PIA Dispatch - Thursday, November 20, 2008

Statement of Press Secretary Jesus Dureza

Just to set the record straight, the President was terribly upset due to my prayer, although immediately after the Cabinet meeting, she didn’t show much displeasure because I told her about my drowned-out phrase "in her personal and private capacity," and that I requested media to keep it off the record.

I apologized to her later that day when media reported it with a spin for term extension -- at her expense.

In hindsight, it was a mistake on my part to subject the President to such undeserved flak. I take full responsibility and own up solely to the blame. One lesson I learned is that next time, I'll pray in silence.


PGMA: Creation of more high-paying jobs in RP to keep quality Filipino manpower at home

OZAMIZ CITY – President Gloria Macagapal-Arroyo reiterated today her administration’s determination to create more high-paying jobs throughout the country so that before the end of her term in 2010, Filipinos “will no longer need to go abroad to earn a living.”
“It is essential to create good, high-paying jobs here at home so that going abroad is a career choice, not the only option,” the President said during a one-on-one interview with DXOC-Ozamiz City at the airport in Gango town here Thursday (Nov. 20).

She said the government is firmly focused on economic reforms to break the offshore employment cycle for Filipinos “to keep working here at home.”

The Chief Executive acknowledged that breaking the overseas employment cycle that has been part of the country’s profile economic for several generations is a tall order but it can be done.

“It will take another 10 to 15 years to clearly break this cycle, but it is happening and I am pleased at the progress,” she said.

The President said her administration is vigorously pursuing the creation of more appealing employment opportunities through the development of priority sectors such as the business process outsourcing (BPOs).

“I am pleased at the BPO sector, and in successfully competing for added-value BPO business, is a good example of our ability to address these challenges,” she said.

Noting the big contribution of the BPO sector in creating new jobs, the President said she had ordered the Information and Communications Technology Commission (ICTC) to conduct a technical study on the resources needed by each province to be ICT-enabled.
That’s why I asked Secretary Rey Chua to study how to make every province ICT-enabled,” she said.

The Philippines is ranked among the most attractive off-shoring destinations in the world based on cost competitiveness and the highly trainable, English-proficient, IT-enabled quality Filipino manpower.

In recent years, the outsourcing sector has expanded beyond call centers and IT to include a range of professional and business processes, including accounting, human resources, financial analysis, design engineering, animation, medical services, legal services, insurance processes, banking processes, map making, publishing, content creation, and research.

In the last seven years, the President said, the economy has managed to create almost seven million new jobs.

“By continuing down this path, we will increasingly be keeping our best and brightest right here in the Philippines, closer to friends and families, helping to build our communities and provide the next generation of leadership,” she added.


RP to attain rice self-sufficiency by 2013—PGMA

OZAMIZ CITY -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today expressed hope that the country will attain rice self-sufficiency by 2013.

The President said the government’s investments in agricultural infrastructure increased rice production by an average of four percent this year.

“We are investing heavily in bringing up the productivity of our farmers. And it is paying off with increased productivity this year. We hope to be rice self-sufficient within five years,” the President said when she was interviewed Thursday (Nov. 20) over DXOC-Ozamiz City at the airport in Gango town here.

She said the government has taken decisive steps to attain rice self-sufficiency by 2013 by allocating massive funding for a wide range of agriculture-related projects, including irrigation, farm-to-market roads, dryers, cold storage plants, and the development of hybrid seeds.

“Now, we are investing in FIELDS so that, hopefully, we reduce our import dependency,” the Chief Executive said, stressing that it is the government’s commitment to make food available to all Filipinos.

She said the new economics of global food security makes it imperative for the country to control its own destiny in terms of rice sufficiency.

The government’s longer-term efforts to promote rice self-sufficiency will also ensure that “we will no longer have to rely on expensive imports to meet our country's needs for this important commodity,” she added.

The Philippines produces about 90 percent of its rice needs; the remaining 10 percent is imported from Vietnam and other countries.

The President acknowledged that the global spike in rice, food and fuel prices has placed a tremendous strain on ordinary Filipinos, but stressed that government responded to this challenge in a swift, measured and targeted manner.

She pointed out that because its first priority was to stabilize the supply of rice, the government had to submit early bids to buy rice from Vietnam and Thailand in anticipation of a major price surge at mid-year.

The government has also put in place distribution mechanisms to make sure that the rice supply reached the right people at the right price through the collaborative efforts of churches, schools and civic organizations.

“Today, our prices of rice have remained reasonable and supply is adequate,” the President said as she assured that the government will continue to assist the poor through subsidized rice.

“It is important that the poorest among us continue to receive assistance with the rice they purchase and it is part of our commitment to share the results of our economic success with all Filipinos,” she added.


PGMA refuses to be distracted by political noise prematurely generated by 2010 polls

OZAMIZ CITY – In the midst of the political noise generated by the premature campaigning for the 2010 presidential elections, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo assured the people today that she would remain focused on her job of steering the country towards economic stability.
“I am not affected by the noise at all. I am focused on my job and will continue to do my job,” the President said when she was interviewed Thursday (Nov. 20) by DXOC-Ozamis City at the Gango airport here.

When asked how she manages to remain focused on her job, the President replied: “discipline.”

Earlier on Wednesday (Nov. 19), in her keynote address at the 18th League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) General Assembly at the Manila Hotel, the President thanked the local executives for staying focused on their jobs of delivering basic services to the people, and for not being affected by the noise prematurely generated by the 2010 elections.

“Thank you for realizing that effective governance is not a popularity contest. And thank you for understanding that the people deserve from their leaders to deliver, and because you stood and delivered,” she said.


Poor Misamis fisherfolks go out into the streets to welcome PGMA

BALIANGAO, Misamis Occidental – Residents of this fifth-class municipality went out into the streets here to welcome President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the first-ever seating President of the Republic to visit this fishing town of this province.

“We didn’t expect the President to visit us because Baliangao is only a fifth-class municipality. So lahat kami na-overwhelmed and excited. We consider the President’s presence here in Baliangao as a “dream comes true,” Mayor Haneya Theresa Yap-Chiong said in an interview.

“Yung lahat na biyaya na binigay ng Presidente sa amin dito (Baliangao) ay malaking tulong sa amin lalo na sa mga residente, because as you know, maraming mahihirap dito. And even small things na naibigay sa kanila ay malaking tulong para sa kanilang kabuhayan,” Mayor Chiong added.

The President, accompanied by Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Secretary Nasser Pangandaman arrived here shortly before noon from Ozamiz City, to lead various national agencies in providing basic social services to the indigent residents here.

Misamis Occidental Gov. Loreto Leo Ocampos, Baliangao Mayor Haneya Theresa Yap-Chiong, Misamis Occidental 1st District Rep. Marina Clarete, Philippine National Police (PNP) provincial Director Leanilo Cabug, Baliangao School of Fisheries Principal Lolita Daque, and Misom barangay Captain Ernesto Ambalong welcomed the President as she disembarked from her chopper at the Baliangao School of Fisheries in Misom village here.

Upon her arrival at the municipal plaza, the President spearheaded the medical and dental mission and distributed 1,237 access cards and cash cards to the elderly and other beneficiaries.

The access cards are part of the ongoing project of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) under its Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) while the cash cards are under the Tulong kay Lolo t-Lola program.

Earlier, the President instructed representatives of the DSWD and other agencies to turn over 10 bags of hybrid rice seeds, 20 bags of certified rice seeds and 10 bags of hybrid corn seeds from the Department of Agriculture (DA) to the leaders of farmer organizations of Baliangao.

She also ordered the distribution of 10,000 tilapia fingerlings from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) to the leaders of fishermen associations; 43 land patents under the Handog Titulo Program of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR); 26 certificates of land ownership awards (CLOAS) to 34 agrarian reform beneficiaries covering a total area of 44.3 hectares from the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR); training for work scholarship vouchers to 20 beneficiaries for commercial cooking and for hairdressing; purchase order worth P20,000 for packaging materials for Baliangao One-Town, One Product (OTOP) bottled sardines making project; 25 boxes of school kits for day care and Grade 1 pupils; and family food packs for the 3,000 poor indigent residents.


PGMA ‘terribly upset’ over my prayer – Dureza

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was “terribly upset” over the impromptu opening prayer of Press Secretary Jesus Dureza at last Tuesday’s (Nov. 18) Cabinet meeting in Malacañang.

This was disclosed by Dureza himself in a press statement this afternoon.

In his mea culpa, Dureza admitted that “it was a mistake on my part to subject the President to such underserved flak.”

He said he apologized to the President “later that day when media reported (the incident) with a spin for term extension – at her expense.”

“I take full responsibility and own up solely to the blame,” he added.

The controversial prayer invoked God’s blessing for the President “so she will have the forbearance, good health, tolerance to lead this nation up to 2010 and, perhaps, who knows, even beyond.”

This was interpreted by some sectors of the media and administration critics as a call for an extension of the President’s term through a constitutional or Charter change.

But Malacañang, for the umpteenth time, stressed that President Arroyo has no intention to extend her term of office beyond June 2010.

The President herself has repeatedly declared that she will step down when her constitutional term expires.

At his regular press conference in Malacañang on Wednesday, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said that the “issue of Cha-Cha is hardly being discussed by anybody and I suppose I’m close enough to the President to share what her thoughts are (on Cha-Cha) pero wala naman.”

Ermita was fielding a question on Dureza’s prayer.

“Just to set the record straight, the President was terribly upset due to my prayer, although immediately after the Cabinet meeting she didn’t show much displeasure because I told her about my drowned-out phrase ‘in her personal and private capacity,’ and that I requested media to keep it off the record,” Dureza said.

“One lesson I learned is that, next time, I'll pray in silence,” Dureza added.


PGMA distributes P2.19 M in cash prizes to 2008 ‘Gawad Saka’ Awards winner

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo presented today the prestigious 'Gawad Saka’ Awards and distributed P2.19 million in cash prizes to 12 outstanding farmers and fisherfolk along with five farm and fishing groups that made notable contributions to the growth of the agriculture sector this year.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) earlier reported that the agriculture sector grew by 4.19 percent during the first nine months of this year.

In ceremonies held simultaneous with an event of the 18th League of Municipalities of the Philippines at the Manila Hotel, the President presented the awards under the auspices of the DA to showcase the achievements of the small farmers and fisherfolk who raised their yields through the use of integrated farming systems and modern technology.

Rice farmer Claudio Agcaoili of Vintar, Ilocos Norte was cited as this year’s Outstanding Rice Farmer, and Edilberto Bitacura of Dumingag, Zamboanga del Sur as the Outstanding Corn Farmer. Each of them also received P120,000 and a Presidential Citation and trophy in the Outstanding Individual Achievers category.

Also recipients of the same citations and prizes in the Individual Category were Preciosa Maturan of Bayawan City in Negros Oriental as the Outstanding Sugarcane Farmer; Benjamin Lao of Bansalan, Davao del Sur as the Outstanding Coconut Farmer; Ricardo Tolentino of Laoag City as the Outstanding High-Value Cash Crop Farmer; Juboken Agri-Enterprises Inc. of Camalig Albay as the Outstanding Agri-Entrepreneur;

Renato Alfaro of Cauayan City, Isabela as the Outstanding Fisherfolk (Fish Culture); Restituto Del Rosario of Morong, Bataan as the Outstanding Fisherfolk (Fish Capture); Annie Sitjar of Labangan, Zamboanga Del Sur as the Outstanding Small Animal Raiser; Rosita Naje of Castilla, Sorsogon as the Outstanding Young Farmer/Fisherfolk;

Ireneo Espartero and family of Dujali, Davao del Norte as the Outstanding Farmer/Fisherfolk Family; and Louella Rowena de Jesus of the Department of Agriculture Regional Field Unit as the Outstanding Agricultural Scientist.

The Outstanding Organization Achievers that each received a P150,000 Project Grant, and Presidential Trophy and Citation were the Mandaya Tribal Youth Organization of Monkayo, Compostela Valley as the Outstanding Young Farmer/Fisherfolk Organization; Barucboc Rural Improvement Club (RIC) of Quezon, Isabela as the Outstanding Rural Improvement Club;

Tupi Integrated Agricultural Cooperative of Tupi, South Cotabato as the Outstanding City/Municipal Agricultural Fishery Council (CAFC/MAFC); and the Camarines Norte Provincial Agricultural and Fishery Council (PAFC) as the Outstanding PAFC.

The ‘Gawad Saka’ Awards is an annual search for outstanding achievers in agriculture and fisheries who represent the various stakeholders of the community -- farmers, fisherfolk, farm communities, scientists and organizations, as well as DA and local government employees.

The project aims to give due recognition to individuals and institutions whose exemplary accomplishments in their respective fields of endeavor and contribution to the country’s agricultural development are deemed worthy of emulation.


PGMA to meet with Filipinos in L.A. before proceeding to Peru

LOS ANGELES -- President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo will have a brief stopover here on Nov. 21 to meet with the Filipino community before proceeding to Peru to join other leaders from the 21 Asia-Pacific economies for the 16th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders´ Summit scheduled on Nov. 22-23 in Lima.

The President’s meeting with the Filipino community will be held at the Sheraton Gateway Hotel here at around 6 p.m. on Friday. She is scheduled to leave Los Angeles at 8:30 p.m. for the nine-hour flight to Lima.

President Arroyo is expected to arrive in Lima’s Jorge Chavez International Airport early morning on Nov. 22 where a Peruvian welcome ceremony awaits her and the 19 other APEC leaders.

The President's lean delegation includes Trade Secretary Peter Favila, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo and Press Secretary Jesus Dureza.

At noontime on Nov. 22, the President and the other APEC leaders will be accorded the official welcome and greetings and the APEC traditional handshakes (in the APEC alphabetical order) with APEC 2008 host Peruvian President Alan Garcia Perez at the entrance lobby of the Peruvian Ministry of Defense (MoD) Convention Center at Pentagonito in Lima.

President Arroyo will then join the 20 Economic Leaders at the Leaders´ Retreat in roundtable discussions and meetings at the Bolognesi Room of the MoD Convention Center with the APEC Peru 2008 theme, “A New Commitment to the Asia-Pacific Development.”

The APEC leaders will meet over lunch and resume their roundtable discussions in the afternoon session.

APEC is an agreement mechanism with a regional and inter-governmental range that groups the 21 Asia-Pacific economies of Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, People´s Republic of China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, USA and Vietnam.

The APEC Leaders will discuss issues in the APEC agenda for the meetings of the 21 APEC Leaders and the pre-Summit conferences and sessions by 55 Ministers and High Level Officials from the APEC region on the global economic issues; the APEC support for the WTO Doha Round negotiations; APEC Regional Economic Integration Agenda; SMEs; Corporate Social Responsibility; Human Security; APEC Institutional Reform; Trade and Investment Deliverables; Structural Reform; Anti-Corruption and Transparency; Economic and Technical Cooperation; Climate Change and the APEC Food System.

After the first APEC Leaders´ Retreat, the President and the other APEC leaders will meet with the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC), the principal economic and business advisory group composed of think tanks, business and financial experts, investment leaders and CEOs from the Asia-Pacific community.

After the APEC Leaders´ Retreat 1 and the Leaders´ Dialogue sessions with ABAC at the MoD Convention Center, the APEC leaders will be feted at a gala dinner and cultural performance at the Caceres Esplanade at the MoD Complex.

On the second day (Nov. 23), President Arroyo and the other APEC Leaders will hold their Retreat 2 at the MoD Convention Center. At the close of the Leaders´ 2 Retreat, the APEC Leaders will have their official group photographed while clad in special Peruvian ensemble following APEC tradition.

President Arroyo will join the APEC Peru 2008 Final Declaration Ceremony at the MoD Auditorium with presiding APEC 2008 host Peruvian President Garcia Perez and the incoming APEC 2009 host Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong of Singapore.

The President will be accorded departure courtesies along with the other APEC leaders at the MoD Departure Hall after the Leaders Closing Luncheon at the Government Palace.

The Philippines joined the APEC in November 1989 and assumed the chairmanship in 1996 when it hosted the 4th APEC gathering in Subic and Manila.

The APEC 2008 forum is a timely gathering of world leaders in view of the global financial crunch to focus and address major issues that affect the region and the world.

The forum is especially significant at this time with the APEC economies representing about 50 percent of the world’s total trade.

With the global economy in a precarious state, President Arroyo regards the APEC forum and other gatherings of world leaders as crucial opportunities to further boost international trade, diplomatic relations, business and investment opportunities both in the bilateral and multilateral levels to sustain the country’s economic development.