Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesperson Ignacio R. Bunye cited today the importance of resisting any threat to the freedom of the press, pointing out that it is essential to both government and journalists.

In an e-mail message to the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) which is holding its fifth National Congress on Aug. 27-28, Bunye commended the NUJP and endorsed its conference theme "for it is essential that government and journalists alike resist any threat to the freedom of the press."

"No one in a free society should ever have to live in fear of expressing his or her point of view," he said in his message.

Bunye asserted that no private citizen or working journalist should ever have to give his or her life "as the price for open expression."

"As the government’s liaison to the media and as a fellow journalist, I stand with you in your fight as you work everyday to strengthen Philippine democracy," he stressed.

The government has always stood foursquare against those out to suppress freedom of the press.

Determined to get to the bottom of the recent spate of killings of journalists and militant leaders, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has created a powerful commission to investigate such killings.

NUEVA VALENCIA, Guimaras---Appalled by the extent of the ecological damage of the country’s worst ever oil spill, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ordered today the immediate clean-up of the slick off the shores of this island province and the safe off-loading of the sunken tanker's remaining load.

In her opening statement at the National Disaster Coordinating Council meeting held at the Salvacion Elementary School here, the President stressed the need to act quickly and decisively as the health and the livelihood of the affected residents lie in the speedy clean -up of the spill.

"I am personally pressing the government, Petron, the ship owner and every responsible party to work quickly and decisively to clean-up this ecological mess," the Chief Executive said.

The Motor tanker (MT) Solar 1, carrying 500,000 gallons of oil of Petron, sank in rough seas off Guimaras last Aug. 11, resulting in the country’s worst oil spill that has already affected hundreds of kilometers of the province's shoreline, including the livelihood of thousands of subsistence fishermen in the area.

Describing the oil spill as a tragic accident, the President stressed that the government’s first order of business is to ensure the health and safety of the citizens who are on the path of the spill.

Central to the care of the citizens, the President pointed out, is to clean up the spill as soon as possible to protect the health and well being of the people "and make sure our pristine coastline is preserved and brought back to earth."

"Everyone must make sure that the sunken tanker is secured that you will safely off-load it and this accident safely comes to a rapid conclusion," she added.

The President instructed the Department of health to "meticulously" assess the situation "followed by a prompt and sustained action."

Determined to make those responsible accountable for the country’s worst oil spill, she also announced that she is including Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales to the Task Force Guimaras to make sure that the disaster won’t happen again.

The President assured a full investigation of the oil spill to determine what happened and what steps to take to avert a repeat.

"This accident once again underscores the fragile nature of our environment, and why, we as a people seek to do more to preserve our precious natural resources," she said. "We will do everything in our power to right the wrong caused by this unfortunate accident.

The President on Friday declared the Guimaras oil spill as a national calamity following her creation of the task force headed by Environment Secretary Angelo Reyes.

The task force, which seeks to address the ecological and economic disaster brought about by the oil spill, also includes Health Secretary Francisco Duque, Transportation Secretary Leandro Mendoza, Social Welfare Secretary Esperanza Cabral and Coast Guard Commanding Officer Vice Admiral Arthur Gosingan.

."On a personal note, let me express how saddened I am to see our beautiful beaches and the pain I feel for the men and women who are in harm's way and whose health and livelihood were affected," she said.

While in Barangay Luzaran, the President distributed certificates for 10 patrol boats, 50 squid gigs, 102 piglets and 102 chicken and 3,000 packs of assorted vegetable seeds.

She also gave out food packs consisting of rice and canned goods from the Philippine gaming Corp. (PAGCOR).

"Hindi naman po kami pinabayaan (They took care of us. They gave us assistance, medicines," Analyn Gamayao, a mother of three, said.

NUEVA VALENCIA, Guimaras--- Citing the importance of preserving the country’s precious natural resources, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said here today a comprehensive blueprint of the "Berdeng Pilipinas" initiative is now in the works and will be revealed in the next few months

The President, here to inspect the damage wrought by the country’s worst ever oil spill, called on the people to do their share in protecting the environment.

"This accident once again underscores the fragile nature of our environment and why we must as a people seek to do more to preserve our precious natural resources," she said.

The "Berdeng Pilipinas" initiative, according to her, is an ambitious but achievable plan for environmental protection "consistent with our values as a nation."

The Chief Executive stressed the need for Filipinos to "move aggressively toward energy independence and the protection of our land, sea and air."

Part of this initiative is the "Green Highway" project she launched last Friday wherein some 500,000 trees were planted trees in all the country's major thoroughfares.

Some 200 to 300 liters of oil continue to spill out from the sunken tanker that was loaded with some two million liters of bunker fuel oil.

A ship capable of locating the sunken tanker and siphoning the remaining load will arrive from Japan this Monday, according to Petron.

The President said during the NDCC meeting which she presided that from her engagements in Mindanao on Monday, she will proceed here and spend the night to see how the clean-up has progressed.