the shares of the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG), the Social Security System (SSS) and the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) at SMC will be sold to the public.

"Karamihan ng coco levy funds ay nasa sa San Miguel kaya habang tayo ay stockholders ng San Miguel, eh di pagbebentahan ang maaasahan natin kaya ang aking instruction kay Secretary Purisima, ang San Miguel shares, ang PCGG shares, ang GSIS in San Miguel, ang SSS in San Miguel lahat ay naka-one block kaya ibebenta nating lahat para mapondohan ang pag-unlad ng coco industry," she said.

The Quezon visit is part of President Arroyo’s 10-point agenda tour to promote agribusiness for job creation.

MULANAY, Quezon - President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ordered today the Armed Forces of the Philippines' Engineering Brigade to take over all road constructions in the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX).

During a media interaction with local media here, the President cited the need to avert security implications that may occur if construction projects at SLEX would be delayed.

The AFP Finance Brigade, she said, will work hand in hand with the AFP Engineering Brigade in taking over the work of the Department of Public Works and HIghways.

The President believes there is no need to come up with a final plan for bidding purposes, saying the AFP Engineering Brigade will build high strategic roads like the Bondoc Peninsula.

The Chief Executive had earlier farmed out the jobs of the Kalahi projects and farm-to-market-roads to the AFP Engineering Brigade including road construction and installation of posts at the SLEX.

All the projects of the Engineering Brigade, according to her, will be under the supervision of National Security Council head Hermogenes Ebdane.

After inspecting the Niyog Trading Center (NTC), part of her efforts to generate two million jobs and boost exports, the President launched the Market Integration and Nucleus Farm Development Project of the Philippine Coconut Authority and the Agriculture Department.

MULANAY, Quezon - President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo launched here today her coconut marketing development project to promote agriculture business for job creation in line with her 10-point agenda for the remainder of her term.

The President upon arrival here, inspected the Niyog Trading Center (NTC) operated by the Southern Luzon Coconut Oil Mill, Inc. (SOLCOM), the first coconut oil milling plant in this town.

NTC officers, led by its President Rolando Golez and director Edmundo Lim, briefed the President on the coconut husking and processing procedures to produce a brick fiber for the final product like doormat, rope or even a mattress.

NTC aims to generate two million jobs from the joint project of the SOLCOM and the Coconut Industry Investment Fund (CIIF) and is expected to boost the export industry by $3 billion per year.

The objective is to process 50,000 whole nuts into quality copra in 12 hours; produce fiber products for export worth $2.5 million per year and increase productive agri-land by 1,200 hectares under coco trees.

The President also launched the Market Integration and Nucleus Farm Development Project of the Philippine Coconut Authority and the Agriculture Department at the NTC.

The project aims to boost the income of small coconut farmers by establishing a machinery which will integrate production, marketing and monitoring of their products.

The President said she visited this town to show that the NTC is not only a trading center but also a processing center.