It’s the economy, pal.

"At the end of the day, it is the economy that will play a determining role in our future," Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesman Ignacio R. Bunye said today amid lingering political noise and stories on anti-government plots and plotters.

Malacaņang is leaving the manhunt for coup plotters to the able hands of the police as President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo focuses her attention on pushing the economy reform forward, Bunye said in his weekly newspaper column, The View From The Palace that comes out tomorrow.

The President "wants the fight for a strong economy to be waged on all fronts," he said.

He said strong tax collections, the plugging of revenue leaks, and the government’s austerity measures played a major role in increasing business confidence in the country.

"Business confidence is being won through a sound policy framework for fiscal stability that includes strong collection, a permanent plug on revenue leaks, and austerity measures," Bunye said.

He said the government is setting its sights on investments on "priority sectors" that show the largest propensity to "grow strongly" in the immediate future.

"This administration is targeting priority sectors including mining and business process outsourcing, for job creation and we are confident that these industries will continue to grow strongly," Bunye said.

He pointed out that the Arroyo government had made great strides in its efforts to provide jobs for Filipinos.

"During 2005, foreign investment increased by more than 64 percent, up to $1.1 billion and this new investment has created significant numbers of new jobs," Bunye said.

He called on the citizenry to support the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) crackdown on smugglers and tax evaders, saying the success of the campaign would bring in more funds for basic social services, infrastructure and "pump-priming programs to grow jobs and enterprise."

"While the burden for collecting taxes is on the Bureau of Customs and Bureau of Internal Revenue to deliver on this goal, it is our duty as responsible citizens to support this program of government," Bunye said.

"With a sound framework based on the fiscal reforms which the President has initiated, we can go full steam ahead in our economic road map and overcome what past administrations had failed to accomplish," Bunye added.

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The government will hire this year 400 new policewomen in the biggest single recruitment of lady cops of the Philippine National Police (PNP).

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has ordered the PNP and the Department of Budget and Management (DBP) to work out the recruitment program and expedite the enlistment of more women in the country’s police force.

The 400 new policewomen will bring to 15 percent the distaff corps of the 3,000-strong PNP and boost the women’s desks in PNP stations all over the country. Their main job is to help housewives and children who are victims of abuse.

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

The President also announced that she had approved an additional P300 million to the budget of the Office of the Ombudsman.

The additional allocation will enable the Ombudsman to hire more lawyers, prosecutors and investigators and boost the agency’s capability to go after corrupt and other erring officials.

Also present during the round table discussion were Social Welfare Secretary Esperanza Cabral, Labor Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas, Education Acting Secretary Fe Hidalgo, and Science and Technology Secretary Estrella Alabastro,

During the discussion, the President directed Hidalgo to ensure that DepEd is prepared for the "second quarter storm," or the upcoming enrolment of an estimated 19 million students in public schools for school year 2007-2008.

Hildalgo informed the President that DepEd will launch "Bayanihan Para sa Paaralan" on May 14 in preparation for the opening of classes.

Under the "Bayanihan" program, teachers, parents, pupils and students join hands in repairing and cleaning of classrooms and in the construction of new classrooms.

The President has earmarked P2 billion for the construction of new school buildings and 50 library or book depots. The school construction program is designed to bring relief to the classroom shortage.

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The five-point guidance issued by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Gen. Generoso Senga clearly delineates the role of the military as professional soldiers committed to the chain of command and the Constitution.

This is a fitting reminder not only to our men and women in uniform but also to politicians and civil society, who wish to entice our soldiers to engage in partisan politics.

We share the confidence of Army Chief Lt. Gen. Hermogenes Esperon that the threat has subsided and the troops are now united in their support for the commander-in-chief.

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The proposal of Senator Edgardo Angara for the Senate and House of Representatives to pass a joint resolution calling for snap elections has no legal basis. His perception that this proposal is "gathering steam" is misplaced.

President Arroyo was elected by the people to lead the country until the end of her term in 2010. She provides strong leadership and enjoys the support of different sectors in her desire to grow the economy.

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Malacaņang rebuffed today as without legal basis Sen. Edgardo Angara’s proposal for both houses of Congress to pass a resolution calling for snap elections.

Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesperson Ignacio R. Bunye said the senator’s perception that his "proposal is ‘gathering steam’ is misplaced."

"The proposal of Senator Edgardo Angara for the Senate and House of Representatives to pass a joint resolution calling for snap elections has no legal basis," Bunye said.

He reminded the senator that the President was "elected by the people to lead the country until the end of her term in 2010."

Angara brought up his proposal at the weekly "Kapihan sa Sulo" media forum held at the Sulo Hotel in Quezon City yesterday. He said he was in favor of shortening the terms of office of the President and Vice President Noli de Castro through the holding of snap elections.

Bunye said that the President does not only enjoy the people’s mandate, she also "provides strong leadership and enjoys the support of different sectors in her desire to grow the economy."

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