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| 07 MARCH 2006 | ||
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| 07 MARCH 2006 | ||
| Lifestyle check on government officials and employees still enforced - PGMA |
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said today that her administration has no intention of letting up on its fight against graft and corruption, adding that the lifestyle check on government officials and employees is still very much enforced. The President made the statement during her one-on-one interview with veteran broadcast journalist and "Saksi sa Double B" anchor Mike Enriquez aired over radio station DZBB in Quezon City this morning. "The lifestyle check program has been in force for over 50 years now and since then, we have been able to remove from office and prosecute officials from various government agencies such as the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), Bureau of Customs (BoC), and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) who have failed the lifestyle check," the President said. She added that the World Bank (WB) has lauded her strong stance against graft and corruption, particularly her push for reforms in the government procurement process. "The World Bank has praised our implementation of the procurement law, which improves the bidding process for government projects and thereby lessens the opportunity for corruption to set in," the President stressed. She also said that the United States has agreed to provide additional funding for the country’s anti-graft and corruption program. "Under the Millennium Challenge Account, the US government has agreed to provide additional funding for the Philippines’ anti-graft and corruption program," the President said. The Chief Executive, however, said that the lifestyle check program is not the overall solution to the country’s graft and corruption problem. She pointed out that the deep-seated culture of graft and corruption in the country needs to be addressed with moral recovery and values education programs and the adoption of a system that will lessen the opportunity for graft and corruption. |
| PGMA still open to reconciliation with opposition |
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said today that she remains open to reconciliation with the opposition but stressed that the economy is still her top priority. "My hand of reconciliation has always been extended to the opposition. But until when should I keep it extended? I am not recalling my desire for the administration and the opposition to unite for the good of the people, but there are other pressing matters that need my attention," the President said during her one-on-one interview with broadcast journalist and anchorman Mike Enriquez aired over radio station DZBB in Quezon City. The Chief Executive said that she would rather focus her attention at maintaining the "momentum" gained by the strengthening peso and narrowing the budget deficit to ensure that these positive developments in the country’s economy are immediately felt by those who need it most – the poor. "I would like to focus my attention on the momentum gained by the strengthening peso and the stock market and the lessening of our budget deficit so that these positive effects may be immediately felt by our countrymen, most especially the poor," she stressed. On Monday morning, the President motored to the Philippine Stock Exchange in Makati City to officially start the trading week as the country’s economic indicators continued to gain momentum. The Philippine Stock Exchange Composite Index (Phisix) rose 17.95 points or 0.852 percent Monday and closed at 2148.1 to last Friday’s 2,130.37. By the end of the trading day, the peso traded at 51.05 to the US dollar, hitting another fresh three-and-a-half year high. Last Friday, the peso closed at P51.18 to a dollar. PSE president Francis Lim said the continuing bullishness of the stock market was a measure of investors’ renewed confidence in the country on the heels of the implementation of fiscal reforms, particularly the Reformed Value Added Tax (R-VAT) Law, and strong measures being taken by the government against tax evaders. |
| Fight against poverty also fight for rights of Filipino women -- PGMA |
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said today that the fight against poverty is also a fight for the rights of Filipino women. In her message during the celebration of International Women’s Day this morning in Malacaņang, the President said the fight against poverty provides greater opportunities for Filipino women, the traditional homemakers responsible for the upbringing of family and children. The government is helping attain the desire of most Filipino women to provide ample food, clothing, education, and the health needs for their families, she said. This has become evident, she said, with the steadily improvement of the economy despite the political noise. "With the taming of the budget deficit leading to the rally of the peso and the robust stock market, we are pushing on relentlessly with pump-priming initiatives and more lifelines for the poor," she said. Aside from the establishment of specialty stores that offer low-priced basic commodities and half-priced medicines, the President said government has been pushing micro-finance programs for the poor. As a result, the Philippines has been chosen over 160 countries worldwide as among those with a sound micro-financing and entrepreneurial program for the poor, she said. With the celebration of the special day for women, the President urged women leaders to continue helping the government in upholding the rights of women in the country. More than 200 officers and members of various women organizations nationwide attended the celebration in Malacaņang. Among the women leaders present were Leonarda Camacho, president of the Centennial Committee on the Feminist Movement in the Philippines; Ester Sta. Ana, president of the National Federation of Women Clubs of the Philippines; Myrna Yao, chairperson of the National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women (NCRFW); and Emelita Almosara, assistant director of the National Historical Institute. |
| Statement of Secretary Ignacio R. Bunye: Re Senate hearings on 1017 |
Any probe of the State of Emergency will consistently turn out the same conclusion: that there was a clear and present threat to national security that was nipped in the bud and contained through the timely exercise of legitimate Presidential powers. While we recognize that the Senate has the prerogative to conduct probes, we hope it will not do anything to debilitate the inherent right of the State to defend itself and the authority of the President to act accordingly. We further hope that any Senate probe will be based on fact and fair play and not be an arena for political noise or anti-administration propaganda that only abets destabilization. |
| Statement of Secretary Ignacio R. Bunye: Re SC hearings on 1017 |
The Palace will abide by whatever the Supreme Court decides on petitions questioning the legality of Proclamation 1017. Let us just await the decision of the Supreme Court on these petitions. Meanwhile, the business of governance remains unimpeded as we do our best to improve the quality of life of our people. |
| Statement of Secretary Ignacio R. Bunye: Re Intensified anti-smuggling campaign |
After thwarting the clandestine efforts to topple the government, the administration is now running after those who persist in undermining the economy and threatening the employment of thousands of Filipinos. President Arroyo has ordered a no-holds barred effort to eliminate smuggling in the country in response to the growing concern of local industries and organized labor over its adverse effects on the economy. The Bureau of Customs is under strict presidential orders to raise its standards of performance in revenue collection efficiency and the campaign against smuggling. Yesterday’s arrest of a suspected big-time smuggler is but the start of this revitalized effort between the PNP and BOC. |
| PGMA hits Senate for grandstanding, inaction on urgent legislations |
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo lamented today the inaction of the Senate on the salary increases of government workers, noting how precious time is being wasted by the chamber on investigations. In a radio interview this morning, the President expressed disappointment that bills vital to the country’s well-being were being relegated to the sidelines as the Senate focuses its attention on politically-motivated investigations. "Pinupulitika nila lahat ng mga imbestigasyon sa Senado (They are playing politics in these investigations)," she said. "Hindi na tuloy sila nakakapasa ng batas (As a result, they cannot pass laws anymore)." The President was reacting to the Senate investigations purportedly "in aid of legislation," including the chamber’s report asking her to explain her alleged link to the reported P728 million fertilizer fund scam which she had already ordered investigated by the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission (PAGC). She noted that while the PAGC was working without any media fanfare on its investigations, the Senate has been grandstanding and playing politics in its investigation of the alleged fertilizer scam. "This case is already in the hands of the Ombudsman, I just hope that they will let those accused be given due process," she said. The President decried that although the salary adjustments of salary workers is an important bill, the Senate has been spending a lot of its time in privilege speeches and politics-driven investigations disguised as "in aid of legislation." "Ano na ba ang lumabas na batas doon sa mga imbestigasyon na iyon? (What laws have come out of those so-called investigations?)," she asked. A Manila daily has reported that the Senate passed only four laws from July 2004 to July 2005 and yet spent P1.3 billion during the eight-month period, or at a cost of P300 million per bill. In her impatience over the Senate’s foot-dragging on the wage increase of government workers, she ordered the Budget department to effect the necessary adjustments administratively. The allocation, she explained, will come from the employes’ benefits fund. "This is why I’m happy that despite all these Senate grandstanding, government workers stand to receive their salary adjustments this month retroactive to January this year," she said. |
| PGMA says Proclamation 1017 aborted anti-government conspiracy |
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said today her declaration of a state of national emergency aborted the conspiracy among Left and Right extremists and their political allies to foment violence and overthrow the government. In a radio interview this morning, the President said her swift and decisive action also saved the economy from the confusion and uncertainties that the anti-government plot would have triggered. "We have aborted violence," she said. She pointed out that had she not issued Proclamation 1017, the economy would have suffered the same setback that befell it in the aftermath of EDSA 1 and EDSA 2. The President recalled EDSA 1 and 2 sent the peso and the stock market to their lowest levels, interest rates hitting the roof and left the economy in tatters. "The opposite happened when we acted swiftly last week. In fact, we prevented violence," the President said as she cited the surge of the peso against the US dollar and the continuing bullishness of the stock market. She expressed elation that the emergency measure she had taken to quell violence did not affect the economy, adding that the result could have been different had she failed to act decisively to foil the anti-government conspiracy. |
| PGMA lauds, asks police to help bring progress to RP |
On the night she paid tribute to the gallant men and women of the police force, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo directed the Philippine National Police (PNP) and other law enforcement agencies Monday to "triple" their efforts to bring the country towards progress and end deeply-seated poverty. At the same time, the President tasked the entire criminal justice system under the Department of Justice to thwart any attempt to destabilize the country and show coup plotters that "crime does not pay." "We should counter the bad impact…and the effect of destabilization through a unified effort to protect peace and order, as well as infrastructure facilities, to provide jobs, shelter, food and education to the Filipino people," the President said. In her speech during the annual recognition of the Western Police District (WPD) at Malacanang’s Rizal Hall, the President also lauded the policemen, particularly the eight members of the Manila Police who were killed or wounded in the performance of their duties. "Our economy could have been ruined if not for the police officers, policemen and women, like our awardees who stuck to their oath and did their duty. To all of you thank you very much," she said. The President used the occasion to recognize and thank the Filipino-Chinese General Chamber of Commerce (FCGCC) through its Philippine Chinese Charitable Association (PCCA) for their continued support by providing free hospitalization to all members of the Manila police force wounded in the line of duty. Started in 1996, the project was spearheaded by the FCGCC to honor law enforcers killed or wounded while discharging their duties. During the occasion, the President presented an envelope containing an undetermined amount as cash incentives to the wives of SPO2 Antonio T. Arzala, PO2 Enrique C. Lazaro and PO3 Angel Ico who died while conducting operations against suspected criminals. The President likewise awarded medals and cash incentives to Senior Inspector Rosanna Mangao, PO3 Aldine Moreno and PO3 Ma. Theresa Solidarios for their performance as frontliners of the MPD-Civil Disturbance Management Unit in last year’s rallies in Manila. The President also gave medals and cash incentives as special recognition to SPO1 Manuel Acevedo and PO2 Danny Francisco, both members of the MPD-District Mobile Patrol Unit, for risking their lives while pursuing suspected criminals on June 5, 2005. Among those present during the recognition night were Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno, PNP Director General Arturo Lomibao, MPD Supt. Pedro Bulaong and National Capital Region Director Vidal Querol. |
