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| 26 FEBRUARY 2008 | . | |
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| 26 FEBRUARY 2008 | . | |
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President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's Speech
during the
building a
school and 'Ahon Pamilyang Pilipino" Program Silanganan Elementary School, Phase III, Caloocan City February 25, 2008 |
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MARAMING SALAMAT. MARAMING SALAMAT, SECRETARY CABRAL SA IYONG PAGPAKILALA. AT MARAMING SALAMAT DIN, MAYOR ECHIVERRI SA INYONG MAINIT NA DISKURSONG PAGTANGGAP. MARAMING SALAMAT, CONGRESSMAN MALAPITAN DAHIL ANG KONGRESO AY NAGPAPASA NG BUDGET NA NAGBIBIGAY SA ATIN NG PAGKAKATAONG MAIPAGAWA ITONG ATING PROYEKTONG ITO. MGA KABABAIHAN, MAUPO HO KAYONG LAHAT. HAPPY EDSA ANNIVERSARY SA INYONG LAHAT. ITONG ARAW NA ITO ANG PANG-APAT O HULING ARAW NG APAT NA ARAW NA PAGDIRIWANG NATIN NG EDSA -- FEBRUARY 22 HANGGANG FEBRUARY 25. AT IPINAGDIRIWANG NATIN ANG EDSA DITO SA PALIGID NG MGA KARANIWANG MAMAMAYAN DAHIL IYON ANG TUNAY NA DIWA NG PEOPLE POWER O KAPANGYARIHAN NG TAONG BAYAN. AT KANINA, TAYO AY TUMULONG MAGLAGAY NG DALAWANG HOLLOW BLOCK DITO SA ATING ESKUWELAHANG ITINATAYO. MAGKANO NGA ITONG ESKUWELAHANG ITO? ILANG CLASSROOM, UNDERSECRETARY BACANI? P8.6 MILLION NA BAHAGI NG P200 BILLION NA GAGASTUSIN NATIN SA IMPRASTRAKTURA NITONG TAON AT ANIM NA CLASSROOM SA MAHIGIT 10,000 CLASSROOM NA ITATAYO NATIN. DAHIL ALAM NATIN NA SA KARANIWANG PILIPINO, ANG PAMILYA ANG LAHAT AT ANG KINABUKASAN NG MGA ANAK AY SAGRADO AT KAYA MALAKI ANG PINUPUHUNAN NA INILALAGAY NATIN SA EDUKASYON. ITONG TAONG ITO, YUNG BUDGET NA GINAWA NINA CONGRESSMAN MALAPITAN NA PIPIRMAHAN NATIN SA DARATING NA ILANG ARAW, MAYBE THE FIRST WEEK OF MARCH AY P160 BILLION ANG NILALAGAY SA EDUKASYON. PINAKAMALAKING PORSIYENTO NG BUDGET NA PUMUNTA SA EDUKASYON SA ILANG TAON NG NAKARAAN. KAYA ITONG GINAGAWA NATIN, KUNG MINSAN, NAG-I-INAUGURATE, KUNG MINSAN NAGGA-GROUND BREAK, KUNG MINSAN NAGDADAGDAG NG HOLLOW BLOCK DEPENDE KUNG ANONG STAGE NG CONSTRUCTION NG ATING MGA PROYEKTO. NGAYON, GUSTO NATIN KASI NA LAHAT NG BATA AY PUPUNTA SA ESKUWELAHAN AT LIBRE NAMAN ANG ESKUWELA, EH. KAYA KUNG TUTUUSIN MO, DAPAT WALANG DAHILAN. KAYA LAMANG KUNG MINSAN, MAY MGA PAMILYA NA LUBHA ANG KAHIRAPAN, KAHIT NA LIBRE ANG ESKUWELA, HINDI NAIPAPADALA ANG MGA BATA SA ESKUWELAHAN. ITO YUNG MGA PINAKAMAHIRAP SA ATING BANSA. AT PARA TULUNGAN ISAGOT YANG PROBLEMANG YAN, NA KAHIT NA LIBRE ANG ESKUWELAHAN, SA SOBRANG..., HINDI PA RIN MAPADALA ANG MGA BATA SA ESKUWELA AY INILULUNSAD NATIN ITONG PROGRAMANG 'AHON PAMILYANG PILIPINO'. ANO ITONG PROGRAMANG ITO? ITO ANG PROGRAMA HINDI PARA SA MGA MAHIHIRAP KUNDI SA PINAKAMAHIHIRAP SA LAHAT NG MAHIHIRAP. AT GAYA NG NAKITA NATIN -- CASH ANG IBINIBIGAY. DADAAN SA ATM NG LANDBANK OF THE PHILIPPINES KAYA NANDITO ANG PANGULO NG LANDBANK, SI GILDA PICO. (APPLAUSE) DALAWAMPU ANG BINIGYAN NATIN NG ATM CARD NGAYON. PERO DITO SA CALOOCAN, ESPIE? ISANG LIBO ANG NAKITANG PAMILYANG BAHAGI SA PINAKAMAHIRAP SA BUONG PILIPINAS. (APPLAUSE) NANDITO BA YUNG ISANG LIBO? NANDITO BA SILA? AH, KAYO PALANG NAKA-UNIPORME, OKAY. AT IBA-IBA ANG AMOUNT NA BINIBIGAY SA INYO DEPENDE SA PANGANGAILANGAN NINYO, DEPENDE SA ILANG ANAK NINYO AT LAHAT. PERO MAY KONDISYON ITO -- ANG KONDISYON KAILANGAN ANG MGA ANAK NIYO, PUMAPASOK SA ESKUWELAHAN. KUNG MALIIT, KUNG 5-YEARS OLD OR BELOW DAPAT NAGPUPUNTA SA DAY CARE. AT KUNG 6-YEARS OLD AND ABOVE, DAPAT NAGPUPUNTA SA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. AT BUWAN-BUWAN PA, BIBISITAHIN KAYO NG DSWD PARA MASIGURADO NA TINUTUPAD NIYO YUNG MGA KONDISYON. AT ITO AY HABANG TINUTUPAD NINYO ANG KONDISYON AT HABANG AKO AY PANGULO, BUWAN-BUWAN -- IBIBIGAY ITO SA INYO. KASI ALAM NATIN NA KAHIT NA KUNG ANONG GANDA ANG TAKBO NG ATING EKONOMIYA, AT SA KASAYSAYAN NG ATING EKONOMIYA SA MAHIGIT ISANG HENERASYON, ITO NA ANG PINAKAMAGANDA. MERON PA RING MGA LUBOS NA NAGHIHIRAP AT YUN ANG PINAKAMAGDUDUSA, NAGDUDUSA KAPAG SA MUNDO, HUMIHINA ANG EKONOMIYA NG MUNDO, NG AMERIKA, O TUMATAAS PA BA ANG PRESYO NG LANGIS SA MUNDO, ANG PINAKANAHIHIRAPAN AY YUNG MGA PINAKAMAHIHIRAP. KAYA ITONG PROGRAMA NATING 'AHON PAMILYANG PILIPINO' AY PARA MAKATAWID KAYO, PARA MAKAPAG-ARAL ANG INYONG MGA ANAK. PARA PUMUNTA KAYO SA MGA HEALTH CENTER PARA MALUSOG ANG INYONG PAMILYA. AT SA GANON, MAKAKAAHON ANG INYONG PAMILYA SA LUBHANG-LUBHANG KAHIRAPAN. KAYA ITO ANG TUNAY NA DIWA NG PEOPLE POWER -- TULUNGAN YUNG MGA PINAKA-NAGHIHIRAP, MAGING PANGMATAGALANG PAGHIHIRAP, KAHIT KAYO AY KASAMA SA PINAKADUKHANG PAMILYA SA ATING BANSA O KAYA NAGDUDUSA KAYO KAHIT PANSAMANTALA DAHIL NAGKAROON NG SAKUNA. GAYA NG NANGYAYARI SA ATING MGA KAPATID: SA BICOL, SA SAMAR, LEYTE, SA MINDORO. KAYA BAHAGI RIN NG DIWA NG EDSA, HINIHILING DIN NATIN DOON NAMAN SA MGA MAS MAYKAYA, TULUNGAN NATIN YUNG MGA KAPATID NATIN NA NAGDUDUSA DOON SA MGA LUGAR NA YUN DAHIL SA MALUBHANG ULAN. YANG MALUBHANG ULAN AY DUMATING NAMAN DAHIL SABI NILA, YUNG CLIMATE CHANGE -- NAG-IIBA-IBA TULOY ANG PANAHON, SUMUSOBRA ANG ULAN. KAHIT NA HINDI PILIPINAS ANG MAY KASALANAN, PANGMUNDO YUNG CLIMATE CHANGE, ANG SAGOT NA LANG NATIN DOON AY SIKAPIN NATING ALAGAAN ANG ATING KALIKASAN. DITO SA MGA BARANGAY, DITO SA MGA LUNGSOD, ANG ATING KONTRIBUSYON SA ATING KALIKASAN O GREEN PHILIPPINES AY CONSERVATION. LINISIN NATIN YUNG MGA BASURA. SIGURADUHIN NATIN NA ANG TUBIG AY MALINIS, KASI YUN ANG KAILANGAN SA KALUSUGAN. MARAMI TAYONG KAILANGANG GAWIN, SA SUSUNOD NA DALAWANG TAON AT KALAHATI, DOON TAYO MAGLALAGAY NG ATING PAGDIIN: YUNG GUMANDA ANG EKONOMIYA AT IAHON ANG PINAKAMAHIHIRAP NA SUMAMA SA KAUNLARAN, YUNG EDUKASYON NA SUSI NG KINABUKASAN NG SUSUNOD NA SALINLAHI AT YUNG PAG-ALAGA NG ATING KALIKASAN. SA GANOON SA DARATING NA HENERASYON, MAS MALUSOG AT MAS MAY GINHAWA ANG ATING MGA BATA NG KASALUKUYANG PANAHON. ITO ANG DIWA NG PEOPLE POWER NA ATING IPINAGDIRIWANG NITONG ARAW NA ITO. MARAMING SALAMAT. MABUHAY CALOOCAN, MABUHAY ANG PILIPINAS. |
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| PGMA orders DOJ to come up with fair, truthful probe on scrapped NBN-ZTE project |
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President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ordered today the
Department of Justice (DOJ) to conduct a fair, truthful and no political
leaning kind of investigation on the cancelled national broadband network (NBN)-ZTE
project and to come up with the conclusion the soonest possible time so the
people would finally know the truth and that justice may prevail. In her opening statement in today's Governors-National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA)-Cabinet Group Meeting in Malacanang, the President stressed that the people and the Constitution rely on the rule of law. ''The Ombudsman's and DOJ's report on the result of their separate investigations must be precise, accurate and clear so the people may judge if the process was done with justice and truthfulness and that the people can file a complaint if they see any irregularity,'' the President said in Filipino. The President also called on such sectors as the government, church, civil society and media to unite to unearth the truth so that justice would prevail. ''This is the new People Power---vigilant in the due process of the law to thresh out the truth,'' the President said. ''Let us all pray and work together to achieve the new kind of People Power so we may strengthen our democracy, achieve a stable society and economic growth,'' the President added. She said that the agenda of the NEDA-Cabinet Group meeting with the governors was to discuss how the local governments could contribute more to the country’s economic progress as well as the upcoming Food Summit that would tackle additional measures to ensure food security. ''The local governments are important...they play a very vital role in achieving sustained economic growth,'' the President stressed during the meeting attended by some 50 governors. |
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| PGMA confers order of Sikatuna on outgoing Australian ambassador to RP |
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President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo conferred today the Order of Sikatuna with
the Rank of Datu on outgoing Australian Ambassador to the Philippines
Anthony John Hely. The Order of Sikatuna was conferred on Hely during his farewell call on the President this morning at the Music Room of Malacanang. Hely was cited for his contribution to making Philippines-Australian bilateral relations “more dynamic.” He was instrumental in the successful holding of the Philippines-Australian Ministerial Meeting in August 2005, the visit of the President to Australia in May last year and the attendance of former Australian Prime Minister John Howard at the 12th ASEAN Leaders’ Meeting in Cebu province in January last year, as well as the military assistance extended by Australia in Mindanao. “I would like to thank you for the good times I spent here in the Philippines,” Hely told the President. Hely started his three-year tour of duty in the Philippines in March 2005. The Order of Sikatuna is the national order of diplomatic merit conferred upon individuals who have rendered exceptional, meritorious or conspicuous services in fostering, developing and strengthening relations between their country and the Philippines. |
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| PGMA, DA call on LGUs to support the conduct of the 2008 Food Summit |
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Citing the significant contribution local government units have on the
country’s economic progress, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo called today
on the provincial governors to support the successful conduct of the 2008
Food Summit on April 4. The message was sent across to some 50 governors who attended this morning the Governors-National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA)-Cabinet Group meeting at Malacanang’s Heroes’ Hall. Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap, who made a presentation, said the national food summit aims to “harmonize the food sufficiency/security initiatives of the national government, the local government units and private sector stakeholders and address the global challenges such as climate change and surging food demand by fast growing economies.” Thus, Yap said before the summit, there will be a series of area-wide consultations to be conducted this month until March with the multisectoral stakeholders. Such meetings were already conducted at the Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga last Feb. 19 and in Cagayan de Oro City last Feb. 21. Yap said the President directed the DA to host such a summit “so we can mobilize all sectors in crafting action agenda in pursuit of our mandate to focus on food and jobs, as provided for in the Medium-Term Philippine Development Plan (MTPDP). The Agriculture secretary also said that through this planned summit, “we hope to harmonize the major initiatives of the national and local governments with those of the private sector that pertain to raising farm yields, attracting investments and creating jobs in the countryside, and stabilizing the supply and prices of basic foodstuff.” The various stakeholders who will participate in the summit will cover five commodity clusters, namely, rice, corn, high-value commercial crops, livestock and poultry, and fisheries and aquaculture. While it is the objective of the summit to come up with action plans, it is very important that the plans would have to complement the DA’s five-pillar program that focuses on higher spending on irrigation and rural infrastructure, on post-harvest facilities, and on research and development, and extension work; relaxing the rural credit pinch; and opening more local and foreign markets for Philippine products, Yap said. The President’s goal of convening a national food summit is ---“Pagkain sa Bawat Mesa – Laban sa Kahirapan.” |
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| Statement of Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Anthony Golez |
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The search for the truth and justice must not be coupled with a political
advocacy of resignation. Lest other selfish motivations are important to the call. Former President Aquino is credited for the very Constitution we as a nation is following, and this same Constitution has given us the solution for searching for the truth thru our justice system, not thru a resignation call or trial by publicity. |
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| Statement of Press Secretary Ignacio R. Bunye: On NBN-ZTE deal |
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The President categorically denies having said that the NBN deal was flawed.
What she said in her radio interview, and which she repeated in her speech
after Mass the following day, was that she moved quickly to cancel the deal
when she learned of the slightest sign of impropriety attending the deal.
She also said that the Executive Secretary and the Secretary of Local
Government were advised of the attempted bribe with the view of having the
matter investigated by the officials tasked by law to do the same. The fact that the President cancelled the project should be taken in favor of the President rather than against her. It is unreasonable to conclude that she was complicit in whatever wrongdoing is alleged to have afflicted the deal. In the first place it has not yet been established by the proper forum that there was crime committed. If the President decided to proceed with witnessing the signing, it was so as not to embarrass Chinese partners, and the Chinese government itself, confident that government would do what was necessary to correct whatever infirmities there might have been. She in fact cancelled the deal even before any party could perform on it according to its terms. Why the interval between the signing and the cancellation? She had to explain to the Chinese government. In the radio interview, she said that at first the Chinese did not understand. Trade and Industry Secretary Peter Favila had to do a lot of backchannelling with his counterpart. It was after her own subsequent meetings with top Chinese officials that the latter agreed to the cancellation. |
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| Provincial governors caution PGMA critics to observe rule of law |
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The country’s provincial governors cautioned today critics of the Arroyo
administration to adhere strictly to the rule law as they reminded them that
“Manila is not the Philippines.” Members of the League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP) issued the reminder at a press briefing this afternoon at the New Executive Building (NEB) in the Malacanang complex after they called on President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to express their full support for her. At one point, Sarangani Gov. Miguel Rene Dominguez said that his province was willing to adopt and host Malacanang as the seat of government. “We would like to remind everybody that Manila is not the Philippines. Kami po sa aming lalawigan, handang-handa to host Malacanang, dito po sa aming lalawigan kung ayaw po ninyo sa Metro Manila kay Presidente,” Dominguez said. He also invited the public, including the senators and the opposition groups, to visit the provinces to make an assessment of the situation obtaining outside Metro Manila. He said it was time Metro Manilans share the optimism and improvements going on in the countryside as a spinoff of the economic gains achieved under the Arroyo administration. “We invite each and everyone of you lalong-lalo sa mga senador na halos hindi umiikot, hindi umaalis sa Kamaynilaan, pumunta naman sana sa ibang lugar, sa mga probinsiya, sa Mindanao to get the sense of progress, to get the sense of optimism na fully evident iyong development along-lalo sa mga probinsiya,” he said. Dominguez said that Manila is far from being the Republic of the Philippines and should not be treated as such. “Again, ang Maynila po ay hindi Pilipinas, kami po sa probinsiya ay nandito para ipakita ang suporta namin, sa mga magagandang nangyayari, mga development, ang gobyerno po ay talagang nararamdaman po lalung-lalo sa probinsiya. Hindi katulad sa Maynila ay napakagulo at kanya-kanyang interes po ang naririnig po natin dito sa Maynila,” he said. Quirino Gov. Dakila Carlo Cua, for his part, appealed to all government officials to observe strictly the rule of law. “Ito pong mga batas na ito ay hindi ginawa ni Pangulong Arroyo, ginawa po ito ng mga naunang mga kongresista, sa Senado noong mga unang panahon pa. Due process of law is mandated by the Constituton. Kami po ay naniniwala sa tamang pamamaraan o proseso. Great nations have been built, law and policies. Sana po ay irespeto natin iyan,” Cua said. He said that the President had not interfered with any legal proceedings whether in the Senate, Congress or the courts. “I believed personally that the President is not interfering in any legal proceedings, in any Senate investigation and this should give credit to her for being impartial and for her objectivity. Tama po itong ginagawa ni Presidente hindi po siya nakikialam sa anumang imbestigasyon lalo na sa mga desisyon ng korte,” he said. Cua urged the opposition group and government officials to act like professionals. “Ang aming mga hiling sa mga oposisyon, sana let us all be professional. We demand our administration officials, the Cabinet members even the President to be professional. We, in the league should also, dapat professional din ito. Katulad ng mga sinasabi ng ating mga kasamahang gobernador, nagpapatuloy ang economic momentum ng ating bansa. At the same time, you should be heard in the proper forum. Sa lalawigan ng Quirino naniniwala na hangga’t hindi pa napatunayan na guilty eh, respetuhin muna natin ang tao,” he said. |
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| PGMA categorically denies ZTE deal was flawed -- Bunye |
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Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesman Ignacio R. Bunye said today that
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo “categorically denies having said that the
NBN deal was flawed.” He said, however, that some newspaper reports have misinterpreted her statement on the ZTE transaction during a radio interview last Saturday. “What she said in her radio interview, and which she repeated in her speech after mass the following day, was that she moved quickly to cancel the deal when she learned of the slightest sign of impropriety attending the (ZTE) deal,” Bunye said. “She also said that the Executive Secretary (Eduardo Ermita) and the Secretary of Local Government were advised of the attempted bribe with the view of having the matter investigated by the officials tasked by law to do the same,” Bunye added. He pointed out that instead of being subjected to scurrilous charges and verbal savaging, the “fact that the President cancelled the project should be taken in favor of the President rather than against her.” The Palace official was referring to the interview of the President by veteran dzRH anchorman Joe Taruc last Saturday on various issues, including the cancelled NBN project. In a speech after the Holy Mass in Malacanang on Sunday, the President stressed that she “moved quickly to cancel the deal when she learned of the slightest sign of impropriety attending the deal.” “It is unreasonable to conclude that she was complicit in whatever wrongdoing is alleged to have afflicted the deal. In the first place, it has not yet been established by the proper forum that there was crime committed,” Bunye said. He explained that if the President decided to witness the signing ceremony, “it was so as not to embarrass Chinese partners, and the Chinese government itself, confident that government would do what was necessary to correct whatever infirmities there might have been. She in fact cancelled the deal even before any party could perform on it according to its terms.” Explaining the interval between the signing and cancellation of the deal, Bunye said this was because the President had to explain to the Chinese government the action that she had to take. He pointed out that in the radio interview, the President explained that at first the Chinese did not understand why the deal had to be cancelled. “DTI Secretary Peter Favila had to do a lot of backchanneling with his counterpart. It was after her own subsequent meetings with top Chinese officials that the latter agreed to the cancellation,” Bunye said. |
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| Provincial governors take the cudgels for PGMA |
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The youngest of the 81-member League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP)
has summed up the reason for their strong support to President Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo--she delivered to uplift the lives of the people while most
of the other government officials ended up empty with their political
promises. Lanao del Norte Gov. Mohamad Khalid Dimaporo, the youngest provincial executive at 28, said this during the LPP members’ interaction with the media this afternoon in Malacanang. Led by LPP president Misamis Occidental Gov. Loreto Leo Ocampos, 57 out of the 81 governors met this morning with the President on the policy guidelines and implementation of national government programs particularly in the countryside. During the media briefing, the LPP members issued their respective statements manifesting their strong support to the President. Dimaporo said that ever since in the 1970s, the people in his province have been asking for the establishment of big projects to improve their plight such as the Iligan-Aurora Road project; the Pangil Bay project to connect Lanao del Norte with Misamis Occidental; and the Tubod road project to connect them with Lanao del Sur. After more than 30 years, Dimaporo said these were answered during the term of the President with the implementation of the Iligan-Aurora road that connects Iligan City to Zamboanga del Sur. Because of the President’s reforms, Dimaporo said the national government was able to provide them with a P900-million subsidy for the Pangil Bay Beach project to connect the province of Lanao del Norte with the province of Misamis Occidental. “And now with the Saudi Fund ready to be released, again the cry of Lanao del Norte has been heard and we can now connect Tubod, Lanao del Norte with Ganachi, Lanao del Sur,” Dimaporo said. Dimaporo said he is quite sure there are other big economic developments and programs being implemented in other Muslim provinces such as those in Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Maguindanao, Sultan Kudarat, Cotabato, including the completion of the circumferential road in Lanao del Sur. Aurora Gov. Bella Angara-Castillo shared the same sentiment, saying her province has been also neglected for many years, being one of the smallest provinces with the smallest number of voters, but is now given a chance to showcase its potential of having access to both the China Sea and the Pacific Ocean. Dimaporo said they are showing their support to the President because the noise in Manila would only undermine the economic gains the Philippines attained during the past several years. Dimaporo added it would be a crime against the people of Lanao del Norte if the President is forcedly removed from office because of her help and they have worked so hard to deliver the votes in 2004 and for a 10-2 Team Unity victory in the province during the 2007 elections. “So we feel it is a crime if the President will be forcedly removed from Malacanang because during the elections we have worked very hard to bring the voice of the people of Lanao del Norte on the form of votes to show that our choice for President really is President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo,” Dimaporo said. |
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| FTI posts 500% increase in 2007 income of P244 million |
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The Food Terminal Inc. (FTI) which owns and supervises one of the largest
agro-industrial and commercial estates in Metro Manila registered a net
income of P244 million in 2007, posting an almost 500-percent increase from
the P49 million realized in 2006. This was announced by FTI president Maria Theresa Acosta-Pinto during the corporation’s first board meeting for 2008 held early this year. Pinto attributed this surge in revenue to the upbeat trend in the lease of the estate’s prime industrial and commercial lots and building spaces in Taguig City. The 24-hectare area houses more than 300 light-to medium-scale company locators with short-to-long term leases. The companies are engaged in various lines of production and services ranging from electronics, food, and warehousing to garments and transport. In the last 34 years, the FTI has been home to semiconductor companies, such as PSI Technologies, Temic Semiconductor and Team Pacific. Also found in the agro section of estate are the country’s major mango exporters, Hi-Las and Diamond Star. Pinto also noted that the previous year’s operation was marked by a significant entry of companies in call center operations and in business process outsourcing. “The complex’s growing popularity for BPO is largely due to the estate’s strategic location and very affordable rental rates,” Pinto explained. Just recently, Makati Skyline ISS Philippines, a company into airline catering, cleaning, property services, office support, and in the extension of other outsourcing services, expanded its country operations with formal establishment of an FTI hub. The FTI is registered with the Philippines Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) which extends to qualified locators various incentives, such as income tax holidays, duty tax exemptions on some imported materials and equipment, among others. The FTI is one of the major government assets in the privatization list for 2008. |
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| Manila City Council opposes extra-constitutional means to effect political change |
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The City Council of Manila has joined the band of those supporting President
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s adherence to the Constitution and the rule of law
in resolving the current political noise created by the Senate’s reopening
of the investigation on the already canceled ZTE-national broadband deal.
The City Council adopted today Resolution No. 39 expressing its “confidence and support to the adherence of President Gloria Macapgal-Arroyo to the Constitution and the rule of law.” The City Council unanimously adopted the resolution during their regular session today presided by Vice Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso. In passing the resolution, the Manila City Council said some furtive groups are reportedly out to resort to extra-constitutional means to effect changes in the country’s political landscape as a result of the NBN controversy. The Manila city councilors said the rule of law must prevail and mob rule must not be tolerated but condemned as a resulting shakedown “could have disastrous repercussions on our Republic.” Time and again, the City Council said the President has stated that proper constitutional processes must be followed in resolving the controversy to ferret out the truth and determine the accountability of those who would be found guilty. “As the nation’s capital city and seat of the national leadership, the City of Manila cannot compromise its position and must, therefore, make a stand in adherence to the Constitution, amidst this exigency,” the City Council said. |
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| PGMA flies to Davao to grace Mindanao mayors’ confab Wednesday |
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DAVAO CITY – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will be flying to this
metropolitan city tomorrow (Wednesday, Feb. 27) to grace the First Mindanao
Island Cluster Congress of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP).
The LMP Congress, to be held at a hotel here, shall be the President’s final event for the day, where she is expected to interact with Mindanao’s mayors regarding their local concerns. Earlier last Monday, the LMP’s national directorate and officers and members – including mayors from Mindanao -- had gathered in Malacanang to present to the President their unanimous Manifesto of Support. In the said one-page manifesto, the LMP members vowed their “full and unconditional support (for) and cooperation (with) the administration of President Arroyo.” With Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno in the LMP’s Mindanao Cluster event, the President is also scheduled to award policemen who were either killed in action (KIA) or wounded in action (WIA) in the anti-crime campaign of the Philippine National Police (PNP). The awards for the PNP KIA shall be received by their surviving parents or spouses. Immediately upon touchdown at the Davao International Airport at 10 a.m., the President shall motor to Sirawan Beach Elementary School in Toril, Davao City to lead the groundbreaking ceremony for a two-storey, four-classroom school building. The said project is part of the administration’s surge in infrastructure spending nationwide. With national and local education officials, the President shall lay the capsule that marks the start of the construction of the school building for the school whose pupils are “99 percent” Muslim from the Kalagan tribe. By 12 noon, the President shall motor to another activity where she will award three women members of the Panagtigum sa mga Kababayenhan (Assembly of Women) in Matina, Davao City. The assembly shall be attended by some 500 beneficiaries of the programs and projects of the local Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). The President will then head for Bankerohan, Davao City to check on the status of the reconstruction of the Governor Generoso Bridge, formerly the Bankerohan Bridge; before going to the LMP’s Mindanao Cluster Congress to be attended by municipal mayors from Mindanao’s 26 provinces. |
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| Statement of Press Secretary Ignacio R. Bunye: CBCP statement |
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We welcome the statement of the CBCP which exhorts everyone to fight
corruption and search for truth. The recommendations addressed to the
executive, the legislature and the media certainly deserve very serious
consideration. We thank the CBCP for not succumbing to the propaganda of rabid oppositionists who are bent on overturning the gains of our strong economy. The nation deserves a respite from frantic, irrational and dangerous calls for the President to resign, while the real truth has yet to be established by the court of law. Let us be discerning about the motives of detractors while maintaining a sharp focus on uplifting the lives of the greater peaceful majority. |
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