Major developments for April 3
Balita News Group
((c) 2001 Philippines News Agency Not for reposting to other lists)
Honasan urges government to put on hold withdrawal from seized MILF camps
MANILA - - Reelectionist Sen.Gregorio Honasan today urged the Arroyo
administration to put on hold its plan to withdraw the military troops in
the seized camps of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and instead
appoint more Muslims to the Cabinet and the courts as a sign of goodwill. In
a press conference,Honasan said the government must not give the MILF the
chance to return to their camps, including Abubakar,until the Muslim rebel
group has signed a peace pact with the government. Instead, he proposed that
the government appoint more Muslims leaders to the Cabinet and the courts as
part of its confidence-building measures to prove its sincerity in
negotiating peace with the MILF. Honasan expressed confidence that by
seeking to rectify the errors of the past when the Muslim people had been
neglected by the government,the MILF may see the determination of the
administration to end decades of Islamic rebellion.
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Gov't integrates poverty reduction strategies in the medium term plan
processes
MANILA - The government is integrating five poverty reduction strategies in
the medium term plan processes in line with its target to reduce poverty
incidence in the country to 25 to 28 percent by 2004. These strategies
include macroeconomic reforms; political reforms; institutional reforms;
sustainable development; and peace process. "In order to ensure that these
strategies are integrated with the economic framework, we are including
these in the medium term plan processes," National Anti-Poverty Commission
Secretary Teresita Quintos-Deles said in a recent economic forum. "The
specifics of these programs are currently being formulated, including the
legislative and executive policy and program implications, and their
institutional and financial requirements," she said.
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TXT-GMA project launched in Malacanang
MANILA - President Gloria Macapagal- Arroyo today launched in Malacanang the
TXT-GMA Project which is aimed at providing the people with a direct
communication channel to the President. The President witnessed the signing
of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) among the Office of the President, the
Presidential Management Staff, and the Presidential Action Center with Globe
Telecom and Smart Communications for the setting up of the TXT-GMA project
in MalacaÑang. This project, the first of its kind to use high technology to
the people ,s needs, will promote greater transparency and accountability in
government as well as ensure continuing consultation with the people. Under
the project, Globe Telecom and Smart Communications, Inc. each volunteered
three sets of computers connected to cellular phones which have dedicated
numbers that are easily recalled.
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Use reason not passion in electing leaders GMA urges people
MANILA - President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today called on the people to use
reason when they vote in the coming May 14 elections and not allow passion
to govern their choices. The President, in a press conference at the
Heroes , Hall in MalacaÑang, said she hopes that people will not elect into
office those "who have the biggest mouth, the biggest money, and the biggest
spenders." "It is not a matter of passion, I hope, that will make the voters
vote for the right people; I hope it is reason, not passion," the President
said. "I hope they will not vote for those who have the biggest mouth,
biggest money, and biggest spenders, but those who are best qualified and
that is determined by using your head," she added. The President also said
she will be more involved in the campaign for the People Power Coalition in
the coming weeks.
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British Airways includes RP in Holiday destinations brochure
MANILA - British Airways has provided a valuable promotional mileage for the
Philippines in Europe by including it in the airline's list of local
destinations in its holiday brochures. The brochures included Boracay for
its fine white sandy beaches, and the eco-tourism features of Palawan which
are ideal for cave explorations and superb diving. Bernie Lazaro, tourism
attache in London, said the British tourism market has also expressed
interest in the scenic Chocolate Hills in Bohol and the Rice Terraces of
Banaue.
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Smart expects to post P1billion in net income this year
MANILA - Smart Communications, Inc. expects to post more than P1 billion in
net income this year, reversing the P400 million net loss incurred last
year. Rogelio v. Quevedo, Smart head for legal and carrier relations said
that the firm is hoping to "surpass" the P1 billion mark this year. "We are
no longer subsidizing the units and have started to collect revenues from
these. We should approximate the income of the other cellular operator,
"Quevedo said. Smart's GSM subscribers have reach more than 3.2 million, of
these less, than 75,000 are post-paid subscribers.
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Globe Tel invests $1.3 billion in infrastructure in CV
CEBU CITY - Huge investments in new data infrastructure and technology went
into the Visayas region, particularly in Cebu and Mactan. Globe senior vice
president for corporate and regulatory affairs Rodolfo A. Salalima said the
US$1.3 billion invested by Globe last year was just an initial move by the
company in helping Cebu transform into the premiere Philippine investment
destination for Information Technology (IT) and IT-related industries.
Recently, the company outlined its IT plans for the province. Salalima, said
that the company has already embarked into an extensive IT infrastructure
build-up to become a major player in the New Economy, whether in wireline or
wireless data business and with renewed focus on broadband communications.
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GMA appoints new DILG undersecretaries
MANILA --Interior and Local Government Secretary Jose Lina, Jr. today
announced the appointment by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo of two new
DILG undersecretaries. Lina said President Macapagal-Arroyo appointed last
week Eduardo R. Soliman as the new undersecretary for local government and
Wencelito T. Andanar as new undersecretary for peace and order. Soliman and
Andanar, who assumed office today, replaced Narciso Santiago Jr. and
Rafaelito Grayblas, respectively, whose courtesy resignations were earlier
accepted by the President. Soliman had served as assistant secretary of the
then Ministry of Local Government under Minister Jose A. Rono.
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No return of MILF territory GMA assures public
MANILA - President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today reassured the citizenry
that no captured settlements of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF)
would be returned to the rebel group as a precondition for the resumption of
the peace negotiations between the government and the MILF. "Wala tayong
isinasauli sa MILF. Hindi ito mangyayari kailanman. We are not returning any
captured settlement to the MILF. The MILF never raised this issue in Kuala
Lumpur either with the Malaysian host or with the government panel," the
President stressed in a statement at her weekly press conference in
Malacanang. President Macapagal-Arroyo called on the people and some
political leaders of Mindanao, who expressed reservations on the accord, to
give the peace process a chance.
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Gov't exerting efforts to address foreign debt says GMA
MANILA - President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today said that her
administration is exerting efforts to address the country's foreign debt,
which reportedly rose to $52.06 billion. At the same time, the President
said the government is reviewing the country's various obligations under the
Official Development Assistance (ODA). "One of the things that we are doing
is to review the different obligations under the ODA especially with regard
to absorptive capacity and whether the conditionalities are worthwhile," the
Chief Executive said in response to a question propounded by a Malacanang
journalist on what the new government is doing about the country's foreign
debt.
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GMA cites role of ICT in RP's growth in 21st century
MANILA - President Gloria Macapagal Aquino today emphasized anew the
importance of information and communications technology (ICT) to the
country ,s economic development in the 21st century. "What it says of us is
that our place in the 21st century in the world of our new economy is to
have a niche in information and communications technology," the President
said in her weekly press conference when asked to comment that the
Philippines is one of the biggest text users in the world. "That is our key
to the jobs, creativity and opportunities that are available in the 21st
century," she added. The President acknowledged that the Philippines could
be much ahead of other Asian countries one of these days if that potential
is recognized.
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GMA orders AFP to step up operations for safe rescue of Abu Sayyaf hostages
MANILA - President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today directed the Armed Forces
of the Philippines (AFP) to intensify its operations for the safe rescue of
American national Jeffrey Schilling and Roland Ullah from their Abu Sayyaf
terrorist abductors. In her regular weekly press conference in Malacanang,
the President assured the citizenry that the pursuit of the terrorists
continues and the military is in full control of the situation in Jolo and
Basilan. "Our armed forces have the situation well in control," she said in
reaction to the threat of Abu Sayyaf spokesman Abu Sabaya to behead
Schilling as a "birthday gift" to the President, who turns 54 on April 5, if
the government will not send the Saudi Arabian Ambassador to Basilan to
negotiate for Schilling ,s release. Expounding on the President ,s
statement, Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes said the government ,s policy of
not negotiating with terrorists remains.
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GMA sees U.S.-China incident as no threat to RP
MANILA - President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today said she sees no immediate
threat to the country arising from the latest incident in the South China
involving a US Navy aircraft. The latest incident involved an American EP-3
maritime patrol aircraft which was damaged Saturday after it was intercepted
by two Chinese fighter jets in a surveillance mission over the South China
Sea and was forced to land in Hainan, Vietnam. In a press conference at the
Heroes , Hall in Malacanang, the President Macapagal-Arroyo said the
government will remain "neutral" and view the incident as "really (having)
no direct impact on the Philippines." "The major players in the security
field in this part of the world are really China, Japan and the US," she
said. "Very seldom do the other countries get involved when the elephants
are pitted against each other."
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Garma leads finals winners in the National Chess Open
MANILA - International Master Chito Garma bucked the loss of his queen to
beat National Master Reggie Olay yesterday for a rousing start in the finals
of the National Open Chess championships at the Ramon Magsaysay Hal of the
SSS building in Quezon City. Playing white, Garma, who earned his IM title
only last year, sacrificed his queen on the 16th move but netted
three-pieces, a rook, a bishop and a knight in the process on the way to
earning the victory in 46 moves of a Sicilian Defense Alapin Variation.
Garma emerged the first winner in the men 's division after two other
matches earlier wound up in draws. Grandmaster Bong Villamayor drew with
close friend and FIDE Master Idelfonso Datu in 16 moves of a Reti Opening
while the match between FIDE Master Jesse Noel Sales and National Master
Jayson Gonzales likewise ended in a standoff after 16 moves of an English
Opening.
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RP scores big start vs. Singapore
MANILA - Host Philippines survived scary start before chooping Singapore,
112-70, today to open its title retention bid on a bright note in the 4th
Southeast Asian Basketball Association (SEABA) championship at the Rizal
Memorial Coliseum here. Chris Calaguio hit his third triple shot that
sparked a 10-0 blast as the RP nationals recovered from a 33-37 deficit
midway in the second quarter. Actually, the RP five held the Singaporeans
scoreless from the field to post a 17-3 run in the final 4:30 minutes of the
first half, giving them a 50-40 at the halftime break. Extending their
scorching defense, the Philippines erected another 10-0 scoring as the
Singaporeans never recovered after their streak shooter Wong Sbon Yuh lost
to cramps injury.
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GMA pushes for passage of Power Bill to lower electric rates
MANILA - President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today made a pitch anew for the
Power Sector Reform Bill, saying the government does not want to choose
between increasing the budget deficit and allowing power rate hike. "This is
the fruit of our not passing the Power Sector Reform Bill," the President
said in a press conference at the Heroes , Hall in Malacanang. The President
was referring to the objection raised by the state-owned National Power
Corporation that due to the temporary suspension of price hikes and other
adjustment charges, it is losing up to P 3.3 billion a month. "While Napocor
has made that appeal, Energy Secretary (Jose Isidro) Camacho and I have
discussed it, we will and we will be giving temporary relief while we look
for longer-term solutions but may I use this opportunity to say that this is
the fruit of our not passing the Power Sector Reform Bill," the President
said.
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GMA birthday wish: To win battle against poverty attain objectives on time
MANILA - President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today said that her birthday
wishes on her 54th birthday on April 5, 2001 would be to "win the battle
against poverty and to "attain all our strategic and tactical objectives on
time." The President said during her regular press conference this morning
at Malacanang's Heroes Hall that she would include these two wishes in her
prayer during her visit to the Cathedral in San Fernando, Pampanga where she
will attend the High Mass on her birthday. The President has lined up
several activities with the people to mark her 54th birthday in several
towns in Pampanga on April 5. (PNA)
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GMA on the road again -- this time to Leyte provinces Bacolod
MANILA - President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will visit tomorrow, April 3, the
provinces of Leyte and Southern Leyte and Bacolod City to inaugurate and
inspect various government infrastructure projects in these areas. The Chief
Executive will be accompanied by members of her Cabinet, namely, Interior
and Local Government Secretary Jose Lina, Jr., Environment and Natural
Resources Secretary Heherson Alvarez, Agriculture Secretary Leonardo
Montemayor, Public Works and Highways Secretary Simeon Datumanong, Defense
Secretary Angelo Reyes, Social Welfare and Development Secretary Corazon
Soliman, Agrarian Reform Secretary Hernani Braganza, Health Secretary Manuel
Dayrit, Transportation and Communications Secretary Pantaleon Alvarez,
Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council Chairman Michael
Defensor, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Secretary Eduardo
Ermita, and Press Secretary Noel Cabrera. In Ormoc City, the President will
lead the inauguration of the Ormoc City Flood Control and Mitigation Project.