KALIBO, Aklan – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said today that with its growing fame as a world-class tourist destination, Boracay will emerge as one of the country’s leading sources of jobs both in the medium- and long-term.

The President arrived at the Kalibo Airport here at 10:00 a.m. to witness the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the local government of Aklan and the Magsaysay Maritime Corporation (MMC) formalizing the cooperation and collaboration of the government and the private sector in pushing the country’s tourism sector and generating more jobs.

She was welcomed at the airport by the residents of Kalibo and local officials led by Governor Carlito Marquez, Representative Florencio Miraflores, and Kalibo Mayor Raymar Rebaldo.

The simple signing ceremony took place in Barangay New Buswang here between Governor Marquez, Congressman Miraflores, Malay Mayor Ciceron Cawaling, and MMC chairman Eduardo Manese.

"I’m very happy to be here and, really, the Philippines is on the tourism map of the world because of the treasure that Aklan has in Boracay," the President said.

Tourism and its downstream industries are among the biggest sources of income of the people in major tourist destinations all over the world.

The Chief Executive thanked the people of Aklan for their "continuing solidarity in moving the province forward, and I ask you all to continue to be united with me so that together, we can make Boracay and Aklan leading agents in the creation of jobs for the medium and the long-term."

Under the agreement, MMC, a leading provider of crew manning and hospitality service personnel for luxury cruise ships in Asia, America and Europe, will invest P150 million to manage and operate ferry services between mainland Caticlan and Boracay Island starting late this year.

Initially, MMC will field 55 units of specially designed 1,000-cc Suzuki vehicles for the efficient and comfortable transport of goods and tourists within the island.

MMC hopes to develop, in collaboration with local officials, a training program for Hotel and Restaurant Management (HRM) students in Aklan colleges, as well as conduct re-training programs to upgrade the skills of those already employed in the island.

The training program includes such basic courses as waitering, bartending, laundry, kitchen operations, housekeeping and front desk operations.

Under the MOU, MMC committed to donate radar facilities with Automatic Plotting Aid for the hands-on training of maritime students of the Aklan Polytechnic Institute and other Aklan colleges.

I have already received the reports and recommendations of the Secretary of the National Defense and Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, on the on-going military operations in Sulu.

I commend the Armed Forces for successfully accomplishing their operational objectives in Sulu with due regard to the safety of civilians. I am gratified with the report of the Chief of Staff that our forces have hurdled the most challenging part of the operations and that the morale of our troops remains high. I am pleased that the Armed Forces have cleared and are now in control of fortified locations that have served in the past as lairs and sanctuaries for terrorists and lawless elements. I know that many peace loving citizens of Sulu expressed their approval when our soldiers cleared the enemy camps. Our Armed Forces are supported by the people, for which I am grateful.

I am told that as a result of sustained operations, the terrorists have broken up into smaller groups and are on the run. The terrorists shall not be given a chance to regroup and to launch further terrorists attacks against our communities.

Upon the recommendations of the Secretary of National Defense and the AFP Chief of Staff, I have directed our forces to continue operations focused on apprehending or neutralizing the remaining leaders and members of the Abu Sayyaf, as well as other groups that have forged alliances with them. I have also directed the AFP, in coordination with the Philippine National Police, to file criminal complaints against those responsible for these acts of terrorism.

As we continue to bring the terrorists to justice, I would like to see the displaced residents of Sulu return to their communities. In areas that have been cleared of terrorists and lawless elements, I have directed our military and police to provide security to all evacuees who would like to return to their homes. The Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Mindanao Economic and Development Council, in coordination with the military and police commanders on the ground, local officials and non-government organizations, shall oversee the safe return of the evacuees and extend assistance to them as they rebuild their communities.

I call on the local government leaders to assert their authority and work closely with our military and civilian agencies to help the affected communities rise to productivity, as we step-up our rehabilitation and development programs. I have directed the deployment of an AFP Engineering Battalion to help in the rehabilitation effort.

I have also instructed the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process to lead consultations among military commanders, local officials, Muslim representatives in Congress, and religious and civil society leaders to consolidate the peace and maintain law and order.

KALIBO, Aklan – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said today the market vendors, who were displaced by the fire that razed the "talipapa" (flea market) in Boracay last January, will be relocated to the nearby mall later this month.

At the media interaction this morning in Barangay New Buswang here, the President said about 6,000 square meters of the mall’s floor area have been reserved for the displaced stall owners. The mall is now ready for occupancy.

"According to (DENR Secretary) Mike Defensor, that will happen at the end of this month," the President said.

The long-term plan to make Boracay safe from fires and other calamities will be discussed by the Eminent Persons’ Group when she inaugurates the new Shangri-La Hotel in the world-famous tourist island on April 15.

The President organized the Eminent Persons’ Group to map out plans for the sustainable development of Boracay Island. Businessman Inigo Zobel chairs the group.

Boracay development-related programs adopted by the group will be submitted to the government for implementation.

The President said she will appoint one of the assistant directors of Region 6 to act as secretary of the Eminent Persons’ Group.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo congratulated today all those involved in the capture of the alleged maker of the explosive used in the Valentine’s Day bombing of a bus in Makati City that killed three passengers and injured several others.

Gappal Bana, alias "Boy Negro," 22, reportedly a member of the Abu Sayyaf terrorist group, was presented by the police to the media this morning at the Philippine National Police (PNP) headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City.

Nursing a gunshot wound on his thigh which he sustained during a brief firefight with lawmen last Monday, Bana reportedly surrendered to Camarines Sur Rep. Rolando Andaya Jr. Thursday evening in Barangay Mambolo, Libmanan, Camarines Sur.

The President, who was in Kalibo, Aklan this morning, said the arrest of the suspect solved the mystery over the perpetrators of the simultaneous bomb attacks that rocked the cities of Davao, Gen. Santos and Makati last Feb. 14.

"We congratulate everybody involved in locating Bana," the President said.

KALIBO, Aklan – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today urged Congress to maintain its unity with the Executive branch as she commended it for its statesmanship in the passage of the government’s vital revenue generating measures.

"I urge Congress to maintain its unity and synergy with the Executive as we all push forward in the Legislative and Administrative branch to put our fiscal house in order," the President said during the media interaction this morning at the De La Cruz House of Piņa in Barangay New Buswang here.

The President, who arrived at the Kalibo Airport at around 10:00 a.m., was welcomed by local residents and officials led by Gov. Carlito Marquez, Rep. Florencio Miraflores, and Kalibo Mayor Raymar Rebaldo.

She immediately observed the operations of the famous makers of exquisite piņa cloth and "nito" products in Barangay New Buswang and witnessed the signing of an agreement between Aklan province and the Magsaysay Maritime Corporation on the improvement of ferry services between mainland Caticlan and Boracay Island.

"I want to take this opportunity to thank the congressmen, through Congressman Miraflores, for their support in passing the very important revenue measures that we need in order to keep producing the infrastructure and services needed to make investments, like Magsaysay Lines and the De La Cruz House of Piņa, going," the President said.

The Chief Executive noted the Philippines’ good start in 2004 and early improvement in the economy in 2005 as solid foundations for greater confidence, more investments, more jobs and broader prosperity.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today ordered the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to continue pressing its military operations in Sulu against the Abu Sayyaf terrorists and their allies.

In a press briefing in Malacaņang, Press Secretary Ignacio R. Bunye read the President’s statement where she also ordered officials concerned to step up rehabilitation and development initiatives in areas affected by the hostilities.

The statement finally put an end to speculations that the government would declare a ceasefire in Sulu.

President Arroyo specifically ordered the AFP to "focus on apprehending or neutralizing the remaining leaders and members of the Abu Sayyaf terror group, as well as other groups that have forged alliances with them."

"I have also directed the AFP, in coordination with the Philippine National Police, to file criminal complaints against those responsible for these acts of terrorism," the President said.

Defense Secretary Avelino Cruz explained that the President’s decision was based on his recommendations, and the call by the people of Sulu themselves for an end to the attacks by lawless elements in the area.

Presidential Adviser for Mindanao Jesus Dureza said what the people of Sulu want is an end to the armed conflict and not just a truce or a ceasefire, which they consider as palliative approach to the problem.

The President, in her statement, said she was also pleased to learn that the AFP is now in control of 45 locations that served as lairs and sanctuaries of terrorists and lawless elements in the past.

"I know that many peace loving citizens of Sulu expressed their approval when our soldiers cleared the enemy camps. Our Armed Forces are supported by the people for which I am grateful," she said.

The President directed the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, the Department of Social Welfare and Development, and the Mindanao Economic and Development Council to oversee the safe return of the evacuees and to speed up the rehabilitation process.

"I call on the local government leaders to assert their authority and work closely with our military and civilian agencies to help the affected communities to rise to productivity as we step up our rehabilitation and development programs," she said.

At the same time, the President said she has ordered the AFP engineering battalion to help in the rehabilitation effort.

"I have also instructed the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process to lead consultations among military commanders, local officials, Muslim representatives in Congress and religious and civil society leaders to consolidate the peace and maintain law and order," she said.

The Chief Executive stressed that "at all times, our military and police shall not be impeded in their operations and protect public safety and ensure the security of our communities to enable us to pursue our development effort in the province of Sulu."

At the same time, she lauded the AFP "for successfully accomplishing their operational objectives in Sulu, with due regard to the safety of civilians."

Malacaņang today warned the public against the activities of a syndicate asking money in exchange for facilitating approval of government contracts.

Senior Deputy Executive Secretary Waldo Flores issued the warning this afternoon after he was shown a letter informing the general manager of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Authority (NAIAA) that the Office of the President had accepted the offer of a certain Volks Investigation and Protection Services Inc. to provide security services to the NAIA Terminal 3.

The letter bore Flores’ forged signature.

The letter directed NAIAA General Manager Augusto Cusi to coordinate with the "Oversight Committee Secretariat" through a certain Director Ronald P. Pelagio of Malacaņang.

Pelagio is not listed in the roll of Malacaņang employes, much less in the Office of the President, Flores said.

Malacaņang said the signature of Chairman Bernardino R. Abes of the Government Service and Insurance System (GSIS) was also forged in a letter to Cusi recommending "G. Wizard Security and Investigation Services, Inc." to serve as NAIA’s security outfit.

The letter, which listed Abes as "Chairman, Oversight Committee," said that following President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s order for the government to take over NAIA Terminal 3, the "oversight committee of the airport management office thru the task force for security of critical infrastructure (TFSCI) hereby recommends G. Wizard Security and Investigation Services, Inc." to provide security services to the airport terminal.

Flores said he was informed that Pelagio had tried to extort P1.3 million from security agencies by posing as a Malacaņang official who can facilitate the approval and award of government contracts with interested parties.

Flores and Abes are now coordinating with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in the investigation of the forgeries.