CEBU CITY --- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo called on the provincial board members all over the country to be her partners in achieving her administration's goal of eradicating poverty and terrorism as espoused in her 10-point pro-poor agenda and in the United Nations Millennium Development Plan.

In addressing the 13th National Convention of Provincial Board Members held Thursday afternoon at the Waterfront Hotel in Lahug, this City, the President said the provincial board members, being the first line of legislation and defense, can do so much to support her pro- poor programs.

"It is important for all of us to unite to bring our country to finally graduate from poverty," the Chief Executive said.

She cited Congress' indispensable role in the fulfillment of her goals.

"The People's Budget passed by Congress will continue to fuel our 10-point agenda in order to create jobs, to build vital infrastructures, to lure investments and to deliver more basic services to the needy communities. As Congress is indispensable to provide the budget I need ... you, the Board Members of your various provinces, are the ones who draw up the budget of your own provinces," she said.

The President also urged the PB members to work in cutting red tape and corruption by enforcing the rule of law.

In the fight against terrorism, the President asked the PBs to adopt a provincial identification system while waiting for Congress to pass an anti-terrorism law.

"Because one of the tools of terrorists is anonymity and mobility…with an I.D. system, we can deprive them of anonymity and mobility," the Chief Executive stressed.

But while moves against terrorism are being put in place, the President said there is a need to focus on the larger mission of creating jobs, cutting wasteful government spending and luring investments.

She explained that there are some features in the socioeconomic and physical landscapes that are undergoing urgent changes and positive transformation.

Among these are the development of two million hectares of agribusiness land and supporting three million micro and small-medium entrepreneurs, and for these, there is so much the provincial boards, the local government units, can do, the President said.

As to the administration's goal to attain 100 percent electrification in 2010,the President said that "the more the PBs allocate a counterpart fund, the faster we will be able to comply with the target, which is earlier than the deadline."

Also included in the 10-point agenda is the provision of potable water to every Filipino.

The Chief Executive said the government is putting in four billion pesos, from different sources, into the clean water program for 600 waterless municipalities and 200 barangays in the National Capital Region.

CEBU CITY--- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was presented last night with a Special Certificate of Sincere Gratitude by the Cebu City government at the Malacaņang sa Sugbo here.

The certificate of gratitude was handed to the President by Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmena in behalf of the Cebuanos.

Among the reasons cited in bestowing the special certificate on her are "By Cebuano by choice, for choosing the City of Cebu as the venue of her oath-taking on June 30,2004, and for always putting the City of Cebu in her heart."

We need tougher laws to defeat terror and to defeat poverty.

As we fight terror, so must we make determined inroads to mop up the poverty that breeds the recruits of evil.

This is a twin fight of every Filipino and of all our institutions, of Congress, the local governments and our communities.

We must strengthen both perimeters of our political and economic security.

We leave the wisdom of legislation to the legislature.

On these matters, the Executive proposes, Congress disposes.

We are confident that our Senators and Congressmen will come out with a bill on the VAT that will strongly support our fiscal imperatives while equitably promoting the interest of the average Filipino.

MANILA – First Gentleman Jose Miguel T. Arroyo Friday has given Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) traffic enforcers more "teeth" to enforce traffic laws in the metropolis.

MMDA’s edentate or toothless traffic enforcers are the most recent batch of beneficiaries of the First Gentleman’s "Bagong Ngiti sa Dating Ngebu (Bungi)" project, designed to help toothless people regain their former ready smiles and waning self confidence.

At least 220 MMDA traffic enforcers, who are assigned in various posts in Metro Manila, received their free dentures today under the program.

The ceremonial fitting and distribution of the dentures to the traffic enforcers were conducted today (February 18) at the MMDA office in Guadalupe, Makati City.

Mr. Arroyo personally attended the rites together with MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando, Deputy Chairman Cesar Lacuna and other officials and Marikina City Mayor Marides Fernando.

In his brief message, the First Gentleman said the beneficiary traffic enforcers, with their new dentures, could now make arrest a with smile and with confidence to do their job.

"You now have more ‘teeth’ to enforce the law," the First Gentleman told the enforcers in jest.

On a serious note, the First Gentleman said the provision of free dentures is also President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s project because "she wants you to feel special (with the new dentures) because you are special to her."

He said he realized the need for the project by other MMDA personnel and announced he will likewise include MMDA Metro Aides and civilian personnel among the project’s next beneficiaries.

Representing the traffic enforcer beneficiaries, TOO2 Ernesto Nicdao thanked the First Gentleman and assured him they now have a ready smile for every person they meet in the streets, including those who get annoyed when apprehended for traffic violations.

Chairman Fernando, for his part, also thanked Mr. Arroyo for the project which he said clearly reflects the First Gentleman’s kindheartedness.

"Hulog siya (First Gentleman) ng langit sa atin (He is heaven sent for us), Fernando said.

The First Gentleman’s Bagong Ngiti sa Dating Ngebu project has so far already benefited 2,410 poor people.

The beneficiaries include market vendors, policemen from the five National Capital Region’s police districts, the second district of Pampanga and other PNP non-uniformed personnel and their dependents, residents of Santiago City in Isabela, and other special clients.

Trade and investments between the Philippines and Myanmar are expected to expand with the visit of Myanmar Prime Minister Lt. Gen. Soe Win to Manila on Monday.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and the visiting Myanmar Prime Minister are scheduled to discuss bilateral and multilateral issues including cooperation in the areas of trade and investments.

The President and Prime Minister Soe Win first met in November 2004 on the sidelines of the 10^th Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Vientiane, Laos.

The Philippine jewel industry could explore possible agreements for the sourcing of semi-precious stones from Myanmar, which produces at least 36 types of precious gems including high-quality rubies, sapphires and jade.

The Philippines’ thriving furniture and construction industry can also source its raw materials from Myanmar, which exports forest products such as teak lumber and rattan.

One of the major topics scheduled for discussion by the two leaders is the promotion and protection of human rights, which is one of ASEAN’s fundamental principles and goals as stressed in the Joint Communique of the 37^th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting.

Diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Myanmar started in 1956. Resident missions were established in 1958 in Rangoon (now Yangon) and in 1967 in Manila.

Recent exchanges of high-level visits have strengthened the growth of bilateral relations between the two countries.

These included the visits to Myanmar by then Foreign Affairs Secretary Delia Albert in February 2004, Special Envoy Rizalino Navarro in 2001, and former President Fidel V. Ramos in October 1997.

Reciprocal visits by Myanmar officials to Manila included those of Deputy Foreign Minister U Khin Maung Win in 2003, Foreign Minister U Win Aung in March 1999, and Myanmar’s head of state, State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) chairman and Prime Minister Senior General Than Shwe in November 1999, when he attended the ASEAN Informal Summit in Manila. 

During the state visit of Senior General Than Shwe in February 1998, a Memorandum of Understanding formalizing the Philippine Human Resource Development (HRD) Package for Myanmar was signed to expand, enhance and strengthen a long-term bilateral relations and cooperation between the two countries.

The package also helped strengthen the two countries’ commitment to ASEAN solidarity by facilitating and the integration of Myanmar into the ASEAN.

The HRD Package, which ended in early 2000, graduated 80 Myanmar scholars in different fields, such as construction management, economics, statistics, project development, monitoring and evaluation.

LOBOC, Bohol--President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today joined hands with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) in mobilizing culture as an alternative course to address corruption and poverty, both prioritized in her 10-point pro-poor legacy agenda.

The President led the nationwide launching of the satellite-based KALAHI Cultural Services for the Poor (KCSP) on the island province of Bohol, hosted jointly by Governor Erico Aumentado, Loboc Mayor Leon Calipusan and the people of the municipality.

"The biggest obstacle to fighting poverty is corruption, and that is why I have asked the Commission on Culture to concentrate on destroying the culture of corruption. And I am very happy that here in the town of Loboc we also launched the KALAHI Cultural Program of the Masses and we hope that indeed from the grassroots we will be able to change the culture of corruption and bring culture and prosperity to the greater number of our people," the President said.

According to NCCA Executive Director and Presidential Assistant on Culture Cecile Guidote-Alvarez, the KALAHI cultural care-giving program is NCCA's direct response to the President’s "overarching vision in tapping the culture in improving moral standards in the society to provide a strong foundation for good governance and in the process, win the fight against poverty and corruption."

KCSP consists of workshops and trainings on the various fields of arts such as music, dance, theater, creative writing, visual arts and martial arts, culminating in cultural performances, together with community planning to sustain their cultural action.

Alvarez explained that the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the NCCA selected the provinces to be included in the cultural care-giving program.

Diocese of Tagbilaran Bishop Leo Tumulak commended the KALAHI program of the President and expressed optimism that purging corruption through this program is attainable, along with the whole program in her 10-point legacy agenda.

The provinces included in the first phase of the program are Aurora, Quezon, Ifugao, Mt. Province, Abra, Isabela, Camarines Norte, Sorsogon, Mindoro, Masbate, Romblon and Marinduque for Luzon; Capiz, Antique, Eastern Samar, Leyte, Biliran and Bohol in the Visayas; and Camiguin, Lanao del Sur, Lanao del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Maguindanao, Sarangani, Sultan Kudarat, Zamboanga del Norte, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi in Mindanao.

On the second list of the program are the provinces of Camarines Sur, Albay, Ilocos Sur, Northern Samar, Western Samar, Aklan, Davao del Norte, and Surigao del Norte.

The cultural care giving program started last Feb. 1 in the Visayas, particularly in Eastern Samar and hosted by Gov. Ben Evardone, and in Abra province for Luzon.

The KALAHI program is an initiative of the Office of the President, National Anti-Poverty Commission, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, and the Philippine Center of the UNESCO / International Theater Institute (ITI).

Before the launching ceremony, Loboc Mayor Leon Calipusan escorted the President in a walking tour from the historical landmark Loboc Church up to the JAD Memorial Sports Complex.

In-between the tour, the world-renowned children singing sensation, the Angelic Voice of the Loboc Children’s Choir, serenaded the President with a song "Alleluia Gloria."

Among those present during the program were Bohol Governor Erico Aumentado, Congressmen Edgar Chatto, Robert Cajes and Eladio Jala, Bishop Tumulak and Loboc Parish Priest Desiderio Magdoza.

At least 40 established foreign banks have slammed Moody’s Investor Service for its two-notch downgrade of the country’s ratings, saying it was rather excessive.

Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye revealed this development this morning in radio interviews, where he also cited the foreign banks’ vote of confidence on the Arroyo government.

"Moody’s rating is far from the truth," Bunye quoted the banks as saying.

Among the foreign banks the Press Secretary cited were the UBS, Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank, and Standard Chartered Bank which gave positive feedbacks on the Philippine economy’s performance and prospects.

Bunye likewise cited the report of the Japanese rating agency Research and Investment Information, Inc (R&I) which rated the country’s credit status in the same period Moody’s did its rating downgrade.

R&I rated the country’s sovereign debt and credit instruments as investment grade.

"So taliwas na taliwas ang kanilang rating sa Moody’s," (Moody’s rating was obviously off the mark), he said.

Bunye likened the credit rating agencies to judges in a boxing match whose opinions could differ.

He also expressed his doubts on Moody's rating downgrade, which he said may have been timed and calculated to pressure Congress into approving the proposed revised Vale Added Tax (VAT) measure.

Moody’s Investor Service, in its latest credit rating report on the Philippines, has lowered the country’s foreign currency rating for government bonds from B1 to B2.

LOBOC, Bohol – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today justified the crucial legislative initiatives and administrative measures her administration has taken, saying they are necessary to prevent the Philippines from becoming another Argentina in the coming years.

Interacting with the media at the Riverview Floating Restaurant here, the President explained that the initiatives she has taken are designed to preempt the possibility of economic disaster like what happened earlier to the Latin American country.

The Chief Executive expressed optimism her revitalized economic team would worked effectively and efficiently hand in hand with Congress to explain the importance of raising P80 billion via new and updated tax laws and another P100 billion through administrative measures.

"We have our economic team working with them but the bottom line is we need to raise P80 billion through legislative measures and a P100 billion administrative initiatives. Otherwise in two years time we may become an Argentina," the President said.

She explained that the reason why the markets and big foreign banks are rejecting Moody’s Investors Service credit rating downgrade for the Philippines is because they see and appreciate how determined her administration is in implementing economic and fiscal reforms.

Malacaņang said today the negative assessments of conditions in the Philippines by US-based Moody’s Investors Services and the US State Department were based on outdated information and did not reflect present conditions in the country.

Press Secretary Ignacio R. Bunye said in a radio interview this morning that actual developments in the market contradicted the bleak analyses of the Philippines by both Moody’s and the state department.

"The market is alive, the peso is strong and Philippine exports are on the upswing," he said.

As the stock market and the peso continued to defy Moody’s two-notch downgrade of the country’s credit rating, leading investors, both local and foreign, have joined the attack on the downgrade, which they variously branded as unreasonable, ill-timed, excessive and harsh.

Bunye, who is also presidential spokesman, noted that the two assessments were identical, adding that Moody’s and the state department’s analysts have apparently gone on a vacation.

"They write their analyses based on old information and they failed to consider the reforms initiated by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo," Bunye said.

If the state department were updated on developments in the country, it would note the seriousness with which the government is addressing the country’s fiscal problems, he added.

Bunye stressed that among the major fiscal reforms adopted by the government are the recently approved "sin tax" law and the attrition law, while other tax reform measures are awaiting action by the Senate.

"Hopefully, in due time, we will come up with a VAT (Value Added Tax) measure to complement, and finally resolve and put our fiscal house in order," he said.

LOBOC, Bohol – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today voiced her appreciation to the Metro Manila mayors for their assurance of support for the proposed National ID System as part of the Anti-terrorism Bill she has endorsed for enactment by Congress.

The President said the National ID system is one of the key features of the proposed Anti-Terrorism and Internal Security law that remains pending in Congress.

Mrs. Arroyo expressed optimism the internal security measure could be passed immediately by Congress so that the government can better address the growing domestic terrorist menace.

"I agree with that. In fact, that is one of the key elements of the Anti-Terrorism and Internal Security bill that is now pending in Congress," the President said during her interaction and lunch with media reporters at the Riverview Floating Restaurant here.

The Chief Executive also urged Local Government Units (LGUs) to study and consider the adoption of local Identification System ordinances that could supplement the national ID system that is now being worked out.

President Arroyo said the proposed anti-terror law will "add more teeth to the fight against terrorism and strengthen our internal security" system.

Lawmakers had revived their interest in the proposed anti-terror bill in the wake of the almost simultaneous terrorist bombings in the cities of General Santos, Davao and Makati on Valentine’s Day.