CLARK FIELD, Pampanga - President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo graced today the 9th Philippine International Hot-Air Balloon Fiesta, now on its second day at the OMNI Aviation Complex inside the Clark Special Economic Zone.

The President led a group of national and local government officials, along with more than 200 other guests, in witnessing the flight of 21 hot-air balloons over the CSEZ.

The President attended the Hot-air Balloon Fiesta to further push tourism in her Pampanga home province and town, as well as to promote the Clark Special Economic Zone as the ballooning capital in Asia.

Ballooning enthusiasts from Japan, Korea, Sweden, Hungary, Germany, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom joined their Filipino counterparts in the three-day festival that opened on Friday.

Among those who joined the Chief Executive during the balloon flight rites were Pampanga Governor Mark Lapid, Presidential Adviser Rene Diaz, former Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Elisea Gozun, Clark Development Corporation President Emmanuel Angeles and Mabalacat Mayor Boking Manalo.

The President later inducted seven print and media officers of the Capampangan in Media, Inc., held at the "Bahay na Puti" (White House), also at the CSEZ.

Those who took their oath before the President were: Cris J. Icban, Jr, of Manila Bulletin, chairman; Alfredo M. Dela Rosa, Manila Times, vice-chairman; Federico D. Pascual, Philippine Star, president; Diosdado M. Beltran, secretary; Alfredo M. Roxas, auditor; and Miguel Genovea and Robert Mananquil, directors.

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The north rail project is a major avenue for the decongestion of Metro Manila which will have a highly beneficial impact on the quality of life in the metropolis, while pulling the train of prosperity to the countryside.

The benefits of the rail system within Metro Manila and ranging North and South, is part of the whole economic plan to expand progress and fight poverty.

As to the controversies about the project, the North Rail Corporation is expected to deal with the issues with full transparency, to show that all stages in the implementation of this key infrastructure project are above board.

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Calls for a ceasefire are appreciated but justice has to be served first.

We cannot allow lawless elements to simply walk away from what they have done.

This will only invite more terrorism and crime.

The AFP is sustaining its momentum while insuring that civilians are kept out of harm’s way.

Peace with justice must be enforced

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Malacaņang foresees greater inflows of long-term and large investments after the Philippines was taken off the blacklist of non-cooperative countries by the 32-nation Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the Paris-based international anti-money laundering watchdog.

In its three-day plenary meeting in France which ended yesterday (Friday), FATF delisted the Philippines, along with Indonesia and Cook Islands, from the roll of money-laundering havens.

FATF noted that its recent visits confirmed that the Philippines is "effectively implementing anti-money laundering measures to remedy deficiencies that were identified by FATF."

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo hailed FATF’s action, saying the international anti-laundering body’s "vote of confidence will continue to attract long-term and large investments that will further underpin the stability of the Philippine peso, and its eventual role in the creation of more jobs and in building the infrastructure."

"Our graduation from the FATF list is a vote of confidence from the international community of our efforts to clean up the mess of the past, enforce good governance, and support global security," she added.

The President said her administration would continue the fight against corruption through stricter enforcement of the law, mass education on moral values and the utilization of tools provided by new forms of technology.

She called on all branches of government "to work together toward transforming our nation into one that truly reflects its potential for high growth, market leadership, and human resource ingenuity."

FATF is an inter-governmental body formed to develop and promote policies to combat money-laundering and terrorist financing, both at the national and internal levels. It is also a policymaking body, which works to generate political will to bring about national legislative and regulatory reforms in these areas.

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