The tireless attempt to impugn the integrity of the ongoing process of people’s initiative by those opposed to constitutional reform is expected but will not succeed.

The people’s yearning for true development has gathered momentum and can no longer be hindered by those who intend to use the current political system to protect their hold onto power.

The World Bank’s assessment is a virtual stamp of approval for our economic reforms. This foretells a story of confidence and takeoff to more investments, jobs, infrastructure and other social services to lift the people from poverty.

At the same time, we note the findings on growing self-perceived hunger, to which President Arroyo has devoted her keen attention.

The sincerity displayed between the two parties is overcoming the obstacles to a final peace pact towards the end of the year.

Thanks to all the key players in this great enterprise, including Malaysia as the host facilitator and leader of the International Monitoring Team, as well as all our allies and friends who have spared no effort in support of the peace process.

Most of all, the biggest movers and winners in this quest are the Muslims, Christians and Lumads of Mindanao who have upheld the spirit of dialogue, understanding and forbearance to meet their fondest aspirations.

Good governance has proven itself again with the Bureau of Customs’ success in its collection targets during the first quarter of the year. This shows that the government’s tax and fiscal reforms are working.

We firmly believe that the government will meet its revenue collection targets this year mainly because of the Reformed Value-Added Tax (RVAT) implementation, the stronger campaign against tax cheats and smugglers and sounder use of government funds. With these factors, we see the economy meeting growth targets this year.

The President shares in the message of hope and optimism imparted by His Eminence, Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales when he arrived from the Vatican yesterday.

The transformation of the Philippine Postal Bank into an OFW Bank signifies the profound appreciation of the Philippine government to its citizens working overseas and their families here at home.

President Arroyo said the new OFW Bank would charge less service fees in handling the remittances of its OFW clients. Given the vital role that OFWs play in strengthening the peso and shoring up international dollar reserves, it is only fitting that they are given access to a bank that will attend to their special needs.

The President was pleased with the report of Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Administrator Marianito Roque of an P8 billion surplus last year compared to a net loss before she came into power.

Timorese Foreign Minister Dr. Jose Ramos-Horta is among world leaders arriving in the country for the Counter-Terrorism Experts Conference (CTEC) hosted by the Philippines on April 20 – 22, 2006 at the Shangri-La Mactan Island Resort & Spa in Cebu.

The three-day workshop-conference of counter-terrorism experts was first announced by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) leaders’ meeting with US President George W. Bush on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ Summit in Busan, South Korea in November 2005.

Horta, the independence leader of then East Timor, has accepted the President’s invitation to address the conference.

Invitations to other resource persons have been sent to various countries, including the US, Norway, Singapore, Japan, Germany, the European Union, Indonesia, Australia, Malaysia and Canada.

The CTEC secretariat has also sent invitations to the World Islamic Call Society in Libya and the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Counter-Terrorism Committee in New York to send their representatives to the conference.

Representatives from 44 countries are expected to attend the counter-terrorism summit, which will be divided into four components namely, seminar, simulation exercises, workshop and report preparation, and presentation.

Canada, Russia, the United Kingdom, Singapore and Thailand are also expected to make presentations on their cyber capabilities, trends, and tactics in cyber terrorism, critical infrastructure and government vulnerabilities to cyber terrorism.

A Mactan Concord embodying the common position of the experts on paving the middle path to counter-terrorism will be presented on the last day of the conference.

Earlier this month, 200 delegates from 15 Asia-Pacific rim countries participated in the Inter-Faith Dialogue (IFD) Conference representing 80 percent of various faiths in the region. No less than New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark attended the conference.

Malacanang said today the transformation of the Philippine Postal Bank into an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) Bank signifies the profound appreciation of the government to its citizens working overseas and their families back home.

Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesperson Ignacio R. Bunye said in a statement OFWs deserve this kind of service for helping shore up the economy.

"Given the vital role that OFWs play in strengthening the peso and shoring up international dollar reserves, it is only fitting that they are given access to a bank that will attend to their special needs," he said.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo announced in a round table discussion in Malacanang Thursday the transformation of the Philippine Postal Bank into an OFW Bank which would charge less service fees in handling remittances of Filipino workers abroad.

Cabinet members had earlier approved the proposal of Postal Bank president Rolly Macasaet for the transformation of the bank in recognition of the role OFWs play in the nation’s economy.

In the roundtable discussion, the President said Labor Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas has recommended that the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), which takes care of OFWs worldwide, contribute P1 billion in equity to the Postal Bank.

The President was elated with the report of OWWA Administrator Marianito Roque that his office had an P8 billion surplus last year compared to a net loss before she came into power in 2001.

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo commended today the city government of Puerto Princesa for its state-of-the-art engineered sanitary landfill facility, the first of its kind in the country and the first to fully comply with Republic Act 9003 or the Solid Waste Management Act of 2003.

The P230-million pioneering landfill project is situated in a 35-hectare, environmentally controlled area, an abandoned mercury mining site in Barangay Sta. Lourdes, some 11 kilometers away from the city proper.

"Thank you, Mayor (Edward Hagedorn) for this beautiful and very good project and for the help that you give to the country," the President said during the inauguration of the landfill facility this morning.

The Puerto Princesa City mayor chairs Task Force Jueteng, which was created by the President to stop jueteng operations in the country.

The President said this is the first time that she has seen an odorless landfill facility.

She expressed her appreciation to Hagedorn for his support and role in the government’s campaign against jueteng and commended him for the good condition of the infrastructure facilities in his province.

The President arrived here this morning to inaugurate and inspect various government projects, including the P1.5 billion, 134.5-kilometer Palawan Road Project connecting Puerto Princesa City to Roxas town and other municipalities in the northern part of the province.

The project was undertaken jointly by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) with funding assistance from the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

Among the benefits of the project is the systematized sanitary disposal of solid waste, reduction of air and waterborne diseases associated with open dumping, and reduction of pollution of the Tagburos River and the famous Honda Bay.

From Antonio Bautista Air Base (ABAB), she motored to Barangay San Pedro where she unveiled the marker and cut the ribbon marking the official opening of the Puerto Princesa-Langogan-Roxas Road project.

The project was funded by ADB under its Sixth Road Project.

The completion of the project is expected to address the major constraints to Palawan’s economic and social development, particularly in the northern portion of Palawan.

The President also inspected the Puerto Princesa City government center and nature park, the new city hall, and sports complex.

The sports complex served as temporary shelter for the 2,000 families of victims of the fire that hit Barangay San Pedro.

The President also inspected the Coastal Development (Bay Walk) Project at Barangay Sea Side and the road widening project at Rizal Avenue leading to Palawan Airport.

She also made brief visit to the headquarters of the 10th Marine Battalion Landing Team (MBLT) and informed them of her administration’s housing projects for members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY--President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ordered four Cabinet officials today to work together and help Palawan further improve its economy and tourism industry.

The President issued the directive in an impromptu speech during the inaugural rites of the country’s first state-of-the-art sanitary landfill at the covered court of the 35-hectare facility in Barangay Sta. Lourdes here.

Instructed to coordinate with Palawan Governor Joel Reyes and Puerto Princesa City Mayor Edward Hagedorn were Secretaries Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Leandro Mendoza of the Department of Transportation and Communication (DoTC), Ace Durano of the Department of Tourism and Presidential Chief of Staff Mike Defensor.

In her speech, the President approved the release of an initial P50 million to the DPWH for the construction of the Sabang Road, the only highway going in and out of the famous Underground River.

She instructed Durano to inspect the Sabang Road and make a report on how the national government could improve the tourism facility in the Underground River tourist spot.

"Kung hindi makakapunta ngayon si Secretary Durano, sinisiguro ko sa inyo na babalik siya dito para puntahan ang Sabang Road (I can assure you Secretary Durano would be back to check on Sabang Road)," she told residents and local officials of Barangay Sta. Lourdes.

The famous Underground River and the Tubbataha Reef (in the Kalayaan Group of Islands or Spratlys) are among the World Heritage sites and cited as great tourist destinations in the country because of their natural wonder.

The President tasked Secretary Mendoza to get the services of Louie Berger Consultancy, a United States-based consultancy firm to make a feasibility study for the modernization and conversion of the Palawan Airport into an international airport.

The same firm conducted feasibility studies on the Cagayan de Oro-Iligan master plan, especially its new international airport,

The Chief Executive ordered Mendoza to release P30 million for the repair and rehabilitation of the existing airport terminal.

Malacanang said today political leaders, regardless of political persuasion, only have two choices on the proposed constitutional reform: "ride the wave of the future or be left by the wayside."

"The tireless attempt to impugn the integrity of the ongoing process of people’s initiative by those opposed to constitutional reform is expect but it will not succeed," Press Secretary and concurrent Presidential Spokesman Ignacio R. Bunye said.

He said that despite the opposition of some politicians to the people’s initiative to pursue constitutional change, support for the campaign to amend the Constitution continues to gain momentum.

"The people’s yearning for true development has gathered momentum and can no longer be hindered by those who intend to use the current political system to protect their hold on power," Bunye said.

"Many are blocking (people’s initiative) but that is expected," he said, adding that "people’s initiative has gained momentum and there is no way it won’t succeed. There is no stopping the people."

Bunye said he hoped opponents of people’s initiative would have a change of heart when "they see a groundswell" in favor of the grassroots movement to push Charter reform.

He said the people have decided that a Charter change is what the country needs now, particularly the shift from the present presidential to parliamentary form of government

The Malacanang official pointed out that aside from being more effective, the parliamentary system is quicker than the presidential form of government in responding to rapid changes in governance and politics.

That nine out of 10 progressive countries are under the parliamentary form of government clearly shows the effectiveness of the parliamentary system, he said.

Bunye also laughed off speculations that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo would use the shift to the parliamentary form of government as a means for her to stay longer in office.

Malacanang said today the positive assessment by the World Bank (WB) on the country’s economy virtually means that the Washington-based lending agency approves of the economic reforms implemented by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

"The World Bank’s assessment is a virtual stamp of approval for our economic reforms. This foretells a story of confidence and takeoff to more investments, jobs, infrastructure and other social services to lift the people from poverty," Press Secretary and concurrent Presidential Spokesperson Ignacio R. Bunye said.

The WB, in its latest East Asia Update released Wednesday, said the Philippines, the fifth fastest growing economy in the region, is expected to grow faster this year to 5.3 percent and 5.6 percent in 2007 compared to 5.1 percent last year.

The WB Update also said the Philippine economy remains resilient despite political tensions, rising world prices of crude and agricultural slowdown.

Malacanang also took note of the WB’s findings on the people’s growing self-perceived hunger, saying the President has "devoted her keen attention" on this matter as could be gleaned in her administration’s 10-point pro-poor agenda which target to improve the lives of the Filipinos and eradicate poverty in the country through the creation of jobs and the delivery of enhanced basic services such as education, health, infrastructure, housing and food.

Bunye said the government makes sure that the benefits of an improving economy would be felt by the poor.

"We are keenly focused on the issues of food availability and affordability which is a must in the payback of reforms. On top of balancing the budget and providing for resources to pump prime the economy, fighting poverty and hunger is the main agenda of this government," he said.

Early this year, with the successful implementation of the Reformed Value Added Tax (RVAT) law and other revenue enhancing measures, the President allotted some P35 billion for the pump-priming program of the national government for the first quarter of the year, specifically to let the masses feel the benefits of an improved economy.