PGMA's Remarks during the Luncheon with the Local Chief Executives of Negros Oriental and Zamboanga del Norte

Bethel Guest House, Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental (2 April 2003)
YES, FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE TO CONGRATULATE THE CRISIS MANAGERS BECAUSE UP TO NOW -- WITH SARS SPREADING AROUND THE WORLD -- UP TO NOW, THE PHILIPPINES IS STILL NEGATIVE.

NONETHELESS, IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO BE VIGILANT, AND SO WHAT I WOULD... WHAT I HAVE BEEN SAYING IS THAT WE WILL CONSIDER SARS AS IMPORTANT A CRISIS AS THE IRAQ WAR. SO WE HAVE A TWIN CRISIS NOW AND THEREFORE WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH SARS IN THE SAME CONCERTED AND COORDINATED MANNER AS WE HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH THE IRAQ WAR.

IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, IT'S PRINCIPALLY THE DOH, THE DOLE, THE DFA AND THE IMMIGRATION BUREAU OF THE DOJ. WE ALREADY HAVE VERY GOOD SECURITY MEASURES IN NAIA. REMEMBER WHAT I TOLD YOU BEFORE, I CALLED THEIR ATTENTION ON SECURITY OUTSIDE. BUT INSIDE NAIA, IT'S ONE OF THE BEST IN THE WORLD AND THAT INCLUDES THE QUARANTINE MEASURES. BUT THESE SECURITY MEASURES THAT WE ARE UNDERTAKING IN NAIA MUST NOW BE BROUGHT TO OUR MAJOR PORTS, SO THAT OUR SEAFARERS CAN ALSO BE CHECKED. THE DOH MUST COORDINATE WITH THE COAST GUARD AND THE NAVY FOR SUCH DEPLOYMENT. SECRETARY MENDOZA IS HERE, 'NO? SO, WE WILL GIVE HIM THAT INSTRUCTION. WE MUST TRY TO LOCK OUT THE DISEASE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE WHILE KEEPING AN EYE ON SUSTAINING NORMAL COMMERCIAL AND IMMIGRATION ACTIVITIES.

FOR INSTANCE, THE STRONG REPUBLIC NAUTICAL HIGHWAY, WE HOPE WILL BE ADVANCING IN FACT THE NORMAL COMMERCIAL ACTIVITIES FROM MINDANAO THROUGH THE VISAYAS THROUGH LUZON PARTICULARLY THE CARGO OF OUR FARMERS GOING TO THE BIG MARKET OF LUZON. THAT'S A NORMAL ACTIVITY, AND WE MUST CONTINUE TO SUSTAIN THAT AT THE SAME TIME, WE WILL... AT THE SAME TIME, WE WILL MAKE THESE AGENCIES IN CHARGE OF THE SARS PROBLEM TRY TO LOCK OUT THE DISEASE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, JUST LIKE WE HAVE A MIDDLE EAST PREPAREDNESS TEAM HEADED BY ROY CIMATU. JUST AS WE HAVE A CRISIS MANAGER FOR THE IRAQ CRISIS HERE IN THE PERSON OF SECRETARY GOLEZ, I WILL BE APPOINTING SECRETARY MANOLET DAYRIT AS THE CRISIS MANAGER FOR THE SARS, AND WE WILL HAVE AS MEMBERS DOLE, DFA AND THE IMMIGRATION BUREAU.

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