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| 25 FEBRUARY 2008 | . | |
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| 25 FEBRUARY 2008 | . | |
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| Palace declares Feb. 26 and Feb. 28 as special days in Zamboanga and Tangub City, respectively |
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Malacañang has declared Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2008 as Special (Non-Working) Day
in the City of Zamboanga to enable its residents to celebrate the city’s
71st Charter Day with appropriate ceremonies. The declaration is contained in Proclamation No. 1465 which Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita issued on Feb. 19 by authority of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. In a related move, Ermita also issued Proclamation No. 1466 declaring Thursday, Feb. 28, 2008 as Special (Non-Working) Day in the City of Tangub which celebrates its anniversary on that day. The proclamation said that as the people of Tangub City mark the city’s Foundation Day, “it is but fitting and proper” that they are given “full opportunity to celebrate the occasion with appropriate ceremonies.” |
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| Suspended foreign-funded projects will be implemented with local funds - PGMA |
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Eleven official development assistance (ODA) funded projects which President
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo suspended recently will be implemented with local
funds. The President issued this assurance over the weekend when she was interviewed by veteran radio program host Joe Taruc over dzRH. Taruc noted that many people were worried that the big-ticket projects would not push through without the funding assistance from foreign funding agencies. But the President said that with the country’s improved economy, the government has enough funds now to pursue the projects without having to secure foreign loans. “Tutuloy ang mga proyekto kasi umabot na nga tayo sa antas ng ekonomiya na hindi na talaga tayo kailangang umaasa lamang sa utang.” In previous years when the national budget was P900 billion, for instance, P700 billion of it comprised the revenues collected by the government, she said. “Iyong 700 billion (pesos), nagkakasya lamang iyon sa suweldo, sa interest, at saka sa IRA (Internal Revenue Allotment). Wala ng perang naiiwan para sa imprastraktura at social services. Iyong 200 billion (pesos) na balance between 900 billion (pesos) spending and 700 billion,” the President said. Given the inadequacy of resources to fund urgent infrastructure facilities, the government had to resort to foreign borrowings. “Kaya kung gagastos tayo, iyong dagdag na 200 billion (pesos), kailangan pa nating umutang,” she added. “Pero ngayon, hindi. Kung meron tayong one trillion (pesos) budget, one trillion (pesos) din ang ating revenues. So hindi na tayo kailangang umutang,” the President enthused. Asked if the country is no longer dependent on foreign loans, the President replied: “Yes, hindi na tayo dependent. So meron na tayong choice kung mas mura ang particular project, puedeng pahabaan natin ang payment period para mas maraming magagastos na iba. Meron na tayong mga choices na ganun, pero hindi na tayo dependent. Kaya itong mga proyekto, basta ang importante, tuluy-tuloy pa rin…” In his “The View from the Palace” column today in the Manila Bulletin, Press Secretary Ignacio R. Bunye said “it is important to note that the most important projects, e.g. Cyber Ed, will move ahead, but with local funding that we already have available.” “Before, we had to fund our deficit with foreign loans but not anymore,” Bunye added. He said that “for the first time in a generation, thanks to the fiscal reforms, we now have the money to fund our own infrastructure, health, education, and other social projects.” The Palace official said that the President had instructed her economic team to sit down with the multi-lateral agencies which provide official development conditionalities in the event the government would need to tap loans. “This really makes sense because right now, the US, Japan and China lending agencies have different (loan) availment procedures and conditions and these could be quite confusing,” Bunye said. |
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| RP's local officials assail vicious attacks vs. PGMA, vow full support for President |
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The 1,510-member League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) slammed
today the “vicious attacks by various interest groups and destabilization
attempts wanting to discredit and topple the government” as they expressed
their “full and unconditional support” for President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. In their Manifesto of Support issued at the end of their two-day Congress in Marikina City, the country’s local officials stressed that they “have overwhelmingly approved to manifest their full support and cooperation in her administration and leadership as President of the strong Republic of the Philippines.” In their manifesto, which was signed by the officers and members of the LMP’s National Directorate, the LMP said it “recognizes the gainful achievements of the administration of Her Excellency Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in terms of agricultural productivity, livelihood opportunities, job generation, infrastructure and economic development.” The LMP added that its members, “especially those in the countryside,” acknowledge the “direct benefits” of the Arroyo administration’s various programs and projects to their constituents. The LMP pointed out that “in the midst of vicious attacks by various interest groups, and destabilization attempts wanting to discredit and topple the government… the LMP is cognizant of the fact that there is a need for us to unite and rally behind the duly constituted administration and leadership of President Arroyo.” The local officials lamented that the “baseless accusations hurled against the government will directly affect the poor and the underprivileged which we have promised to serve.” Led by Mayor Ramon Guico Jr. of Binalonan, Pangasinan, the LMP stressed that the “unified expression of support by the local officials and other groups in the country reflects their collective sentiments and those of their constituents in backing up the President’s call for national reconciliation and unity, and in favoring her programs for political and economic reforms.” |
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| PGMA gives meaning to the true spirit of People Power I revolt |
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President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo chose today to commemorate the last day of
the four-day celebration of the 22nd anniversary of the1986 EDSA People
Power Revolution by ensuring that the government is doing everything it can
to uplift the lives of the "poorest of the poor."
The President motored to the Silanganan Elementary School Phase III in Caloocan City this afternoon to lead in ceremonies implementing the Ahon Pamilyang Pilipino (APP) program, a conditional cash transfer program that is in line with the President's advocacy of poverty alleviation through human development and people empowerment. The APP provides pre-selected household beneficiaries with cash grants to allow the members to meet certain human development goals. It focuses on building the human capital of poor families including health, nutrition and education. In her speech keynoting the event, the President said she chose to spend the commemoration of the historic People Power I this way because "the true spirit of People Power lies in uplifting the lives of the poorest of the poor." "Ito ang tunay na diwa ng People Power, tulungan ang pinakamahihirap (This is the true spirit of People Power, helping the poorest of the poor)," the President said. The President also appealed to the people to pitch in and do their share of uplifting the lives of their countrymen whom she said also include those who were hardest hit by the recent floodings in Bicol, Eastern Samar, Leyte and Mindoro. "Gaya ng nangyayari sa ating mga kapatid sa Bicol, sa Samar, Leyte at Mindoro, (sila) ay bahagi ng diwa ng EDSA kaya hinihingi din natin doon naman sa mga mas maykaya: tulungan natin yung mga kapatid natin na nagdurusa sa mga lugar na yun dahil sa malubhang ulan (at pagbaha)," the President said. |
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| Ex-President was not singling out PGMA in Libingan speech, says FVR's spokesman |
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Former President Fidel V. Ramos was not singling out President Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo when he said that it has become customary to denigrate the
EDSA events “perhaps because the greed, the apathy, and the corruption we
brought down then are once again rearing their heads.” In a press statement, Ed Malay, media relations adviser to the former President, clarified today that the essence of Ramos’ speech was that the “fight to weed out graft is everybody’s business.” Malay was referring to Ramos’ speech at the Libingan ng mga Bayani last Friday (Feb. 22) marking the opening of the EDSA l People Power event. The former President was not “singling out the Arroyo administration but said that graft and corruption is a problem around the world, the Philippines included, and that there are new tyrannies in the form of self-serving leaders, immoderately greedy autocrats, and cliques of corrupt officials that the citizenry must still confront,” Malay said. “This is the essence of the message of the former President (Ramos) on the commemoration of the 22nd anniversary of the EDSA I People Power event that restored democracy in the Philippines on February 25, 1986,” Malay pointed out. He added Ramos believes that “the fight to reduce the level of corruption in the country and in all other countries where graft and corruption is a problem is not the responsibility of the government alone.” Malay also explained that “Ramos did not call on the people to stage another people-led uprising” even as FVR said in his speech that “history might yet call us to come together again -- to offer our lives and fortunes on the altar of our civic ideals as there are oligarchies, dynasties, and opportunists we are yet to banish from our political and economic life.” “To do this, Ramos told the Filipino people that the best way to commemorate the Spirit of EDSA and honor the heroes who lie here is for every Filipino to aspire to the same high standard of civic responsibility and that for every citizen to make a difference by joining hands to lift up the common life and raise the country to the position of dignity and esteem (that) the Philippines deserves in the community of nations,” Malay said. He said the former President had wanted the “Spirit of EDSA (to) remind each and every citizen of the Philippines -- poor or rich, young or old, lowly or elite – that they can make a difference by taking an active role in the country’s political affairs by helping in the management of public affairs, since this was a right and equally a duty for every citizen.” In his Libingan nga mga Bayani speech, “Ramos said the times of peace and social stability seem to fritter away in view of bickering -- in quarreling like crabs caught in a bamboo trap -- with each one pursuing his or her self-interest,” Malay stressed. |
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| Fight to weed out graft is everybody's business - FVR |
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Former President Fidel V. Ramos said the fight to reduce the level of graft
and corruption in the Philippines and in all other countries is not the
responsibility of the government alone but it rests on the definitive
actions of both the Filipino leaders and the ordinary citizens on which
depend the ultimate shape of the Philippine future and this can be done by
reliving the values of unity, solidarity and teamwork in building and
developing the country. In his speech this morning at the People Power Monument in Quezon City on the occasion of the EDSA People Power I anniversary and at the launching of the second volume of his Bulletin Sermons at the Manila Hotel in the afternoon, the former President said that all Filipinos and even foreign residents in the country are all passengers on board the same ship called the Republic of the Philippines and the ship of state must not be allowed to falter or deteriorate. “And neither should we allow anyone to put more holes in our already leaky ship, but all should pull an oar or plug a leak. Otherwise we will all sink together,” Ramos stressed. The highest outcome of EDSA I, said Ramos, was the “once in a lifetime opportunity to infuse our people with a new purpose and the greatest loss to our posterity would be our failure as responsible citizens to impart the values of that transcendent event to younger Filipinos and to those whom we elected to bear the torch of leadership. “ Ramos said that “conscientization and reform were the immediate factors that gave birth to the EDSA I event but these should also lead to renewal and transformation so that the people themselves through communal reform can lift up the common life and raise our country to the position of dignity and esteem the Philippines deserves in the community of nations. “ |
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| People fed up with political noise - Caviteños |
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TRECE MARTIRES CITY, Cavite – Chanting that Filipinos are fed up with
political noise, an estimated 10,000 Cavitenos jammed the provincial capitol
here this afternoon to express their support for President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo,
and respect for the Constitution and the rule of law. “Sawa na ang bayan sa gulo, itaguyod natin ang Konstitusyon,” they chanted during the “Talakayan ng Mamamayang Kabitenyo Para sa Pagsulong ng Kapayapaan, Katatagan at Kaunlaran ng Bayan” which President Arroyo attended. In his welcome remarks, Cavite Mayors’ League president and Carmona Mayor Roy Loyola said the 20 municipal mayors and three city mayors of Cavite strongly condemned the unrelenting trial by publicity being waged against the President by her political detractors. “Ituloy ang trabaho at isulong ang ekonomiya. Sawa na ang bayan sa gulo,” Mayor Loyola said as he urged members of the Senate to respect the rule of law and file appropriate criminal cases in court against their targets instead of airing their demands in the media and in street demonstrations. “Huwag nyo naman sanang abusuhin ang tunay na diwa ng EDSA,” Loyola said, adding that the true spirit of EDSA is peace, unity and progress. This is the reason why all mayors of Cavite supported the call of the Catholic Church to elevate the issue in the proper forum and not in the streets. Cavite Governor Ireneo Maliksi explained that the provincial government organized the Talakayan ng Mamamayang Kabitenyo as its version of the 22nd People Power I anniversary celebration. He informed the President that two hours before her attendance at the Talakayan was confirmed, the municipal and city mayors of the province approached him at his office to express their full support for her leadership. “Gusto ng mga Kabitenyo na maipagpatuloy mo, Madam President, ang pag-usad ng ating ekonomiya, ang magkaroon ng pangmatagalang kapayapaan, katatagan at kaunlaran sa ating bayan,” Maliksi said. The President helicoptered here from Bagong Silang in Caloocan City, where she launched earlier in the day the Ahon Pamilyang Pilipino program, to personally thank the residents and leaders of Cavite for their unwavering support for her and for the rule of law. In her extemporaneous speech, the President urged the leaders and residents of Cavite to let their voices be heard by the Senate. As the proud home of the hero, General Emilio Aguinaldo, and one of the fastest-developing provinces of the country, Cavite has a big role in the preservation of the country’s freedom and progress. “Yes, lahat tayo laban sa katiwalian ngunit ang ipinaglaban ni Emilio Aguinaldo ay rules of law at democratic principle. Ipaglaban natin iyon kaya dalhin ninyo ang inyong tinig doon sa Senado,” the President said. “Ang paglilitis hindi dinadaan sa tsismis. Ang paglilitis dinadaan sa ebidensiya, meron sapat, meron karapat-dapat na korte para doon. Kaya kung pag-uusapan natin ang kalayaan, kung pag-uusapan natin ang demokrasya, pag-usapan natin ang rule of law,” she added. She said she was “very happy to attend in the Talakayan” because the topic was about freedom and the essence of the program tackled the true meaning of people power, democracy and the rule of law. |
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| PGMA turns on the green light for construction of P8.6-M school bldg. in Caloocan City |
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President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo led today in the brick-laying ceremonies
signalling the start of the construction of a three-storey, six-classroom
school building of the Silanganan Elementary School Phase III in Caloocan
City this afternoon. The President was the guest of honor in the event that saw government and local government officials, including Health Secretary Francisco Duque III and Caloocan City Mayor Enrico Echiverri joining the momentous occasion. Aside from the brick-laying ceremony for the P8.6-million school building, the President also distributed 20 Ahon Pamilyang Pilipino (APP) cash cards to an initial 20 Caloocan City residents. A total of 1,000 households will be given APP cash cards. The APP program is a poverty reduction strategy that provides money to extremely poor households to allow its members to meet certain human development goals. These goals require the family members, particularly: Parents – to attend family planning sessions, mother's classes and parent effectiveness seminars; Pregnant mothers – to get pre-natal care from the first trimester while skilled and trained hospital personnel must assist the mother get post-natal care upon childbirth; and Children – from 0 – 3 years old must get regular health check-ups and vaccinations, from 3 – 5 years old must attend Day Care or pre-school classes at least 85 percent of the time, and from 6 – 14 years old must attend school at least 85 percent of the time. Non-compliance with the conditions will result in the suspension of the cash grant or termination from the program. Emily Soriano, the 20th recipient of the initial distribution of APP cash cards, withdrew P1,400 (representing P500/month per household for health check-ups and vaccines and P900/month maximum allowable amount for three children for school needs) and with profuse thanks, showed the cash to President Arroyo. After the event, the President distributed grocery packs to residents pre-determined to be among the poorest of the poor in the city. The packs contained staples such as rice, coffee, noodles, sugar and canned goods. |
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| Erap's call on military to take over gov't, form junta could get him into trouble - DOJ |
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The Department of Justice (DOJ) is mulling possible legal action against
pardoned former President Joseph Estrada for urging the military to take
over the government and form a ruling junta. This was revealed today by DOJ Undersecretary Ricardo Blancaflor, who also said that Estrada had no right to question the legitimacy of the Arroyo government from whom he accepted pardon for the crime of plunder. If in Estrada’s opinion the Arroyo administration is illegitimate, it goes without saying that the pardon he received from it is also illegitimate, Blancaflor said. As the legal dictum goes, a spring cannot rise higher than its source, he added. The DOJ official cited as an example the case of a person who sells a car to someone who later refuses to pay for the car because the seller is not yet of legal age. Asked if Estrada’s call on the military to take over the government and his denunciation of the Arroyo administration as illegitimate can possibly become grounds for the revocation of his pardon, Blancaflor said the DOJ is studying that possibility. “Like I said, the act of revocation is an executive act; while the act of studying the pros and cons will depend on the facts of the case. Yun ang pinag-aaralan ng DOJ,” Blancaflor said. “Yung legitimacy ng presidente… the mere fact na sinabi ni Erap na illegitimate… he is putting in question his own pardon,” he pointed out. Blancaflor noted that the pardon granted by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to Estrada on Oct. 25, 2007 had several conditions, among which were that “he will not run for public office, payment ng civil fines and forfeitures… Hindi mo masasabi na the pardon was absolute.” “Estrada cannot now claim that the President is illegitimate, considering that he accepted pardon for all intents and purposes. In legal parlance, the pardon is consummated,” he said. The DOJ Undersecretary asserted that “it does not mean that just because your political rights are restored, you can do anything with these rights… not expecting to be covered by laws on libel, slander and perjury, that you can make utterances seditious in nature and get away with it -- hindi yan ang restoration of political rights.” |
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| Mayors, governors, congressmen troop to Malacañang in show of force & support for PGMA |
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Municipal mayors, governors and congressmen – in that order – trooped to
Malacanang today in a show of force and support for President Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo. The early birds were the officers and members of the 1,510-strong League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) who presented to the President their manifesto of full and unconditional support for her administration. The town mayors from all over the country were led by Binalonan, Pangasinan Mayor Ramon Guico Jr. who gathered at the Premier Guest House, where they were joined by several governors from Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao, including Sulu’s Gov. Abdusakur Tan. They would later be joined by some 100 congressmen who came with House Speaker Prospero Nograles in what the latter dubbed “a show of force.” Nograles told media that more congressmen would be joining them in their show of support for President Arroyo before the House session starts at 4 p.m. tomorrow, Tuesday (Feb. 26). “We wanted to show the President that we are in full support of her administration and that hindi namin gustong bumaba siya,” said Nograles who added that they had to show their support after their former speaker, Pangasinan Rep. Jose de Venecia Jr., called on the President to step down. Nograles refused to comment on how many congressmen remain loyal to De Venecia, saying that “that would leave a bad taste in the mouth.” As for Senate President Manuel Villar’s impeachment talk, the new House Speaker said Villar and the Senate should be “cautioned that maybe they should wait for three things – wait for someone to file it, wait for someone to endorse it, and then wait and see if they have the numbers to send it to the Senate.” Meanwhile, former Negros Oriental Rep. Jacinto Paras (First District) said Villar should inhibit himself from any impeachment talk or moves, pointing out that a Senate President has to be neutral as he is the one presiding over the Senate. “It is very improper for the one advocating for impeachment to be presiding because he has already pre-judged the case,” stressed Paras. |
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