The extent and implications of this tragedy have struck and shocked the whole nation. As we grieve with the families of the victims, let us not forget the compelling circumstances that led to this tragedy.

Let us commit ourselves to end despair and raise hope, by joining hands and working together to fight abject poverty. I assure the victims’ kin that the ends of criminal and social justice will be served, and those responsible will be taken to account for their negligence or misdeeds.

Meanwhile, I have directed the DSWD to identify each family affected, and extend relief assistance. I appeal for coordinated and unified support from the private sector to get these families back on their feet.

I have also ordered the DILG and PNP to review existing protocols of crowd control and management in coordination with local government units and event organizers.

We must all work together to make sure that such a meaningless tragedy never happens again.

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President Gloria Macapagal-Arrpyo is scheduled to open tomorrow (Monday, Feb. 6) the weeklong Private Schools Athletic Association (PRISAA) National Games 2006 at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center in Lingayen, Pangasinan.

Dr. Gonzalo Duque, PRISAA Region 1 head and also PRISAA national president, said some 4,000 athletes, coaches and school officials from various parts of the country will flock to Dagupan City and Lingayen from Feb. 5 to 11 to take part in the biggest sporting event ever to be held in Pangasinan since the province hosted Palarong Pambansa in 1995.

The athletes will see action in 12 sporting events: athletics, badminton, chess, baseball, basketball, softball, lawn tennis, sepak takraw, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo and volleyball.

Duque said this is the first time Dagupan City will host the PRISAA Games since it was founded in 1935.

The last national athletic meet was held in Zamboanga City.

The theme of this year’s PRISAA Games is "Friendship and Solidarity Towards National Transformation."

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President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo hailed last night the visit of Indian President Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam to the country, saying it highlighted the close political, economic and cultural relations between the Philippines and India.

"Mister President, your visit highlights our closeness in political, economic, and cultural affairs," President Arroyo said during the state banquet she hosted in honor of the visiting Indian leader at the Rizal Hall of Malacaņang Saturday night.

She said "Filipinos share with Indians a love for democracy, a passion to promote the health of our peoples, and a drive for enterprise and excellence in the knowledge economy."

"Filipinos and Indians are both spread all over the world. There are 10 million Filipinos all over the world, there are 20 million Indians all over the world. We can and we should complement each other's strengths and potentials," she said.

As pioneering democracies in Asia, the Philippines and India can help create greater opportunities "for our peoples and the entire regional community," she added.

"India and the Philippines are long-standing pioneering democracies. And we shall continue together to fight soldier-to-soldier the serious threat of religious extremism and intolerance, and to defend the democracy that our two countries pioneered and championed in Asia," President Arroyo said.

She thanked the Indian leader "for putting the Philippines back on the radar screen of India."

She said the Philippines will continue to work with India in making available to the people affordable medicines, developing alternative sources of energy, and promoting mutual visits and tourism.

The Philippines is seeking complementary partnerships in information technology, heavy industries, electoral reforms, and the fight against religious extremism.

President Kalam's visit has elevated bilateral relations between India and the Philippines "to a more meaningful level," President Arroyo said.

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President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo vowed today that victims of the deadly stampede at the Philsports Arena (formerly Ultra) in Pasig City Saturday will receive justice and those responsible for the tragedy will be held to account for it.

More than 70 fans of the noontime TV game show "Wowowee" were trampled to death, while more than 300 others were injured in the mad rush to get into the Philsports Arena to watch the first anniversary presentation of the popular variety show.

"I assure the victims’ kin that the ends of criminal and social justice will be served, and those responsible will be taken to account for their negligence or misdeeds," the President said in a formal statement.

The President also appealed for "coordinated and unified support from the private sector to get these families back on their feet." She also directed the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to "review existing protocols on crowd control and management in coordination with local government units and event organizers."

The Chief Executive said the extent and implications of what has been described as the deadliest stampede in the country have left the whole nation in a state of shock.

In its aftermath, "let us not forget the compelling circumstances that led to this tragedy. Let us commit ourselves to end despair and raise hope, by joining hands and working together to fight abject poverty," she said.

Immediately upon learning of the stampede Saturday morning, the President ordered the DILG and the PNP to conduct a thorough investigation of the incident and submit the results within 72 hours.

She has also directed the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to identify the victims’ families and to extend to them the necessary relief assistance.

"We must all work together to make sure that such a meaningless tragedy never happens again," she said.

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If you receive a notice via text/short message service and e-mail that you are a "lucky winner" of an unidentified contest of the "President GMA/Charity Foundation," forget it, it’s a hoax, Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesman Ignacio R. Bunye warned.

In his regular weekly column, View From The Palace, which comes out tomorrow, Bunye said some "unscrupulous people are spreading hoaxes via text/SMS and e-mail in an obvious attempt to embarrass the President."

Bunye said a text message was sent by a certain "Atty. Rex G. Santos" via mobile phone No. 09217174558 to a concerned citizen of Muntinlupa City.

The Muntinlupa resident, in turn, brought the matter to Bunye’s attention.

The "message reads verbatim (grammatical errors and all): Congrat’s!! the Pres. GMA/charity Foundation. Ur cell# is "1 of lucky winner, last Feb. 2, 2006 had won P750,000) 2 Claim ur prize cal now! I’m Atty. Rex G. Santos."

The Malacaņang official said "Santos’" message was clearly a hoax and warned the public not to fall for the scam.

"Atty. Rex G. Santos, or whoever is responsible for this, your cellphone number has been forwarded to the National Telecommunications Commission for proper action," Bunye said.

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Ending weeks of speculation, Malacaņang confirmed today the appointments of Romulo Neri, Rolando Andaya Jr. and Ronaldo Puno to the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), respectively.

Neri headed the budget department before he was transferred to the Neda, while both Puno and Andaya Jr. are members of the House of Representatives from Antipolo and Camarines Sur, respectively.

The new appointments came a day after President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo named DILG Secretary Angelo Reyes to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) secretary and Dr. Esperanza Cabral as secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Edgardo Pamintuan, head of the Office of External Affairs, was appointed as chairman of the Subic-Clark Area Development Council (SACD).

"Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita has confirmed the appointments of Romulo Neri to NEDA, Rolando Andaya Jr. to DBM and Ronaldo Puno to DILG," a statement released by the Palace today said.

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