The celebration of the first Edsa People Power Revolution lives on in the people’s hearts and in the resilient spirit of the Filipino. President Arroyo has chosen to commemorate this special occasion quietly, without fanfare, by going to the people, looking after their needs and hearing their views.

Malacanang said today that although it would like to have unity and reconciliation, it is leaving the disposition of the case of former President Joseph Estrada to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Sandiganbayan.

Both Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita and Press Secretary Ignacio R. Bunye said Malacanang would not interfere in the judicial process involving the former president.

"We will never compromise on the rule of law and the public interest," Bunye said in a statement.

He was reacting to reports attributed to Presidential Chief of Staff Michael Defensor that Malacanang was planning to ask the Sandiganbayan to grant temporary freedom to Estrada as part of the administration’s call for national unity and reconciliation.

It was not clear in the reports what was meant by temporary freedom. Estrada has been detained for five years on charges of plunder.

In sum, Bunye’s statement was a reiteration of previous pronouncements of Malacanang that it would not meddle in the legal proceedings involving the former president.

In a radio interview, Ermita also said that Malacanang is keeping its hands off the Estrada case.

"The former President’s case is already in the judicial mill. Let’s allow the justice system to take its course," he said in the vernacular.

Malacanang will not dip its hands in the Estrada case and try to influence its outcome one way or the other, Ermita said.

Malacanang defended today Executive Order (EO) 464, calling it a "shield against political persecution, grandstanding and character assassination."

In a statement this morning, Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesman Ignacio R. Bunye said that while it "adheres to a policy of transparency and constructive relationship with the Senate," Malacanang "will not stand for slander proceedings under the guise of legislative inquiries."

Signed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Sept. 26, 2005, EO 464 seeks to ensure "observance of the principle of separation of powers, adherence to the rule of executive privilege and respect for the rights of public officials appearing in legislative inquiries in aid of legislation under the Constitution."

Issuance of EO 464 came in the wake of the intense grilling by the Senate of National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales and other top administration officials which Malacanang decried as driven by a mix of personal and political bias and showboating.

"Pursuant to the rule of executive privilege, the President and those who assist her must be free to explore alternatives in the process of shaping policies and making decisions since this is fundamental to the operation of the government and is rooted in the separation of powers under the Constitution," EO 464 said.

It noted that "recent events, particularly with respect to the invitation of a member of the Cabinet by the Senate as well as various heads of offices, civilian and military, have highlighted the need to ensure the observance of the principle of the separation of powers, adherence to the rule of executive privilege and respect for the rights of persons appearing in such inquiries in aid of legislation and due regard to constitutional mandate."

The executive order underscored the "need to prevent such inquiries in aid of legislation from being used for partisan political purposes, disrupting diplomatic relations with foreign governments, and weakening the stability of the state, thereby impeding the efforts of the government to generate and attract investments."

Bunye said the President was compelled to issue EO 464 "as a shield against political persecution, grandstanding and character assassination."

Top Malacanang officials assured today that contrary to reports, preparations for the 20^th anniversary celebration of the first Edsa People Power Revolution are ongoing.

Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesman Ignacio R. Bunye said in a statement that although President Arroyo has chosen to commemorate the special occasion without fanfare by going to the people and looking after their needs and hearing their views, she will still be present at some of the activities planned by the commemorative committee.

"The celebration of the first Edsa People Power Revolution lives on in the people’s hearts and in the resilient spirit of the Filipino," he said by way of squelching speculations that the government is not keen on celebrating the 20^th anniversary of the event that toppled the dictatorial regime of former President Ferdinand Marcos in February 1986.

Published reports have quoted former President Fidel V. Ramos as deploring the lack of preparations for the 20^th anniversary, noting the importance of the event.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said in a radio interview the planned activities for the Feb. 22-25 celebration are being finalized.

The festivities, he said, include ceremonies at the Libingan ng mga Bayani and the People Power Monument along Epifanio delos Santos Ave. (EDSA) in Quezon City.

"We will release the details later," he said, adding that invitations will also be sent to the personalities involved in the first People Power uprising.

Ermita denied speculations that the government is bent on toning down the celebrations.

TUGUEGARAO CITY -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo allotted today P500 million to fund flood mitigating projects for the various provinces affected by the recent floods but clarified that it would be used to build "water-impounding" structures.

"For the purpose of other flood control master plans all over the country, I have already instructed the release of P500 million as the government’s counterpart fund for water-impounding projects and small irrigation systems," the President said during the Regional Development Council 2 (RDC-2) meeting held at the Provincial Capitol's Kammaranan Hall here.

She pointed out that a water-impounding structure would act like a catch basin "saving" flood waters rampaging down the Cagayan River from damaging crops, infrastructure and lives. It would then be used to irrigate farm lands once the summer months set in.

As a result of the recent floods, damages to crops and infrastructure in Region 2, comprising the provinces of Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Cagayan, Batanes and Isabela, have already reached P4.57 billion.

This does not include opportunity losses such as those in production and business activities during the flooding period.

According to the Cagayan Valley Flood Mitigation Plan (CVFMP) submitted to the President, the high incidence of flooding in the region has been attributed to three key factors.

These are:

1. The high flood water discharge of the Cagayan River (the largest and longest river in the country with an aggregate basin area of 27,821 square kilometers and stretches for 500 kilometers from its head waters in Nueva Vizcaya to its end at the mouth of the Babuyan Channel in Aparri) and its tributaries;

2. The low discharge capacity of the Cagayan River; and,

3. The lack of structure and related facilities needed to dredge the Cagayan River during the rainy season.

RDC-2 Chair and Batanes Governor Vicente Gato said that the CVFMP has come up with an "immediate" plan to address the key factors in flooding to include:

• The immediate implantation of bank protection works;

• The construction of small water-impounding projects;

• The building of small farm reservoirs;

• The implementation of sloping agricultural land technology projects; and

• The improvement of flood forecasting and warning system.

Gato said that the region will need an initial P250 million for the projects to be implemented.

The President went on a provincial sortie today, visiting provinces hardest hit by flood waters as an effect of the La Niņa weather phenomenon.

KABUGAO, Apayao - President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said here today government efforts to improve the economy are now bearing fruit ready to be delivered at the doorsteps of the poor.

Speaking at the 11th founding anniversary celebration of Apayao as a province, the President vowed to continue what the administration had started until her objective to move the country’s economy forward is realized.

"Our efforts to improve the economy are beginning to bear fruit," the President said in Ilocano.

She said the government is very thankful to the Fitch rating agency "for adding its voice to the upgrading of the Philippines’ credit rating outlook."

The President informed the residents of Apayao that aside from the positive development generated by the implementation of the fiscal reform measures, the government is also making progress in the ongoing peace negotiations with the Muslim rebels in southern Philippines.

She also vowed to strengthen the government’s campaign to weed out erring government officials in sensitive agencies like the Bureau of Internal Revenue, Department of Public Works and Highways and Bureau of Customs, among others.

KABUGAO, Apayao – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo assured today the residents of this province that the government will help them uplift their lives through the construction of concrete roads from Tuguegarao City in Cagayan province.

The President made the assurance in her speech during the 11th founding anniversary celebration of Apayao as a province held at the Kabugao gymnasium.

The President flew here via presidential chopper from the isolated town of Dinapigui in Isabela province where she inspected the flooded areas and destroyed infrastructure facilities due to the series of typhoons that hit the province.

Immediately upon her arrival here, the President distributed certificates of ancestral lands (CALs) to 400 indigenous families in the municipality of Calasan and another 66 pre-patents of land certificates for the town of Conner, all in Apayao.

She also turned over a P1.5-million check from her Presidential Social Fund (PSF) to Apayao Governor Elias Bulut, Jr. as financial assistance for the Aklas Katutubo Project, a scholarship program in caregiving and household services.

The President also distributed PhilHealth cards to the mayors of the seven municipalities of the province.

She later turned over the key of a new patrol car for the Calanasan town police station and presented three memorandums of agreement (MOA) between the Department of Health and three barangay leaders of Kabugao for the operation of Botika ng Barangay in the capital town of the province.