CEBU CITY -- Students in the country's 5,433 public secondary schools will get free access to internet and other high-tech literacy programs under a project President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo launched Friday.

Called Gearing-Up Internet Access for Students (GILAS), the project was organized by Ayala Foundation with the help of Senator Mar Roxas. Funding for the projects comes from contributions of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and private organizations.

In her keynote address at the 3rd Global Networking Convention Pinoy Party at the Cebu City Business Park, the President expressed appreciation for the assistance of the OFWs, as she reiterated her appeal for greater involvement of overseas Filipinos in the country’s development.

"We live by our hearts, Filipinos, and let us be proud of it," she told the mostly Fil-American crowd at the Business Park's lagoon area. "Let's bring Pinoy Power worldwide and help us at home."

The President called on Filipinos working or living overseas to act as a lobby group to protect their investments, increase their monthly remittances, and when the time comes, retire in their native land.

The Philippines is still the best place to spend one's retirement years in, she said.

The Chief Executive also urged OFWs to rally the support of overseas Filipino communities behind her l0-point legacy agenda and to continue their assistance to the Donate a Classroom project.

"I'm calling on all Filipinos to stay the course," the President said. "It's time to tear down barriers and build up hope and optimism at the start of the new year."

Aside from supporting GILAS, which is in line with her 10-point agenda, the President said she is also upbeat on the plan of the OFWs to invest in micro-financing. The micro-financing scheme will help her attain her goal of generating 10 million jobs at the end of her term, she added.

Saying 2005 will be "a year of urgent change and fervent hope," the President vowed to provide the leadership needed to ensure the passage of vital revenue measures, the implementation of pro-poor programs and wiping out corruption in government.

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President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has sharply aligned the government’s investment program for the rest of her term with the ten-point legacy agenda.

She has a clear idea of the public and private resources that will go to each item and the corresponding shares of the national and local governments.

This is a clear way forward to national stability and prosperity.

The entire government will keep to this vision and legacy and we call on every Filipino to join the bandwagon.

Things are looking up and we can beat the odds with our unity and solidarity behind the national leadership.

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The anti-illegal logging campaign is a strategic environmental program that will recognize no sacred cows.

We have seen the scourge of disaster and the anguish inflicted upon our people.

We will enforce our laws resolutely and we will not stop until those responsible are brought to justice.

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CEBU CITY -- United States Ambassador Francis Ricciardone Jr. handed over to Education Secretary Florencio Abad yesterdday a check for $1 million for the Computer Literacy and Internet Connection project for high schools in Mindanao.

The donation, part of the $33 million committed by Washington for the improvement of Philippine education over the next five years, was turned over to Abad during the 3rd Global Networking Pinoy Party, in the presence of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Ricciardone said the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is committed to provide assistance to the Gearing-Up Internet Literacy and Access for Students (GILAS) project that the President launched Friday night.

"Our big thrust is in bridging the digital divide," Ricciardone said.

The US envoy said USAID is willing to put up a counterpart equivalent to the amount put up by the Ayala Foundation, the organizing body.

Starting this year, more 1,000 public high schools will have their own computer laboratories with 10 computer units per laboratory, complete with technical services and training programs for teachers.

At present, less than 40 percent of the country's public high schools have computer laboratories accessible to students. Of those with computer laboratories, only four percent have internet connections.

Aside from GILAS, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has launched its own "donate a classroom project" called the Galing sa Mamamayang Filipino Abroad, the President said in her keynote speech.

Funded by contributions from OFWs, the project has already completed the construction of 245 classrooms.

On the second day of her two-day visit here, the President led the oath-taking of the officers of the Barangay Health Workers Federation of Central Visayas coming from Regions VI, VII and VIII at the Malacaņang sa Sugbo.

She is scheduled to visit the Tsuneishi Heavy Industries, a shipbuilding and repair facility which started operation in Balamban in1996.

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SAN JOSE, Antique – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo inaugurated here today two bridges vital to the tourism industry and economic activities not only in this province but the whole Panay Island.

The newly completed structures are the P98.7-million Karangaran bridge in the Municipality of Bugasong and the Dalanas span at the boundary of Barbaza and Tibiao towns north of here.

The two bridges are components of the Panay Island circumferential road, which links up with the roll-on roll-off (RO-RO) port in neighboring Caticlan, Aklan, the jump-off point to the world famous tourist island of Boracay.

Located on the west coast of Panay Island, Antique province is bounded by the provinces of Aklan on the north-northwest, Capiz on the east, and Iloilo on the south-southeast.

The President arrived at 3 p.m. at the boundary of Barbaza and Tibiao towns for the inauguration of the Dalanas bridge. After the inaugural rites, she proceeded to the Municipality of Bugasong to formally open the Kangaranan span.

The two bridges are part of the P2.5-billion Rural Road Network Development Project (RRNDP), and complement the Strong Republic Nautical Highway to boost tourism, trade and commerce and related job opportunities, particularly in the rural areas.

From Bugasong, President left by helicopter to the Municipality of Valderrama to inaugurate a farm-to-market road in Barangay Iglinab, the first of several agrarian reform community (ARC) projects in this province.

Among those who accompanied the President here were Tourism Secretary Joseph "Ace" Durano and Cabinet Officer for Provincial Events (COPE) Secretary Conrado Limcaoco.

The President and her party received a warm welcome from residents and local officials led by Governor Sally Zaldivar-Perez, Vice Governor Rhodora Cadiao, Lone District Representative Exequiel Javier, Valderrama Mayor Christopher Maguad, Bugasong Mayor Eliseo Magbanao, Tibiao Mayor Sotera Tamayo, and Barbaza Mayor Jose Maghari.

Local officials here said that for decades the development of Antique was hampered due to the sorry state of the province’s road infrastructure network.

Rural communities have been isolated from the mainstream of commerce and trade because of bad roads, or worse, the absence of roads.

Spearheading the ongoing development of Antique are Governor Zaldivar-Perez and Representative Javier, former political rivals who have agreed to bury the hatchet for the greater good of their constituents.

Aside from its rich fishing grounds, old churches, and hot springs, Panay Island is also famous for its wood handicrafts, pottery, gemstones, and cloth and weaving industry using indigenous materials.

The island is also rich in gold, copper, magnesium, nickel, marble, silica and other mineral resources.

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As the President has repeatedly stated, Cabinet posts are subject to continuous reassessment, depending on the wishes of the appointees themselves, their performance and their capability to meet the President’s expectations.

Secretary Amatong has been a valuable team player who played a key role in the fiscal program and there are others equally qualified in terms of patriotism and competence.

The President’s decision on this matter will be for the best interest of the country.

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CALINOG, Iloilo -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today awarded certificates of ancestral domain title (CADTs) to 252 indigenous people (IP) in three barangays in this town.

The President arrived here from Cebu City aboard the presidential helicopter shortly after noon. She was accompanied by Tourism Secretary Joseph "Ace" Durano, Government Media Head Cerge Remonde, Cabinet Officer for Provincial Events (COPE) Conrado Limcaoco, and Public Works Secretary Florante Soriquez.

The first CADTs were awarded to nine family-beneficiaries of the three barangays of Garangan, Masaroy and Agcalaga -- home to the 252 IP.

There are more than 1,526 IP occupying more than 1,748.897 hectares of ancestral lands in the northern part of the Municipality of Calinog. These far-flung communities are accessible only by foot, rafting, and through motorcycle and four-wheel drive pickup truck.

National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) chairman Reuben Dasay A. Lingating said that the Calinog IP communities were the first recipients of the CADTs in Iloilo.

The CADTs are duly registered, titled and authenticated by concerned government agencies, Langating added.

Iloilo Congressman Arthur Defensor and Calinog Mayor Alex A. Centena briefed the President on the completed sub-projects of the Kalahi-CIDSS housing projects for the Calinog communities.

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