March 12 2008

Statement of the President Subject: Millennium Challenge Corporation Announcement

Yesterday, our government signed a national budget that dedicates itself to investing in our people and lifting up our poor. Today, another piece of good news for the long term prosperity and stability of our nation has been announced in Washington, DC .

The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), an official US-government corporation designed to help developing countries fight poverty, announced that the Philippines has been selected as eligible for the MCC compact – an opportunity that can bring hundreds of millions of dollars to our nation to lift our nation out of poverty.

This is a great day for the Philippines and the actions by the Millennium Challenge Corporation offers a remarkable validation of the efforts of our government and nation to invest in our people, fight corruption and encourage economic freedom. These are the hallmarks of my Administration, and I am absolutely thrilled to be so recognized for consideration by this prestigious and serious-minded corporation of the US government.

In making its dramatic announcement, MCC CEO Ambassador John Danilovich said on behalf of the Directors of the Millennium Challenge Corporation, “Congratulations to the Government of the Philippines for its demonstrated commitment to tackling difficult challenges and improving the lives of its people. While eligibility is an essential first step towards a poverty reduction grant from the MCC, selection does not guarantee funding. The Philippines, like all countries eligible for a compact, must maintain its performance on the MCC selection criteria and must now begin a broad-based consultative process with its people to develop a proposal that addresses the country’s barriers to poverty reduction and economic growth. As partners, we agree that ending corruption and finding long-term ways to reduce poverty are urgent priorities that deserve our full attention.”

I am deeply honored and pleased that our efforts are paying off and have been recognized in Washington, DC. I believe that if we can all come together, redouble our efforts and continue to meet the criteria of the Millennium Challenge Corporation, the long term benefit to our nation will be the best gift I can leave this nation when I step down in 2010.

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MCC board selects Philippines as compact eligible

The Board of Director of the Washington-based Millennium Challenge Corporation announced today at the conclusion of its March Board Meeting that the Philippines has been selected as eligible to apply for an MCC compact.

The MCC Board determines eligibility for this large-scale grant funding based on independent indicators that measure good governance, the country’s investments in its people and policies that encourage economic freedom.

The Board's announcement followed its decision at last December's annual selection meeting, when the Board requested additional time for review and deeper analysis of the Philippines' passing performance on the eligibility criteria.

The MCC Board noted the Philippines' consistent performance on eligibility criteria and its effective implementation of the MCC-funded Threshold Program focused on helping curb corruption through improved tax and customs administration and strengthening of the country’s Ombudsman's office.

“Congratulations to the Government of the Philippines for its demonstrated commitment to tackling difficult challenges and improving the lives of its people,” said MCC CEO Ambassador John Danilovich.

“While eligibility is an essential first step towards a poverty reduction grant from the MCC, selection does not guarantee funding. The Philippines, like all countries eligible for a compact, must maintain its performance on the MCC selection criteria and must now begin a broad-based consultative process with its people to develop a proposal that addresses the country’s barriers to poverty reduction and economic growth. As partners, we agree that ending corruption and finding long-term ways to reduce poverty are urgent priorities that deserve our full attention,” Danilovich added.

Countries selected as eligible for a large-scale grant, or compact, have the opportunity to submit a proposal for five-year program to reduce poverty through sustainable economic growth.

Once selected as eligible, countries begin a consultation process that includes citizens, nongovernmental organizations, and representatives of the private sector and government to identify the barriers to poverty reduction and economic growth.

MCC teams then work in partnership to engage with countries on their compact proposals to ensure that projects meet economic growth and poverty reduction targets. The resulting compact also sets forth how the country plans to manage and implement its Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) program, including how it will ensure financial accountability, transparency, fair and open procurement, and measurable results.

The Millennium Challenge Corporation, a US government corporation designed to work with developing countries, is based on the principle that aid is most effective when it reinforces sound political, economic, and social policies that promote poverty reduction through economic growth.

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No need to give hero's welcome to NBN-ZTE star witness: Vidal

There is no need for the Archdiocese of Cebu to invite whistleblower Rodolfo Lozada Jr. and listen to his testimonies again, according to Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal who said that Cebuanos are intelligent enough to understand Lozada’s side of the story.

“Why do we have to make him a hero?” he told reporters yesterday after he celebrated Mass at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral.

Lozada, an electronics engineer who was hired as a consultant for former Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Romulo Neri on the US$329-million ZTE deal, is a key witness in the National Broadband Network (NBN) controversy. He will be in Cebu on March 17 to attend a forum at the University of San Carlos main campus gym starting at 10 a.m.

According to Cebuanos for Truth, the organizers of the event, students, religious, academe, and civil society members will attend the forum.

When asked earlier what could be the impact of Lozada’s visit to Cebu’s Catholic community, Vidal declined to answer.

“I don’t know. I’m not a prophet,” he said.

However, he stressed in yesterday’s interview that the Archdiocese of Cebu is only after the clarification of “controversial issues these days.”

In the “privacy” of last Monday’s monthly clergy recollection at the Sacred Heart Center in Jakosalem St., Cebu City, the prelate disclosed that the Archdiocese’s commission on the continuing clergy formation invited Presidential Management Staff Director General Cerge Remonde to explain the side of the government in the controversy.

“Cerge Remonde is from the part of the government. We want to know exactly the truth. What was being said by him is public (knowledge). Then he explained to us the part of the government. He also said too many other things (including projects of the current administration),” said the prelate.

Aiding Remonde in his task was a blue primer called “Praymer sa NBN-ZTE.” Copies of the primer were made available during the recollection.

Vidal admitted that he has yet to read the primer, which contains questions and answers in Filipino regarding the NBN-ZTE deal.

The primer also gives an overview on the deal with references to events involving Lozada, Neri, former Commission on Elections chairman Benjamin Abalos and Jose “Joey” de Venecia III.

While the primer states that it aims to distinguish what is true and what is false in the midst of noisy accusations, news, and commentaries, it also asks readers to allow due process in court to shed light on the controversy.

“The priests reacted (in a positive way). That’s it. They are intelligent. They asked so many questions. But no, they did not question the presence of Cerge Remonde because kababayan man (he is a fellow Cebuano). With that, we listened to a portion and listened to another. It’s for the priests and the lay people to understand,” said Vidal.

He said the priests also “tried to advance opinions on what they can do on the issue.”

The prelate led more than 300 priests in the yearly renewal yesterday of their commitment to priestly service and their vows of obedience and celibacy in the Archdiocese of Cebu.

“Let us be ready and resolved to preach what we believe and to practice what we preach, as we vowed to do on ordination day. I hope your ‘Yes, I do’ then is still the ‘I am’ today, loud and clear, convinced and courageous, sincere and serious,” Vidal told the priests.

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President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s Speech at the Launching of the Giant Turtle Conservation Program
Pawikan Center, Nagbalayong, Morong, Bataan
March 12, 2008

Maraming salamat sa mga opisyal at mamamayan ng Nagbalayong sa Morong, Bataan. Kapuri-puri ang inyong malasakit sa ating pawikan at ang pagtatatag ninyo ng Bantay Pawikan People's Organization. Malaking tulong ito sa Pawikan Conservation Project.

Pinakawalan natin sa dagat kanina ang mga batang pawikan. Mas mabubuhay sila roon, at lalo tayong makasisiguro sa ating pangangalaga. At sa mahabang panahon, makikinabang sa yaman ng karagatan ang mga Pilipino ngayon at sa hinaharap.

Ipinamamalas din natin ang ating pagpapahalaga sa kapaligiran na isa nang haligi ng ating balangkas pangkaunlaran.

Kahapon ipinagdiwang natin ang isang importanteng hakbang sa pag-alaga ng ating kalikasan sa pagpirma ng ating pambansang budget.

Inilalarawan ng ating budget ang ating mga asal at prayoridad sa patakaran para mamuhunan sa ating taong bayan. Naglalaan tayo ng pondo sa mga bagay na magpapa-asenso lalo sa ating bansa. Ito ang tintatawag na “Tatlong E” – Ekonomiya, Edukasyon at Environment.

Bawat Pilipino ay gusto ang mabuting trabaho, pagkain sa mesa, mabuting edukasyon para sa kanilang mga anak at isang malusog at malinis na kapaligiran na may malinis na hangin, malinis na tubig at malinis na lupa.

Sa araw na ito, ipinagdiriwang natin sa Bataan ang Environment. Mahal ng mga Pilipino ang ating bansa. Kailangang tayo ay maingat na taga-alaga ng ating likas na kapaligiran. Bigay ng Panginoon ang ating kapaligiran. Dapat hindi natin abusuhin ang nilikha ng Panginoon. Kasama dito ang commitment sa malinis na hangin, malinis na tubig, at isang malinis at malusog na kapaligiran, ligtas sa mga nakakalasong basura na maaaring saktan ang bawat isa sa atin.

Sa Environment tayo ay tututok sa:

1) Conservation - We need to beautify our villages and cities and rid them of trash; build more urban parks and recreation areas; purify our water and clean up industrial sites that are both unhealthy and aesthetically unpleasant. From our newly-approved budget that is allocating the biggest chunk to social services, we have put aside P5 billion for conservation activities from the DENR's P8 billion total budget.

2) Energy independence - We need to tap alternative indigenous sources of power and energy, and we put a premium on green and renewable energy. We are veering away from imported fossil fuels whose prices are not only sky high, but also highly volatile. Our budget gives P274.16 million to support the Department of Energy’s efforts on energy resource development and utilization and conservation activities. The PNOC has its own billion of corporate funds for the development of New and Renewable Energy sources even as we work harder to convince investors to venture into the promising areas of solar, wind, geothermal and biofuel energy.

3) Reforestation - We will recover our lost forests through massive tree planting with the help of communities. The DENR budget sets aside P300 million for reforestation. We have also convinced several countries like New Zealand to give their grants as reforestation projects. Inatasan din natin ang PNOC na gumastos sa forestation upang bawiin ang oxyen na kinakain ng langis kaya nagkakaroon ng global warming.

4) The protection of our national parks and wildlife refuges is also high in our priority. We want to turn our coral reefs and beaches, the rice terraces — our contribution to the wonders of the world — as well as our our mountain vistas and tropical forests into national parks and international sanctuaries for eco-tourism and scientific research. P240 million will be spent for protected areas, apart from what they can raise as gate receipts from holidaymakers. There are specific provisions for wildlife sanctuaries, including P5 million for the Pawikan Conservation Project. Inaatasan ko ring gumamit ng pondo ng Philippine Tourism Authority para dito. Samantala, may dala akong tseke bilang tulong sa livelihood nga Sagip Pawikan para magtayo ng lodging rooms para sa mga turista at marine biologists sa sentrong ito.

Habang marami na tayong nagawa, marami pa ring dapat gawin. Balak nating magtrabaho nang masipag sa susunod na dalawang taon hanggang matapos ang aking termino sa 2010 para matupad ang ating Philippine Reform Agenda. Kailangan at gagawin natin, magsusulong tayo ng higit pang mga reporma. Ipaglalaban natin ang Ekonomiya, Edukasyon at ang Enviroment.

“Alagaan ang Kalikasan — Panlaban sa Kahirapan” — angkop ang temang ito sa hangad nating pagsamahin ang edukasyon at ekonomiya sa pangangalaga ng kalikasan. Maging ang nag-uumapaw na yaman ng kalikasan, madaling mauubos kung salaula ang paggamit. Ngunit kung maayos ang pangangalaga, higit tayong bibiyayaan ng dagat, gubat at lahat na nakapaligid sa atin, at sa yamang ito aahon sa hirap ang milyun-milyong mamamayan ngayon at ang mga susunod pang henerasyon.

Halimbawa, dati, marami sa inyo ang nangunguha ng itlog ng pawikan o nanghuhuli ng pawikan upang ibenta, ngunit ngayong alam na ninyo ang halaga ng nilalang na ito, nangunguna kayo sa pangangalaga. At kayo na rin ang nagpatunay na mas gaganda ang inyong kabuhayan kung ipagtatanggol ninyo at tutulungang dumami ang pawikan sa halip na lipulin ito sa walang awang pagtugis.

Nagbalayong is a good example of how conservation efforts can be turned into livelihood opportunities that can lift people up from poverty. Maraming salamat sa inyong magandang halimbawa.

Aasahan kong ipagpapatuloy ninyo ito. Inaasahan kong tutularan kayo ng lahat ng Pilipino sa tindi ng inyong pagsisikap na alagaan ang kalikasan bilang laban sa kahirapan.

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PGMA deeply honored and pleased with RP’s eligibility for the MCC compact

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said today government’s efforts to ensure sustainable economic development and fight poverty got a big boost with the Millennium Challenge Corporation’s (MCC) announcement that the Philippines is now eligible to apply for an MCC Compact.

The good news from the MCC, an official US government corporation designed to help developing countries like the Philippines fight poverty, douses cold water on a survey that the Philippines is the most corrupt nation in Asia since one of the major criteria for eligibility for an MCC Compact is transparency in policies and has made fighting corruption its highest priorities as it believes that corruption undermines every aspect of sustainable development.

“I am deeply honored and pleased that our efforts are paying off and have been recognized in Washington, D.C.,” the President said in a statement.

“This is a great day for the Philippines and the actions by the Millennium Challenge Corporation offer a remarkable validation of the efforts of our government and nation to invest in our people, fight corruption and encourage economic freedom. These are the hallmarks of my administration, and I am absolutely thrilled to be so recognized for consideration by this prestigious and serious-minded corporation of the US government,” the President added.

The MCC Compact is a large-scale grant funding based on independent indicators that measure good governance, the country’s investments in its people and policies that encourage economic freedom.

The Chief Executive said the P1.227- trillion 2008 national budget which she signed into law Tuesday “dedicates itself to investing in our people and lifting up our poor,” which is in consonance with the primary goal of the MCC.

She added that the selection of the Philippines as eligible for the MCC Compact is “an opportunity that can bring hundreds of millions of dollars to our nation to lift our nation out of poverty.”

The war against poverty is the overarching goal of the Arroyo administration.

The President’s statement quoted MCC CEO Ambassador John Danilovich in his “dramatic announcement” as saying: “Congratulations to the Government of the Philippines for its demonstrated commitment to tackling difficult challenges and improving the lives of its people. While eligibility is an essential first step towards a poverty reduction grant from the MCC, selection does not guarantee funding. The Philippines, like all other countries eligible for the compact, must maintain its performance on the MCC selection criteria and must now begin a broad-based consultative process with its people to develop a proposal that addresses the country’s barriers to poverty reduction and economic growth. As partners, we agree that ending corruption and finding long-term ways to reduce poverty are urgent priorities that deserve our full attention.”

“I believe that if we can all come together, redouble our efforts and continue to meet the criteria of the MCC, the long term benefit to our nation will be the best gift I can leave this nation when I step down in 2010,” the President stressed.

The MCC was established in January 2004, based on the “principle that aid is most effective when it reinforces good governance, economic freedom and investments in people.” MCC’s mission is to reduce global poverty through the promotion of sustainable economic growth.

Countries that have demonstrated significant improvement in policy indicators but do not yet qualify for a compact grant may be eligible for a threshold program, a smaller grant designed to improve performance on specific indicators.

The Philippines was a recipient of some $21-million (P1.1 billion) grant on July 26, 2006, through the Millennium Challenge Account in recognition of the bold steps taken by government to eradicate corruption and attract international investments through the Millennium Challenge Account Threshold Program (MCATP).

The MCATP, which ran for two years, funded programs that was aimed at reducing corruption by strengthening the Office of the Ombudsman, the government agency primarily responsible in prosecuting corrupt government officials, and intensify the enforcement of anti-graft programs of the Department of Finance (DOF), namely, the Revenue Integrity Protection Service (RIPS), Run After Tax Evaders (RATE), and the Run After The Smugglers (RATS).

Under the MCATP, $6.5 million or P338 million was allotted to the Office of the Ombudsman for the training of its employees, the establishment of an information management system and enhancement of its investigative and surveillance capabilities.

The RATE program received $9.4 million (P489 million), RATS, $3.1 million (P161 million), while RIPS was allocated $1.4 million (P73 million).

Under the grant agreement, $250,000 (P13 million) was utilized for the monitoring and evaluation of the MCATP to ensure that it conformed with MCC standards.

The MCC was established by US President George W. Bush at the turn of the millennium to "reward countries that govern well," the President said during the signing ceremony in 2006, adding thus far that only a handful of countries all over the world have qualified for the MCC grant.

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Departing, incoming ambassadors pay courtesy calls on PGMA

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo received today in Malacañang two foreign envoys to the Philippines – one outgoing Latin American ambassador, and the other, an incoming ambassador from Southeast Asia.

Departing is Ambassador Jorge Montero of Chile, who called on President Arroyo at Malacanang’s Music Room at 2 p.m.

With outgoing Ambassador Montero was his wife, Johanna, and Chile’s Consuls to the Philippines, Felipe Diaz and Luis Palma.

The Chilean ambassador’s departure call on the President was followed by the arrival of Thailand’s new envoy to the Philippines, Ambassador Kulkumut Singhara Na Ayudhya.

Ambassador Kulkumut was honored with a welcome parade-in-review by a unit of the Presidential Security Group (PSG) at the Malacanang grounds before he signed the official guest book for incoming ambassadors at the palace foyer.

Attired in a blue dress coat, President Arroyo received the new Thai ambassador at the Rizal Hall where the latter presented his credentials.

The Thailand delegation also included Chakorn Suchiva, Minister and Deputy Chief of Mission; Group Capt. Niruan Yimsuan, Defense and Air Attache; Captain Wilers Smabut, Naval Attache; Mrs. Suree Jirattkankul, Minister Counsellor (Commercial); Kai Mahasandana, Counsellor; and Ms. Pakprapai Thontiravong, Second Secretary.

In accepting the latest ambassador from Thailand, President Arroyo said she hoped that Ambassador Kulkumut would further strengthen RP-Thailand relations.

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President inaugurates P53-M, 3-storey prov’l hospital in Bataan

BALANGA CITY, Bataan – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo inaugurated today the P53-million, three-storey provincial hospital building here. She later kicked off the Women’s Month celebration in this province in ceremonies held at the provincial capitol grounds.

The President cut the ribbon and unveiled the project marker at the main entrance of the newly-completed ward building of the Bataan General Hospital, signaling its opening to the public. She was assisted by Bataan Gov. Enrique Garcia Jr., Balanga City Mayor Jose Enrique Garcia, Bataan Reps. Albert Garcia and Herminia Roman, and Social Welfare and Development Secretary Esperanza Cabral.

The President then toured and inspected the facilities of this lone tertiary government hospital in Bataan that has 300-bed capacity.

The hospital was built to address the problem of inadequate rooms for the confinement and accommodation of patients.

The construction of the hospital building was started in August 2005 and completed in November 2007. The building has a total floor area of 1,814.32 square meters. Private rooms are found at the groundfloor while ward rooms are located at the second and third floors.

At the launching of the Women’s Month celebration held at the Bataan provincial capitol grounds the President distributed 30 “Buntis Kits” containing multivitamins, iron supplements and other items for pregnant women.

She also distributed 300 Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) scholarship certificates to the mayors of 12 municipalities, including Balanga Mayor Garcia and Dinalupihan Mayor Joel Payumo.

She also gave away 25 “Galing Mekaniko” and 25 “Galing Masahista Ako” kits, 11 certificates to operate “Tindahan Natin” and 60 PhilHealth cards to Bataan residents.

“Ako ay nasisiyahan na nagkaroon ng selebrasyon ng Women’s Month dito sa Bataan. Nag-imbita si Governor Garcia para buksan ang inayos na provincial hospital. Naibahagi natin iyong mga biyaya kanina, iyong para sa mga training, PhilHealth at mga tulong para sa mga buntis. Magbibigay tayo ng ambulansiya para sa bagong hospital ni Governor Garcia,” she said in her impromptu speech.

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Palace bares appointments of three undersecretaries, six assistant secretaries

Malacañang announced today the appointments of three undersecretaries and six assistant secretaries for six departments of the Executive branch.

Appointed undersecretaries were Romeo Lagman for the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Teresita Castillo for the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and Martin Crisostomo for the Office of the Press Secretary (OPS).

On the other hand, named assistant secretaries were Verbo Bonilla and Mariliza Reyes, both for the Department of Budget and Management (DBM); Joselito Ruiz, Danilo Valero and Brian Raymund Yamsuan, all for the Department of Interior and Local Governments (DILG); and Rinand Maquiling for the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Meanwhile, Enrique Linsangan was appointed as chief of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP).

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San Miguel testimony on NBN-ZTE project ‘relief’ from criticism – Ermita

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said today that the testimony of new Senate witness Leo San Miguel denying any knowledge of alleged kickbacks from the scrapped National Broadband Network project with China’s ZTE Corporation was a welcome respite from the criticisms being hurled at the government left and right.

In his weekly press conference in Malacañang this afternoon, Ermita said San Miguel’s testimony provided a “change’ from the other testimonies of so-called “whistle blowers” who claimed to have inside information on alleged corruption in government.

San Miguel, testifying before the Senate Tuesday, said that his personal knowledge on the NBN project was only limited to technical matters.

“What we are just saying is at least it (San Miguel’s testimony) is much relief. For a change, ang mga lumalabas ngayon, by our standard, is the truth,” Ermita said.

“It is a cause for us to be relieved that not all that comes out (from hearings and investigations) is all downside,” he added.

Ermita expressed confidence that with this development in the Senate, there would soon be “closure” to the controversy.

“We just hope that there will be closure to this,” Ermita said, maintaining that the best venue to discuss this issue is still the court of law.

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Palace reiterates: JMSU does not undermine Philippine sovereignty

The Joint Marine Seismic Undertaking (JMSU) agreement among the Philippines, China and Vietnam does not undermine the country’s sovereignty as it is only a scientific data gathering effort among oil companies of the three countries to test a portion of the Spratly islands group for possible oil reserves.

. Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita reiterated this during his weekly media briefing this afternoon in Malacanang.

Ermita said the JMSU does not fall within the jurisdictions of the provision of Section 2, Article 12 of the Constitution which states that “exploration, development and exploitation of resources shall be undertaken by the State.”

He stressed that Philippine sovereignty has not been compromised as the nature of the JMSU is not a treaty but just to gather data for future undertaking which the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC) call as “pre-exploration activities.”

”By that definition it shows there is no exploration going on and therefore is not covered by any constitutional prohibition,” Ermita said.

The JMSU, which does not affect any territorial claims of the Philippine government, is set to expire in June this year if no new definitive agreements are arranged under the scientific undertaking.

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RP in the process of defining its actual archipelagic baselines—Ermita

The Philippines is in the process of defining its actual archipelagic baselines to conform with the provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and support the country’s claim for extended continental shelf, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said today.

In his weekly media briefing this afternoon in Malacanang, Ermita said this is in line with the preparation of the Philippine position “on claiming extended continental shelf before the United Nations come 13 May 2009.”

As chairman of the Commission on Maritime and Ocean Affairs, Ermita said he has been meeting with other government agencies on how to determine the actual Philippine baselines and meet the UN requirements for the country’s claim for extended continental shelf.

“Before we can prepare position on extended continental shelf, we must first determine the actual Philippine baselines,” Ermita said.

He said the Philippine baselines was first established under Republic Act No. 3046 in 1961 and amended by R.A 5446 in 1968.

There is now a pending bill in the House of Representatives calling for the amendment of R.A. 5446 to serve as a basis for drawing the 12-mile nautical territorial sea, the 24-mile contiguous zone and the 200-mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) as provided under the UNCLOS which was established in 1982.

The proposed law is also expected to delineate the Philippine maritime boundary and thus avert any unnecessary dispute with unauthorized foreign vessels entering Philippine territory.

“So it becomes necessary for us to review our R.A. 5446 which is the latest score on our baseline to find out whether we comply with the requirements of UNCLOS of 1982. And that is what we are talking about for the past several weeks,” Ermita said.

Last week, Ermita said the government team together with former Solicitor General and Minister of Justice Estelito Mendoza went to Congress and talked with Rep. Antonio Cuenco, the principal author of the bill seeking the reestablishment of the Philippine baseline.

“They agreed to refile the bill so that they will follow the concept that is being studied by the Executive branch,” Ermita said.

Ermita said a similar bill by Senators Miriam Santiago and Antonio Trillanes IV is also being considered in the Senate.

“When we are ready, this could very well be the subject of discussion at the LEDAC (Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council) so that this can even be certified as urgent,” Ermita said.

Ermita said this is because the Philippines has until May 13, 2009 to submit its position to the UN of the extent on its archipelagic boundary and claim for extended continental shelf.

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PGMA bares large allocations for administration’s 3E’s programs

MORONG, Bataan – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo vowed today to give priorities to 3E’s, namely economy, education and environment, as her administration’s battlecry to further improve the lives and welfare of the Filipinos.

“Ipaglalaban natin ang Ekonomiya, Edukasyon at ang Environment, “Alagaan ang Kalikasan — Panlaban sa Kahirapan,” the President said as she led the nation in the intensified campaign to protect and maintain the balance of nature and minimize the impact of climate change to the country.

The three E’s stand for the administration’s priority measures funded under the 2008 General Appropriations Act (GAA) that the President signed yesterday.

She said one can read through the national budget her administration’s priorities by the amount of fund the General Appropriation Act allots for the development of the “three E’s.”

The President made the statement after she released some 50 “pawikan” hatchlings at the launching of the Giant Turtle Conservation Program at Bataan Pawikan Conservation Center (BPCC) in the coastal Barangay of Nagbalayong in Morong. The release of “pawikan” hatchlings is a yearly affair of Bantay Pawikan People’s Organization.

“Mas mabubuhay sila doon (dagat),” the President said as she cited the importance of the release of pawikan hatchlings to their natural habitat.

The President also announced that the national government has four measures for the conservation of the environment to ensure clean air and potable water for the citizenry.

“Bigay ng Panginoon ang ating kapaligiran. Dapat hindi natin abusuhin ito,” she said as she cited the importance of beautifying villages and cities through the establishment of more urban parks and recreation areas.

She said that under the P1.2-trillion national budget for 2008 the environment was given large allocation together with social services. In the P8 billion budget of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), some P5 billion was allotted for environment conservation.

On energy independence, the President said the government has to tap alternative indigenous sources of power and energy, and put a premium on green and renewable energy.

Under the national budget, P274.16 million was allotted to support the efforts of the Department of Energy (DoE) for energy resource development as the country starts to veer away from imported fossil fuels whose prices are not only sky high, but highly volatile.

On the three measures which are related to reforestation, the President said the DENR has set aside P300 million for reforestation project in an effort to recover its lost forests through massive tree planting.

She instructed the Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC), an attached agency of the DoE, to allot funds to augment the P300 million expenses for reforestation projects of the government.

The President said that the four measures are focused in the protection of the national parks and wildlife where she allocated a separate P240 million for the maintenance of the protected areas.

“We want to turn coral reefs and beaches, the rice terraces — our contribution to the wonders of the world — as well as our mountain vistas and tropical forests into national parks and international sanctuaries for eco-tourism and scientific research,” she said.

And to further boost the morale of the members of Bantay Pawikan People’s Organization in Morong, Bataan, she gave a check for P5 million for the construction of lodging rooms for tourists and marine biologists of the BPCC and directed the Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA) to allocate certain amount from its annual budget in the Pawikan Conservation Project of the country.

Joining the President in her visit in Morong were Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap and Social Welfare Secretary Esperanza Cabral.

Also present were Bataan Governor Enrique “Tet” Garcia, Bataan 1st District Representative Herminia Roman, Morong Mayor Cynthia Estanislao and Manilo Ibias, chairman of BPCC.

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12 MARCH 2008		.