 |
||
| 23 FEBRUARY 2008 | . | |
|
|
||
| 23 FEBRUARY 2008 | . | |
|
|
| PGMA: The world will not forgive an EDSA III |
|
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said today the world embraced EDSA I
exactly 22 years ago and tolerated EDSA II -- but will not forgive an EDSA
III. In a 30-minute interview over radio station DZRH at its central office in Pasay City – where she motored this morning before flying to Eastern Samar to view the damage wrought by the latest weather disturbance to hit the country -- President Arroyo stressed, thus: “Sa aking pananaw (in my personal assessment), the world embraced EDSA I in 1986; the world tolerated EDSA II in 2001; but the world will not forgive an EDSA III -- instead it will condemn the Philippines as a fractious political system that is hopelessly unstable…” EDSA I refers to the bloodless People Power Revolution that took place along a stretch of Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (EDSA) in Quezon City in February 1986 and ended the dictatorial rule of then President Ferdinand Marcos. The President -- who was already garbed in her raincoat in preparation for her site inspection of the flood-devastated Eastern Visayas seaboard -- was interviewed by veteran broadcaster Joe Taruc from 7:45 a.m. to 8:15 a.m. Preceded by Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesperson Ignacio R. Bunye at the DZRH headquarters at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) Complex along Roxas Blvd., the President greeted everyone a happy anniversary of EDSA I which, she said, was one of the most important events in the world in the 20th century. “Isang mainit na pagbati sa lahat sa anibersaryo ng EDSA. Yung mga araw ng Feb. 22-26 noong 1986… ay importanteng mga araw ng ating kasaysayan at isa sa mga importanteng (kaganapan) sa buong 20th century sa buong mundo…” President Arroyo, whose term of office has seen foreign investments in billions of dollars pouring into the country, said that were an EDSA III to triumph in the Philippines, investors will think twice about locating in the Philippines. “Ang mangyayari dun, di sila (foreign investors) mag-i-invest sa Pilipinas… How will we weather the difficulty (brought about by) the rise in crude oil prices in the world market?” The President – who has remained steadfast in her governance despite brickbats hurled her way – pointed out that “ang gusto ng Pilipino ay katatagan sa politika, maliwanag na kinabukasan sa economiya, panlipunang katarungan at yun ang aking tina-trabaho…” Asked about how she is taking various “kung ano-anong” issues that have been whipped up by her detractors, including calls for her to resign, the President had this to say: “Alam niyo, Joe, hindi siguro umabot nang ganitong kaganda ang ating ekonomiya, kung yung mga ganung bagay, yung mga istorbo sa politika, ang ating parating inaasikaso… Eh ako, naka-focused na parang laser beam sa ating ekonomiya…” “Kaya naman, tingnan mo naman ang bunga ng ating focus na yun, at ganun pa rin ang aking attitude hanggang ngayon…” the President added. Is she still able to sleep well at night despite all the hits from her political enemies? “Seven hours (of sleep)…a night, yun ang bahagi ng aking energy management. Kung gusto mo yung left side of your brain and right side of your brain ay mag-opera na mabuti, ang costumbre mo ay seven hours ang pagtulog…” Anchor Taruc noted that, indeed, despite the said problems, “mukhang hindi naman kayo nawawala sa focus sa mga responsibilidad niyo bilang pangulo.” To this, the President stressed that “kasama na yun sa disiplina” as she revealed the advice of her late father (the late President Diosdado Macapagal) that she had taken to heart: “Ang payo sa akin ng aking tatay -- ‘Do what is right, do your best, and let God take care of the rest’…” “At ang isa pang sinabi niya: ‘The presidency is not a position to be enjoyed, it’s a position where we have to work hard for the good of the people and, if necessary… you should be willing to suffer.’” |
|
|
| President orders release of P200 million for speedy rehabilitation of Western and Eastern Samar |
|
DOLORES, Eastern Samar---President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ordered today the
immediate release of some P200 million from the calamity fund for the speedy
rehabilitation of Western and Eastern Samar, the two Eastern Visayas
provinces severely affected by flooding due to several days of continuous
rains caused by a tailend of a cold front last week. The President gave the instructions during the briefing here on the extent of damage caused by heavy flooding in Region 8 by Deputy Presidential Spokesperson and concurrent National Disaster Coordinating Council Deputy Administrator Anthony Golez and Eastern Samar Gov. Ben Evardone. The President instructed the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to immediately rehabilitate the MacArthur Highway as well as the national road leading to Samar. ''We have to prioritize that, ''the President told DPWH Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane. Some P90 million is needed to rehabilitate the MacArthur Highway, the main road that connects the Samar island to Luzon and the rest of the Visayas. Another P30 million is needed for the rehabilitation of the road approaching Samar island. ''So that's P120 million all in all,” the President said as she gave out the order to Ebdane. A separate amount of P3 million will be released by the Department of Agriculture for the replenishment of damaged crops, especially rice, which were almost ready to be harvested next month. Damage to agriculture in Eastern Samar province alone was pegged at P73.8 million, livestock and poultry at P28.027 million, and fishery at P0.525 million, according to Evardone. The President also instructed other government line agencies to continue delivering basic services to the flood victims and ensure the availability of potable water to avoid outbreak of diseases. She also ordered the immediate rehabilitation of farm-to-market roads and the communal irrigation system so the people can resume their normal lives. Upon being informed that some P350 million was allocated for infrastructure projects in Region 8, the President instructed the DPWH to step up the implementation of the projects. The order is in consonance with her policy of accelerating the construction and completion of more infrastructure projects nationwide this year to sustain the country’s economic growth amid the threats posed by the slowing down of the US economy. During the meeting with 23 mayors of Eastern Samar and officials of national government line agencies, the President also handed out P1.5 million check each to Evardone and Eastern Samar Rep. Teodulo Coquilla. The checks came from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR). |
|
|
| Opposition’s name calling draws PGMA’s sharp retorts |
|
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has lamented the name calling that the
opposition has resorted to in its concerted if desperate attempt to pull her
down and get her out of office. “… Nakakalungkot na bumababa sa ganitong ka-desperadong paninira ang mga kalaban sa politika (It saddens me that my political enemies have stooped this low in their desperate attempt to tear me down),” the President told veteran broadcaster Joe Taruc in a 30-minute radio interview at DZRH headquarters in Pasay City this morning. Taruc noted that the President’s critics have resorted to name calling, and asked her, thus: “Paano niyo tinatanggap ang ganyang uri ng mga parinig, Madame President?” “Deadma na lang ako doon (I just ignore it), Joe…” the President let on. As to the well-publicized comment of Albay Governor Jose Salceda before an Ateneo de Manila forum, the President just let the remark pass, good-naturedly accepting Salceda’s explanation that he used the phrase in praise of the President’s handling of the country’s burgeoning economy. In fact, the President – who repeated Salceda’s oft-quoted phrase on the air -- said she pitied Salceda who, himself, was subjected to name calls after the incident. “Kawawa naman yung isang dati kong member of the Cabinet… Bigla, nakatanggap ako ng text message na nag-a-apologize. Sabi raw niya, eh, context ng affection… Eh, hindi ko alam ang pinag-a-apologize-an niya… “Yun pala tungkol doon ang quote – ‘If she’s a bitch, she is one lucky bitch’ -- dahil maganda ang ekonomiya. Yun ang context noon.” The President further lamented, thus: “Sabi ni ganito, ganyan… Puro haka-haka…Yung ganung mga bukang bibig, ito ay dahil sa… tsismis, sabi-sabi at batikos, kaya nakakalungkot na bumababa sa ganitong ka-desperadong paninira ang mga kalaban sa politika.” The President seconded the observation of Taruc that several crises had happened during her term, but pointed out that her predecessors’ terms were also beset with their share of crises. “Marami na tayong upheaval -- hindi lang sa panahon ko kundi sa panahon din ng iba. But, time and again, ipinapakita ng taong bayan na ang gusto nila ay katatagan ng politika at pagsulong ng ekonomiya…” “Ang sigurong kaibahan ngayon ay maganda ang ating ekonomiya. Nung mga panahon kung saan nagtagumpay yung mga pag-i-istorbo ay masama ang ekonomiya, mahina ang piso, sobra ang taas ng presyo, napakaraming walang trabaho, ang growth rate ay mababang-mababa, negative pa nga eh. Pero ngayon, opposite…” the President enthused. |
|
|
| PGMA brings hope and cheers to flood victims in Eastern Samar |
|
DOLORES, Eastern Samar---President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo visited this town
today to bring cheers and hope to, as well as to condole with, the flood
victims of Eastern Samar, the Region 8 province that was severely damaged by
floodings last week. The President arrived at 11 a.m. at the Dolores Municipal Hall amid cloudy skies and a light downpour. About a thousand residents from the different barangays of this town, one of the municipalities that was severely affected by flooding, especially on its agriculture, waited outside the municipal hall under a light downpour, for the President's arrival. An old woman who eagerly waited for the President said the Chief Executive's arrival means hope that their lives would go back to normal. Indeed, the President came with a bagfull of assistance for the 34,950 persons affected by flooding in the province. At the municipal hall's ground lobby, the President distributed P20,000 in cash assistance to the families of the 12 persons who died in the flood. The President also led in the distribution of 43 bicycles for high school students from three upstream barangays of Dolores under the PGMA Bike for School Program. She also spearheaded the distribution of family packs to some 520 remaining families from Dolores who have not received assistance. Each municipal mayor was handed out a certificate for their share of 500 kilograms of seaweed seedstock worth P75 million for the livelihood of displaced residents. The President also distributed some 2,500 meals to the flood victims. On top of all these, the President has ordered all government line agencies to immediately effect the rehabilitation of the province. |
|
|
| PGMA bares untold story behind the broadband contract cancellation |
|
“Galit ang taumbayan sa katiwalian. Ganun din ako – galit din ako sa
katiwalian.” Thus stressed President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo over radio station DZRH where she was interviewed for 30 minutes this morning by veteran broadcaster Joe Taruc, who asked her whether “the broadband contract” had been cancelled or was just suspended. Taruc was referring to the long-cancelled government-to-government contract for China to fund via a loan the laying out of a national broadband network, with China’s ZTE Corporation to build the project. “Ano po ba ang malinaw na nangyari dito? Ito po ba ay kinansela, sinuspinde? Ano po ba ang estado nito, Madame President?” The President replied, thus: “Alam mo, Joe, talagang para sa akin, una sa lahat, hindi ko gusto ang katiwalian (… in the first place, I am against corruption).” “Galit ang taumbayan sa katiwalian. Ganun din ako – galit din ako sa katiwalian. “Kaya itong proyektong ito, oras na may pag-uusap na may anomalya, ay agad-agad kong kinansel; agad-agad na gumawa ako ng hakbang para kanselahin. “Ang isa sa mga hakbang na ito ay kailangan kakausapin muna ang gobyerno ng China dahil sila naman ang ating pinakamalaking market ngayon sa export.” “Kanselado na iyon, matagal na. Oras nga na may sumbong sa akin, tiningnan ko na iyong paraan kung papaano kanselahin. “Nagsumbong sa akin the night before the signing of the supply contract pero hindi pa naman kasi – that was only one of many signings. So papaano mo naman maka-cancel the night before, meron kang ibang bansang kausap. “So tuloy iyong signing pero sa unang pagkakataon, kinausap ko kaagad iyong pangulo ng China para sabihin sa kaniya na kailangan kanselahin iyong proyekto.” Asked if the other party understood (the cancellation of the contract), the President said “sa umpisa, hindi masyado, nagulat.” “Pero sa pangalawang pag-uusap ko, sinabi na naiintindihan niya at magkaibigan pa rin tayo kahit na kakanselahin iyong proyekto.” The President also revealed that she would like to “weed out” so-called supplier-driven projects where contractors offer to build projects funded by loans from other governments. ”Iyan ang gusto kong i-weed out.” She explained that different countries have their own loan conditionalities which are “nakakalito sa publiko at sa Kongreso.” “So, halimbawa, iyong China, ang kaniyang conditionality ay siya ang pipili ng kontratista. O iyong World Bank naman, pumapayag na maging over the house estimate ang bid. “Gusto natin, pareho ang standards para hindi nalilito iyong mga nagsusubaybay,” President Arroyo stressed. |
|
|
