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| 31 JANUARY 2005 | ||
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| 31 JANUARY 2005 | ||
| Statement of Secretary Ignacio R. Bunye: Bunye on VAT |
Let us not turn the VAT bill into another arena for national division at a time when the world has taken notice of our solidarity behind urgent change. The Filipino people have had enough of political squabbles in the past, it is now time to move on and think of the ways to improve the common welfare. We welcome the debates on the measure as this reaches the Senate, but time is of the essence in putting our fiscal house in order. The VAT bill and other reform measures are necessary in pushing the President’s 10-point agenda. It is the average Filipino who will benefit from these measures in the long run. If we pass these, we can be out of the woods towards greater political and economic security. |
| Statement of Secretary Ignacio R. Bunye: Bunye on Violence on Media |
We do not condone a culture of violence. The killings of journalists have been acted upon and most of them have been resolved by the law enforcement authorities. The cases will be prosecuted firmly in the courts until justice is done. The Philippine press is one of the freest in the world and we are determined to protect media practitioners from any form of harassment in the performance of their role as watchdogs of the government. |
| Statement of Secretary Ignacio R. Bunye: Bunye on Illegal Logging |
| We acknowledge the need to add more teeth in
going after big-time illegal loggers but so far, we are satisfied with the way the
President's drive is being carried out. Our campaign is not only focused on running after illegal loggers or syndicates and the confiscation of hot logs, but also on the preservation and restoration of the country's forest lands. |
| GMA presents awards to PNP officers, men |
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo awarded today a Presidential Citation to the officers and men of the Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force of the Philippine National Police (PNP) for their continuing exemplary achievement in the government’s campaign against illegal drugs. In the 14th anniversary rites of the PNP at Camp Crame, the President acknowledged the dedication, integrity and professionalism of the Task Force which have resulted in the sustained successful raids on illegal drug laboratories and storage facilities, confiscation of a huge amount of illegal drugs as well as the arrest and neutralization of drug traffickers. The President cited the Task Force’s invaluable contribution towards achieving a drug-free society for the Filipino people. The President also awarded the Medalya ng Katapangan to Chief Superintendent Ismael Rafanan, director of the PNP Intelligence Group, and Senior Superintendent Federico Laciste Jr., regional officer of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) of the National Capital Region, for their acts of heroism during police operations against terrorist groups and criminal elements. The Medalya ng Kabayanihan (Distinguished Conduct Medal), the second highest award given to the PNP personnel for highly meritorious accomplishment at great risk to life, was awarded to the CALABARZON Police Regional Office (PRO-4A) for being adjudged as the Best Police Regional Office of the Year. The former PRO-4A Regional Director, Chief Superintendent Reynaldo Varilla, received the Presidential streamer from the President. The President likewise congratulated the Batangas police who triumphed in a five-hour firefight yesterday and arrested a notorious kidnapper with an P800,000 reward on his head and his seven cohorts. She also offered a prayer for the quick recovery of the six policemen who were wounded in the five-hour firefight, including the two who are still in critical condition. To keep the momentum of the PNP’s new aggressive drive against cybersex, the President called on the Filipino people to report to their nearest police stations operations that taint the image of the Filipino women and threaten the morals of people across the world. |
| GMA inaugurates major bus terminal in Novaliches |
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo inaugurated today the P40 million Robinson’s Bus Terminal in Novaliches, a major component of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA)’s Organized Bus Route (OBR) project to decongest traffic in Metro Manila. Located within Robinson’s Place complex in Novaliches, Quezon City, the bus terminal is a joint undertaking of MMDA, the Quezon City government and Robinson’s Land Corporation (RLC). The bus terminal will serve 980 city buses operating northwest of Metro Manila, notably Edsa. The project is designed to provide convenient and safe travel to commuters to and from Baclaran, Alabang, Ayala, the Food Terminal Incorporated (FTI) in Taguig, Pacita Complex, Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) as well as the Quiapo routes. The President was assisted during the ribbon cutting ceremony by MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando, Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte, Jr., RLC Executive Vice President Frederick Co, Quezon City 2nd District Representative Mary Ann Susano, DOTC Assistant Secretary Reynaldo Berroya and other RLC officials. "This bus terminal will benefit 980 city buses operating northeast of Metro Manila. This is part of our organized bus route, President Macapagal-Arroyo’s program of decongesting Metro Manila," Fernando said. "This new bus terminal underscores the cooperation between the private sector and the government of President Macapagal-Arroyo in pushing major infrastructure projects that will benefit everybody," Belmonte added. The new bus terminal will help ease the growing traffic problems in Metro Manila by "controlling headways or intervals in a timely and orderly dispatch system." Bayani explained that the EDSA-OBR also serves as a tool in the strict enforcement of traffic rules and the number of buses that should be allowed on the road based on the actual demand anytime of the day. "With the full implementation of the EDSA-OBR, the riding public and motorists will be assured that heavy traffic congestion occurring at bus stations in EDSA will soon be over," Bayani said. |
| GMA cites PNP contribution to GDP growth |
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo congratulated today the Philippine National Police (PNP) for their significant gains in the promotion of peace and stability which enabled the country to post a robust 6.1 percent grown in its gross domestic product (GDP) last year. The 6.1 percent GDP growth was the highest since 1996 during the incumbency of former President Fidel V. Ramos. Speaking at the 14th PNP Anniversary celebration at Camp Crame, the President commended the men and women of the PNP "from your generals down to ordinary police officer patrolling our neighborhoods" for their success in improving public safety and peace and order in general. The President particularly congratulated the Batangas Police, the PNP Special Action Force (SAF) and the Traffic Management Group (TMG) which subdued a notorious kidnap gang leader with an P800,000 prize on his head and his seven cohorts in a five-hour firefight Sunday where six lawmen were wounded. Mrs. Arroyo likewise congratulated and commended police anti-drug agents, anti-terrorism operatives and other police law enforcers and urged them to continue their splendid work. "The ramparts of our national security must be held firm as our country economy grows," she stressed. The Philippine National Police was formally established on January 29, 1991. It was constituted from out of the former Philippine Constabulary-Integrated National Police (PC-INP) which then combined the old Philippine Constabulary and the nationalized local police units. During the PNP anniversary rites, the President directed PNP Director General Edgardo Aglipay and Armed Forces Chief of Staff General Efren Abu to replace the existing AFP-PNP contingent in Diwalwal with the 402nd Infantry Brigade and a select PNP unit. The President also instructed Aglipay to include the murderers Tata Sala and his brother Edgar Sala, who, she said are the centers of gravity of illegal mining in Mt. Diwalwal. She said she wants the murderers’ immediate arrest. Likewise present during today’s PNP anniversary was former President Fidel V. Ramos, who also headed defunct PC-INP. |
| More cops get free dentures from First Gent's project |
| It's now the turn of toothless policemen and
civilian personnel of the Southern Police District (SPD) and their immediate dependents to
benefit from the free dentures project, "Bagong Ngiti sa Dating Ngebu," of First
Gentleman Jose Miguel T. Arroyo. Originally conceived by the First Gentleman to help indigent toothless market vendors, Mr. Arroyo recently expanded the coverage of the project to include policemen. First to benefit from it were the uniformed and civilian personnel of the Western Police District (WPD) and Central Police District (CPD) and their dependents. At least 120 SPD's police officers and non-uniformed personnel and their immediate dependents received totally free brand new dentures under the project in ceremonies held Monday at the district's headquarters in Fort Andres Bonifacio, Taguig. Mr. Arroyo personally led the giving out and fitting of the dentures by the beneficiaries that included 13 commissioned police officers and 58 non-commissioned officers. The rest were civilian employees and dependents. Present during the rites to welcome and assist the First Gentleman was SPD's director, Chief Supt. Wilfredo Garcia; Chief Supt. Prospero Noble, NCRPO deputy chief; and other officials. Five of the beneficiaries personally got their new dentures from Mr. Arroyo and Chief Supt. Garcia during the rites. They were SPO2 Francisco Ladrera, PO3 Rodolfo del Cruz, PO2 Pmar Taribul, PO2 Sulberto Besa and PO1 Rudyquiel Diaz. While majority of the beneficiaries came from the different offices at the SPD's headquarters, some came from the district's various precincts in Las Pinas, Muntinglupa, Paranaque, Taguig, Makati, Pateros and Pasay. Thanking the First Gentleman for bringing his Bagong Ngiti sa Dating Ngebu project to its district, Garcia said the provision of the free dentures to the policemen, non-uniformed personnel and the dependents is a big boost to the morale of the SPD personnel. SPO4 Jeofrey Bacani who represented the beneficiaries in conveying their thanks, said the project demonstrates the kind-heartedness and generosity of the First Gentleman, particularly for the poor and the less fortunate. . Chief Supt. Prospero Noble said the occasion is doubly ignificant and memorable not only because its organic members and their dependents benefited from the project but because Mr. Arroyo was the first member of the First Family to ever visit the SPD. The First Gentleman, for his part, said he was happy with the number of beneficiaries of the project at the SPD. He assured them the project will continue and benefit other SPD members in need of its assistance. Sources from the Office of the First Gentleman said the project has already served over 1,000 beneficiaries, who received free dentures and related dental services. Mr. Arroyo personally funds the undertaking. The project initially started in October 2004 with poor market vendors from Quinta Market in Quiapo, Bustillos Market in Sampaloc, both in Manila and Murphy Market in Quezon City as beneficiaries. Apart from market vendors and policemen, its other beneficiaries included poor residents of Santiago City in Isabela, low income personnel of Philippine General Hospital and special clients that include mediamen. The project's next batches of beneficiaries, it was learned, will come from the Eastern and Northern Police Districts and poor residents of Lubao, Pampanga. |
| GMA awards land certificates to NGC project beneficiaries in Quezon City |
| President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo awarded today
certificates of project qualification, certificates of title reservation and transfer
certificate titles that would ensure security of tenure to some 30,000 qualified urban
poor beneficiary families residing at the National Government Center (NGC)-Eastside and
Westside Development Projects in Quezon City. The certificates were separately awarded by the Chief Executive during her visit and interaction with the NGC projects' urban poor leaders in Barangay Commonwealth and Barangay Holy Spirit, both in Quezon City, Monday morning. Right after she graced the Philippine National Police 14th year anniversary at Camp Crame, the President motored to Barangay Commonwealth where she presided over her regular Pulong-Bayan dialogue with the community residents there. Vice President and Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) chair Noli De Castro, Environment Secretary Mike Defensor and Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman accompanied the President. In her remarks, Mrs. Arroyo explained to the urban poor leaders that under the De Soto principle, the project aims to provide them security of tenure to the house and lot they occupy, at the same time that the certificates of title given them could be used as collaterals for loans they could avail of to put up modest livelihood projects and small businesses. The President said the project symbolizes new hope for the NGC settlers not only to have security of tenure to the home and lot they occupy, but also new opportunities to become entrepreneurs in their own right. During the program, the President also distributed certificates of project qualification to the NGC-Eastside Development Project (EDP) beneficiaries. She later motored to the Sto. Nino covered court in Barangay Holy Spirit where she awarded certificates of title reservation (CTR) and 20 transfer certificate titles (TCT) to individual NGC-Westside Development Project (WDP) beneficiaries. CTR is a HUDCC instrument that provides security of tenure for informal settlers until such time that they complete the payments for the lots they occupy, after which they will be issued TCTs. The pilot project areas for the implementation of De Soto principle, an economic paradigm formulated by well-known Peruvian economist Hernando de Soto, are the Welfareville Compound in Mandaluyong City, New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City, and the 238-hectares NGC site in Quezon City. The NGC-EDP is an urban development and socialized housing project of the government in Quezon City. It aims to benefit qualified bonafide residents by allocating and awarding land titles, and housing units (Medium-rise building) to them. |
| Statement of the President |
| I would like to congratulate all Filipinos here
and abroad for our 2004 GDP growth rate of 6.1 percent. This is our highest since 1996 and
shows the resiliency and capacity of our people to overcome crisis, work hard on track to
a better future. Our institutions are humming the tune of growth. I would like to thank Congress for focusing on the task of putting our fiscal house in order, and I would like to thank our farmers for keeping productivity high despite the calamities that visited us. We will continue to provide better seeds, improvements in agricultural infrastructure, and credit support. Industry and services are in turn picking up due to higher farm income, complemented by our support to boost micro, small, and medium enterprises. Overseas remittances add fuel to the growth engine. The young professionals manning our call centers and outsourcing firms are raking in the appreciation of investors. We must continue to move forward and up. As we collectively address the fiscal challenge, cut corruption and waste in government, we must keep food supply and prices stable. As we accelerate the reforms in the power sector, we must pave out the critical infrastructure to keep the economy moving at speed. Thank you for your support. Mabuhay. |
