PIA Dispatch - Thursday, November 13, 2008

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's Speech during the Meeting with the Filipino-American elected officials and community leaders
Grand Ballroom, Hyatt Regency O’Hare Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A
11 November 2008

Thank you, Ambassador Gaa, for your kind introduction; and thank you for organizing this meeting of the Filipino-American community in Chicago, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and the other parts of the Midwest.

Consul General Cabrera, thank you for your warm words of welcome. And, of course, to our veterans, Happy Veterans’ Day to you!

I‘m very happy also to be here with all of you. Dr. Jose Evangelista and the other leaders of the Filipino-American community here, thank you for being here tonight. And I’d like to also greet the Chicago Committee for Chicago City’s bid for the 2016 Olympics.

I don’t know if you’ve met them earlier but we have here several members of Congress and the Cabinet: We have, to the right of Ambassador Gaa, our Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Girlie Villarosa from Mindoro Occidental; to her right is our representative from the BUHAY Party List, Congresswoman Iyay Coscolluela; and to her right is our congressman from Leyte, Martin Romualdez; and to his right is our Press Secretary, Jess Dureza; to the left of Consul General Cabrera is our congresswoman from Manila, Zenaida Angpin; to her left is our cabalen, congressman from Pampanga, Dong Gonzales; and to his left is Secretary Peter Favila.

To all of you, ang unang gusto kong sabihin, nagagalak ako na magkasama tayo ngayong gabi. Ating dacal a capampangan keti mayap a bengi kekongan. Matula kung kayabe dakongan ngening bengi, karing kabalen kung capampangan. And I would imagine that we have some Ilocanos here tonight, dagiti kailyak ti bangir ni mamang ko naimbag nga rabii kadakayo amin. And I am sure, well, I know that, for a fact, I saw already one of my cousins from Mindanao, so sa aton kaigsuonan gikan sa Visayas ug Mindanao, maayong gabii kaninyong tanan. Sa mga kasimanwa, maayong gab-i sa inyo nga tanan.

I’m really very happy to be here with all of you tonight. And, of course, on the election of your senator from Illinois as President of the United States, congratulations! And to our delegation of Ohio on the election of Philippine-American Steve Austria, congratulations also! You have a new congressman and together with Bob Scott, we now have two Filipino-Americans in the U.S. House of Representatives.

We are here on a very quick trip to the United Nations. The King of Saudi Arabia – which, by the way, hosts the second biggest Filipino community abroad next only to the United States -- invited us to participate in the United Nations General Assembly Session on a Culture of Peace. This meeting aims to promote interfaith dialogue, which means that we talk to each other whether we are Jews, Muslims, Christians, Hindus, Buddhists or from any other religion to promote understanding and tolerance in the interest of peace.

But, of course, that is for New York; here, I’m sure you’d like to know about what’s happening at home.

While no one can predict the full impact of the current global financial crisis on the Philippines, our economy is stronger than it has been in generations. Because tough choices were made, we’ve been able to build a firewall around the Philippines, our economy that has slowed down and somewhat softened the effects on the Philippines of the global crisis.

You must have heard of the VAT, the Value-Added Tax, its result has been, on the one hand, more unpopularity for me, but on the other, to save the day for our country now that there is a global economic crisis. That was designed to address several historic challenges: first, it enabled us to have more investments in infrastructure and in people so that we can create an
environment in which businesses feel confident to expand and give more jobs; second, it has provided money to advance our pro-poor agenda; and third, it has provided revenues to pay down our national debt and shore up our fiscal independence.

On that first use of VAT – infrastructure. We are investing in modernizing infrastructure like roads and bridges on an unprecedented scale. For instance, your Fil-Am from San Francisco, Lupita Kashiwahara, who is with us tonight, told me that it took her only an hour and a half from Clark to Ayala, Alabang using the North Luzon-Clark Expressway. And Carissa Coscolluela, who was working in Subic for a long time before she became congresswoman, used to have to travel three hours to Subic. Now that trip has been cut in half because of our expressway. And next time you go to the Philippines, we invite you not only to travel to Clark, to Subic, to Baguio on this nice new expressway but also you can travel by car from Aparri to Sulu through our Roll-on/Roll-off Ferry Nautical Highway System.

You, I understand that you had a presentation, a video presentation about tourism in the Philippines. And, in fact, that is one of our biggest dollar-earners and employers today. So, next time you go to the Philippines, you can also visit the different resorts that we now have like Boracay, Cebu, Bohol, Palawan; or see for real the Apo Island that is featured in the Shed Aquarium of Chicago. Actually, there are two Apo Islands, and both of them have beautiful reefs. The one that I think is depicted here in Chicago is the Apo Island in Negros Oriental. But there is also another Apo Island in the Apo Reef in the province of Congresswoman Girlie Villarosa and is really a contest on which of the two is the more beautiful reef. But there’s so many of them, you should go and tell us yourselves which one is more beautiful for you.

The reason why we are so strong in tourism is not only because we have so many beautiful beaches, so many beautiful reefs, so many beautiful mountain vistas but also because aside from our beautiful beaches, we have the beautiful smiles of our people, and you bring those beautiful smiles here also to the Midwest United States.

Our strongest advantage indeed is our people, and that is also opening doors for us in medical tourism and retirement villages. So, I hope that next time you have a general check up, you will do it in the Philippines. I think, it will cost you less. Or when it’s time for you to retire, instead of going to an old age care center here in the United States, you can also do it right in the Philippines. These are all made possible because we have provided the infrastructure for private investors to put up these facilities that serve you and other people all over the world.

In our pro-poor agenda, we are investing in expanded education, healthcare, and other social services.

But of course we know that the relative strength and resilience of our people and our economy is still no consolation to a Filipino who is paying higher prices for basic commodities. We are aware of the pressures your families back home face from inflation. Prior to the global economic crisis, our inflation in the Philippines was only 2.8 percent and then it went up to 12 percent, but, thank goodness, it’s going down again. Nonetheless, it‘s still not back to 2.8 percent. So, we know that your relatives back home are as concerned as you are here about job security, and they are as concerned as you are here about the buying power of wages and the remittances that you send them. We are concerned as well. That is why we are working hard to keep the prices of rice, food and fuel down and to increase the number of jobs through investments.

In a time of global tensions and economic uncertainty, the U.S. and the Philippines remain steadfast allies and friends.

The Philippines will continue to be friends and allies with the administration of President-elect Obama, just as we have under President Bush. Before the election, I received a letter from Senator Obama which reassured us of a strong U.S.-Philippine relation.

In his letter, he acknowleged the long history and alliance that has bound our two countries together for decades. He recalled that we fought together against fascism in World War II and stood up successfully against a common adversary during the cold war. And that today we find ourselves shoulder-to-shoulder in a common struggle against terrorism and extremism. And he enumerated several issues that are of future concern to us: climate change, food security, poverty reduction, the future of ASEAN, human rights in Burma, and defense reform. So these are issues that he recognizes as the Philippines and the U.S. sharing common interests, just as we share a common faith in democracy.

And now that it’s Veterans’ Day, I should also recall that when I spoke with him last June, Senator Obama expressed his support for Veterans’ Equity. But I think we should not wait for the bill to be refiled in the next Congress. There’s still something we can do in this present Congress. So, on this day, Veterans’ Day, I gave my instructions to Ambassador Willy Gaa -- and let’s all do it, Filipino-Americans here in the United States -- let us urge the U.S. Congress to act now to organize the Bicameral Committee to reconcile Senate Bill 1315 and House Bill 6897 so it can become a Veterans’ Equity Law.

So, I thank you for your plaque, our Veterans. And let us continue to work for Veterans’ Equity. You see, this is the first time in the history of our advocacy that the bill finally passed both Houses of Congress. Let’s not waste that and have to go back to first base again in the next Congress. We’ve got to convince them that this is the time to have a Bicameral Conference Committee.

Yes, the two versions are very different, but that’s the way it is in all bicameral democracies. Our congressmen and congresswomen can tell you, in the Philippines, very often on a specific subject matter the bill passed by the House, the bill passed by the Senate are as different as night and day. But, that’s the reason why our institutions provide for a Bicameral Conference Committee to reconcile the conflicting provisions and that should be our mission for this coming month and the next month. So, let’s all work for that.

Senator Obama also proudly made special mention of you, his Filipino-American constituents. And in his letter, he wrote that the special bond of the Philippines with the U.S. is enriched by the vibrant and successful Filipino-American community that has made such enormous contributions to this country. Indeed, that is so true. You, our Filipino-Americans, especially here in the Midwest, in Chicago and surrounding areas, are successful in your chosen professions. And you are successful in your chosen businesses when you choose to be entrepreneurs in restaurants, in forwarding, in remittance businesses, whatever. And as a recognition of how important you are to the community, there are Philippine landmarks and community centers in strategic locations all around Chicago and the nearby states. These are evidence that indeed you are honored by America. Of course, you are honored by the Philippines as well.

Our overseas Filipinos are honored by our government and our people for your sacrifice and dedication to your work, your family and your nation. We welcome your contribution. You know, 10 percent of Filipinos live abroad, and that includes the four million Fil-Ams here in the United States.

In New Zealand, they were telling me that 25 percent of the New Zealanders also live abroad. But the difference is that, mom and pop back home in New Zealand send additional allowance to their yuppies who are working abroad. In your case, even if your whole family is already here, you still send money back to grandchildren, nieces, nephews, communities, so indeed, you really never left the Philippines. In your heart, you are truly Filipino as you are American.

But we long for the day when going abroad for a job is a career option, not the only choice for a Filipino worker. That is why we remain stubbornly focused on the economy. And so I thank you all, our beloved Filipino-Americans, because you make us proud, you have a tremendous contribution to the American economy and the American society. And therefore, it’s not only Willy Gaa who is our ambassador to the United States. It’s each and every one of you, four million Fil-Ams who are living here and giving such a good name to what you call the Filipino. Thank you so much for that.

So, in conclusion, sa inyong malasakit sa trabaho, sa pamilya at sa bayan, at sa inyong kontribusyon sa ating ekonomiya, maraming, maraming salamat at mabuhay ang Filipino-American!

Maraming salamat sa inyong lahat.

Thank you, thank you.



President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's Speech during the 63rd United Nations General Assembly Meeting
Culture of Peace, General Assembly Hall, UN Headquarters New York City
12 November 2008

Thank you very much, Mr. President, Your Majesties, Your Excellencies, Mr. Secretary-General of the United Nations.

Mr. President, thank you for convening this high level meeting of the General Assembly. And congratulations to His Majesty, the Custodian of Two Holy Mosques, for drawing attention to the World Conference on Dialogue held in Madrid last May.

In that conference, Their Majesties, the King of Saudi Arabia and the King of Spain, brought together Jews, Muslims, Christians, Hindus, Buddhists and representatives of other religions in the hope of promoting understanding and tolerance among followers of the world’s faiths. This is also the hope for this meeting here in New York.

The Philippines fully supports this initiative because we take a great interest in promoting world peace and in encouraging greater cross-religion exchange.

Allow me at the outset to introduce Draft Resolution No. A/63/L24 entitled “Promotion of Inter-religious and Intercultural Dialogue, Understanding and Cooperation for Peace,” tabled jointly by the Philippines and Pakistan and co-sponsored by about 60 states. This draft resolution emerged as a consensus text after a series of consultations.

Among the salient points of the resolution is the affirmation that mutual understanding and inter-religious dialogue constitute an important part of the alliance of civilizations and of a culture of peace.

The resolution encourages the promotion of dialogue among the media from all cultures and civilizations. It emphasizes that everyone has the right to freedom of expression. It also affirms that the exercise of this right carries with it duties and responsibilities necessary for respect of the rights or reputations of others, protection of national security or of public order, or of public health or morals.

The resolution also requests for the proclamation of a UN decade for inter-religious and intercultural dialogue, understanding and cooperation for peace.

I commend the resolution for adoption at the close of our plenary meeting tomorrow. This will demonstrate once again our solidarity for the promotion of interfaith dialogue as a powerful aid to ensure durable peace worldwide.

The resolution is especially relevant to the United Nations under the leadership of His Excellency Ban Ki-Moon because, for the first time in UN history, the Secretary-General has issued a report on interreligious and intercultural activities.

Likewise, the UNESCO works on interreligious dialogue…

Mr. President:

Regrettably, the story of faith has too often been twisted into a source of despair and destruction among peoples and nations. There are those who wish to instigate religious war. There are those who use faith to divide rather than unite us. They camouflage their evil designs by invoking religious prejudice in the hope of heightening a clash of civilizations.

In this era of propaganda on the clash of civilizations, we must especially pursue broader interfaith dialogue to promote solidarity. Our challenge is to redeem the true meaning of our faith if we are to truly bring peace and prosperity to the world. We must make this challenge, an opportunity to forge religious understanding but we must not mistake tolerance and understanding of other faiths and belief systems as a blank check for abuse. We will never accept violence cloaked in religion by anyone at anytime.

Mr. President:

The Philippines has actively advocated interfaith dialogue.

Interfaith dialogue is an official policy of the Philippine government. It is also a historical truth among our diverse peoples and beliefs. Faith is ingrained in the lives of our people. It is the primordial seed of humanity. It offers hope, confidence, courage and commitment to make a better global neighborhood.

As we integrate interfaith understanding in development policy, it becomes more effective in resolving conflict.

Our archipelago of more than 7,000 islands has had its share of religious strife, ethnic tension and violence.

For years, we have worked to achieve peace in Mindanao in Southern Philippines.

The Peace Process was recently dealt a setback by violence carried out by lawless renegade elements of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. But we are fully committed to the peace process. There is no alternative to peace. We are working to reach as much progress as possible on peace within the parameters set out by authentic dialogues with communities. However, before we can actively and effectively reactivate the peace process again in earnest, we must first bring stability back to the island, restore order and be able to trust that responsible elements of the MILF have regained control.

Religious leaders can speed up dialogue and reconciliation. They are our partners in the peace-making process.

The historic divide between Christians and Muslims in our country is narrowing dramatically. This is in no small part due to our focus on interfaith dialogue and a willingness to accept the sincerity of those who differ with us in faith.

The Bishop and Ulama Conference is our format for interfaith dialogue. It is a movement of Catholic and Christian bishops and Muslim ulamas organized to promote mutual understanding of faiths and religions for peace.

We all want to see peace and prosperity in the Philippines. Through interfaith dialogue under the leadership of the Bishop and Ulama Conference; through global engagement with the largest possible international involvement, including the UN, Saudi Arabia, Brunei, Indonesia, Libya, Malaysia and others in the Organization of the Islamic Conference, Spain, Sweden and the EU, the US, Japan, Australia and other bilateral ODA partners; and through economic assistance at the community level, we are confident that peace will happen.

Mr. President:

Three years ago, we had the honor of chairing the first Summit on Interfaith Dialogue here in the UN.

At the regional level, we are one of the convenors of an ongoing series of Asia-Pacific interfaith dialogues that began in Indonesia in 2004. Subsequent dialogues were held in the Philippines in 2006, New Zealand in 2007 and Cambodia in 2008.

Presently, we are preparing to host the Special Non-Aligned Movement Ministerial Meeting on Interfaith Dialogue and Cooperation for Peace and Development scheduled in May 2009.

Our participation today in this initiative on culture of peace advances our relationship with Middle Eastern and Islamic nations. Their support in carrying out our interfaith dialogues has been critical to our progress in promoting peace in southern Philippines.

What we are doing together here today and tomorrow is every bit more powerful than bullets, military tanks and armaments to fight those who bring misery and violence to people at home or across the globe.

We must follow our faith and have faith in each other if we are to truly lift up the poor, transform war into peace and stamp down the intolerance and hatred wrought by a false reading of the divine message.

We maintain high hopes in inter-faith dialogue as a means for building bridges to replace barriers between communities of different cultures and ethnicity.

We are here today united by our faith and determined to bridge the valley that unnecessarily divides us, whether we live across the street, across rivers, or across oceans and continents. We can and must bridge the divide through the alliance of civilizations so that we can advance the common good of humanity.

Let us embrace the power of dialogue here today and tomorrow—for peace, development and human dignity.

Let us adopt Draft Resolution No. A/63/L24 Revision One on the “Promotion of Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue, Understanding and Cooperation for Peace.” I thank you.



PGMA to visit bailiwick of MILF renegade leader Kumander Bravo in Lanao

ILIGAN CITY -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will visit the remote town of Nunungan in Lanao Del Norte tomorrow (Friday) to inspect the ongoing construction of a farm-to-market road and to personally deliver government assistance packages within the bailiwick of the renegade members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Upon her arrival, the President will be welcomed by Lanao del Norte Gov. Khalid Dimaporo and Nunungan Mayor Abdulmalik Manamparan and other local officials.

After her live radio interview at her Macaraeg-Macapagal ancestral house in Barangay Tombagon here, the President will fly to Barangay Putadon, Nunungan, Lanao Del Norte to oversee the construction of the P10-million farm-to-market road project.

The farm-to-market road is a project of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) to speed up the mobility of residents in Barangay Putadon and neighboring barangays and the transport of their agricultural products.

The President is also expected to lead the distribution of family grocery packs from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), hybrid corn seeds from the Department of Agriculture (DA), and assorted medicines like paracetamol and antibiotics from the Department of Health (DOH) for the indigent residents of Lanao del Norte.

Nunungan town, especially Barangay Putadon, is the reported regular transit route of MILF renegade leader Kumander Bravo who headed the 105th MILF Base Command responsible for the bloody attacks on the towns of Kauswagan and Kolambugan in Lanao del Norte on August 18.

At least 12 civilians were killed during the attacks that were waged by Bravo and his men after the aborted signing of the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD).


GMA rallies world leaders on interfaith dialogue for peace

NEW YORK (via PLDT) — President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo made the strongest pitch ever to world leaders here at the 63rd Session United Nations General Assembly to embrace the power of dialogue for peace, development and human dignity.

Speaking at the UN Plenary Meeting on Culture of Peace Wednesday, President Arroyo urged member nations to adopt Draft Resolution No. A/63/L24 entitled “Promotion of Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue, Understanding and Cooperation for Peace.”

The UN resolution, which embodies an important step towards forging greater global understanding, harmony and cooperation through interreligious and intercultural dialogue, was jointly authored by the Philippines and Pakistan, with 60 member-states signing-in co-sponsors

“This resolution is the affirmation that mutual understanding and interreligious dialogue constitute an important part of the alliance of civilizations and of a culture of peace,” the President said.

She added the resolution encourages the promotion of dialogue among the media from all cultures and civilizations, emphasizes right to freedom of expression, and affirms that the exercise of this right carries with it duties and responsibilities.

“The adoption of this resolution will demonstrate once again our solidarity for the promotion of interfaith dialogue as a powerful aid to ensure durable peace worldwide,” she said.

The resolution has seen its particular relevance to the United Nations under the current leadership of Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon who, for the first time in UN history, has issued a report on interreligious and intercultural activities.

Meanwhile, the President also praised King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia for drawing attention to the World Conference on Dialogue held in Madrid last May, where the Saudi King and King Juan Carlos of Spain brought together Jews, Muslims, Christians, Hindus, Buddhists and representatives of other religions in the hope of promoting understanding and tolerance among followers of the world’s faiths.

The Philippines, being a leading proponent of global interfaith dialogue, has been pushing for this initiative as demonstrated by its effort to strengthen the Bishop and Ulama Conference (BUC) as its format for local interfaith dialogue.

BUC is a movement of Catholic and Christian bishops and Muslim ulamas in Mindanao which was organized to promote mutual understanding of faiths and religions for peace.


PGMA leads call for U.S. Congress to create bicameral committee to finally enact Veterans Equity Law

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has led the call on the United States Congress to immediately create a Bicameral Conference Committee to reconcile the veterans bills recently passed by the Senate and House of Representatives and finally enact the Veterans Equity Law.

In her speech in Chicago before the Filipino community in the US mid-West last Nov. 11, which happens to be Veterans Day in the United States, President Arroyo stressed that something could still be done by the present US Congress to reconcile the conflicting provisions of Senate Bill 1315 and House Bill 6897 and finally award to Filipino war veterans what they have been fighting for during the past 50 years – recognition as war heroes like their American counterparts in the form of financial remuneration.

The President revealed that while Illinois Senator and now President-elect Barack Obama had expressed to her last June his support for the Veterans Equity, “I think we should not wait for the bill to be re-filed in the next Congress.”

“So, on this day, Veterans’ Day, I gave my instructions to (Philippine) Ambassador (to the United States) Willy Gaa -- and let’s all do it, Filipino-Americans here in the United States -- let us urge the U.S. Congress to act now to organize the Bicameral Committee to reconcile Senate Bill 1315 and House Bill 6897 so it can become a Veterans’ Equity Law,” President Arroyo urged the hundreds of Filipino-Americans who braved the autumn chill to meet with her at the Grand Ballroom of the Hyatt Regency O’Hare Chicago in Illinois.

“So, I thank you for your plaque, our veterans. And let us continue to work for Veterans’ Equity. You see, this is the first time in the history of our advocacy that the bill finally passed both Houses of Congress.

“Let’s not waste that and have to go back to first base again in the next Congress. We’ve got to convince them that this is the time to have a Bicameral Conference Committee,” the President advised, pointing out that, “Yes, the two versions are very different, but that’s the way it is in all bicameral democracies.”

“Our congressmen and congresswomen can tell you, in the Philippines, very often on a specific subject matter, the bill passed by the House, the bill passed by the Senate are as different as night and day. But, that’s the reason why our institutions provide for a Bicameral Conference Committee to reconcile the conflicting provisions and that should be our mission for this coming month and the next month. So, let’s all work for that,” the President urged.

“Senator Obama also proudly made special mention of you, his Filipino-American constituents. And, in his letter, he wrote that the special bond of the Philippines with the U.S. is enriched by the vibrant and successful Filipino-American community that has made such enormous contributions to this country.

“Indeed, that is so true. You, our Filipino-Americans, especially here in the Midwest, in Chicago and surrounding areas, are successful in your chosen professions. And you are successful in your chosen businesses when you choose to be entrepreneurs in restaurants, in forwarding, in remittance businesses, whatever.

“And as a recognition of how important you are to the community, there are Philippine landmarks and community centers in strategic locations all around Chicago and the nearby states. These are evidence that, indeed, you are honored by America. Of course, you are honored by the Philippines as well,” the President told the four million Filipinos in the United States in her speech that was broadcast on government television.

This Chicago meeting with Filipino-American elected officials and community leaders in the American Midwest was President Arroyo’s first stop in her brief visit to the United States to address the 63rd United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Meeting on a Culture of Peace at the UN headquarters in New York City last Nov. 12.



PGMA to Fil-Ams in U.S. Midwest: Have medical check-up or retire in the Philippines

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has called on Filipino-Americans in the United States Midwest to retire in the Philippines as she revealed that her administration has readied infrastructure for medical tourism, including the setting up retirement homes.

In her Nov. 11 speech at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare Chicago before hundreds of Filipino-Americans living in Chicago, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and other parts of the Midwest, President Arroyo enthused, “Our strongest advantage indeed is our people, and that is also opening doors for us in medical tourism and retirement villages.”

“So, I hope that next time you have a general check-up, you will do it in the Philippines. I think, it will cost you less. Or when it’s time for you to retire, instead of going to an old age care center here in the United States, you can also do it right in the Philippines,” the President urged.

“These are all made possible because we have provided the infrastructure for private investors to put up these facilities that serve you and other people all over the world,” revealed President Arroyo who added that “in our pro-poor agenda, we are investing in expanded education, healthcare, and other social services.”

Earlier in her speech where she congratulated Philippine-American Steve Austria who just won the elections as Ohio representative to the US House of Representatives, President Arroyo assured the Midwest Fil-Ams that under her administration, “our economy is stronger than it has been in generations (and that) because tough choices were made, we’ve been able to build a firewall around the Philippines (and) our economy…”

The President also regaled the Fil-Ams about the highway infrastructure built from the proceeds of the unpopular value-added tax (VAT) which, however, “save(d) the day for our country now that there is a global economic crisis…”

“On that first use of VAT – infrastructure. We are investing in modernizing infrastructure like roads and bridges on an unprecedented scale...” added the President, telling them about the shortened travel time from Subic to Clark Air Base to Ayala, Alabang using the improved and lengthened North Luzon-Clark Expressway.

“And next time you go to the Philippines, we invite you not only to travel to Clark, to Subic, to Baguio on this nice new expressway but also you can travel by car from Aparri to Sulu through our Roll-on/Roll-off Ferry Nautical Highway System,” the President added.

President Arroyo also enthused about Philippine tourism which is now “one of our biggest dollar-earners and employers today, so next time you go to the Philippines, you can also visit the different resorts that we now have like Boracay, Cebu, Bohol, Palawan; or see for real the Apo Island that is featured in the Shed Aquarium of Chicago…”

The President concluded, thus: “The reason why we are so strong in tourism is not only because we have so many beautiful beaches, so many beautiful reefs, so many beautiful mountain vistas but also because aside from our beautiful beaches, we have the beautiful smiles of our people, and you bring those beautiful smiles here also to the Midwest United States.”



R.P. Christian-Muslim gap narrowing, PGMA tells U.N. General Assembly

The historic divide between Christians and Muslims in the Philippines is “narrowing dramatically,” President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo told the Culture of Peace meeting of the 63rd United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) yesterday (Wednesday) at the UN headquarters in New York.

Speaking after the Saudi Arabian King at the UN Plenary Meeting on a Culture of Peace, President Arroyo revealed that the dramatic narrowing of the historic religious divide in the country “is in no small part due to our focus on interfaith dialogue and a willingness to accept the sincerity of those who differ with us in faith.”

Pointing out that “we must not mistake tolerance and understanding of other faiths and belief systems as a blank check for abuse” and that “we will never accept violence cloaked in religion by anyone at anytime,” the President further revealed to the UN assembly that in the Philippines, “the Bishop and Ulama Conference is our format for interfaith dialogue -- it is a movement of Catholic and Christian bishops and Muslim ulamas organized to promote mutual understanding of faiths and religions for peace.”

“We all want to see peace and prosperity in the Philippines. Through interfaith dialogue under the leadership of the Bishop and Ulama Conference; through global engagement with the largest possible international involvement, including the UN, Saudi Arabia, Brunei, Indonesia, Libya, Malaysia and others in the Organization of the Islamic Conference, Spain, Sweden and the EU, the US, Japan, Australia and other bilateral ODA partners; and through economic assistance at the community level, we are confident that peace will happen,” the President added.

The Philippines chaired the first Summit on Interfaith Dialogue in the UN three years ago in 2005. At the regional level, the Philippines was one of the convenors of an ongoing series of Asia-Pacific interfaith dialogues that began in Indonesia in 2004. Subsequent dialogues were held in the Philippines in 2006, New Zealand in 2007 and Cambodia in 2008.

“Presently, we are preparing to host the Special Non-Aligned Movement Ministerial Meeting on Interfaith Dialogue and Cooperation for Peace and Development scheduled in May 2009,” the President told the UN inter-faith meeting as she stressed that “our participation today in this initiative on culture of peace advances our relationship with Middle Eastern and Islamic nations (whose) support in carrying out our interfaith dialogues has been critical to our progress in promoting peace in southern Philippines.”

“What we are doing together here today and tomorrow is every bit more powerful than bullets, military tanks and armaments to fight those who bring misery and violence to people at home or across the globe.

“We must follow our faith and have faith in each other if we are to truly lift up the poor, transform war into peace and stamp down the intolerance and hatred wrought by a false reading of the divine message,” said President Arroyo.

The Philippine chief executive -- whose administration has been into inter-faith dialogue long before the phrase became a by-word in world diplomacy – added, thus: “We maintain high hopes in inter-faith dialogue as a means for building bridges to replace barriers between communities of different cultures and ethnicity.

“We are here today united by our faith and determined to bridge the valley that unnecessarily divides us, whether we live across the street, across rivers, or across oceans and continents. We can and must bridge the divide through the alliance of civilizations so that we can advance the common good of humanity.

“Let us embrace the power of dialogue here today and tomorrow—for peace, development and human dignity,” urged President Arroyo as she called on the UN to adopt Draft Resolution No. A/63/L24 Revision One on the ‘Promotion of Inter-religious and Inter-cultural Dialogue, Understanding and Cooperation for Peace’ that was tabled jointly by the Philippines and Pakistan and co-sponsored by about 60 states.



The 2nd China-ASEAN Forum on Social Development and Poverty Reduction
Nanning Output on Social Development and Poverty Reduction Forum for consideration of China-ASEAN Cooperation
Nanning, China, 4-6 November 2008

1. From November 4 to 6, 2008, the 2nd China-ASEAN Social Development and Poverty Reduction Forum was held in Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, P.R.China. The theme of the forum is “Food, Disasters and Poverty Reduction”. Around 100 policy makers, researchers, and practitioners in the fields of poverty reduction and social development from the 9 ASEAN countries of Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, China and delegates and representatives from the World Bank (WB), World Food Programme (WFP), Asian Development Bank (ADB) and ASIAN Disaster Reduction Centre (ADRC) were present at the forum. Through extensive discussions, all participants agreed to release this Nanning Output.

Challenges and Visions

2. Both ASEAN countries and China have made remarkable progress in economic and social development. In these countries, the standard of living for urban and rural residents has steadily improved and remarkable achievements have been made in poverty reduction. However, ASEAN countries and China still have a huge poor population and is experiencing unbalanced development and widening disparity between the rich and the poor. Economic instability brought by global market and frequent natural disasters pose severe challenges to these countries in poverty reduction and social development.

3. We hope that the joint efforts of policy makers, researchers and practitioners from various international organizations and developed countries can build up a domestic food security and natural disaster management system, and regional cooperation mechanism to cushion the impact of price increases and natural disasters.

Responsibilities of Parties Involved

4. Policy makers from these countries should take active measures such as:

a) To improve market system, formulate industry development strategy based on their own comparative advantages, improve economic structure, strengthen market supervision and regulation;

b) To strengthen infrastructure construction especially rural infrastructure, improve transportation condition and information technology, and enhance the ability of the poor population to get access to the market and public services;

c) To increase investment on agriculture, improve the condition and sharing information technology of agricultural production and food safety, ensure grain output, prevent violent fluctuation in price of farm products, and promote sustained increase of farmer’s income;

d) To intensify public service system, gradually improve the social security system, upgrade the insurance of a minimum standard of living of the vulnerable groups, and prevent the occurrence of massive extreme poverty as a result of natural disasters and market risks;

e) To enhance disaster prevention and emergency system, enhance the government’s capacity to manage disaster relief, and effectively control the negative impact of natural disasters on poverty reduction;

f) To increase input on poverty reduction, create more job opportunities for low-income groups, and put poverty reduction as a major function of the government;

g) To mobilize participation of various social forces and strengthen cooperation among multi-sectors, encouraging the progress of poverty reduction;

h) To empower the poor towards self-reliance;

i) Government should endeavour to ensure that small holder farmers enjoy some of the benefits of higher food prices.

5. Researchers should strengthen investigations and research.

6. Practitioners from these countries should exert great effort to carry out interventions on poverty reduction and social development.

7. Developing countries should tap on existing aid mechanism to facilitate the realization of the UN’s Millennium Development Goals.

8. Relevant international organizations should strengthen technological assistance to the developing countries, mobilize and increase input for poverty reduction and social development programs and coordinate in establishing and improve the international assistance framework integrating poverty reduction.

Promote the Cooperation

9. Within the region,a regional cooperation framework that can meet China and the ASEAN’s preparedness in responding to economic risks and natural disasters should be explored. Exchanges among the countries and poverty-reduction sectors should be intensified. A cooperation mechanism should be looked into to respond to grain price fluctuation in global market; safeguard food security in the region; guarantee the basic demands of the poverty-stricken population; improve the structure of agricultural production within the region; and raise farmers’ income. Monitoring of economic risks within the region should be promoted to jointly defend against major economic risks and respond to regional natural disasters.

10. Consultations with developed countries should be intensified so that the developed countries can play a more positive role in maintaining the stability of local grain market; regional platforms that encourage the developed countries to participate in the efforts of emergency disaster relief should be established; South-South cooperation should be promoted to cooperate with the developing countries outside of the regions in responding to economic risks and natural disasters; and various development assistance organizations should be encouraged to conduct regional development assistance activities within the region.

Follow-up Actions

11. The International Poverty Reduction Center in China (IPRCC) will continue to make joint efforts with relevant parties to constantly improve the mechanism of China-ASEAN Social Development & Poverty Reduction Forum; enhance exchange and cooperation in research and capacity building in poverty reduction within the region; and promote innovations in poverty reduction policy and capacity in reducing poverty of the countries within the region. All follow-up actions will fully take the differences among countries into consideration, and adjustment and innovations will be made constantly in the light of changes of economic and social situations of the countries and demands for poverty reduction. We are looking forward to the extensive consultation and active participation from related stakeholders in our follow-up actions.



ASEAN-UN report assesses ASEAN countries’ responses to HIV needs of mobile populations

Jakarta, 13 November 2008= A rise in mobility within Southeast Asia , as people search for economic opportunity, makes millions more vulnerable to HIV infection. A country-by-country assessment of HIV and mobility in the ten ASEAN member countries reveals that despite their contributions to national economies, migrants have little or no right to legal or social protection and generally lack access to HIV and AIDS services and information.

HIV/AIDS and Mobility in South-East Asia, produced jointly by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the United Nations Regional Task Force on Mobility and HIV Vulnerability Reduction in South-East Asia and Southern Provinces of China (UNRTF), presents key findings and recommendations of a rapid assessment conducted on HIV and mobility issues in the ten ASEAN countries in 2007-2008. It is the first such publication to include information on current migration patterns along with the HIV situation across the region.

“Migrant workers are a vital force to national economies in Southeast Asia, yet when it comes to protecting their rights and ensuring HIV prevention and treatment, they are often among the forgotten,” says Mr Ajay Chhibber, UNDP Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific.

“This assessment provides information that will be useful for policy makers, health givers and clinicians in ensuring that migrant workers and mobile populations are provided with high-quality prevention and treatment services,” says Dr Surin Pitsuwan , Secretary-General of ASEAN.

Although comprehensive data on HIV prevalence among migrants in Southeast Asia is unavailable, the report indicates that risk behaviour and HIV infection rates are considerably higher among migrants than in the general population.

In Thailand , where more comprehensive data exists, migrant fishermen showed HIV infection rates as high as 9%. In the Philippines , 35% of registered people living with HIV were returning migrants, as were 30% in Lao PDR.

”While migrants and their sexual partners are included as a vulnerable group in the national strategic plans of ASEAN countries, comprehensive programmes to address their needs have yet to be developed, funded and implemented,” says JVR Prasada Rao, Director of the UNAIDS Regional Support Team in Asia and the Pacific.
According to the report, most migrants are not covered by national AIDS programmes and their services. In Thailand , registered migrants have access to health services with subsidised medical costs, but anti-retroviral (ARV) treatment is not included. Subsidised ARV treatment is not available to migrants in any destination country. If migrants are found to be HIV-positive through routine testing in some countries, they are repatriated.

Indonesia has shown a commitment to addressing HIV vulnerability among migrants and mobile populations, with their inclusion in national HIV prevention, care and treatment strategies, says the report. Policies have been developed to provide migrants with health and reintegration services, and to prohibit mandatory HIV testing during the recruitment process. However, limited information is available on HIV infection rates among migrant and mobile populations from Indonesia , according to the report.

Countries of origin, especially Cambodia , Indonesia , Lao PDR, the Philippines and Viet Nam have developed pre-departure training on HIV prevention for outbound, documented migrant workers. According to the report, many training sessions have proved to be ineffective because they are offered too late in the moving process and too brief in their duration.

Furthermore, mandatory HIV testing in health examinations is required by most ASEAN destination countries, except Thailand . Such testing, says the report, breaches migrant rights, including confidentiality and consent.

The aim of this report is to inform policy makers as they develop responses to the growing challenge of migrants and mobile people who are more vulnerable to HIV than populations who do not move. The report’s recommendations include:

Develop gender-sensitive epidemiological data collection mechanisms
Strengthen regional cooperation to ensure a continuum of services for migrants
Create and fund coordinated, multi-sectoral, cross-border HIV efforts
Allocate sufficient financial and human resources to address migrants’ needs
Reinforce policies and commitments on HIV/AIDS such as the ASEAN Declaration on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers signed by the ASEAN Leaders in January 2007

The publication of HIV/AIDS and Mobility in South-East Asia is funded by the United Nations Development Programme, the Canadian International Development Agency and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS. A directory and profile of the major organisations that are engaged in HIV and migration issues in the Southeast Asia region is also included in the report.


Philippines Deposits Instrument of Ratification of the ASEAN Charter

ASEAN Secretariat, 12 November 2008==On 3 November 2008, the Philippines deposited its instrument of ratification of the ASEAN Charter with the Secretary-General of ASEAN. A ceremony took place today at the Office of the Permanent Representative of the Philippines to the United Nations in New York , where the Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines , Alberto Romulo, symbolically handed over the instrument of ratification to the Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr Surin Pitsuwan .

Dr Surin said, “We are now slightly more than a month away to the 14th ASEAN Summit which is taking place in mid December in Chiang Mai. I hope Philippines’ deposit of its instrument of ratification will spur the other two countries – Indonesia and Thailand – into action as we are sprint into the last leg of the race towards celebrating the entry into force of the ASEAN Charter.”

Philippines became the eighth ASEAN Member State to deposit its instrument of ratification of the ASEAN Charter with the Secretary-General of ASEAN. The ratification of the ASEAN Charter was approved by the Philippine Senate on 7 October 2008.

The ASEAN Member States that have deposited the instrument of ratification of the ASEAN Charter are (in chronological order) Singapore , Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia , Lao PDR, Viet Nam , Cambodia and Myanmar .

The ASEAN Charter shall enter into force on the thirtieth day following the date of deposit of the tenth instrument of ratification with the Secretary-General of ASEAN.


Indonesia Becomes 9th ASEAN Member State to Deposit Instrument of Ratification of the ASEAN Charter

ASEAN Secretariat, 13 November 2008 =Indonesia today deposited its instrument of ratification of the ASEAN Charter at the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta . Mr Haris Nugroho, Acting Director for Political, Security and Territorial Treaties, Department of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia , handed over the instrument of ratification to Mr Nicholas T. Dammen, Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN, who received it on behalf of Dr Surin Pitsuwan , Secretary-General of ASEAN.

Expressing delight at the news, Dr Surin said, “I would like to thank Indonesia for their support of the ASEAN Charter process. Counting Indonesia , nine ASEAN Member States have now deposited their instruments of ratification. We are right on track to have the entry into force of the ASEAN Charter by the 14th ASEAN Summit.”

Thailand is the remaining ASEAN Member State who has yet to deposit its instrument of ratification. The ASEAN Charter shall enter into force on the thirtieth day following the date of deposit of the last instrument of ratification with the Secretary-General of ASEAN.


DSWD’s shelter assistance extended to Aklan victims reach P11,050 M

Kalibo, Aklan -- A total of P11,050,000.00 in shelter assistance had been extended to Aklanon victims who lost their houses to Typhoon Frank on June 21, 2008.

Records from the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) here show that of the amount, P5,860,000 was extended to beneficiaries from Kalibo, while 1,910,000 was given to Numancia beneficiaries. On the other hand, typhoon victims from Makato, another town devastated by Typhoon Frank, just recently received P1,130,000 shelter assistance from the DSWD.

The aid is through the Emergency Shelter Assistance (ESA) of the DSWD. Aklan typhoon victims were the first recipients under this scheme.

The beneficiaries got P10,000 each. Aklan had 586 beneficiaries; Numancia, 191, and Makato, 113.

For Core Shelter Assistance with 43 residents from Kalibo as beneficiaries, a total of P2,150,000 was extended with the recipients receiving P50,000 each. Under this scheme, beneficiaries will build houses on a lot provided by the municipal government of Kalibo with uniform designs. As their counterpart, beneficiaries will provide the labor component.

For Cash For Work Program, another scheme to help Aklan typhoon victims, the provincial government paid a total of P511,100.00 to beneficiaries who cleaned the Capitol Grounds during the early weeks after the typhoon. For Kalibo, the DSWD paid a total of P64,150 to 345 workers from its four barangays who did clean-up jobs in their respective areas, while P355,300.00 was paid to 190 workers coming from Numancia’s 7 barangays totaling P1,511,550.00.

Records from the PSWDO also revealed that donations in kind extended to the Province of Aklan from various donors reached P28,043,993 while cash donations reached P7,822,749.88 for a total of P35,866,743.66.

Presently, many Aklanons who lost their homes are still awaiting additional releases for shelter assistance. Releases of P10,000 each were only for victims under Category A, or those whose houses were totally washed out but no releases were made yet for those under Category B and C.

Based on records provided by the Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council (PDCC) chaired by Governor Carlito S. Marquez, 11,210 houses were totally destroyed by the typhoon throughout Aklan while 43,068 were partially damaged. (PIA/Venus G. Villanueva)