The peace we have gained in Mindanao is an important thrust for economic takeoff on the back of sustained growth, investments and jobs.

Domestic, regional and global confidence has been driven in a large part by our determination to silence the guns, open the gates of enterprise at all levels, isolate terrorist cells and negotiate a comprehensive political settlement.

Peace and reconciliation are an essential part of achieving permanent liberation from poverty, national security and regional stability and prosperity.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo directed the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) today to release P500 million to the Department of Education (DepEd) for the purchase of textbooks and instructional materials for the public schools nationwide.

The President issued the directive during a visit to the Andres Bonifacio Integrated School (ABIS) in Welfareville Compound in Barangay Addition Hills, Mandaluyong City for a story-reading visit to Grade 1 pupils of ABIS.

"Maglalabas ang DBM ng P500 million para sa mga libro at instructional materials para sa mas madaling pagtuturo," the President said.

She was welcomed by Mandaluyong City Mayor Neptali Gonzales II, Mandaluyong Representative Benjamin Abalos Jr. and ABIS principal teacher Juanita Valle upon her arrival at the school quadrangle.

The Chief Executive read the book, Magic Mat written by Virgilio Almario. Forty-four of the 52 Grade 1 pupils are scholars of the oil firm Petron.

The President also guided the graders on a map tour of some countries during the story-reading.

Charito Bolina, Grade 1 Section Cattleya teacher-in-charge, said that Petron donated the sets of Big Books, including Magic Mat, to the school in line with the Bright Minds Read program.

The program is spearheaded by the DepEd-NCR in selected schools in Metro Manila, one of which is the Pedro Cruz Elementary School also in Mandaluyong City

There are other reading programs in ABIS, notably Concentrated Language Encounter (CLE), Strive to Teach All to Read (STAR) and Peer Teaching. Storytelling and story-reading play an important part in all these programs.

"I would like to thanked Mayor Gonzales and Congressman Abalos for hosting us today here in Andres Bonifacio Integrated School," the President said after the 15-minute story-reading visit with the first graders.

Malacanang expressed confidence today the new Cabinet members appointed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo over the past few days would breeze through the Commission on Appointments (CA) as they were chosen due to merit and credentials.

Press Secretary and concurrent Presidential Spokesperson Ignacio R. Bunye said the President appointed the new Cabinet members with the public interest in mind.

"Appointments to the Cabinet are made in the public interest. We are confident that all Cabinet appointees will pass the test in terms of merit and credentials," Bunye said.

On Saturday, Malacanang announced changes in the President’s Cabinet, which included the appointment of former Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Michael Defensor as the new Presidential Chief of Staff.

Former Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Angelo Reyes took over Defensor’s post, while former Philippine Heart Center Director Esperanza Cabral was named secretary of Social Welfare and Development.

Antipolo City 1^st District Rep. Ronaldo Puno was appointed to take over Reyes’s DILG post.

Camarines Sur 1^st District Rep. Rolando Andaya Jr. was chosen to head the Department of Budget and Management. He replaced Secretary Romulo Neri who was reappointed as Director-General of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).

Former Western Samar Rep. Eduardo Antonio Nachura was appointed as the new Chief Presidential Legal Counsel. He takes over the post of former Secretary Merceditas Gutierrez who has been appointed Ombudsman.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo underscored today the importance of the settlement of the decades old conflict in Mindanao to the country’s economic takeoff and winning the war against poverty.

"The peace we have gained in Mindanao is an important thrust for economic takeoff on the back of sustained growth, investments and jobs," the President said this morning.

She issued the statement a day after government peace negotiators and their Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) counterparts left for Kuala Lumpur for a two-day meeting in a bid to hammer out a peace agreement.

Both Presidential Adviser for the peace process Jesus Dureza and MILF vice chairman Mohaqher Iqbal expressed optimism the two-day meeting ''would bear positive results.''

"Domestic, regional and global confidence has been driven in large part by our determination to silence the guns, open the gates of enterprise at all levels, isolate terrorist cells and negotiate a comprehensive political settlement" of the Mindanao conflict, the President said.

She pointed out that peace and reconciliation are an indispensable part of "achieving permanent liberation from poverty, national security and regional stability and prosperity."

"The promise of Mindanao is being fulfilled by the cooperation and resolve of our peace partners, the sincerity of the MILF and the political will of this administration supported by international allies,'' she added.

The President specifically cited the role Malaysia plays in the peace process. Kuala Lumpur hosts the peace talks and plays a key part in the multi-nation team monitoring compliance of the Mindanao truce between the government and the MILF.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo assured today the availability of low-priced medicines in the Botika ng Barangay under her half-priced medicine program.

The President made the announcement after inspecting this morning the Department of Health (DOH) warehouse at the Quirino Memorial Medical Center (QMMC) Complex in Quezon City.

She said that the half-priced medicine program would have a total funding of P730 million, P230 million of which would come from the DOH and another P500 million from the allocations of the Philippine International Trading Corporation (PITC).

"Naglabas tayo ng P500 million bahagi ng ating P35 billion pump priming program para sa half-priced medicine, ibig sabihin natin gusto natin na iyong presyo ng gamot ay kalahati sa kanilang presyo noong 2001, iyong gamot na karaniwang bilihin ng mga mahihirap," she said.

Among the cheaper medicines available are Paracetamol which is sold for P1 against the regular P3; Oresol for P7 compared to P13; and Lagundi tablet for P1.50 against P5.00 in private pharmacies.

The Chief Executive emphasized the continuing distribution of the anti-tuberculosis medicines for free in every barangay nationwide under the ongoing anti-TB campaign of the government.

"So, tuluy-tuloy itong ating half-priced medicines. Remember our P35 billion program is a three-month program from January 01 to March 31. Anyway, PITC has P500 million and DOH has P230 million, so the P730 million is for the half-priced medicine program," she added.

Joining the President in the inspection were DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III, Quezon City 3^rd District Representative Mathias Defensor Jr., and Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr.

Duque reported that the Arroyo government is targeting to put up a total of 7,000 Botika ng Barangay throughout the country. Some 5,400 are now operational.

"Ang binibigyan natin ng prayoridad, Madam President, ay ang ating mga mahihirap na mga lokal na communities. So, malaking tulong ito, Madam President, bilang isa sa inyong legacy programs o pamana sa ating taumbayan," the DOH chief said.

Malacanang deplored today efforts by detractors of the administration to exploit a tragedy like the Ultra stampede as an opportunity to attack President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

"Our critics continue to twist the tragedy in Ultra to poison the minds of the people," Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesman Ignacio R. Bunye said in a statement.

He said that despite significant improvements in the country’s economic outlook, including the strengthening of the peso, administration critics have obviously chosen to be "color blind to the silver lining in the horizon."

Bunye pointed out that the continuing strengthening of the peso did not happen by itself. "It is fed by good economic fundamentals and confidence in the national leadership," he said.

He was referring to attempts by critics to blame poverty and, ultimately the administration, for the Ultra stampede that killed more than 70 people and injured scores of others in Pasig City last Saturday.

Thousands of people had gathered at the Ultra for the first anniversary presentation of the popular game show, "Wowowee" of ABS-CBN.

Bunye also said the Palace is leaving to the proper authorities the prosecution of those who might be found liable for the Ultra stampede.

He said the administration is also leaving the implementation of the corrective measures to the authorities to prevent a repeat of the tragedy, based on the recommendations of the fact-finding board formed to investigate the incident.

The board, an inter-agency committee led by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), released its finding early today in compliance with the 72-hour deadline imposed by the President to determine the parties liable for the incident.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo lauded the move of the Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Alliance of the Philippines (FEJODAP) to reduce by P.50 jeepney fares for a week from Feb. 10-17.

"I should be the one thanking you. Instead of you asking you are the ones giving. Thank you," the President told members of the FEJODAP during the organization's meeting at the Eastern Hotel (formerly Aberdeen Court) in Quezon City this afternoon.

The P.50 fare discount applies to the first four kilometers.

The President said FEJODAP's move is proof that the fight against poverty is not done overnight but needs the cooperation, discipline and hard work of every Filipino.

Zeny Maranan, president of the FEJODAP, said the one week fare reduction in jeepney fare is their way of helping the Filipino people and showing their support for the President.

"This is our way of telling the President that we fully support her for truly she is working hard to uplift our lives," she said.

She added: "We want to show the President that even the poor -- the poor jeepney driver is willing to sacrifice for the Filipino people."

Maranan said the fare discount is part of the drivers’ and operators’ way of celebrating "Linggo ng Jeepney."

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo inspected this afternoon the pride of the Filipino jeepney driver—the airconditioned "Jumbo Jeepney" in front of the Eastern Hotel (formerly Aberdeen Court) along Quezon Avenue in Quezon City.

The President, accompanied by Zeny Maranan, president of the Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Alliance of the Philippines (FEJODAP), went inside the 25-seat coaster type jeepney.

The President was all smiles after alighting from the vehicle, obviously impressed with the Filipino ingenuinity.

The world-class jumbo jeepney was invented by Orlando Marquez, president of the Makati Jeepney Operators and Drivers Alliance who is a mechanical engineer by profession

Marquez said that when he invented the airconditioned jeepney, he had in mind how to enhance the image of the lowly jeepney.

The project is one of the moves to enhance or give a facelift to the Pinoy jeepney, he added.

Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Chairperson Ma. Elena Bautista, together with the Department of Tourism, has come up with a scheme to give passenger jeepneys a smarter and colorful appearance by fitting huge acrylic stickers on the sides of the vehicles.

The jumbo jeepney already has these embellishments.