Officers come and go in the corps but the essential imperatives of soldiery—loyalty, professionalism, morale and strict adherence to the chain of command—are undiminished.

They are in fact getting stronger everyday as a result of strong internal reforms and modernization programs.

The four mega-regions will be the harbinger of First World status for the Philippines in 20 years.

The massive devolution of development from the national to the regional level will break up the bureaucratic clog that impedes local progress, and spell a quantum leap in investments and jobs.

The campaign against the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) is not a campaign of force and violence but a combination of security operations directed at armed adversaries, development directed at poor communities and governance initiatives directed at the local governments.

The negotiating table has always been open but the CPP-NPA has no longer shown any interest to sit in it, foisting the absurd precondition of lifting the terrorist tag placed on the NPA by the United States and the European Union, which the Philippine government cannot do anything about.

What can you expect from the Opposition? They have nothing good to say about any constructive campaign of the administration.

Nonetheless, this administration is determined to protect every single centavo intended for the National Treasury, and to go after those who steal from the coffers of the people.

During the Joint Cabinet-Regional Development Council (RDC) meeting for the Metro Luzon superregion on Tuesday (June 20) at the Heroes Hall of Malacañang, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo stressed the need for investments in education and infrastructure, particularly logistics facilities in Clark, Subic and Calabarzon.

The Office of Cabinet Secretary Ricardo L. Saludo said the President also batted for investments in expressways and ports in the urban beltway and Aurora, as well as agribusiness in Nueva Ecija and the island provinces of Mindoro and Marinduque.

At the superregion meeting, National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Director General Romulo Neri outlined strategies and projects for the Medium-Term Public Investment Program (MTPIP) to realize the President's vision of an "urban beltway" for Metro Manila, Mindoro, Marinduque, and other provinces in Regions III and IV-A.

The Metro Luzon superregion is to be transformed into a globally competitive urban and industrial service center. The National Capital Region will aspire to be the major business and transaction center in the Asia-Pacific region, while Mindoro and Marinduque may serve as gateway to Southern Philippines and food basket of Metro Manila and Calabarzon consisting of the provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon.

President Arroyo maintained that the development plan for Metro Luzon should help hasten the transformation of Region III into a "globally competitive human resource transshipment and logistics hubs in the Asia-Pacific region."

Region IV-A, on the other hand, should live up to the vision of a "livable industrial region with well planned town clusters supported by modern intermodal transportation and digital infrastructure."

To realize this vision, Neri outlined the MTPIP for Metro Luzon with NCR getting P151.451 billion, followed by Calabarzon (P141.616 billion), Central Luzon (P97.527 billion) and Mindoro-Marinduque (P8.935 billion).

The MTPIP, according to Neri, aims to achieve the following development goals for Metro Luzon:

• A globally competitive urban beltway;
• Population growth and decongestion and improving the quality of life ;
• Ensuring food and water supply;
• Managing water flows;
• Opening up the Pacific coast;
• Enhancing the role of LGUs; and
• Supporting infrastructure.

The President instructed NEDA to include in the master plan the possibility of connecting the South Luzon Expressway and Northern Luzon Expressway through any of three options: C-6 through Laguna Lake; Skyway connecting SLEX and NLEX, and connecting C-5 and NLEX.

President Arroyo said the concerned Cabinet officials should immediately begin publication of bidding invitation for these projects.

She also directed the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) to study the viability of the Fernando Air Base and Sangley Point for the requirements of the electronics export industry.

Likewise, she stressed the need for a gantry crane in the Batangas port.

During the Cabinet meeting with RDCs, President Arroyo also instructed NEDA to include in the MTPIP a program to address the siltation problem in Pampanga River as well as the recommendations during the recent Central Luzon Flood Summit.

She directed the concerned agencies to seek a regional solution to the flooding in Region III and for the DPWH to make a feasibility study to address the flooding in Bataan in two weeks.

"If the Central Luzon Flood Mitigation Masterplan does not address the flood problem in Bataan, it should be included," the President pointed out.

There will be a second meeting to discuss the second draft of the MTPIP "city by city, province by province" with regional and local leaders in the urban beltway.

During Tuesday's joint Cabinet-Metro Luzon RDC meeting, the RDC and regional officials expressed their appreciation of the President's strategy of development planning from the perspective of the regions. They also praised the national government for its development efforts.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo feted the winners of this year’s Gawad Saka Outstanding Achievers in Agriculture at the Rizal Hall in Malacañang this morning.

The President handed out the awards to eight outstanding individuals and three outstanding organizations for their invaluable contribution to agriculture.

The individual awardees were Nemecio Cristobal of Villa Magat , San Mateo, Isabela as the Outstanding Rice Farmer of the year; Edgar de Luna of Villa Luna, Cauayan City, Isabela, Outstanding Corn Farmer; Roger Camarinta of Lantapan, Bukidnon, Outstanding Sugarcane Farmer; Eriberto de Ocampo of Naguilan ,Isabela, Outstanding High Value Crop Farmer.

Other individuals awardees included Ryan Montanez of Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur, Outstanding Young Farmer/Fisherfolk; Lourdes de la Pena of Bantayan, Cebu, Outstanding Fisherfolk (Fish Capture); Floresma Dacuycuy of Cauayan, Isabela, Outstanding Fisherfolk (Fish Culture) and Wilfredo Sia of Cagayan de Oro City, Outstanding High Value Crop Processor.

The Outstanding Farm Family award was given to the family of Benjamin Maputi of Malaybalay, Bukidnon. Calbayog City was adjudged the Outstanding Municipal/City Agricultural and Fishery Council, while Midsalip Farmers Multipurpose Cooperative was cited as the Outstanding Small Farmer/Fisherfolk Organization.

The President also handed out special citations to eight individuals for their invaluable contribution in agriculture. They were Carlos Dominguez of Iloilo (Young Farmer/Fisherfolk); Michael Binauro of Bukidnon (Young Farmer/Fisherfolk);

Editha Tincang of Sibugay Zamboanga (Small Animal Raiser); Rogelio Guinto (Fisherfolk-Fish Capture); Jose Alegria of Davao City (Fisherfolk-Fish Capture); Noel Ramirez of Bataan (Fisherfolk- Fish Capture); Thomas Reyes of Tayabas, Quezon (Fisherfolk-Fish Capture) and Dr. Rene Rafael Espino of UP Los Banos as the Agricultural Scientist.

The Department of Agriculture said the special citations were given this year as the competition was "very tight."

The individual awardees received P30,000 cash, a presidential trophy and a special citation each while the institutional awardees were given P15,000 worth of project grant from the National Agricultural and Fishery Council.

The individual achievers with special citation received P15,000 cash and a presidential citation each.

The Gawad Saka Award is the highlight of the Farmers and Fisherfolk Month (June).

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo honored today the country’s outstanding Peace and Order Councils (POCs) in recognition of their extraordinary and meritorious contributions to public safety and peace and order.

The President, assisted by Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary and concurrently National Police Commission (Napolcom) Chairman Ronaldo Puno, handed out the awards to the winning POCs in simple ceremonies at the Rizal Hall in Malacañang this morning.

The winner of the Most Outstanding CPOC-Component City category was Oroquieta City. This is the third year in a row that the Oroquieta POC won the prestigious award, and earned for the Misamis Occidental city a place in the award’s Hall of Fame.

The Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) plum went to Region 11, which also won the Best RPOC award in1999, 2000, 2002 and 2004.

Like the Oroquieta City POC, the Region 11 RPOC was also elevated to the award’s Hall of Fame for its exemplary achievements in the area of public safety and peace and order.

The winners of the second and third Best RPOC award were Regions 10 and 2, respectively.

Other winners in the CPOC-Component City category were Tuguegarao City and Legazpi City, 2^nd placers, and Tagbilaran City, 3^rd placer.

The winners of the provincial POC-1^st to 3rd Class category were Mt. Province, Most Outstanding; Bohol, 2nd; and Cagayan, third, while Camiguin garnered the best POC award in the 4^th to 6^th Class category.

Makati City won the Best City POC under the Highly Urbanized City category, followed by Davao City and Naga City.

The winners of the Most Outstanding Municipal POC, 1^st to 3^rd Class category, were La Trinidad, Benguet; Impasug-ong, Bukidnon, 2nd Best, and Dumangas, Iloilo, 3^rd Best.

The Malitbog POC in Bukidnon was adjudged the Most Outstanding Municipal POC; Dingras, Ilocos, Norte, 2nd Best, and Sta. Teresita, Cagayan as 3rd Best.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo recognized the feat of a farmer from Nueva Ecija for producing the highest palay yield per hectare in the country during the 2006 Gawad Saka Achievers in Agriculture awarding ceremonies held this morning at the Rizal Hall in Malacañang.

Fernando Gabuyo Jr., who abandoned his job as a marine engineer to become a rice farmer, produced 334 cavans of palay per hectare last April.

Gabuyo, who planted the SL9, a superior rice variety developed by SL Agritech, in his 25-hectare farm in San Jose City, Nueva Ecija, said he has one dream--- to break the world record of 370 cavans per hectare yield now held by China.

He, however, fell short in his first and second attempts. In his first try last year, he produced 332.5 cavans per hectare.

VIGAN CITY, Ilocos Sur – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo gave the go-ahead signal today for the implementation of five major projects initiated by Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis "Chavit" Singson which will form part of the government’s North Luzon Agri-business Quadrangle development strategy.

These projects are:

1. The Ilocos Sur Special Economic Zone and Freeport at the Salomague port. The facility is expected to spur Luzon’s economic growth and boost trade and other commercial changes between the Philippines and its Association of Southeast Asian (Asean) neighbors.

2. The Multiline Productivity and Growth Thru Marketing Assistance (Multiline-PGMA). This newly re-opened project will cater to the farmers' needs for a venue where they would be able to buy all their agri-business needs.

3. The Suyo-Cervantes Circumferential Road that will connect the entire upland communities of Ilocos Sur to Regions 1 and 2 and the Cordillera Administrative Region.

4. The Ilocos Sur-Banaoang Irrigation System that will irrigate initially 10,000 hectares of land; and

5. The installation of Enviro Rubber Blocks made of Combulec in Ilocos Sur’s rivers and coastal towns to help create environmentally sound seawalls and riverine embankments to contain soil erosion and strengthen flood control measures.

Singson said that the five projects are urgently needed to bolster business and economic activities, as well as tourism in Ilocos Sur.

The President, whose Ilocos Sur visit coincided with the 65^th birthday of the governor, said she expects to be kept posted on the progress of the five projects.

Before proceeding to Baluarte Salindeg, the governor’s residence in Vigan City, the President inaugurated the P10 million Vigan Police building at Barangay Poblacion.

The new structure, which has a total floor area of 582 square meters, sits on a 1,000-square meter lot of the city government. The building was designed to look like an old Spanish building.

Assisting the President during the ribbon cutting ceremonies were Philippine National Police (PNP) Director General Arturo Lomibao and Vigan City Police Chief Supt. Maximo Torricer.

At noon, the President had a private lunch with the birthday celebrant and several guests of the governor including Ilocos Sur Vice Governor Deogracias Savellano, Gov. Vicsyd Valera of Abra, 1^st District of Ilocos Sur Rep. Salacnib Baterina, and Quezon City 1^st District Rep. Vincent "Bingbong" Crisologo.

From Baluarte Salindeg, the President proceeded to the Gabriela Silang General Hospital in Bgy. Tamag to inspect the newly installed computerized axial tomography or computed tomography scan (CT-Scan) machine.

The CT-scan facility was acquired through the financial assistance of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), which shelled out close to P30 million for the facility.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo cited today the banking sector and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas for their continuing efforts to enhance services to the public, as indicated by the interconnection yesterday of the country’s three major automated teller machines or ATM networks.

"I commend the banks for setting aside competition to provide better and more convenient service to millions of ATM cardholders in the country. At the same time, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas should be congratulated for providing able leadership and guidance to the banking sector, which is principally a service-oriented industry," the President said.

Expressnet and Bancnet ATM networks formalized their interconnection yesterday at launching ceremonies held at the Bangko Sentral, completing the final leg of a three-way linkage. The Megalink network had been connected to Expressnet and Bancnet for several years now.

It was the Bangko Sentral which called on the three networks to interconnect. BSP Governor Amando M. Tetangco, Jr. said the sharing of network infrastructure will provide greater convenience to the country’s 20 million ATM cardholders and eventually lower transaction costs.

"I am looking forward to more initiatives from the banking sector that would lead to better service and protection for the public," the President said.

Malacanang clarified today that the relief of Philippine Marines No. 3 man Colonel Orlando de Leon was part of the usual and ordinary rotation policy of the military organization.

"The (Navy) Flag Officer-in-Command (Vice Admiral Mateo Mayuga) told me that this is part of a usual rotation policy of the command," Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said in response to reports that De Leon resigned from his post due to the politicization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

Ermita noted that a change of assignment is very usual and an ordinary scene in the military organization. "As a matter of fact, what is unusual is for such a relief was announced through mass media, but the change of assignment is very ordinary in the military organization," he said in his press briefing in Malacanang this afternoon.

Ermita admited that De Leon was the chief of staff of former Marine Commandant Major Gen. Renato Miranda. Miranda was among several high-ranking military officers relieved by General Mayuga in connection with the failed attempt to overthrow the leadership of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo last February.

According to the Marines leadership, De Leon was relieved because he was groomed to become the Chief of Staff of the Naval Education and Training Command in Zambales.

De Leon was temporarily replaced by Lt.Col. Armando Banez in a ceremony held June 15 at the Marines Headquarters in Fort Bonifacio.

A spokesman for the Marines, Lt. Col. Ariel Caculitan said De Leon’s relief cannot be questioned because it is the prerogative of the commander and part of the cycle of reassignment among officers.

For his part, Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesman Ignacio R. Bunye said all officers in the military and even in the police organizations can come and go "but the essential imperatives of soldiery – loyalty, professionalism, morale and strict adherence to the chain of command – are undiminished."

Bunye noted that the majority of the military officers are getting stronger everyday as a result of strong internal reforms and modernization programs implemented by the military leadership under the instruction of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

The government’s offensive against rebels is not a campaign of might and bloodshed but a total approach to finally put an end to the 37 years of communist insurgency, Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said today.

Bunye pointed out that the government had, time and again, offered the hand of peace, but the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) has consistently spurned all peace initiatives.

"The campaign against the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) is not a campaign of force and violence but a combination of security operations directed at armed adversaries, development directed at poor communities and governance initiatives directed at the local governments," Bunye said.

He said the government had remained open to peace negotiations, but the communist insurgents have shown no interest in a peaceful settlement of the conflict.

Government efforts to revive the stalled peace talks have hit a dead end because the CPP-NPA insisted on the "absurd precondition of lifting the terrorist tag placed on the NPA by the United States and the European Union, which the Philippine government cannot do anything about," Bunye said.

Malacanang said the CPP-NPA insurgency remains the only stumbling block to economic progress following the successful implementation of policy reforms by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

"This government is resolved to protect the people from further depredations. We are aware of the root causes of this problem and the intensified campaign against the CPP-NPA is actually a part of this government’s overall approach to addressing poverty, especially in the countryside," Bunye said.

At his regular weekly briefing this afternoon in Malacanang, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita also warned rebel coddlers and supporters that government is determined to wipe out insurgency in two to three years.

He stressed that the government’s strategy in fighting insurgency is not based wholly on the military option. It encompasses various initiatives, including the implementation of infrastructure projects, medical and civic actions, and other services in NPA-infested and influenced areas.

Ermita said the development approach is designed to eliminate the breeding ground of communist rebels, make people realize that government is attending to their needs, and eventually convert rebel recruits into peace-loving citizens.

At present, there are barangays that are practically off-limits to health, agriculture and social workers because they are heavily-infested by NPAs, Ermita admitted.

He pointed out that government hopes to deny the rebels the capability to interfere in the implementation of government projects such as the construction of roads and bridges and the delivery of basic services to the people.

"When that time comes, then we can say that we have substantially addressed the threat of the CPP-NPA," he said.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo granted executive clemency to 57 male prisoners, including seven youthful offenders in memorandum orders she signed May 31 and June 8, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said today.

Among the inmates granted conditional pardon was Danilo P. Cuyugan, father of popular movie and television actor Marvin Agustin.

Also granted conditional pardon by the President were Virgilio Adrales y Santiago, Delfin Ayo y Ato, Eduardo Ballesteros y Cabrera, Catalino Baynosa, Sr. y Dogomeo, Andres Clemente y Agustin, Modesto Damian y Ferrer @ Oding, Mario De Leon y Alquitala, Cecilio Espiritu y Bulaklak @ Celio, Federico Gialolo y Corro, Benjamin Helit y Mercadejas, Angel Jurada y Vagilidad, Antonio Panganiban y Aquino, Teofilo Pantaleon, Jr. y Gallardo, Pedro Penza y Cantilla, Domingo Perez y De Leon, Jose Quilay Gadil, Juan Rodelas y Ordillano, Nestor Velasquez y Caballida, Billy Villalobos y Guerrero

Ramon Villanueva, Sr. y Delfin, Edgardo Abadies y Genon @ Toto, Rodolfo Abastillas y Endaya, Marcelino Anastacio, Jr. y Ocampo, Mario Arogante y Riano, Melanio Bag-ay y Nalding, Elmario Bautista y Quintana, Fernando Berber y Del Mindo, Nestor Briones y Evangelista, Crisanto Cano y Basa, Eduardo Dangkin y Sarmiento @ Dangguin, Eduardo Diego y Sultan, Benjamin Diezmo y Bolahano, Victorio Eugenio y Roque, Zacarias Fabiolas y Guillen @ Iyas, Pascual Huertas y Gonzales, Jaime Jimenez y Arante @ Jimmy, Doroteo Labajo y Ollave, Antonio Magana y Dacuno, Marcelino Maguikay y Caliwan @ Lino, Arthur Manuel y Engallado, Raul Oco y Canonayan @ Boy Usher, Nick Perucho y Singson @ Mark Perucho, Marcelino Polias y Betonio, Yamashito Ronquillo y Sering @ Bebot, Mario Roxas y Lopez, Theodore Sy y Polancios, Robenson Tambo y De Guzman @ Roben, Simeon Tampus, Jr. y Gedaro, Tomas Tundag y Codinera, Marciano Villocido, Sr. y Apaya, Medardo Ardina, Jr y Avila, Bimboy Arana y Dinaya @ Tiboy, Michael Babe y Ventura, Reynaldo Ceniza y Quijano @ Rey Aquino and Roberto Gavica y Tan

Malacañang announced today the appointment by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo of Court of Appeals Justice Arturo D. Brion as Labor Secretary, replacing Patricia Sto. Tomas who will assume her new post as acting Member and Board Chairman of the Development Bank of the Philippines.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita made the announcement during his weekly press briefing in Malacanang.

Seven other officials were appointed by the President, according to Ermita.

They are Michael A. Osmena as acting president of the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation; Mariano Salazar as undersecretary of the Department of Energy; DOE Undersecretary Peter Anthony S. Abaya as member of the Board of Directors and president of the Philippine National Oil Company-Petrochemical Development Corporation (PNOC-EDC);

Alexander S. Cauguiran as executive vice-president and member of the Board of Directors of Clark International Airport Corp. (CIAC); Juan Agapito M. Tria II as assistant administrator for Administrative Service of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA); Carlos S. Salazar as assistant administrator for Systems Operation and Equipment Management of the same agency; and Rolando R. Robles as acting member, representing the private sector for the National Book Development Board.

Ermita said the appointment papers of the eight officials were released by the Office of the President on separate dates from June 19 to 21.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita assured today that there would be transparency in the utilization of the P1-billion fund to eliminate graft and corruption in the country.

At the regular media briefing this afternoon in Malacanang, Ermita said the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission (PAGC) would likely hire more lawyers and staff and procure needed equipment to effectively track down their cases and investigations.

He said the fight against graft and corruption does not stop with the PAGC, as the Office of the Ombudsman is also a recipient of the $21-million Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) from the United States.

The MCA has been a challenge to Third World leaders to implement reforms and eliminate graft and corruption in their respective countries.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo had said earlier that her administration has no intention of letting up on its fight against graft and corruption and would continue the lifestyle check on government officials and employees, the reforms in the government procurement process, and the elimination of the deep-seated culture of graft and corruption in the country with moral recovery and values education programs.

"You can see the grasp of the administration in addressing graft and corruption is not just lip service, we are putting resources to effectively implement it," Ermita said.

In a statement, Press Secretary Ignacio R. Bunye also assured that government would go after those who steal from the coffers of the people as he advised the opposition to help fight for good governance instead of raising noise just to land in the limelight.

The government’s new planning and economic development tact of grouping the existing 16 regions into four "mega-regions" would be the country’s harbinger to a First World status in the next two decades as economic growth and greater investments are expected in the entire country.

"The four mega-regions will be the harbinger of First World status for the Philippines in 20 years," Press Secretary and concurrent Presidential Spokesperson Ignacio Bunye said today.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, during the first Joint Cabinet and Regional Development Councils Meeting for North Luzon held in Cauayan City, Isabela last Friday, said that with the mega-regions, planning and discussing the vision/program of government would be shifted from the usual central/national point of view to the perspective of the regions.

The national government, local government units and the business sector would pour in their combined financial resources and invest in infrastructure, health, education, peace and security, and industry to pump prime the economy and gain the confidence of the international financial community and attract greater foreign investments.

The rationale behind an enlarged development area is that there would be greater economic and market potentials in the mega-region as compared to what each region could generate, as there would be complementation and synergies that would be more attractive to investors, Cabinet Secretary Ricardo L. Saludo has said.

He added that a larger resource base for each mega-region would be available for the delivery of basic social services and pump-priming infrastructure particularly for the poor regions as the richer regions would be supporting the poorer ones within the mega-region.

"The massive devolution of development from the national to the regional level will break up the bureaucratic clog that impedes local progress, and spell a quantum leap in investments and jobs," Bunye said.

He added that the mega-regions, together with the "broader distribution of political power through Charter change," would definitely bring the country to the First World Status.