Uplifting the lives of average Filipinos is the President’s goal and the pay hike for government workers is part of it.

It is clear that the people are sick and tired of political turmoil especially since it is perceived as driven by self-interest.

This is why they are losing faith in people power. We believe the people are more interested in having a clear direction for the nation rather than the reckless gambles at power.

CABUYAO, Laguna - President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo announced today the release of P2.5 billion to finance the government’s health and housing projects.

The President made the announcement during a Pulong Bayan at the Southville Housing Project here this morning. With her was Vice President and Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council chief Noli de Castro.

In her speech, the President said that the National Development Corporation (NDC) has already approved the release of an additional P500 million to finance the government’s half-priced medicine program being handled by NDC’s sister-company, Philippine International Trading Corporation (PITC).

The first check was awarded by NDC president Arthur Aguilar to the representative of PITC.

The President also revealed that the reason former Agrarian Reform Secretary and now PITC president and general manager Roberto Pagdanganan failed to join her in her Cabuyao visit was because he is now in India.

She said Pagdanganan went to India to buy raw materials to be used in the manufacture of the branded and off-patent low-priced medicines in the Philippines.

She also approved the release of P1 billion to finance the relocation of families affected by the railways clearing operations for the Northrail-Southrail Linkage Development Project that would ease traffic congestion in Metro Manila.

Another P500 million was released by the Department of Budget and Management through the Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) to help the indigent families pay their PhilHealth card premiums.

CABUYAO, Laguna - President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said today nobody, including members of the political opposition, can stop her and her administration from serving the Filipino people and delivering to them basic services they need and deserve.

The President issued the fighting remarks in her opening statement during a Pulong Bayan at the Southville Housing Project here which she attended together with Vice President Noli de Castro.

"No political tirades can stop us from going directly to the people to serve them in a manner that befits their dignity and within our means as President and Vice President"(of the republic), Mrs. Arroyo declared in Filipino.

The President visited here to personally supervise the medical and dental mission of her successful "Serbisyo Muna" project and inspect the newly-built housing units for the families relocated from the railway tracks to make way for the SouthRail project.

Immediately after disembarking from her presidential chopper at exactly 10:00 this morning, President Arroyo visited the Botika ng Barangay booth, one of the participating booths in the Serbisyo Muna project sponsored jointly by the Department of Health and the Philippine International Trading Corporation (PITC).

The Chief Executive also distributed PhilHealth cards to 1,275 indigent families of Cabuyao and other relocatees from the cleared rail tracks of the Philippine National Railways Northrail-Southrail Linkage Project.

Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council chair and Vice President De Castro, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, Governor Teresita Lazaro, Cabuyao Mayor Nila Aguillo, and Laguna 2nd District Rep. Justin "Timmy" Chipeco assisted her in distributing the PhilHealth cards.

Addressing the local residents, the President said her visit is also meant to show to the Filipino people that the government is seriously working to deliver to the people their basic needs, including food, shelter, medicines, and others.

She stressed that unlike the political opposition which concentrates its efforts on destabilizing her administration and eternally finding fault with her, she is dedicated and focused on sound governance.

She lamented that just when the economy has started to surge forward, her virulent critics lost no time in throwing at her all baseless accusations that are meant to derail the economic gains already attained.

President Arroyo cited the people of Laguna through their leader, Governor Lazaro, for providing assistance and accepting the rail tracks relocatees, particularly those from Makati City.

Gov. Lazaro, in return, expressed her sincere thanks to the President for her continued support and assistance to Laguna which have enabled her province to maintain its investor-friendly ambience.

The longest bridge to be built under the President’s Bridge Program would be inaugurated in Legazpi City next week.

Simon Pankhurst, director and general manager of the United Kingdom-based Balfour Beatty Power Networks Ltd., bared this following a call on President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo this afternoon at the Music Room of Malacanang.

Balfour Beatty, in a joint venture with the Cleveland Bridge UK Ltd., was contracted by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to implement modular bridge technology in the Philippines under the President’s Bridge Program.

"We’ve been discussing with the President and the DPWH the President’s Bridge Program Phase 2, which is a UK-assisted work in progress from 2002 to early 2007," Pankhurst said.

Also present during the call were DPWH Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane, Secretary Joey Rufino, British Embassy Charge d’Affaires Robert Fitchett, and Balfour Beatty director for Asia-Pacific Grahame Coles.

Pankhurst said the longest of their project is the 96-meter Basud Bridge located in the outskirts of Legazpi City, which is up for inauguration next week.

Rufino said the Basud Bridge would be vital in the efficient transport of goods and other supplies in and out of the Bicol region, particularly during calamities such as typhoons and erratic eruptions of the active Mayon Volcano.

Last November, Pankhurst said Ebdane and the British ambassador inaugurated the 100^th bridge constructed under the project in Murcia, Negros Occidental.

Realizing the significant role of bridges in national development, the government in recent years has deemed it urgent to undertake a nationwide bridge rehabilitation and replacement program.

Phase 2 of the President’s Bridge Program from 2002-2007 consists of the replacement of existing temporary or weakened bridges with permanent, cost effective, and low maintenance bridges.

The P13-billion pay hike package recommended for the more than one million government workers is part of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s program to uplift the lives of ordinary Filipinos.

"Uplifting the lives of average Filipinos is the President’s goal and the pay hike for government workers is part of it," Press Secretary Ignacio R. Bunye said in a statement today.

President Arroyo announced during the Liberal Party’s 60^th founding anniversary celebration Thursday at Plaza Miranda in Quiapo, Manila that she has submitted to Congress as an urgent administration measure the P13-billion salary hike package for the country’s state employees.

In the same event, the President commended the government workers and likened them to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who continue to show their patriotism and dedication despite the current hardships brought about by the high oil prices and persistent political noise.

She said the state employees deserve the increase which the government can now extend to them as a result of the fiscal gains realized from the economic reforms now in place.

The President said the economic reforms now being implemented would bring about many other benefits that would improve the lives of ordinary Filipinos.