AGUSAN DEL SUR – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo designated yesterday Environment Secretary Michael Defensor as the new Cabinet Officer for Regional Development (CORD) for CARAGA Region.

The President announced Defensor’s concurrent position during the media interaction at the Agusan River Bank in Barangay Dona Flavia, San Luis here.

"Secretary Mike will be the new CORD of CARAGA," the President said. The announcement apparently caught Defensor by suprise.

Earlier, Defensor assisted the President in distributing 150 free patents covering 423.5158 hectares in Barangay Balit, San Luis, and Barangay Buena Gracia in Talacogon, Agusan del Sur.

Land Reform Secretary Rene Villa, on the other hand, helped the Chief Executive distribute Certificates of Land Ownership and Acquisition (CLOAs) to farmer beneficiaries covering 583.2307 hectares. The free patents and CLOAs are under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) of the Arroyo administration.

The free patents cover alienable and disposable lands of the public domain released by the DENR for private ownership, while the CLOAs cover landed estates acquired and parceled out by DAR.

Agusan del Sur Governor Adolph Edward Plaza, San Luis Mayor Jose Chua Sr., and other local executives witnessed the distribution of land titles at the Dona Flavia Gym.

The President braved bad weather to fulfill her 2004 election promise to visit the remote town of San Luis.

"I am very happy to be with you today despite the bad weather. I could not flew in by helicopter, but after a couple of hours of travel by land, I am here to fulfill my promise to join all of you in this very important day, the distribution of land titles to our beneficiaries," the President said.

AGUSAN DEL SUR – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo inspected yesterday thousands of hot logs confiscated by Task Force Sagip Kalikasan (TFSK) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in a series of operations against illegal logging.

The President motored to the bank of the Agusan River to view the long column of floating logs. She was accompanied by DENR Secretary Michael Defensor, Agusan del Sur Governor Adolph Edward Plaza and other officials.

TFSK chief Gen. Alfonso Dagudag said that at P1,500 per cubic meter in Manila, the value of the 6,799 pieces of seized logs could easily reach P6 million.

While admitting that the illegal logging problem cannot be solved overnight, Dagudag said the TFSK and DENR were making a headway in the campaign against logging syndicates.

He also cited the local officials of Agusan del Sur for their cooperation, and for declaring "protected areas" to strengthen the government’s fight against illegal logging. Cutting down trees in the protected areas is strictly prohibited.

Dagudag briefed the President, Defensor and Governor Plaza on the progress of the government’s campaign against illegal logging during her visit to the Agusan River to inspect the confiscated logs.

The hot logs consist of 5,181 pieces or 1,599.82 cu.m. lawaan worth P1.273 million, and 1,618 pieces or 449.62 cu. m. lanipu logs worth P649,572.

"We’ll continue to fight illegal logging because it’s one of the roots of corruption. But we’ll maintain legal logging in three regions to maintain precious jobs in communities thriving at the margins of the economy," the President said during a media interaction in Barangay Dona Flavia, San Luis here.

AGUSAN DEL SUR – Irked over the delay in the completion of the Bayugan-Prosperidad highway project here, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo directed yesterday the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) CARAGA Region to terminate the concreting contract.

The President also ordered the DPWH to immediately publish invitations to bid for the completion of the national road linking Butuan City in Agusan del Norte and Agusan del Sur. Residents greeted the twin announcements with loud cheers during the media interaction near the Agusan River Bank in Barangay Dona Flavia in San Luis town. "I think it's God's will that I traveled by land so that I can witness the long delayed completion of the road rehabilitation of the Bayugan - Prosperidad section. I have directed the regional director of the DPWH to send a notice of termination of contract and to send to our national papers the notice for new bidders," the President said.

Assistant Director Norberto Lorenzo of the PJHL project management office (PMO) of the DPWH said the 36-km. Bayugan-Prosperidad section was awarded in January 2004. It is scheduled to be completed in February 2006 under a "time extension" approved by the DPWH.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will visit Region 7 starting tomorrow (Wednesday) until Friday to inspect and inaugurate some of the priority development infrastructure projects of her administration that would provide job and livelihood opportunities to residents in the region.

Region 7 or Central Visayas is composed of the provinces of Bohol, Cebu, Negros Oriental and Siquijor.

On the first day of her visit in the region, the President will address the Philippine Investment Conference, the country’s largest and most prestigious investment summit of 2005, at the Shangri-la Mactan Island Resort in Lapu-Lapu City.

The President will then motor to Cebu City to inspect the hot logs seized at Pier 3 and Pier 6 of the Cebu International Port. A media interaction will follow.

On Day Two (Thursday) of her visit, the President will fly to Dumaguete City to inspect the facilities of SPI Technologies, Inc. at Barangay Sacsac, Bacong, Negros Oriental and the 60-seater medical transcription facility of Entheos IT, Inc. at the LG Sinco IT Building inside the Foundation University.

Founded in 1980, SPI Technologies offers multi-country content outsourcing options that optimize skill sets and labor costs and mitigate geographic risk through a delivery platform spanning North America, Europe and Asia.

SPI specializes in providing content outsourcing solutions in the following areas: content capture, conversion, and enrichment, financial and transactional business process outsourcing, litigation support, electronic data discovery, editorial and content production, healthcare documentation, and enterprise content lifecycle management.

The Dumaguete facility, under the SPI Publisher Services, has 114 staff at present and will be increased to 250 by the end of the year. It provides editorial and content production solutions to the professional, scholarly, and STM (scientific, technical and medical) journal and book publishing industry.

The Entheos IT, Inc., owned by the Sinco family (also the owner of Foundation University), is a purely local investment with 100% Filipino capitalization.

The President is also scheduled to inaugurate the P9.5-million Port of Sibulan RC Pier with covered walk project in Sibulan town and farm-to- market-road (FMR) projects in San Jose, Negros Oriental.

The President will also lead the groundbreaking of the Tinago President’s Bridge project at Barangay Tinago in Dumaguete City.

On Day Three (Friday), the President will fly to Siquijor province to inaugurate the Larena Port, distribute free patents (land titles) to agrarian reform beneficiaries and administer the mass oathtaking of barangay agrarian reform communities committee (BARC) chairmen in Larena town.

She is also scheduled to inaugurate the Lazi Port in Barangay Tigbawan, Lazi town.

DAVAO CITY—World Bank Country Director for the Philippines Joachim von Amsberg said here today President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s election to a new six-year term is the Philippines’ "window of opportunity" for feasible reforms in various aspects of government.

Joachim made the statement at the close of the two-day Philippine Development Forum here which he co-chaired with Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima.

President Arroyo addressed the last session of the forum held at the Marco Polo Hotel here. Organized by the World Bank, the forum was attended by various foreign delegations from traditional donor and investor countries.

"The dominant theme of our discussions was the narrow window of opportunity the Philippines can seize to address long-standing issues and move the country out of fiscal vulnerability and into a virtuous cycle," Joachim said in his closing remarks.

Seizing such window of opportunity, he said, "would reduce fiscal deficits, lower poverty, increase employment and growth, and allow for increased social and investment spending."

"The economic opportunity created by high growth of above 6 percent and by a very favorable international environment means that difficult reforms are more feasible now because they occur in the context of a growing economy and rising incomes and are thus far less painful than they would be under more adverse circumstances," he added.

The World Bank official said President Arroyo, through her 10-point pro-poor agenda, Medium-Term Philippines Development Program, and her announcements on the fiscal situation, has in fact "decided to seize this opportunity."

"We congratulate you on this critical decision. We stand behind you in this courageous decision, and pledge our support to the implementation of your plans. Our discussions here were about how to support implementation of the critical reforms on the policy agenda and the plans that you have laid out," he stressed.

Joachim said the forum participants applauded the government’s recent structural reform measures in the energy sector and recognized that energy sector reform is a critical component of the overall fiscal reform agenda.

"With the implementation of urgent actions, the Philippines can be positioned to generate sustained growth, where the concerns of investors begin to diminish and productive investment would grow; where incomes and employment would rise; where the vulnerable are effectively protected; where economic opportunity is spread widely and access to quality education and health is widely available; where corruption and leakages are aggressively tackled; and where peace and order prevails," he stressed.

DAVAO CITY—President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo told an international audience here today the roots of democracy have already taken firm hold on the level of human and institutional interaction among Filipinos.

The President told the closing program of the Philippine Development Forum at the Marco Polo Hotel here Filipinos have to spend more time working at it but recent developments clearly indicate this trend.

She said the recent decision by broadcasters to deny airtime to terrorist groups shows "how sobriety and prudence are perceptively dawning upon the (Philippine) media that is taking part in the high responsibility of remaking our national destiny."

She likewise cited landmark decisions by the Supreme Court and the Sandigang Bayan on the Marcos wealth and the Coconut Levy Fund which, she stressed, "have spoken of sure justice for the poor and those who have less in law."

President Arroyo, in her address, called on foreign investors and the world’s donor organizations to back her government’s push towards prosperity for Filipinos.

"I can’t offer to fix each and every problem of every citizen or family. But with your support, I can fight to bring this nation to the edge of shared prosperity across all regions, cultures and creeds," she intoned.

The President arrived here this morning to address the forum, preside over the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA)-Cabinet meeting and inaugurate the P500-million Philippine-Korean Vocational Training Center.

At the media interaction which followed the forum, she greeted both men and women "Happy Women’s Day," which is observed worldwide today.

In her speech, President Arroyo said the force of political stability is also clearly manifested in the creation of "safer streets free from crime and kidnapping, which are central to our workers and investors to go about their jobs."

"Crime is down, kidnapping is down and I’m sure you recognized that investments in the nation are up as a result of our work," the President said.

DAVAO CITY—Canada has commended President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for her Medium-Term Philippine Development Plan (MTDP) and committed continuing support for the realization of its defined goals.

The Canadian commitment is contained in a statement the Canadian delegation to the two-day World-Bank-organized Philippine Development Forum which ended at the Marco Polo Hotel here today.

President Arroyo addressed the closing session of the forum which was co-chaired by World Bank Country Director for the Philippines Joachim von Amsberg and Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima.

"Canada congratulates the administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on the development of the Medium-Term Philippine Development Plan (MTPDP) which provides clear and measurable goals to guide the government and its partners as they work together to reduce poverty," the statement said.

"Canada is pleased to commit to continuing its support to the Philippines in the attainment of these goals, particularly in the areas of governance and private sector development," the statement added.

The statement said all of Canada’s official development assistance to the Philippines considers environmental sustainability as a cross-cutting issue.

On governance, the statement said Canada looks forward to continuing to support the Arroyo government to foster efficient, responsive, transparent and accountable governance at all levels.

It also congratulated the Arroyo government on the recent signing of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption and on the development of the Coalition Agreement Against Corruption involving government agencies, non-government organizations and the private sectors.

"These are positive and important steps as systemic corruption has been a substantial obstacle to achieving fiscal health, efficient service delivery and strong economic growth for the Philippines," the statement noted.

In the area of private sector development and economic growth, the statement said Canada is well positioned to support the Arroyo administration in its effort to reach its goal of creating 6-10 million jobs over the timeframe of the MTPDP.

For several years, Canada has been effectively assisting organization to deliver business support services to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) that have the potential of creating more, better and decent jobs for both men and women, it pointed out.

The delegation said Canada also looks forward to the successful conclusion of the ongoing peace process in Mindanao and the additional development opportunities that peace will bring.

DAVAO CITY—President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today said her government patiently wages peace with rebels across the negotiating table but deals with terror with iron hands.

"We’re dealing with terror with iron hands even as we wage peace with rebels across the negotiating table," she told an international audience here.

The President addressed the closing session of the World Bank-organized Philippine Development Forum at the Marco Polo Hotel here. The forum was attended by foreign investors and delegations from donor countries.

She expressed her appreciation for the international donor community’s help in the country’s creation of high-end jobs such as that in information technology and high-technology automotive manufacturing.

"Your investments on SMEs, mining and housing lead the trend to creating 10 million jobs in the medium term," the Chief Executive said.

In partnership with all branches of the government and private sectors, she said the Philippines will continue its fight for improved welfare Filipinos deserve.

"We need your support to resolve these challenges so that no Filipino will be left as we march to prosperity," she added.

In Mindanao, the President said the government is winning the peace based on strengthening autonomy and respect for ancestral domains.

Talking about the country’s economy, Mrs. Arroyo said, "Our peso is stronger and our stocks are up."