Even as the nation continues to grieve over this tragedy, I would like to thank all Filipinos and our friends around the world for the outpouring of sympathy and aid. All resources of our government will continue to be mobilized without letup as we pin hope against hope on the search survivors.

I acknowledge our courageous search and relief workers -- police, military, government workers and civic-minded citizens -- who keep our faith high that all the victims of this tragedy will be accounted for. The nation is gratified with the continuous pouring of compassionate assistance from our international allies.

This tragedy has shifted national solidarity into high gear as rich and poor alike have pooled their resources and prayers. We should all join hands in the preservation of our environment and protect what is left behind for the sake of the generations to come.

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President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo mobilized today all government resources in the ongoing massive operation to rescue more than 1,000 people, including schoolchildren, feared buried under tons of mudslides in Barangay Guinsaugon, St. Bernard, Southern Leyte.

In a statement this morning, the President also expressed her gratitude to all Filipinos and people around the world for the outpouring of sympathy and assistance to the victims of the landslides that swamped the village of more than 3,000 residents.

"All resources of our government will continue to be mobilized without letup as we pin hope against hope on the search for survivors," she said.

Pope Benedict XVI was among world leaders who have expressed deep sadness and sympathy for the victims and their families. He said he was praying that the "relief effort will be swift and generous in its response to the disaster, and ask the Lord to grant courage and strength to all involved in the task of caring for those who have lost their homes."

Other leaders of the international community who have expressed condolence and readiness to help the rescue and relief operations were US President George W. Bush, Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, Chinese President Hu Jintao and United Nations (UN) Secretary General Kofi Annan.

The President also paid tribute to the dedication and tireless efforts of the rescue and relief workers, saying the whole country was grateful to them.

"I acknowledge our courageous search and relief workers – police, military, government workers and civic-minded citizens – who keep our faith high that all the victims of this tragedy will be accounted for," she said.

"This tragedy has shifted national solidarity into high gear as rich and poor alike have pooled their resources and prayers. We should all join hands in the preservation of our environment and protect what is left behind for the sake of the generations to come," the President added.

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Malacaņang said today there is nothing new or surprising about President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s push for the revision of the Constitution.

"During the 2004 elections, only the President among the presidential candidates included the proposal to change the charter in her campaign platform," Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesman Ignacio R. Bunye said in a radio interview this morning.

Upon her election, the President made good her election promise to campaign for a new Constitution by including the proposal in the medium term plan of the government, he said.

"So, you see the President’s call for constitutional change did not just happen at the spur of the moment," Bunye said.

He pointed out that political reform, under which the Charter change proposal falls, constitutes Part 2 of the President’s reform agenda. "We are already seeing the fruits of economic and fiscal reform, or Part 1 of the President’s reform agenda," he added.

The Palace official said the President is determined that charter change will push through during her term of office.

But Bunye debunked speculation that Congressmen Rolando Andaya Jr. and Ronaldo Puno were appointed to head the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), respectively, to ensure that officials of local government units (LGUs) toe the administration line on charter change.

He said the President chose the two new Cabinet appointees based on their qualifications.

"It’s just that the President’s detractors are giving political color to the Cabinet changes," Bunye said.

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Fearing that helicopter "downwash" would trigger fresh landslides, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) declared today a "no-fly zone" over the areas devastated by massive landslides that hit St. Bernard in Southern Leyte last Friday.

The OCD announced the aerial ban during the emergency meeting of the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) called by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo this morning in Camp Aquinaldo to assess the progress of the rescue and relief operations in St. Bernard.

During the meeting, the President stressed that all resources of the government were being mobilized without letup to rescue people buried under tons of mudslides, and assist other victims of the tragedy.

OCD informed the President that as of 6 a.m. today (Sunday), 10 villages remained affected by the landslides, with Barangay Guinsaugon the worst hit. A total of 281 houses and one school building in the barangay were buried in mudflows.

The latest death toll was placed at 56, of whom only 35 were identified, while 1,409 were still missing. Also as of this morning, 410 survivors have been accounted for.

The President was informed of the continuing arrival of international assistance to the search and relief operations. The United States has ordered a team on board CH-46 helicopters from the USS ESSEX to proceed to St. Bernard to assist in the search and retrieval operations.

Two Malaysian C-130 aircraft with around 60 members of the Malaysian Search and Rescue and Medical Team (SMART) arrived today at the Tacloban Airport en route to the disaster site, while a Taiwanese rescue team was awaiting deployment to the affected area.

Rescue teams from Masinloc, Zambales and Baguio District have also left Manila on board domestic and private flights to Tacloban City to assist the retrieval efforts.

Iligan City’s 811-rescue team is also being dispatched to St. Bernard to join rescue and relief groups already in the area.

Aside from the President, present during the NDCC meeting were NDCC Chairman and Defense Secretary Avelino Cruz Jr., Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, Social Welfare and Development Secretary Esperanza Cabral, Presidential Chief of Staff Sec. Michael Defensor, Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Administrator and NDCC Executive Officer Glenn Rabonza, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Gen. Generoso Senga and United Nations (UN) Resident Coordinator Nileema Noble.

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President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will lead the wreath-laying rites at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Fort Bonifacio Taguig City on Wednesday (Feb. 22), signaling the start of the celebration of the 20^th anniversary of the bloodless EDSA People Power revolution.

She will be assisted in the 7 a.m. ceremony by Secretary of National Defense Avelino Cruz, Armed Forces Chief of Staff General Generoso Senga, and members of the EDSA People Power Commission.

The President is expected to give a short message to start the celebrations. From the Libingan ng mga Bayani, she will proceed to Cebu City to preside over that city’s Job Fair.

On Feb. 23 and 25, the President, in coordination with the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC), will inaugurate the housing project for members of the AFP.

The President had earlier set aside P5 billion from the P35 billion economy pump-priming program for housing projects around the country. Of the P5 billion allocation, P1.3 billion was earmarked for the AFP.

The Chief Executive ordered the construction of houses for the AFP as part of the government’s program to provide decent homes to the men and women in uniform.

The President will grace the inauguration of the AFP housing project dubbed, "Tribute to the Filipino Soldier."

A "Salubungan" ceremony between the military, religious and non-government organizations (NGO) will take place at the People Power Monument on Feb. 25.

In the afternoon, a program will be held at the People Power Monument. A fireworks display will cap the event.

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