President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has lauded the Philippine National Police (PNP) for their security initiatives designed to protect the public in the light of possible acts of terrorism.

The President visited the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) station on Ayala Avenue in Makati City Wednesday evening and personally examined the security measures being implemented by the police, which include baggage inspection and the frisking of passengers.

Among those who joined the President at the MRT Ayala Station were Transportation and Communications Secretary Leandro Mendoza.

PNP chief Director General Arturo Lomibao and National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief, Director Vidal Querol.

"Nakikita naman natin at masaya tayo na ang taumbayan ay hindi nasisindak, hindi nadadala sa mga nananakot (We observe and we are happy that the public is not worried and scared by those who want to instill fear)," the President noted.

"Sa mga panahong ito dapat tayo ay magkaisa para labanan ang terorismo at saka destabilizers (In times like this, we should be united in the fight against terrorism and destabilizers). Congratulations," she added.

Querol informed the President on the PNP night watch scheme, the use of bike patrols, and other security measures in public places including crowded business establishments.

For the month of January, Querol said there was a decline of 67 percent in the number of street crimes and 63 percent in overall crime volume in Metro Manila compared to the same period last year due to the PNP night watch and bike patrols.

We are one with the CBCP (Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines) in the search of truth and justice and we shall exert our efforts to engage the CBCP in sincere and constructive dialogue.

We take exception, however, to comments questioning the legitimacy of the President.

The unrest being whipped up against the RVAT (Reformed Value-Added Tax) would only hurt the poor more.

We are doing all we can to cushion the measure’s impact on prices and we need full support for strong price monitoring and enforcement.

The AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) is handling these issues quite well. The remnants of destabilization are being mopped up.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is expected to encourage India to play a key role in promoting inter-faith dialogue and understanding among people of diverse religions, when Indian President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam makes his three-day state visit to the Philippines starting tomorrow, Feb. 3.

Inter-faith dialogue is a distinct Philippine advocacy which it has been pushing in various world forums, including the United Nations where it has gained recognition and endorsements as a means of creating inter-faith harmony and addressing conditions that give rise to religious extremism and intolerance.

India, a multi-religious society, hosts the second largest Muslim population in the world.

President Kalam’s visit, the first by an Indian head of state in 15 years, is upon the invitation of President Arroyo. It will reciprocate the 1997 state visit to India by then President Fidel V. Ramos.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto G. Romulo said Philippine-India talks during the visit will focus on revitalizing the bilateral ties between the two Asian democracies and to explore areas for regional cooperation.

India and the Philippines are fellow participants in the ASEAN-lndia Summit and the East Asia Summit of Leaders, which the Philippines will host in December this year as the incoming ASEAN chair.

The East Asia Summit is a meeting of the heads of state of regional neighbors China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia, New Zealand, and the 10 member-states of ASEAN.

The highlight of the state visit will be the official bilateral talks between Presidents Arroyo and Kalam on Saturday (Feb. 4) in Malacaņang, with the further strengthening of bilateral trade and investments on top of their agenda.

Romulo said the Philippine government is keen on inviting Indian investments in the health and technology sectors where the economies of both countries can complement each other's strong points. Both countries are considered leaders in business processes outsourcing and have strong potentials in the medical tourism market.

The Philippines has identified India as a major source of affordable quality medicines in line with President Arroyo's program to make medicines accessible to all Filipinos.

Romulo said the Philippines and India are also expected to sign a defense cooperation agreement during Kalam’s visit. The accord, he said, will boost defense ties, deepen naval and maritime cooperation and strengthen the annual security dialogue between the two countries.

On Monday, Feb. 6, the Indian leader will address a joint session of the Philippine Congress.

POLANGUI, Albay – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo told Bicolanos today that the Legazpi City Airport will be privatized to pave the way for its conversion to an international airport as part of the government’s tourism and economic development program for Bicolandia.

Speaking at the launching of key infrastructure projects here, the Chief Executive said the upgrading of the Legazpi City Airport will bolster foreign and domestic tourism and the overall economy of the Bicol region.

The upgrading and modernization of the Legazpi airport to meet international standards is estimated to cost P5 billion.

"The upgrading of the Legazpi Airport will cost P5 billion. What we will do is privatize the present Legazpi Airport so we’ll have the new Legazpi International Airport. That’s what we will do next to speed up the development of Albay, Sorsogon and the entire Bicol region," she said.

The President said that she had discussed the privatization plan with Transportation and Communications Secretary Leandro Mendoza. At the same time, she has ordered the facilitation of the approval of the financing scheme for the project under Official Development Assistance (ODA) package.

With the President during the simple program were Albay Governor Fernando Gonzalez, Albay 3rd District Representative Joey Salceda, and Polangui Mayor Jesus Salceda.

The President also thanked the people of Albay’s third district for voting heavily for her in the 2004 elections. In the entire island of Luzon, Albay was the second province, after the President’s home province of Pampanga, to give her the biggest winning margin in the 2004 polls.

"Dito sa Albay, ako ay nasisiyahan na hindi lang paglilingkod kundi pagmamahal sa akin…I am very happy to be able to serve the people of Joey Salceda’s district," she added.

Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA) General Manager Robert Dean Barbers said the airport privatization plan will not only attract more tourists to Region V but help the overall development of the entire Bicol region.

Among the popular destinations in Bicolandia frequently visited by tourists are Misibis Island, Sula Channel, Cagbubulacao, Pototan, Nag-Aso, Cagraray, Joroan, Donsol, Vera Falls, Mayon Volcano and the Bulusan Lake.

The President was accompanied by Del Gallego Mayor Bayani Veluz, Department of Public Works and Highways Bicol Regional Director Orlando Roces, Camarines Sur Governor Luis Raymond Villafuerte Jr., and Camarines Sur 1st Dist. Rep. Rolando Andaya Jr.

LEGASPI CITY, Albay – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo inaugurated today two major bridges in Albay province with a combined cost of P90.52 million.

The two bridges are the P65.88 million Basud span in Sto. Domingo in the outskirts of this city, and the P24.64 million Quinali bridge in Barangay Kinali in Polangui.

With the President during the inaugural drive through the Basud bridge were Albay Governor Fernando Gonzalez, Albay 1st District Representative Edcel Lagman, Sto. Domingo Mayor Herbie Aguas and British Charge d’Affaires and Chief of Mission Robert Fitchett.

The longest span built under the British-assisted President’s Bridge Program, the 96-meter Basud bridge forms part of the eastern backbone of the Albay road network. It is a vital link between the northeast Bicol municipalities, including Sto. Domingo, and the province of Camarines Sur.

The two-lane, single span steel truss structure was constructed by Philworks Construction in 150 calendar days.

"We are very proud and thankful to Her Excellency President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for this very beautiful and wonderful bridge. This will benefit not only my constituents but also all the travelers passing through our municipality," Mayor Aguas said.

From the Basud Bridge, the President motored to Polangui, Albay to inaugurate the Quinali Bridge.

Also a British government-assisted project, the Quinali Bridge is a vital link between the municipalities south of Polangui, including the province of Camarines Sur.

Malacanang today assured the people that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is prepared to exercise political will to curb the excesses of unscrupulous traders who may take advantage of the Reformed Value Added Tax (RVAT) law’s full implementation.

Press Secretary Ignacio R. Bunye gave the assurance in his regular press briefing at Malacanang’s New Executive Building in response to apprehensions raised by consumers about possible overpricing by unscrupulous traders.

Bunye, who is also Presidential Spokesman, said the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is in control of the situation and there is no need yet to impose price controls because DTI has standby powers to act and punish erring traders according to existing laws.

He said DTI Secretary Peter Favila is "very emphatic about the issue and his department is prepared to impose all relevant laws and these include not only imposing fines and cancellation of business permit but even imprisonment in some extreme cases."

"Well, you know whenever we have this incident it’s the poor that ultimately suffer and we would like to appeal to others to be more sober-minded and not to further add flame to this controversy," he added.

Malacanang has declared tomorrow, Feb. 3, a special non-working public holiday in Bulacan to mark the 79^th birth anniversary of the late Senator and Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas F. Ople.

Acknowledged as the "Father of Overseas Employment" and author of the Philippine Labor Code, Ople died in the line of duty as Secretary of Foreign Affairs during an official mission on Dec. 14, 2003.

Proclamation No. 981 signed by Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita cited Ople, who was also a prominent journalist and writer, as a model to the Filipino people, especially to Bulakenos.

Fondly known as Ka Blas, the late Secretary also served longest as Labor Secretary. He was also appointed to the 1986 Constitutional Commission by then President Corazon Aquino.

He won a Senate seat in 1992 where he served until 2002 before joining the Department of Foreign Affairs as its Secretary.

In honor of the late Secretary, his family, close friends and associates will celebrate mass at 9 in the morning at the Libingan ng mga Bayani at Fort Bonifacio.

Mass will also be offered at the St. Anne’s Shrine in Hagonoy, Bulacan, to be followed by the unveiling of the Blas F. Ople commemorative stamp with Bulacan Governor Josefina dela Cruz and Vice Governor Aurelio Plamenco as honored guests.

A whole-day job fair, passport service, vocational skills training demonstration, and other one-stop services would also be held in Hagonoy, Bulacan.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, Senator Rodolfo Biazon, Secretaries Cerge Remonde and Arthur Yap, Ambassador Antonio Cabangon Chua and Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Rafael Seguis will launch the 2^nd Blas F. Ople Memorial Golf Tournament in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

Proceeds of the annual tournament will go to a scholarship program for children of retired and working journalists to be administered by Samahang Plaridel, an association of veteran journalists.

Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office and Philippine Airlines are the major sponsors of the 2^nd Blas F. Ople Memorial Golf Cup.

Hole sponsors are Manila International Travels and Tours, Business Mirror, SM Supermalls, PAMDEL, Nestle Philippines, Air 21, Sealanes Marines Services, Tanduay Rhum, Manila Mayor Lito Atienza, former Senator Vicente Sotto III, Philippine Association of Mediterranean Agencies Deployment Labours, Inc., Rev. Alex Orbito, among others.

Blas F. Ople Policy Center and Training Institute, headed by Susan Ople, will soon come out with two books, namely, "Blas F. Ople -- As We Remember Him," and the late Secretary’s compilation of writings on Charter Change entitled, "The Plot Against the Constitution."