After the speedy passage of the 2005 budget, our confidence is strong that Congress will follow through with the passage of the VAT bill.

The President’s idea of an interoperable I.D. system for GSIS and SSS members is meant to facilitate public service and avoid transactional delays.

Adequate preparations have been done since the Malaysian government announced its plans to go after illegal migrant workers and this should serve as an assurance that our nationals who will be affected by the crackdown will be taken care of through legal and repatriation assistance.

Our focus now is to work for their eventual re-entry to Malaysia thru normal legal channels and to enable them to get back the jobs they left in that country.

First Gentleman Jose Miguel T. Arroyo today extended financial help to five more hydrocephalus and meningocoele children at the Philippine General Hospital (PGH), including a newborn baby girl from Paranaque.

The five children comprise the seventh batch of beneficiaries of the First Gentleman’s regular monthly hydrocephalus and meningocoele mission at PGH. The mission began in August 2004 and has already helped 37 patients from indigent families, most of whom are children.

The latest batch of beneficiaries were Baby Girl San Pedro from La Huerta, Paranaque City; three-month-old Miracle Cedena from Bataan; Ranj Reganario, also three months old from Bicol; Desiree Santos, three years old, from Tarlac City and six-month-old Angela Africa from Novaliches, Quezon City.

From his private funds, Mr. Arroyo shoulders the cost of VP shunt or tube used to drain the water from the head of hydrocephalus patients, and medicines of the patients. The First Gentleman also makes it a point to visit his mission beneficiaries at Ward 9 (pediatric ward) of PGH.

In his visit today, Mr. Arroyo was visibly affected by the depressing condition of the hydrocephalic children. He thus requested PGH officials, led by its director, Dr. Carmelo Alfiler, to include an information and education campaign on hydrocephalus and meningocoele prevention in their program for parents of the patients.

The First Gentleman consoled the patients’ parents on their children’s conditions and assured them of his support. Surprised of Mr. Arroyo’s presence and appreciative of his assistance and reassuring words, the parents profusely thanked the First Gentleman.

While hydrocephalus and meningocoele are multi-factor diseases, Dr. Alfiler said experts identified folic acid or vitamin B deficiency as a very important factor or cause.

Recent studies, he said, have shown that women who take B vitamins and folic acid, before and during the first two months of pregnancy, can reduce the risk of serious birth defects of the brain and spinal cord.

During the 20^th week of pregnancy, Dr. Alfiler said ultra sound can detect if the fetus has neural tube defects (NTD) which can lead to hydrocephalus and meningocoele.

Neural tube is the part of the fetus that becomes the spinal cord and brain. During the first four weeks of pregnancy the neural tube is open. It later closes to form the spinal cord and brain. In NTD-affected pregnancies, the neural tube does not close properly and causes very serious and permanent damage in the baby.

Other factors that can cause NTD infection are drug intake and familial predisposition to the defect of those who have already had other NTD affected pregnancies.

The Arroyo administration has earmarked close to P80 billion in four years to complete the implementation of the land distribution component of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) over the same period.

The amount will fund the acquisition, parcelling out and distribution of landed estates to about half a million landless farmers all over the country.

In a report to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Department of Land Reform (DLR) Secretary Rene Villa said his department targets 771,384 hectares for distribution to 443,323 farmer beneficiaries from this year to 2008.

In the first year of implementation of the Medium Term Philippine Development Plan (MTPDP) of the DLR, 122,931 hectares of land are to be distributed to 70,650 farmer beneficiaries. This is projected to cost the government over P7.5 billion.

The government is forecast to spend another P15 billion in the second year, with the distribution of 214,000 hectares of land to 122,982 farmer beneficiaries. In the third year, a similar number of hectares would be given out to the same number of farmer beneficiaries.

For the last year of its MTPDP implementation, the DLR targets another 220,453 hectares of land to be distributed to 126,697 farmer-beneficiaries. The package will cost P40.8 billion.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is also expected to spend P1.043 billion in eight years beginning in 2005 until 2012, to facilitate the distribution of alienable and disposable lands under the CARP.

The over 1 million hectares of public land would be distributed in eight years to 972,957 farmer beneficiaries.

ROXAS CITY – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today distributed checks worth P450,000 to augment the capitalization of three associations here under the Self Employment Assistance-Kaunlaran Integrated Program (SEA-K) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Recipients of the SEA-K assistance were the barangay associations of Malonoy, Binantuan and Lanipga in this city. They received P150,000 each from the President after she launched the Consumer Welfare Desk, Price Watch Board and "Kilohan ng Bayan" at the Teodoro Arcenas Trade Center in this city.

The President arrived at the Roxas City Airport at 10 a.m. Capiz Governor Vicente Bermejo, 1st District Representative Rodriguez Dadivas, and City Mayor Antonio del Rosario led the welcomers.

Accompanying the President were Sen. Manuel A. Roxas II, Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap, Trade and Industry Secretary Juan Santos, and Agrarian Reform Secretary Rene Villa.

A capability-building program of the DSWD, the SEA-K assists organized groups of poor entrepreneurs to gain access to non-collateral and interest-free credit to enable them to engage in micro-business activities.

SEA-K associations, which are composed mostly of 25-30 members, also serve as conduits of the DSWD in the delivery of social services, especially in the areas of social preparation and technical assistance to program beneficiaries.

While they already have ongoing livelihood projects, SEA-K operations here were forced to borrow from money lenders despite the usurious rates to keep their small business going.

ROXAS CITY – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today handed a P4.6 million check to JC King Bangus Deboning Plant, one of the projects under her 10-point agenda to expand opportunities for small-scale and medium business enterprises (SMEs) and generate more jobs.

The check represented the final tranche of the P14.7 million financial assistance to the bangus (milkfish) deboning and seafood processing project from the Agricultural Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (ACEF) of the Department of Agriculture (DA).

ACEF had approved the loan as part of the company’s operating expenses.

The President handed the check to JC King Enterprises owner Jose Acevedo during the inauguration of the plant in Barangay Dinginan this morning.

Assisting the President during the simple ribbon-cutting ceremony were Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap and Sen. Manuel A. Roxas II.

The President said the ACEF project is one way of helping Filipino entrepreneurs increase their competitiveness in the face of globalization.

She said the deboning project would not increase the price of milkfish and its other by-products because of its efficient production methods.

Once fully operational, the processing plant could produce 200 metric tons of boneless milkfish and other processed seafood products for the local and international markets, aside from generating more than 100 jobs for fish processors and other workers.

Acevedo said the fish would come from the 230 hectares of fishponds in Capiz and the neighboring provinces.

BAGO CITY--President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo visited Wednesday afternoon the Negros Silk Center in Barangay Tabunan in Bago City, Negros Occidental to look into the potential of the growing industry in the export market.

The President, upon seeing the center and how the silk process works, said the project addresses three major National concerns - job creation, income generation and reforestation--which are part of her 10-point agenda aimed at eradicating poverty in the country before her term expires.

The Center showcases the different processes in producing raw silk and its by-products and aims to promote Negros Occidental as an agri-tourism and silk novelty destination.

It was established by the provincial government. It serves as a one-stop shop for those seeking information on business opportunities the silk industry can offer.

Silk production involves the culture of mulberry trees. Aside from the jobs it generates and the potential income, it also addresses the country's serious deforestation concerns.

Mulberry culture was introduced in 1998 in Murcia, an upland area in Negros Occidental, by the Oorganization for Industrial, Spiritual and Cultural Advancement (OISCA), a civic and non-government organization founded by the late Dr. Yonosuke Nakano in Japan.

OISCA aims to help farmers find alternative livelihood by giving them access to technology, capital and institutional development support.

ROXAS CITY – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said today she has ordered a review of the oil deregulation law to determine whether or not the controversial statute should be lifted.

"I have authorized Secretary Vince Perez to constitute a group who will review the oil deregulation law and come up with a recommendation," she said.

The Chief Executive made the disclosure during the media interaction this morning at the Teodoro Arcenas Trade Center here where she launched the Consumer Welfare Desk, Price Watch Board, and "Kilohan ng Bayan" to protect the buying public from unscrupulous traders.

A media representative noted that one of the reasons for the increase in the prices of basic commodities was the hike in oil prices as a result of the oil deregulation law.

Sen. Manuel A. Roxas II, whom she requested to elaborate on the issue, said that during his stint in the Cabinet, the President always reminded members of her official family to ensure that the public is not taken advantaged of by the oil players.

Roxas said the President has strengthened the power of the Department of Energy (DOE) to ensure that the peso equivalent is computed correctly against the dollar-denominated purchase price of oil from the Middle East.

Malacanang today defended the seismic research agreement between the People’s Republic of China and the Philippines as consistent with the cornerstone of the foreign policy of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

In his regular press briefing this afternoon at the Palace, Press Secretary and concurrent Presidential Spokesman Ignacio R. Bunye clarified that the agreement does not violate the 2002 Code of Conduct signed by countries claiming wholly or partly the oil-rich Spratly islands in the South China Sea.

He said the President authorized the trip of Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo during her China visit last year, stating that the joint exploration in the Spratlys would be pursued in accordance with the agreement among the claimant countries.

"On the contrary, this took into consideration the Declaration of Conduct of the parties in the South China Sea. This is just a seismic research agreement," Bunye said.

Bunye explained that the new accord between the Philippines and China would not affect the strong ties between the country and the United States.

"It’s not a wrong signal, because it is part of the (President’s) foreign policy. We believe that these three nations--theUnited States, China and Japan--will play a determining role in the economy and security of the region," Bunye said.

"I believe China will be a very good neighbor," he added.

Earlier, DFA Secretary Romulo ratified a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on Defense Cooperation signed in November 2004.

ILOILO CITY -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo returned here today, five days after her visit to Miag-ao town last week, to visit the biggest call center in the Western Visayas capital.

The President inspected the facilities of e-PLDT Ventus, a wholly-owned subsidiary of e-PLDT Inc., organized to engage in customer contact services and all forms of business process services to respond to the requirements of clients worldwide, through various multi-media access services.

The project has some $2.9 million in capital outlay and is expected to generate some P1.55 billion or $25 million in total revenue in five years.

The Iloilo project, the first expansion of e-PLDT outside Metro Manila, will initially serve a US-based floral wire service company, Teleflora.

Teleflora is the world’s largest floral wire service which has 300,000 member-florists worldwide.

The Chief Executive’s visit is meant to show support to the growing IT-call center industry that is expected to help generate more jobs through sectoral partnerships.

Mrs. Arroyo has vowed to generate some 10 million jobs in six years. Creating more jobs is part of her 10-point pro-poor agenda.

e-PLDT executives, led by Rose Montenegro, welcomed the President who was accompanied by Senator Manuel A. Roxas, and Department of Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales, among others.

Malacanang said today the Philippines is moving ahead, and on track with its fiscal consolidation plan. It expressed confidence that Congress would be able to enact the value-added tax (VAT) bill shortly.

In today’s media briefing, Press Secretary Ignacio R. Bunye said the Palace takes the word of Senate President Franklin Drilon that the VAT bill will be enacted before Congress adjourns for its Lenten break.

"We are holding on to the word of the Senate leadership that the VAT bill will be passed before the session ends. They have delivered before and we believe they will be able to deliver again," Bunye said.

In a statement issued earlier today, Bunye said "after the speedy passage of the 2005 budget, our confidence is strong that Congress will follow through with the passage of the VAT bill."

He said the Palace is optimistic the debt reduction program of the Arroyo administration would be implemented, once the tax measures being pushed are finally enacted into law.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has urged Congress to enact a number of tax measures seeking to raise P80 billion in additional revenues, as she vowed to generate P20 billion in savings from the Executive department.

"We feel this (national debt) is manageable, provided we are able to come up with appropriate measures that will bring in the revenues, measures that will plug the tax leakages and measures that will introduce efficiency in government," he said.

The Arroyo administration’s fiscal consolidation program seeks to gradually cut the budget deficit to attain a balanced budget by 2010.

"We have to be able to get together, both the executive and the legislative, and work on these measures that will address revenue, that will address austerity, that will address the system of collection," he said.

Press Secretary Ignacio R. Bunye said today Malacanang remains committed to push for the legislation of a national ID system.

He explained that the proposed executive order to be issued by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo would only jumpstart the process of collating information to be used in the ID.

In today’s press briefing, Bunye noted that the executive order the President is set to issue would cover the guidelines to be followed by the National Statistics Office (NSO) in making data available under a national ID system.

"Yes, we are looking towards a nationally legislated system. But we have to start somewhere, and the National Statistics Office, which holds a lot of records, is a good place where to start," Bunye said, responding to a reporter’s question.

He said the EO would allow the NSO to start collating and making representations with other agencies to gather the information that would be required in establishing and implementing a national ID system.

"To start the system, I believe, does not require any law at this time," he said, addressing concerns that the EO would suffer the same fate as the Administrative Order which was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.

Bunye, a lawyer by profession, explained that the order issued during the time of then President Fidel Ramos, was declared unconstitutional mainly because it failed to set guidelines for its implementation.

"If there are guidelines, and these guidelines are observed when that body other than Congress makes the rule, then that would be a valid exercise. That would be a valid delegation of legislative power," he explained.

He said the EO would set working arrangements between the NSO and various agencies that have already issued IDs including the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), the Social Security System (SSS) and the Land Transportation Office (LTO).

"In the end, we are looking at a national legislation that will put this thing in place," he said.

ROXAS CITY – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today congratulated the people of Capiz for their active role in prodding the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) to take over the operations of the Culasi Port in Barangay Baybay here that resulted in the lessening of fare and cargo-handling fees and cost of certain products shipped to the province.

"Congratulations to the people of Capiz for taking an activist role in urging the PPA to take over the Culasi Port. Senator Mar Roxas said that since the PPA took over the arrastre service at the Culasi Port, the price of fertilizer has gone down by P1 per bag. Convenient travel and transport reduces the cost of products," the President said.

The Chief Executive made the exhortation during the media interaction at the Teodoro Arcenas Trade Center here where she launched the Consumer Welfare Desk, Price Watch Board, and "Kilohan ng Bayan" to protect the buying public from unscrupulous traders.

Previously, the President said, ships called at the Culasi Port only three times a week, compared to the present frequency of six times.

During the rest of her term, the President said she would continue to look for ways to improve port services in the country, particularly the roll-on, roll-off (RO-RO) ferry system that would eventually link Culasi Port to Masbate under the Strong Republic Nautical Highway.

Last Feb. 4, the PPA took over the cargo-handling and arrastre service operations at the port from CPSI after the contractor failed to acquire the required forklift and provide a trust fund for the retirement and separation benefits of port workers.

Press Secretary and concurrent Presidential Spokesman Ignacio R. Bunye disclosed today that a Malaysian team will arrive in the country to help facilitate the reentry of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) displaced by Kuala Lumpur’s crackdown on overstaying foreign workers.

In his regular press briefing in Malacaņang this afternoon, Bunye said the Malaysian team will meet with officials of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to discuss guidelines on the reentry into Malaysia of the repatriated OFWs.

Bunye said DOLE Undersecretary Manuel Imson would provide the details on the visit of the Malaysian group

He said employers of the displaced Filipino workers were lobbying Malaysian authorities to allow the return of the OFWs as soon as the documents legalizing their stay in Malaysia are completed.

"Essentially, the reason for their visit here is to discuss ways to facilitate the reentry of the OFWs under the legal process. The reentry of these displaced individuals is being sought by their employers who really appreciate the work of their Filipino workers. They are the ones lobbying the Malaysian government to permit their former employees to return to Malaysia," Bunye said.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo formally inaugurates on Friday (March 4) the newly completed airport tower and coffee shop of the Kalibo Airport in Aklan.

Constructed at the cost of P20 million, the airport tower is expected to improve aviation service in Aklan for both commercial and private flight traffic.

The Kalibo Airport is usually busy with both the domestic and foreign tourists traffic going to and from the world-famous Boracay Island resort.

Together with the tower structure, the airport’s approach control communication system was also upgraded to serve better both incoming and outgoing flights.

President Arroyo will also inaugurate the coffee shop and "pasalubong" center, conveniently located within the airport to serve flight passengers and their friends and relatives.

The Kalibo Airport Coffee Shop and Pasalubong Center is a Department of Trade and Industry-assisted project. It is being managed by the major meat processors of Aklan.