ILOILO CITY -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo launched here on Saturday the Bureau of Customs (BOC) e2m (Electronic to Mobile) automation project, a component of the bureau’s computerization program.

"We're computerizing the BOC as part of our contribution to the administrative improvement to raise revenue that we need in order to fund important government projects for the people and job generation projects," the President said.

The computerization project is dubbed ASYCUDAWorld (Automated System for Customs Data - World), a software system developed by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

Customs Deputy Commissioner of Management Information Systems Technology Group Alexander M. Arevalo, who briefed the President on ASYCUDAWorld, described the high-tech operation as "paperless, cashless and clueless."

Computerization of customs operations will dramatically speed up the processing of documents, ensure transparency of customs transactions and stamp out corruption blamed on red tape.

The President has approved a P500-million budget for the BOC computerization program. Arevalo said the project, which will be completed in 10 months, is backed by a two-year maintenance coverage contract.

He said Pacific Consulting International of Japan undertook the preparation of the terms of reference and supervised the bidding of the management project. The main project was awarded last December to Unisys Corporation, USA for P64 million.

ILOILO CITY -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said Saturday she will "re-proclaim" Boracay as a national park as part of her administration’s program to develop the country’s premier island-resort into one of the world's biggest tourist destinations.

The President visited the island-resort after a fire destroyed 60 establishments along the beach Friday. She was accompanied by Tourism Joseph "Ace" Durano.

"We have to develop Boracay in a sustainable manner and so I am asking Secretary Durano to draft for me a re-proclamation of Boracay as a national park," noting that the martial law regime had proclaimed the island-resort as a national park.

The Chief Executive instructed Durano to prepare the necessary documents re-proclaiming Boracay as a national park.

She described Boracay as a Philippine treasure, which should be developed in a sustainable way as a world-class tourist destination.

The President said the road from Iloilo to Boracay would be upgraded to ensure convenient and safe travel between the two points.

She said that even before the string of beachside establishments were razed by fire Friday, she had already formed a group composed of leading businessmen and other personalities to prepare a development program for the resort.

The group, headed by Inigo Zobel, will draw up a comprehensive plan for the sustainable development of Boracay, the President said.

The group will have a secretariat sitting side by side with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), she added.

The President expressed elation over the decision of the owners of the properties where the burned talipapa (flea market) was located to allow the implementation of a government development plan for the area.

ILOILO CITY - President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo donated Saturday P5 million to the Bantay Bata Foundation during the launching of ABS-CBN’s Bantay Bata 163 at the Lopez mansion in La Paz.

Bantay Bata 163 is ABS-CBN’s flagship program for the rescue and rehabilitation of victims of child abuse. The program also helps provide education and other forms of assistance to the young victims.

The other donors were the provincial government of Iloilo, P200,000, and Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Trenas, P100,000.

This morning, the President led visitors who started arriving in this Visayan metropolis before the weekend for the famous annual socio-cultural-religious Dinagyang festival.

Today’s culminating activities of the two-day celebration started with a concelebrated mass at the San Jose parish church, officiated by Monsignor Amadeo Escanan, parish priest of Jaro Cathedral.

The theme of the mass centered on peace and progress for the province as well as the whole nation.

Senators Franklin Drilon and Manuel Villar, Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales, Interior and Local Government Secretary Angelo Reyes, Iloilo Governor Niel Tupas, and Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Trenas accompanied the President during the mass.

Dinagyang is the present progressive form of the Ilonggo word meaning "merry" or "merrymaking" and its root word is dagyang.

Iloilo lore said that dinagyang had its beginnings in 1968 when Fr. Sulpicio Ebderes and a delegation of Cofradia del Sto. Nino Cebu members brought a replica of the image of the Seņor Santo Nino from Cebu City to the San Jose parish church.

The modern-day novena ends with the fluvial procession. Starting in 1969, the celebration was called "Iloilo Ati-Atihan" to differentiate it from the popular Mardi Gras revelry in Kalibo, Aklan.

Any movement in the Cabinet of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo would be dictated by the overriding objective of improving public service, Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesman Ignacio R. Bunye said today.

In a radio interview this morning, Bunye admitted that the status of all members of the President’s official family are under continuing review.

He said there is a constant assessment of the performance of Cabinet officials. "So, whatever decision the President will make, her top agenda would be the improvement of the public service."

Responding to a question, Bunye said it was possible that the Chief Executive would announce certain changes in the Cabinet. He would not, however, give a timetable.

Bunye explained that as a general principle, all members of the Cabinet serve at the pleasure of the President.