We bow to the rule of democracy and the rule of law; and call upon the people, especially the strong and committed supporters of the people’s initiative, to join hands in supporting the close decision of the High Court. This is democracy in action and we must uphold it.

I extol those who fought for the people’s initiative for their patriotism, perseverance and courage.

The great idea of Charter reform lives on and we must keep the fire burning. This is about creating a modern, working Philippines; to leave behind the degenerated system that is holding the nation back and keeping it too poor and too divided.

We have a vision of having the Philippines join the ranks of first world nations by 2020 and a modern, more cohesive and more accountable political structure is key to achieving that goal.

Political stability, firm economic stewardship and the spirit of Filipino enterprise will continue to win the day.

This government will never allow, under any circumstances, the transport and entry of toxic wastes into Philippine soil.

Our existing laws and international treaties proscribe this and we shall uphold them unconditionally.

Fears of this kind are unfounded as both the Philippines and Japan are committed to respect each other’s sovereign rights and interests.

SILANG, Cavite -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo called today on the Filipino people to support and respect the decision of the Supreme Court rejecting the petition to amend the Constitution through a people’s initiative.

"We bow to the rule of democracy and the rule of law; and call upon the people, especially the strong and committed supporters of the people’s initiative, to join hands in supporting the close decision of the High Court," she said.

The President issued the call in her speech on the second day of the four-day 1^st National Summit of the Bagong Usbong ng Lingkod Bayan (BULB) with the theme, "Moral Integrity: A Key to Nation Building" at the gymnasium of the Adventist University of the Philippines (AUP) in Silang, Cavite.

She said that the Executive branch will respect and follow the High Court’s decision on Charter Change because the Philippines is a democratic country.

"On Charter Change, this is democracy in action. We follow democracy, we follow the rule of law," she said, as she praised "those who fought for the people’s initiative for their patriotism, perseverance and courage."

The President explained that the great idea of constitutional reform is about "creating a modern, working Philippines and to leave behind the degenerated system that is holding the nation backward and keeping it too poor and too divided."

She said that her administration’s vision for the country is to propel it to the ranks of First World nations by 2020, and "a modern, more cohesive and accountable political structure is key to achieving that goal."

At the same time, the President said Malacaņang will leave it to the concerned institutions, including Congress, "as to how we can keep the dreams of the people ascendant and heed the imperatives of change."

"Kasi, talagang nagbabago ang mundo. Kailangang magbago rin ang ating istruktura, magbago rin ang ating kalooban. Yung pagbabago ng ating kalooban iyon ang ginagawa ng BULB, iyong pagbabago ng ating istruktura, iyon ang ating pinaglalaban sa pamamagitan ng pagbabago ng ating Konstitusyon," she stressed.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo led today the ceremonial ringing of the bell at the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) on Ayala Ave., Makati City, marking the listing of new common shares of Metropolitan Bank & Trust Company (Metrobank), the country’s largest bank.

The event took place at the trading floor of the PSE during the opening of today’s trading session at 9:30 a.m. in the presence of Finance Secretary Margarito Teves, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Amando Tetangco Jr., Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chairperson Fe Barin, Presidential Chief of Staff Michael Defensor, PSE President Francis Lim and Metrobank Group Chairman George S. K. Ty.

Metrobank Chairman Antonio S. Abacan Jr. congratulated President Arroyo for the continuing surge of the stock market, saying the nine-year high in PSE trading yesterday (Wednesday) was a clear indication of the country’s strong economic fundamentals.

In brief remarks, Abacan attributed the stock market surge to the strong demand among stock market players for stocks generated by public offering in the international and local markets.

"Today’s undertaking is a tangible commitment of our support to the Philippine economy and the strengthening of our capital markets," Abacan said.

Metrobank said it had completed a global equity offering of 173.6 million shares at P38 per share, of which 164.9 million shares were sold in the international market and the balance of 8.7 million shares sold to local buyers.

SILANG, Cavite—Citing the need to improve the lives of all state workers, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo announced today a government plan to increase the pay of government employees starting next year up to 2010.

In her speech at the ongoing 1st National Summit of the Bagong Usbong ng Lingkod Bayan (BULB) at the Adventist University of the Philippines (AUP) in Silang, Cavite, the President said the government has allotted a total of P172 billion in salary increases for the next four years.

She said that based on the estimate of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), the government will spend P10 billion in 2007, P32 billion in 2008, P55 billion in 2009, and P75 billion in 2010 for the salary increases of the government workforce

And to be able to meet the pay hike dreams of state workers, the President urged all government revenue offices, like the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), to continue their good revenue collections.

She also asked all agencies to be more prudent in spending government funds so that the pay hikes of some one million state workers can be accommodated.

"Hangad ko talaga na hindi lamang ang ating moral generation sa pamamagitan ng mga programang gaya ng BULB ang gaganda kundi pati na rin ang buhay ng karaniwang manggagawa sa ating pamahalaan (It is my wish that it will not only moral generation that would be uplifted by programs like BULB but also the lives of our state workers)," the President said.

In another front, the President stressed that the government remains focused in its campaign against smuggling.

"We are determined to strike down the problem of smuggling as we have made it clear to the Bureau of Customs that there should be no sacred cow in this all-out effort, to ensure that a just and equitable market be preserved," she stressed.

The President assured the public that the government would make sure that all fronts of productivity and fair competition are protected and strengthened.

The government assured the people today that it will never allow the transport and entry of toxic wastes into Philippine soil, saying it upholds unconditionally existing laws and international treaties.

Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesperson Ignacio R. Bunye pointed this out in reaction to fears raised that the country could become a dumping ground for such wastes with the signing of the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA).

"Our existing laws and international treaties proscribe this and we shall uphold them unconditionally," he said.

"Fears of this kind are unfounded as both the Philippines and Japan are committed to respect each other’s sovereign rights and interests," he added.

Bunye made the statement after Sen. Pia Cayetano, chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, expressed alarm over reports of a possible entry of toxic wastes in the country under the JPEPA provisions.

The senator said the JPEPA would have to be closely scrutinized particularly on the use of the word "goods" as described in Article 29 of the agreement which may turn out as a "euphemism" for Japan’s unwanted industrial, municipal and clinical wastes which the Philippines has willingly offered to host.

The agreement was signed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and then Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi in Finland last September on the sidelines of the Sixth Asia-Europe Meeting.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo inducted 11 government officials led by new Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Sergio Apostol and 10 generals of the Philippine National Police (PNP) during a mass oath-taking this afternoon in Malacanang.

Inducted together with Apostol were Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioners Nicodemo Ferrer, Romeo Brawner, and Florentino Tuason Jr.; Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) Undersecretaries Anneli Lontoc and Maria Elena Bautista; and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Assistant Director Pedro Bulaong.

Others who took their oath of office were Clark International Airport Corporation president Victor Jose Luciano; Clark Development Corporation (CDC) executive vice president Philip Jose Panlilio; Philippine Fisheries Development Authority board of director Alonso Tan; and Bai Sandra Sinsuat Ampatuan Sema as member of the Committee on Education of the UNESCO National Commission of the Philippines.

Promoted a rank higher in the PNP were Police Deputy Director General Antonio Billones, Police Director Wilfredo Garcia, and Police Chief Superintendents Yolanda Tanigue, Angelo Sunglao, Josefino Cataluna, Felizardo Serapio Jr., Orlando Maddela Jr., Federico Damatac Jr., Romeo Ricardo, and Francisco Llamas.

SILANG, Cavite – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo urged today the newly formed Bagong Usbong ng Lingkod Bayan (BULB) to be a strong partner of the government leadership in molding and creating a new breed of public servants with the right moral values and dedicated to the cause of nation-building.

The President made the exhortation in her address before the 1^st National Summit of BULB at the gymnasium of the Adventist University of the Philippines (AUP) in Silang, Cavite this morning.

She recalled that in 2003, she formed the Council on Values Formation, which was tasked to coordinate important agreements with program partners from civil society and the private sector in promoting positive moral values and fighting graft and corruption.

Underscoring the urgency of national unity, the President said the country’s "progress can only continue if you and I as public servants knock down the walls that are dividing our country . . . we can accomplish this only if you and I (as) public servants promote nation-building as the spirit of the times with the collective vision of people, business and government to move the nation forward."

She thanked the leaders of the BULB, headed by National Chairperson and Congressman Harlin Abayan (1st. Dist., Northern Samar), BULB President and Undersecretary Teddy Rivera of the Philippine International Trading Corporation (PITC), for spearheading the moral regeneration movement in the government sector.

Freely translated, Bagong Usbong ng Lingkod Bayan means New Breed of Government Servants.

"Binabati ko ang BULB sa napakahalagang pagpupulong na ito, your organization speaks well of the kind of government workers. We need a new breed of public servants and solid values and raring to flag it out in the highly competitive global arena," the President said.

An organization and advocacy group composed of government officials and employees, members of Congress and the Judiciary, BULB seeks to uplift the moral values of government personnel.

With its theme "Moral Integrity: A Key to Nation Building," the 1^st National Summit of BULB seeks to address the following concerns and objectives:

1. Strengthen the moral fiber of those in public service;
2. Identify how the members should respond to political changes; and
3. Identify members’ role in nation-building.

The President said she needs support and sacrifices of her fellow government workers in the implementation of much-needed reforms to enable the government to regain the trust and confidence of the world.

"Political stability, firm economic stewardship and your dedicated public service will continue to win the day. The resiliency shown by our economy as painted by both local and global analysts signals that the best is yet to come for the people that you and I serve as we focus on gearing our economic takeoff," she said.

The President urged Undersecretary Rivera to coordinate with the Council on Values and help her in the serious fight of graft and corruption in the public service.

The President also congratulated the members and officers of the AUP Ambassadors of Choral Arts Society for being a world champion. The AUP Ambassadors won two gold and one silver medals in the July 15-26, 2006 4^th World Choir Olympics held in Xiamen, China.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo conferred today the Order of Sikatuna, with the rank of Datu (Gold Cross) on Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Rafael Seguis for championing the rights and welfare of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), particularly in strife-torn areas in the Middle East.

The awarding ceremony was held this afternoon at Malacanang’s Rizal Hall.

Seguis was cited for safeguarding the lives and ensuring the safety of OFWs when he was then DFA Assistant Secretary for Middle Eastern and African Affairs despite the threat and risk on his own life.

Seguis worked for the release of kidnapped OFWs, including Robert Tarongoy, who was freed by his Iraqi captors in 2005 after an eight-month captivity in Baghdad.

Recently, Seguis also worked for the safe passage and repatriation of Filipino workers due to the Lebanon-Israel conflict.

The President, assisted by DFA Undersecretary Esteban Conejos, also bestowed the Order of the Golden Heart with the rank of Grand Cross to actress Rosa Rosal (Florence Lansang Danon in real life) for being a life-time public servant and volunteer of the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC).

The President also presented the Ten Outstanding Policewomen of the Philippines (TOPWP) awards to Police Supt. Evangeline Candia of the Manila Police District (MPD), Supt. Lilian Castillo (MPD), Chief Insp. Anita Araullo (MPD), Chief Insp. Emma Galero of the Makati City Crime Laboratory, Sr. Insp. Flor Mirasol (Camarines Sur Police Provincial Office), Sr. Insp. Jhoanna Rosales (Public Information Office, PNP Region 3), Sr. Insp. Ivy Castillo (Criminal Detection and Investigation Group), Sr. Insp. Ma. Cecilia Detablan (Intelligence and Investigation Division, PRO-6), Insp. Rubenie Grandeza (Iloilo Police Provincial Office), and PO3 Rosalie Aglanang of the Sta. Rosa, Laguna Police Station.