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| 27 FEBRUARY 2008 | . | |
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| 27 FEBRUARY 2008 | . | |
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| PGMA presides over start of construction of P4.2-M school building for Muslim children |
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DAVAO CITY – The entire population of Barangay Sirawan in Toril District
here practically turned out for the brief visit to the Sirawan Elementary
School of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo this morning. The President motored to this seaside district to lower the time capsule that kicked off the construction of a much-needed school building for Muslim pupils belonging to the Kalagan tribe. She is the first Philippine Chief Executive to reach this “far, far” area of Davao City. The President’s 20-vehicle convoy – with two helicopters hovering by along both sides of the highway -- took some 30 minutes to reach the outskirts area some 20 kilometers to the south of the city proper. The Muslim elementary pupils, numbering 403, were joined by the high school students and their parents and community in converging at the school grounds where a lively program of Muslim dances was prepared for the visiting Chief Executive. The President proceeded to the site after her arrival at past 10 a.m. at the Davao International Airport where she was met by Davao City OIC Mayor Myrna Dalodo-Ortiz, Davao City Reps. Vincent Garcia (2nd District) and Isidro Ungab (3nd District), Philippine National Police regional director Chief Supt. Andres Caro III, AFP East Mindanao Command’s Lt. Gen. Cardozo Luna and other Mindanao officials. At the schoolsite some 20 kilometers from the airport via the Davao Diversion Road, President Arroyo was cheered by the Muslim schoolchildren who gifted her with a Muslim “sablay” handed to her by a Grade I pupil. Female students of the Sirawan High School came dressed as Muslim princesses to act as the President’s “ladies-in-waiting.” The President lowered the time capsule for the two-storey, four-classroom school building of the Sirawan Beach Elementary School by slicing off with the Muslim sword "kris" the colorful twisted bandana that served as the rope tied to the golden time capsule. The project that costs P4.2 million will benefit the 403 Grade I to Grade VI pupils, 99 percent of whom are Muslims. The school -- which is some one-and-a-half kilometers away from the national highway -- has 10 teachers, seven of them Muslims. The 403 pupils – who are distributed at one to two sections per grade level – are presently holding classes in six “standard” classrooms, three Parents-Teachers Association (PTA) rooms; and one makeshift/tent covered classroom. With the President in the groundbreaking ceremonies were local and Department of Education (DepEd) officials who briefed her about the school and other projects of the education department in the area. In gratitude for the quick response of the national government to their school’s urgent need for an additional school building, the pupils performed a ritual dance of thanksgiving for President Arroyo. |
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| Palace forms legal team to study possible lifting of EO 464 as recommended by CBCP |
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Malacañang is forming a legal team which will study the
possible lifting of Executive Order 464 in response to the call of the
Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP). Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said he was directed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to “immediately” form the legal group before she left Malacañang to visit Davao City this morning. The President’s instruction was for him to immediately call a meeting with the team at 4 p.m. today to study the CBCP’s recommendation on EO 464, Ermita said at his weekly press conference at Malacañang’s New Executive Building (NEB) this afternoon. The legal team will be composed of the Secretary of the Department of Justice, the Solicitor General, the Chief Presidential Legal Counsel, the Deputy Executive Secretary for legal affairs, and the legal officers of government corporate counsels. “All these things (CBCP recommendations) will be reviewed by the legal team so that we can come up with a very substantial recommendation to the President to respond to the recommendation of the CBCP,” Ermita said. “You can be sure that this will be presented to the President very well,” he added. On Tuesday, the CBCP called on the President to revoke EO 464 and allow members of her official family and other top government officials to testify before congressional hearings to shed light on alleged irregularities involving the government. The CBCP also said that the search for truth must be pursued relentlessly amid the pervading cancer of corruption. EO 464 bans government officials from testifying in congressional inquiries without the President’s permission. Ermita recalled that the President issued EO 464 after National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales Jr. was humiliated when he appeared before a Senate inquiry. Earlier, Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez clarified that abolishing EO 464 would require “careful study because there are laws and jurisprudence that have to be considered before we come up with a decision." He said EO 464 bans the disclosure of highly confidential information such as trade secrets and national security. The Supreme Court, in its 2006 decision, upheld Malacañang on the confidentiality issue involving first level officials of the government. Gonzalez also clarified that the President was not prohibiting her officials from appearing before legislative inquiries. However, he noted that legislators oftentimes go beyond their authority when questioning ranking officials of the government. "They must show respect to the people they invite," Gonzalez said. Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesman Ignacio R. Bunye welcomed the CBCP statement and thanked the church leaders “for not succumbing to the propaganda of rabid oppositionists who are bent on overturning the gains of the country’s strong economy.” “We welcome the statement of the CBCP which exhorts everyone to fight corruption and search for truth. The recommendations addressed to the executive, the legislative and the media certainly deserve very serious consideration,” Bunye said in a statement. He pointed out that the “Philippines 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,” he added. |
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| Palace expects political tension to dissipate after CBCP refuses to call on PGMA to step down |
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Malacañang expressed confidence today that the country’s
volatile political situation would lose some of its tension after the
Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) chose not to join the
renewed calls for President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to step down. The CBCP, in a marathon 11-hour long meeting to discuss measures it could take to address the turmoil affecting the country’s political system, came out with a pastoral statement yesterday urging the President instead to take the lead in the fight against graft and corruption “wherever they are found.” In his weekly press conference this afternoon, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said the CBCP’s position and their strong influence on the Catholic population will “guide” their followers to be more “discernible” and temper their emotions from joining further protest actions. “We are hoping it will result to that because the CBCP, speaking on behalf of the Catholic population of the Philippines, definitely wield a lot of influence and therefore, with this position taken in their special meeting yesterday, we are very hopeful and with the grace of God, indeed there will be more discerning people who will not add any more tension to the prevailing situation,” Ermita said. He added that the CBCP’s statement was very “significant” in the light of mounting calls for the President to resign her post because it urges the continued search for truth. “It is very significant that the CBCP had taken this position and I am sure that a great majority of our people will be guided by this,” Ermita said. |
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| Favila raps Madrigal for maliciously trying to link First Gentleman to ZTE deal |
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Trade Secretary Peter Favila accused today opposition Sen.
Jamby Madrigal of maliciously trying to link First Gentleman Jose Miguel
Arroyo to the national broadband network (NBN)-ZTE deal without any basis at
all. Favila was commenting on Madrigal’s dramatic presentation at the Senate inquiry Tuesday of a document on the NBN-ZTE transaction with a handwritten initial on the upper right hand corner of the letter “copy for FGI/PIS.” “It was presented with malice,” a visibly irked Favila told a press briefing in Malacanang this afternoon where he distributed photo copies of a statement issued by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) “to shed light” on the issue. What’s worse, the DTI chief said, the letter “I” in the initials FGI was “conveniently erased” to make it appear that the note referred to the First Gentleman, and by inference, his involvement in the NBN-ZTE deal. In a statement this afternoon, NEDA said that to “set the records straight, the complete phrase handwritten on the upper right hand corner of the letter that NEDA possess is ‘copy for FGI/PIS.’” NEDA added that the initials “FGI” stands for Florante G. Igtiben while the acronym PIS refers to the Public Investment Staff of NEDA. Igtiben, NEDA explained, is the “chief of the Asia Pacific Division of PIS which handles all projects funded by China.” The letter brandished by Madrigal at the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing was from then NEDA Director-General Romulo Neri to former Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Li Jinjun dated 29 March 2007. Favila said that according to NEDA Deputy Director Rolando Tumpalan, they are now undertaking an investigation to determine how the Neri letter fell into the hands of some people without the authority of NEDA. |
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| PGMA graces awarding of 3 top DSWD female livelihood project managers in Davao |
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MATINA, Davao City – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
graced today an Assembly of Women here where three outstanding women
livelihood managers from the hinterland areas of the Davao provinces were
given awards for their success in managing local projects funded by the
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). With the President in the "Panagtigum sa mga Kababayenhan" (Assembly of Women) at the Tulip Grand Plaza here were several officials, including Mindanao Super Region champion Jesus Dureza and DSWD Secretary Esperanza Cabral who delivered the opening remarks for the assembly which gathered some 500 women DSWD beneficiaries in a local restaurant along the MacArthur Highway in Barangay Matina. The President -- who stayed for an entire lunch hour with Davao's outstanding women livelihood project beneficiaries -- was regaled with a powerpoint presentation of women’s milestones from the viewpoint of the DSWD, before plaques of recognition were awarded to three outstanding beneficiaries, namely: Teresita Luna, Barangay Pampanga, Buhangin, Davao City (Best Tindahan Natin); Magdum Self-Employment Assistance – Kaunlaran (SEA-K) of Magdum, Tagum City, represented by Angelina Berondo (Best SEA-K); and Marilyn Pino of Sto. Nino Day Care Center, Talaingod, Davao del Norte (Best Day Care Worker). Luna set up the successful Tindahan Natin only two years ago, and the said voluntary venture has not only been giving her family additional income but also serves some 300 families in the neighborhood. Inspired by her vending venture, Luna has since branched out to food processing, with smoked/deboned bangus, chorizo and tomato jelly among her favorite produce. On the other hand, Pino, an English major, has been working as a day care center worker for the past seven years. Though receiving a measly honorarium of only P3,000 a month, Pino successfully underwent accreditation assessment for the Early Childhood Care and Development program which she is implementing for her barangay. Talaingod town is a recipient of the Food for School Program, with the Sto. Nino Day Care Center as one of the recipients. Here, Pino holds two sessions a day just to accommodate 90 children enrolled in the day care center. In their testimonials, Teresa Reambonanza, treasurer of the Magdum SEA-K Association, reported to the President that the women’s venture discouraged their community-mates from resorting to loan sharks for their emergency financial needs, and that from their operations, they have so far fully-paid hundred-square-meter lots for their livelihood projects. For her part, outstanding Tindahan Natin operator Luna said her venture ensured three square meals for her family, aside from bringing “murang bigas” to her barangay-mates. “Mahal na Pangulo, huwag po kayong magsawa sa pagtulong niyo sa mga mahihirap, lalo na sa kababaihan. Aasahan po namin na nandiyan kayo palagi habang pinapalago namin ang kabuhayan namin,” Luna added. |
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| Favila refutes Senate testimonies on NBN-ZTE deal as litany of lies |
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A litany of lies! This was how Trade and Industry Secretary Peter Favila described the testimonies and so-called proofs of government wrongdoings presented by anti-administration witnesses at the resumption of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearings on the National Broadband Network (NBN)-ZTE deal Tuesday. Favila zeroed in on the testimony of Dante Madriaga, the Senate witness who claimed that he (Favila) and Transportation and Communications Secretary Leandro Mendoza visited First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo and “informed him of the goods news,” referring to the signing of the NBN-ZTE broadband deal upon their arrival from China in April last year. “That is a blatant lie. I am willing to challenge Madriaga, if indeed sa kanya nanggaling ito. Humarap kami sa buong komunidad ng Obispo at sasabihin ko sa kanya: “Kung sino ang nagsisinungaling mamatay na ngayon at this very moment,” a visibly furious Favila said. During the entire period of the First Gentleman’s confinement at the St. Luke’s Medical Center, Favila said he met almost daily with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on official business and to extend moral support. “But I never got the chance to see the First Gentleman because the doctors were saying that they were under strict orders that only members of the First Family could visit the First Gentleman. So how in Heaven’s name can this guy (Madriaga) claim that I and Secretary Mendoza went to see the First Gentleman to give him the good news,” Favila stressed. Favila said one of Attorney Arroyo’s attending physicians, who is also his personal doctor, can attest that no government officials were allowed to visit the First Gentleman. “Hindi ba, we are always seeking the truth? Sana magsabi naman ng katotohanan itong mga ito. That is all I can say about this Madriaga,” Favila said. He said Madriaga was again lying when he said that the President went to Boao, China mainly to show her face for the signing of the ZTE agreement. In the first place, Favila said that the President was having second thoughts about proceeding to Boao because of the condition of the First Gentleman. He explained that the President mission to Boao was to address the Boao Forum which is Asia’s version of the yearly World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. After addressing the forum, Favila said the President had to cut short her trip after receiving urgent calls from the First Gentleman’s doctors to return immediately to Manila. Favila said even former President Fidel Ramos knew this as he was the one who made sure that the President got the “number one billing at the forum.” He said he briefed the former President about the situation in Manila and who graciously replied that he understood, and forthwith made the necessary adjustments and arrangements on the President’s abbreviated Boao schedule. From Boao, Favila said the President’s party immediately motored back to the Hainan airport where agreements with the private sector and governments were signed. At the time, he said the President was not on her normal mood because she was obviously preoccupied with the First Gentleman’s condition. In fact, Favila said he had to literally pull the President to board their plane back to Manila much to the consternation of the Chinese officials who saw her off. “So all these claims that she went there for the signing of the agreement had no basis at all,” he said. Favila added that it looks like even Senator Jamby Madrigal had been had for showing a letter at the Senate hearing which she claimed came from her sources at the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA). In that letter, a certain “FG” was furnished a copy of the March 2007 letter from then NEDA Director General Romuo Neri to the Chinese embassy. In truth, Favila said, the initial was “FGI” which stands for Deputy Director “Florante G. Igtiben” of NEDA’s Public Investment Staff (PIS). |
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| Mindanao Island local gov’t execs vow solid support for PGMA |
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DAVAO CITY – The Mindanao Island Cluster of the League of
Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) today vowed its solid support for
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, thereby reiterating the LMP’s national
full support for the President. The LMP cluster presented to the President its own statement of solid support during the first-ever Congress of the LMP-Mindanao Island Cluster at the Grand Regal Hotel here. The manifesto -- signed by all the 26 provincial chapter heads of LMP Mindanao – stressed, thus: “We adhere to the rule of law and Constitutional processes in resolving cases and conflicts between and among any parties involved; “That we fully subscribe to the Bill of Rights which guarantees due process of law for anyone and everyone under our Republic; “That we support the present administration and are solidly behind the leadership of her Excellency, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.” Earlier last Monday, the national directorate and several members of the LMP trooped to Malacanang to pledge their “full and unconditional” support for President Arroyo’s administration. In high spirits, the President thanked the Mindanao mayors led by Mayor Ramon Abalos of Lambayong town of Sultan Kudarat, head of the Mindanao Cluster whose congress theme was, “Unity Amidst Diversity Towards Genuine Peace, Progress and Countryside Development.” LMP-Mindanao has 26 LMP chapters representing Mindanao’s 26 provinces. Its congress had Mayor Gilbert Elorde of Bunawan town of Agusan del Sur as congress director. In the presence of Mindanao’s municipal mayors, President Arroyo signed into law the Agricultural Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (ACEF) Law principally authored by Palawan Rep. Abraham Kahlil Mitra and Sen. Edgardo Angara – who were both present for the signing ceremonies. The new law extends the collection of the Agricultural Competitiveness Enhancement Fund until 2015 to help out the country’s agricultural sector with tariff funds. In her speech, President Arroyo said she was happy to sign the ACEF law during the LMP congress, stressing that it will greatly benefit two of the country’s five super regions – Northern Luzon which is into agriculture, and Mindanao which is into agri-business. “It is yet another means of helping your constituents – the country’s farmers,” the President pointed out. She added that the ACEF extension could bring in P6 billion annually in tariffs on imported agricultural goods, 30 percent (around P2 billion) of which will go to Mindanao. President Arroyo stressed that the amount translates to some P200 million per month for irrigation and other agriculture-enhancing projects in the island of Mindanao, including “no-frills agricultural cargo airports” as proposed by Angara. Meanwhile, in the same event, the President awarded police and military personnel who were either killed in action (KIA) or wounded in action (WIA) during their encounters in Barangay Bukal and Barangay Ngan in Nabunturan town in Compostela Valley province, and in Barangay San Victor, Baganga town in Davao Oriental last Jan. 29 and 30. The President was assisted in awarding the PNP/AFP WIA personnel and the surviving spouse/parent of the KIA personnel by PNP-XI Regional Director Andres Caro II and AFP East Mindanao Command Chief Cardozo Luna. |
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| Gov’t authorities well-prepared for any eventuality during Friday’s rally |
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Malacañang assured today that government authorities are
on alert and well prepared to counter any destabilization moves against the
Arroyo administration. “Makakasiguro kayo na may kahandaan ang kapulisan at mga sundalo to address those things. Whether somebody had phoned in that kind of information, you can be sure that the police and military authorities are on their toes. They are prepared for all and any eventualities. This is not the first time we have faced this kind of thing,” Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said. Ermita was responding to the question during his weekly press briefing in Malacañang on the seriousness of the Philippine National Police (PNP) intelligence report that they uncovered a plot by the junior military officers to topple the Arroyo administration and on how prepared are government authorities for the Feb. 29 rally. “Lahat ng iyan nasasagap ng both the military and police authorities and for that matter we have the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA). So, lahat ng iyan ay nasasagap ng ating mga authorities,” Ermita responded. He also said that the PNP and the military are on alert and well prepared to respond to the possible threats of an anti-government rally and demonstrations on Feb. 29 (Friday). He added that the primary job of the police and military is to ensure and maintain peace and order in the country. “Well, as usual siyempre that is the purpose of our security and police forces to maintain peace and order. So, we will just monitor how much they can muster, where they would rally? Where they will go? What would be their activities might be?,” he said. Ermita called on the rallyists and demonstrators to resort to a peaceful rally and reminded them that they should not go to places where rallies are not allowed. “They should not go to places where they should not go to. Among others, alam naman natin na gusto nila laging maglakad papunta sa Mendiola eh kung wala naman silang permit at saka hindi sila authorized eh di siyempre ang ating mga forces will see to it na hindi sila maglalabag ng batas,” he said. Ermita expressed elation over the CBCP statement that refused to join opposition call for President Arroyo to step down. “We are glad that the position taken by the CBCP is against a call for the President to step down or to resign. The bishops are very discerning as the head of the flock at mas pinapakinggan ng sambayanan at hindi ang mga nagpapakana ng mga rally sa mga darating na araw na umasang susuportahan sila ng kaparian at ng mga obispo na iyan,” he said. He rapped the groups who had called on the President to step down from the presidency as he expressed elation that parents have appealed to the leaders and demonstrators not to allow their children in joining these political activities. “At sa katunayan, pati mga eskuwela nire-require pa nila. Ang balita ko marami na raw mga magulang ang nagte-text na huwag namang isama ang mga anak nila sa mga demonstrations. Pero harinawa naman magising sila sa katotohanan sapagka’t pati ibang religious organizations ay sinasabing sasama. Ang balita naman namin wala namang sasama. But anyway, kung gusto nilang sumama eh di magpalabas sila ng kanilang himutok doon sa rally. Pero nagagalak lang tayo na ang ating mga responsible church leaders, eh ang position is very discerning in light of what is good for the greater majority of our people. After all, that is the purpose of our religious leaders especially the church,” he said. |
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| PGMA gives awards to army troops for arrest of senior JI personality |
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DAVAO CITY – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo awarded
today a plaque of appreciation to the 25th Infantry Battalion of the
Philippine Army (PA) for being instrumental in the arrest of Mohammad
Baehakki aka Salman, said to be a senior Jemaah Islamiah (JI) personality in
charge of the JI’s operations in Mindanao. Baehakki was arrested last Feb. 17 in Barangay Piso, Banaybanay, Davao Oriental. Major Rolando Rodil accepted the award in behalf of his troops. Also awarded a plaque of appreciation was the PA’s 27th IB which successfully out-maneuvered a group of communist terrorists in Sitio Gosmolo, Columbio, Sultan Kudarat last Dec. 15. Two of the terrorists were killed in the said maneuver which “paved the way for the decline of Guerrilla Front 71 which is now in an advanced stage of degradation,” according to the Philippine Army. On hand to receive his unit’s plaque from President Arroyo was Lt. Col. Ricardo Santiago. The President was assisted in the awarding of the plaques to the outstanding PA units by AFP East Mindanao Command Chief Lt. Gen. Cardozo Luna during the Mindanao Island Cluster Congress of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) at a hotel here. |
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| Agri sector gets a shot in the arm as PGMA signs ACEF bill into law |
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DAVAO CITY – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed
here today a new law extending up to 2015 the effectivity of the
Agricultural Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (ACEF) to enable the
government to provide the country’s farming sector the opportunity to use
the fund to strengthen its activities and enhance its competitiveness. The new law, originally House Bill No. 2976 or “An Act to Extend the Utilization Period of the ACEF,” was signed by the President during the main program of the Mindanao Cluster Congress of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) which she graced at the Grand Regal Hotel here. HB No. 2976 was principally authored in the House of Representatives by Palawan Rep. Abraham Kahlil Mitra and supported in the Senate by Sen. Edgardo Angara, who flanked the President during the signing ceremonies. The new law amended Republic Act No. 8178, An Act Replacing Quantitative Import Restrictions on Agricultural Products Except Rice with Tariffs, and Creating the Agricultural Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (ACEF). Under the new law, all tariffs collected under the Minimum Access Volume (MAV) shall accrue to the ACEF, and the entire proceeds set aside and earmarked by Congress for irrigation, farm-to-market roads, post-harvest equipment and facilities, credit, research and development, and marketing infrastructure. In her speech, the President said she was happy to sign H.B. 2976 into law during the congress of the Mindanao municipal mayors, stressing that it would benefit the Mindanao Super Region which is focused on agri-business. The President enthused that the extended ACEF law could bring revenues reaching P6 billion annually, and promised that 30 percent of the total collection shall go to Mindanao. She explained that this amount should translate to some P200 million per month for Mindanao alone. The amount, she enthused, could go to the construction of irrigation systems and the funding of other agriculture-enhancing projects, including “no-frills agricultural cargo airports.” Agriculture remains the main livelihood in Mindanao and most of the Philippine countryside. |
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