We appreciate the action of the Senate in heeding the call of President Arroyo for the passage of this bill. The President expects the Senate and the House of Representatives to reach a common ground as soon as possible.

The welfare of our state workers is a top priority in her agenda. This is also one reason why we are trying to keep the prices of basic commodities and public utility services at the lowest possible levels.

We welcome the move of media groups to bring this issue to the courts so that it can be engaged in an atmosphere of reason and sobriety.

The fact that they can go to court is a clear indication that democracy reigns in this country.

The government will defend its position on solid operational and legal grounds and we believe that we will be sustained. The government has not done anything dictatorial or contrary to law. Its only objective was to protect the public interest.

We commend the concerned law enforcement agencies for a speedy investigation and we look forward to swift and meaningful justice for the victims of this tragedy.

The President has instructed DILG Secretary Ronaldo Puno and PNP Chief Director General Arturo Lomibao to conduct a thorough probe into the shooting incident involving seven officers of the Traffic Management Group and an innocent civilian along C-5 Road in Pasig City.

Unfortunately, this kind of incident reflects on the PNP as a whole.

The court has spoken with clarity and decisiveness on this plunder case. Let this be a warning to corrupt officials and to their families that public funds are meant to serve the people, not to line the pockets of a few.

Banking on a sustained upswing of the country’s fiscal position, Malacaņang has increased investments in its infrastructure program under the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for the next five years from P237 billion to P322 billion.

DPWH Undersecretary Manuel Bonoan told a press briefing in Malacaņang Wednesday that the budgetary adjustment for the infrastructure sector represents an average increase of P10 billion annually from 2006 to 2010.

He said President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has ordered DPWH to incorporate the increased spending program on infrastructure in the Medium Term Public Investment Program (MTPIP) for the next five years.

Bonoan said under the old MTPIP, funding for DPWH infrastructure projects in 2005 of P38 billion was increased to P51 billion in the revised program for 2006.

The increased government investment in the infrastructure sector is expected to boost the infrastructure activity throughout the country.

"This is a good sign that we can now increase our activity in the infrastructure sector, particularly national roads and other infrastructure facilities under the mandate of the DPWH," Bonoan said.

Aside from national roads and big-ticket flood control structures, the DPWH is also the implementing agency for farm to market roads under the Department of Agriculture (DA) and Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), school buildings under the Department of Education (DepEd), the President’s Bridge Program (PBP) and several other projects under different agencies.

Bonoan said that DPWH’s major projects are designed to help:

He said that last year, DPWH improved or constructed 9,098 kilometers of national roads and 79,971 lineal meters of bridges with a total value of P24.819 billion, serving hinterlands and urban production centers.

SAN FERNANDO CITY, Pampanga -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said today she would be meeting soon with women members of her Cabinet and other government agencies to come up with an official statement reiterating important policies concerning family, population and women's rights.

Following a concelebrated thanksgiving mass for the 69th birthday celebration of Pampanga Archbishop Paciano Aniceto, D.D., at the Mother of Good Counsel Seminary here, the President said her meeting with the female officials of her Cabinet and government would also touch on "measures to strengthen the Filipino family."

"What are the measures that we must reiterate, what are the measures we must stress and what are the measures we must add to strengthen the Filipino family?" the President asked.

Archbishop Aniceto, the President’s adviser on the government's population policy and family, said that the President is a devout Catholic who strictly follows the teachings of the church on "family and life principles."

He said the President intimated to him that part of her statement would deal with abortion and divorce.

"The President told me that, as a Catholic, she will never approve any bill that would allow abortion and divorce to be legalized (in this country)," Aniceto said.

Archbishop Aniceto also called on all political leaders to "leave behind personal interest" and to hold a dialogue with the President so that the country can move forward.

Malacaņang said today the Sandiganbayan’s decision to order the arrest of the wife and sons of former Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) comptroller retired Maj. Gen. Carlos Garcia in connection with the P303.27 million plunder case filed against the family should serve as a warning against corrupt public officials.

Press Secretary and concurrent Presidential Spokesperson Ignacio R. Bunye said the Sandiganbayan’s decision is proof that no one is above the law and the war waged by the government against corruption will be pursued without letup.

"This landmark decision proves that no one is above the law and the fight against corruption under the Arroyo administration is relentless," Bunye said.

The Palace official said the court’s decision is a clear warning to corrupt officials and their families that public funds are meant for the people and not to line the pockets of a few.

Associate Justice Edilberto Sandoval, chairman of the Sandiganbayan Second Division, issued the warrants of arrest Wednesday for Clarita Depakakibo-Garcia and sons Ian Carl, Juan Paulo and Timothy Mark.

Garcia was the principal accused in the plunder case while his wife and sons were held liable for helping him conceal his alleged ill-gotten wealth.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ordered today Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno and Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Arturo Lomibao to conduct a thorough investigation into the shooting incident that involved seven Traffic Management Group (TMG) men along C-5 Road in Pasig City Wednesday.

Reports said an executive of a pharmaceutical company was wounded after the TMG men mistook his car for a carnapped vehicle during pursuit operations along C-5 Road.

"The President believes that no less than a thorough probe and sweeping reforms are needed to assure the public that such errors in judgment among armed police personnel shall not happen again," Press Secretary and concurrent Presidential Spokesman Ignacio R. Bunye said in a statement.

The Arroyo administration has put in place a reform program both for the military and the police.

For the police, the President recently ordered the release of P1 billion for recruitment of personnel, upgrading of communication equipment, patrol vehicles and firearms.

Malacaņang commended today the National Bureau of Investigation for the speedy investigation of the Wowowee stampede that killed 74 people and injured hundreds of others at the Philsports Arena (formerly ULTRA) in Pasig City last month.

The government is looking forward to a swift and meaningful justice for the victims of the tragedy, Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesman Ignacio R. Bunye said, adding that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will always stand by the people who cannot protect themselves.

"Let justice take its course," Bunye said.

The NBI, in its investigation, laid the blame for the stampede on 17 people, including ABS-CBN network executive Charo Santos Concio; senior vice president Maria Socorro Vidanes; Wowowee executive producer Marilou Almaden; host Willie Revillame and assistant vice president for security Cipriano Luspo.

NBI officer-in-charge Nestor Mantaring also recommended administrative sanctions against Pasig City Mayor Vicente Eusebio for failing to revoke the program’s permit to stage its anniversary show, and failing to coordinate with organizers on security.

Officials of private security agencies employed for crowd control will also be charged with reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide and multiple injuries.

The criminal negligence charge is punishable by up to six years in prison.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo launched today the Strong Family Program, a project that would provide livelihood and job opportunities, health care, and education to all Filipino families.

In a round table discussion at Malacaņang this afternoon, the President launched the program which coincided with the celebration of Women’s Week to promote the rights, equality and development of the Filipino women.

The President stressed that the Strong Family Program is one of the important structural foundations of the Strong Republic vision of her administration.

Under the program, the head of the family will be given a chance to look for and get assistance from the government to find a better job to support the financial needs of his family, health care assistance, and quality but affordable education in the global digital society.

The Chief Executive said she created a working group composed of government officials, church leaders, and private sectors that would handle the coordination and immediate implementation of the Strong Family Program.

She assured that the government will give full attention to the Strong Family Program to ensure that it will be translated with concrete benefits.

She added that the national government should implement its socio-community development program down to the grassroots in order to sustain the country’s development.

The Chief Executive also called on Congress to pass a bill that would establish the basic needs of the Filipino to have a decent life and with respect to the Almighty God.

Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesman Ignacio R. Bunye welcomed today the decision of media groups to petition the Court of Appeals to stop alleged government censorship of media.

"We welcome the move of media groups to bring this issue to the courts so that it can be engaged in an atmosphere of reason and sobriety," Bunye said.

He pointed out that the fact that representatives of different media organizations can lodge a complaint with the courts only shows that democracy reigns in this country.

Broadcast and print media representatives petitioned the Court of Appeals Wednesday to stop the government from allegedly censoring the media. They also demand the scrapping of the guidelines by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) on media coverage of events.

Bunye asserted that the government has not "done anything dictatorial or contrary to law," adding that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s only objective in declaring a state of national emergency under Proclamation 1017 was to protect the public interest.

He also dismissed the petitioners’ claim that despite the lifting of Proclamation 1017, the government continues to threaten media by announcing that they are being monitored.

Malacaņang expressed hope today that both chambers of Congress could reach a consensus as soon as possible on the amount the government should grant as additional monthly allowance to the more than one million state workers.

Press Secretary and concurrent Presidential Spokesman Ignacio R. Bunye said President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo expects the Senate and the House of Representatives to come up with an agreeable amount when the bill granting additional allowances to state workers would be tackled in the bicameral conference.

"We appreciate the Senate action in heeding the call of President Arroyo for the passage of this bill. The President expects the Senate and the House of Representatives to reach a common ground as soon as possible," Bunye said.

The House of Representatives approved last month a P1,000 additional allowance for state workers starting Jan. 1 this year.

The Senate, on the other hand, approved last night a P2,000 additional allowance beginning July 1, 2006.

Last Feb. 28, President Arroyo approved a P,1000 across the board additional monthly compensation to all employees of the national government retroactive to Jan. 1, 2006.

In Administrative Order 144, the Chief Executive said the additional compensation "shall cease upon approval of any legislative measure authorizing adjustment in compensation of government employees."

Bunye noted that the welfare of the state workers is a top priority in the President’s agenda. The granting of additional allowance would help the government employees cope with rising prices.

"This is also one reason why we are trying to keep the prices of basic commodities and public utility services at the lowest possible levels," he said.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ordered today the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to expedite the recruitment of 400 new policewomen or "lady cops" that would strengthen the Women’s Desk in the country’s police stations.

The prospective lady cops will make up 15 percent of the total 3,000 new policemen to be hired by the PNP this year. Their primary task is to help desperate housewives and children who are often victims of abuse.

"This group of lady cops will help boost their morale and confidence in the Women’s Desk of the police stations nationwide. Their primary task is to help the desperate women and children in distress," the President said during a round table discussion in Malacaņang this afternoon.

Joining the President in the dialogue were Social Welfare Secretary Esperanza Cabral, Labor Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas, Education Acting Secretary Fe Hidalgo, and Science and Technology Secretary Estrella Alabastro.

The President announced that she has approved the P300 million increase in the budget of the Office of Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez.

The additional budget will be used to hire new public watchdogs such as lawyers, prosecutors and investigators to go after erring and corrupt government officials.

During the discussion, the President directed Secretary Hidalgo to prepare the Department of Education (DepEd) for the "second quarter storm."

The second quarter storm is the advance program of the government in preparation for the upcoming enrolment of some 19 million students in public schools for the school year 2007-2008.

Hidalgo said her department is now ready to launch the "Bayanihan Para sa Paaralan" on May 14 in preparation for the opening of classes.

Under the "Bayanihan Para sa Paaralan," all teachers, parents, pupils and students are encouraged to join in the cleaning and repair of the classrooms, constructing P2 billion new classroom buildings in order to address and close the classroom gap, and building 50 library hub or book depots and convoy style delivery of the books.

The President cited the efforts of Secretary Sto. Tomas, particularly on the record-low strike incidents in the country, the successful implementation of the trust fund of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) for the "Tindahan Natin" stalls program where the beneficiaries are the families of the returning overseas Filipino workers.

She also instructed Secretary Alabastro to conduct a product development program for Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO) and use high product standard benchmark to ensure the quality of the Philippine Made VCO product.