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PGMA support to science community recognized
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The country’s science community today recognized the steadfast support of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
to the science and technology sector through a presentation dubbed “Alay Pasasalamat” at Malacanang’s
Heroes’ Hall.
The event, organized by the National Academy of Science and Technology, highlighted the accomplishments of
the science community that stemmed from the support of the President during her nine-year term.
Among these was the signing into law on March 23, this year of Republic Act 10055, otherwise known as the
Technology Transfer Act of 2009, which harmonizes all technology transfer activities in the country and
expediting the commercialization of government-funded research.
The President’s efforts, resulted in the accomplishment of five broad tiers of S&T programs that included
research and development, human resource development, scientific and technological services, promotion
and information services and scientific linkages and international cooperation.
It was also during the Arroyo administration that four new Philippine Science High School campuses were
established to provide the environment for the youth to learn and hone their skills to become achievers.
The President’s S&T Undergraduate Scholarship program was able to reach out to deserving students to
pursue S&T baccalaureate degrees in selected higher education institutions in the country. Some 34,820
scholars have benefited under the program.
President Arroyo also provided extensive support for graduate S&T scholarship programs through the infusion
of more funds. The Accelerated Science and Technology Human Resource Development Program and the
Engineering Research and Development Technology Program resulted in a five- fold increase in the number of
graduate scholarship opportunities. There are now 1,476 MS and 443 PhD scholars under said programs.
The Arroyo administration allocated the much-needed funds for the improvement of research facilities, and
increased the funding for research and development activities for academic scientists and engineers.
National Academy of Science and Technology President Dr. Emil Javier led the science community in
expressing their gratitude to the President’s support to S&T.
“In behalf of the Science community of the Philippines, thank you for your recognition of the importance of S&T
to our country’s progress and inconsiderable support to improve the Philippines capability, scientific research
and development,” Javier said.
Dr. Lourdes Cruz, a National Scientist, pointed out that for the first time in over 30 years, the budget for
research and development increased from 0.51 percent of GDP to 2.4 percent in 2007. She expressed hope
this will start a “logarithmic growth” of the budget for economic development and cooperation.
For his part, Nestor Acala, a PhD Mathematics scholar at the UP Diliman, said that through the President’s
various scholarships in S&T, poor but deserving students like him, was able to realize their dreams as well as
paved the way to a brighter future for them.
Glenn Riced Blanco, a Philippine Science High School scholar from Lanao del Norte, thanked the President for
her Mindanao Opportunities for Vitalized Education (MOVE)- Upgrading Science Program that has helped him
and other students from Mindanao get scholarships in science high schools.
Maria Lydia Lomibao of Camarines Sur said her pili business has been expanding to the markets of the US,
Japan, and Canada with the help of advanced technology she has adopted from the Department of Science
and Technology.
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PGMA confers medals on Fr. Pascual, Donald Dee
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President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo today conferred the Order of Golden Heart with a rank of Golden Cross on
Fr. Anton C. F. Pascual, chairman of the Pro Performance System Steering Committee (PPS-SC), and the
Presidential Medal of Merit on Donald G. Dee for his partnership with the Philippine government.
As chairman of the Pro Performance System Steering Committee, Pascual was in charge of monitoring the
developments of programs and projects of the Arroyo administration and ensuring their completion, identifying
backlogs, and meeting with the various stakeholders to be affected by such programs and projects to ensure
that they will feel the impact of these projects in their lives.
Dee was given the presidential medal of merit for helping the Arroyo administration achieve its goals and
mobilizing the private sector to help the government realize its vision for the country.
The two attended the PPS-SC meeting held at noon at the Arlegui Mansion, which was participated in by both
government and private industry leaders to analyze and summarize the Arroyo administration’s scoreboard of
its projects and programs.
As mandated by Executive Order No. 789 of March 2009, the PPS is tasked with being the integrated
monitoring system to facilitate, evaluate and advocate and to strategically monitor the implementation of the
President’s priority programs and projects.
The steering committee is headed by Fr. Pascual of Caritas Manila and co chaired by Maria Elena Bautista-
Horn of the Presidential Management Staff and has members from mass media, the youth, business,
church/religious sector, local governments, civil society organizations, academe, national government and
international development organization.
Dee represents the business sector; Ambassador Marita Magpili-Jimnez of the Asian Development Bank for
international development organizations; Ruperto Nicdao of Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas for
mass media; Dr. Vincent Fabella of the COCOPEA for the academe; Mayor Benhur Abalos of the Union of Local
Authority of the Philippines for local governments; Rosario Uriarte of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office
for government; and Richard Nalupta for the youth.
The PPS-SC reported that of the remaining 102 programs and projects, it is still closely monitoring the ongoing
construction of six of which 47 are 85 to 90 percent complete and are expected to be completed by the second
semester of 2010.
There are 35 projects that are in various pre-construction stages from procurement, right of way acquisition
and loan application and negotiation stages. These are also being continuously monitored by the PPS-SC to
ensure that civil works are started within the second semester of 2010.
To date, a total of 52 priority infrastructure projects have been completed amounting to P10.6 billion as of June
2010.
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PGMA inaugurates ‘Bridge of Promise’ in Batangas City
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BATANGAS CITY -- President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo inaugurated today the newly completed “Bridge of
Promise” in Barangay Gulod here that will speed up the delivery of goods other than fuel to Metro Manila.
The President, who arrived here at 10 a.m. rode an open pick-up vehicle to lead the inaugural drive-through
and the ribbon-cutting rites, signaling the official opening of the 113.26-meter bridge that costs P100 million.
She was joined by Batangas local officials led by Rep. Leandro Mark Mendoza, Vice Gov. Mark Leviste,
Batangas City Mayor Eduardo Dimacuha and Undersecretary Romeo Momo of the Department of Public Works
and Highways (DPWH).
At the end of the bridge, the Chief Executive alighted from the vehicle and unveiled the bridge’s marker.
DPWH finished the repair of the structure in just six months, two months ahead of schedule.
The bridge is located along Batangas-Lobo Road in Barangay Gulod, where delivery vehicles transporting
petroleum and other products used to pass until it was ravaged by Typhoon Santi in Oct. 31, 2009.
Due to heavy damages, the bridge was closed to traffic, forcing commercial and industrial companies to take a
45-kilometer detour from Batangas to Metro Manila and other points in Luzon.
The DPWH hastened the completion of the bridge project following the strong clamor of petroleum and other
companies that supply fuel and other needs to the country’s capital.
Among these major companies are the National Power Corp. (NPC), Shell Refinery, Malampaya Plant,
Purefoods Corp., JG Summit and Robina Corp..
The new bridge design provides a wider river channel for unobstructed and smoother flow of water.
Aside from providing effective road network that will improve mobility of people, products and services, the
bridge is also seen to boost tourism industry and promote economic development in the Province of Batangas.
This project is jointly implemented by the DPWH and Region IV-A Office and the President’s Bridge Program
Office.
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SK leaders thank PGMA
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Four very articulate leaders of the Sangguniang Kabataan, or the youth councils, all over the country took turns
in praising and thanking President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo for her full support to their needs and concerns
and for championing the cause of education and environment for future generations of Filipinos.
In their separate speeches, Jane Censoria D. Cajes, president of the Sangguniang Kabataan National
Federation; Marinelle Formentera SK Federation from Parañaque representing Luzon; Karl Guisseppe
Gumban of Iloilo representing SKs in the Visayas and Jessa Lumanog SK president for Davao del Sur,
representing SKs in Mindanao took turns in praising the steadfast leadership, the vision, the programs and
projects of President Arroyo, which they said helped spur growth in the countryside.
The SKNF leaders paid a courtesy call on the outgoing Chief Executive Wednesday afternoon to bid her
farewell.
“By name she is known as the President of the Republic. But in our hearts, she is the mother of SK’s
empowerment. The support, trust and confidence she has extended to us and to our program have
demonstrated how the statement in our constitution is translated into action,” said Cajes.
“She has been a great mother to this nation. The motherly leadership that she exhibited during her term is
definitely a unique statement of her leadership principles and philosophies,” she added.
Through rough and trying times, we have seen how she managed to brave all challenges and how she
triumphed over political battles and how she forged all the storms and turbulence, Cajes said.
For her part, Lumanog said that the youth from Mindanao will forever be grateful to President Arroyo for the
various infrastructure projects, the tourism industry, the ports, airports and seaports, the scholarship
programs, the peace effort that are being implemented in different approaches and the battle to maintain and
promote peace, security and peace and order in our homeland.
Gumban said “the SKs and the youth of the Visayas are grateful for your dedication and for the development
that you have sowed in the humble lands of the Visayas.”
“We are thankful for the school buildings you built especially in remote barangays, the hollowed grounds
where dreams, aspirations and wishes of young children are being conceived, born and nurtured,” Gumban
said.
“We thank you for your efforts to attract investors to invest in the Visayas, your presence in the Visayas which
made us and the people Mindanao feel important. We value your presence and your programs,” Gumban said.
According to Gumban, the present generation and those to come, “shall experience and appreciate how you
have labored for development to flourish in the Visayas area.”
Formentera, on the other hand, told the President that her “attitude towards leadership changed when she
began to be inspired by a person who has gone through a lot of challenges yet remained strong, firm and
decisive.”
“The person (referring to the President) encouraged me to face the challenges that I met in performing my
duties and responsibilities. She is one of the most powerful women in the world,” she added.
Se noted that the President’s accomplishments in various programs to uplift the lives of Filipinos are great but
like other public figures she has been subjected to the harshest criticisms by people who chose to be blind to
see the fruits of her labor.
“For me and for many young Filipinos, Her Excellency, President Arroyo is the modern face of an empowered
woman, the guiding vision. Her constant passion, admirable discipline and remarkable persistence clearly led
her to achieve and accomplish so much for a better Philippines,” she concluded.
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PAPI fetes PGMA for accomplishments
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The Publishers Association of the Philippines, Inc. (PAPI) honored President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo today for
her exemplary accomplishments in public governance particularly in growing the economy and infrastructure
development and for supporting the community press over the years.
The Chief Executive was conferred the “Parangal at Pasasalamat” plaque of appreciation by PAPI president
Juan Dayang and PAPI secretary Johnny Nunez during the organization’s 14th Midyear Media Conference and
Executive Session at the Makati Sports Club this morning.
Organized in 1974, PAPI is the largest organization of community editors, columnists, correspondents,
publishers and broadcasters in the country.
Being at the forefront of community journalism, PAPI has been informing and rallying public support for
constructive and beneficial government programs.
“Our job is to support programs of government and President Arroyo, in recent history, is the only one who
participated actively in the affairs of the Publishers Association of the Philippines,” Dayang said.
Dayang, who has been at the helm of PAPI for more than 14 years, said the President has actively supported
the activities of PAPI since she was still undersecretary at the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
“And in all these activities, the President realized that the community journalists can play a vital role in
development,” Dayang said.
In support of the community press, Dayang said the President also issued Presidential Proclamation No. 1187
in 2007 declaring December of every year as “National Press Congress Month and the Month of the
Community Press in the Service of the Nation.”
Dayang said the proclamation provided the legal mandate for the annual National Press Congress which PAPI
spearheads every year as the officially designated lead agency for the month-long observance.
During the event, PAPI members thanked and appreciated the President’s governance and beneficial
programs particularly in the countryside.
Arthur Daguro, publisher of the Brigada based in Cauayan City, Isabela, thanked the President for her
agricultural projects including the farm-to-market roads which put the Cagayan Valley area as the premier food
and rice basket of Luzon.
Nestor Abrematea, publisher of the Tacloban Star, cited the President’s visit even to the remote areas in
Samar and Leyte to personally inspect the completion of projects including the Samar Circumferential Road
and the Agas-Agas Bridge in Sogod, Southern Leyte which he said, opened the route from the Visayas going to
Surigao in Northeastern Mindanao.
Ben Diansay, publisher of the Mindanao Gazette based in Davao City, also thanked the President for her
various development projects such as the upgrading of the 1,500-bed capacity Davao Medical Center,
highways, circumferential roads, airports, and establishment of roll-on roll-off ferry system which enabled
Mindanao farmers and businessmen to bring agricultural and other products to Luzon within 36 hours.
“Overall, she has done much better than many of her predecessors. I am confident history will judge her fairly
and kindly,” Dayang said.
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PGMA's budget reforms, lower debt payments freed more funds for eco and social
services
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President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s reforms instituted at the Department of Budget and Management, have
substantially improved the national budget process and efficiency, allowing government to pour in more funds
to economic and social services.
“These reforms have helped us strengthen fiscal consolidation. From 2001 to 2009, there is a downward trend
in the budget deficit,” Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Undersecretary Laura Pascual in a news
conference in Malacañang today.
She said the reforms have made the budget strategy-based and result-oriented and improved the efficiency of
budget execution.
“Allocation of budget is now focused on actual outputs. If the project is not implemented, there will be an
impact in the release of funds and on the budget for the following year. So, there is more pressure on agencies
to deliver,” Presidential Spokesperson Ricardo Saludo explained.
Pascual said the DBM has pushed the implementation of public expenditure management that resulted to a
decrease in government disbursements, from 19.9 percent to 17.1 percent in 2008
Pascual credited this achievement to the decline of personnel services and debt interest payments due to
improved deficit control.
“With the decline in the amount allocated to debt payments, resources were allocated more and more to
economic services, which includes infrastructure projects, particularly in transportation,” Pascual said.
From 2000 to 2009, budget allocation for economic services increased by 128 percent (or 14 percent a year),
from 167 billion in 2000 to 382 billion in 2009.
Allocation for social services grew by 112 percent (or 12 percent a year), from 213 billion in 2000 and 452
billion in 2009.
On improving the efficiency of budget execution, Pascual said the DBM has exercised the early release of
budget and faster funds utilization by agencies.
She said the government has implemented the semestral release of Notice of Cash Allocations (NCAs) which
lapses monthly.
She added the DBM has also examined books and advise agencies on the proper use of funds.
“This improves fund utilization and enables agencies to save funds,” she said.
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CAR leaders thank PGMA; confer on her "Mother of Cordillera" title
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Leaders from the Cordillera Autonomous Region (CAR) trooped to Malacanang today to bid President Gloria
Macapagal Arroyo farewell as well as thank her for her support to the development of CAR.”
Governor Eustaquio Bersamin of Abra, Mayor Reinaldo Bautista, Jr. of Baguio City, Gov. Nestor Fongwan of
Benguet, Representative Solomon Chungalao and Gov. Maximo Dalog of the Mountain Province heaped praise
on the President saying that the development projects she initiated in the region have lifted the lives of
Cordillerans.
Bersamin thanked the President for her scholarship and social re-integration program which has provided
deserving students employment opportunities that resulted in the increase in the number of rebels returning to
the fold of the law. CAR used to be an operational area of a renegade group of communist rebels.
Bautista called the President “our loving mother,” and said that her holiday-tourism promotions including
spending her summer and Christmas vacations in Baguio City have boosted the city’s image as the country’s
summer capital.
Fongwan expressed the thanks of the people of Benguet sustaining the province’s vegetable production and
for her pioneering efforts to ensure the freshness and affordability of produce from Benguet farms through the
establishment of cold chain storage facilities and the construction of more farm-to-market roads.
Chungalao and Dalog, meanwhile expressed what they said were their “eternal and endless gratitude” for the
President’s show of “so much concern and support” for the development projects in CAR.
These milestone projects include:
1. the rehabilitation of the Halsema-Mt. Data to Bontoc and Bontoc to Banaue roads and the Bontoc-Lugwagan,
Tabuk-Tuguegarao, and the Baguio City-Cayapa-Nueva Vizcaya roads, among others;
2. the construction of numerous farm-to-market roads throughout CAR;
3. the establishment of the Benguet cold chain storage and the La Trinidad fruit and vegetable mini-processing
plant;
4. the construction of irrigation projects for some 9,700 hectares of agriculture land throughout the region;
5. the designation of Baguio City as the northern node of the Philippine Cyber Corridor benefitting a total of
79,950 from the marginal sector;
6. the establishment of the Cordillera Regional Development Council; and;
7. support to the renewed pursuit of Cordillera regional autonomy.
In his welcome remarks, Environment Secretary and Cabinet Official for Regional Development-CAR Horacio
Ramos lauded the President, thus: “These milestones may be her legacy for the Cordillera but for us, they are
the foundations for renewed economic development opportunities for our generation and generations yet to
come.”
“Notwithstanding some criticisms on her leadership, her Excellency has actually cemented her place in the
history of the Cordillera and we Cordillerans will be forever grateful for the economic development projects and
initiatives you have established and initiated for us,” Ramos added.
After the testimonials, the President was conferred the “In-Inan di Kordilyera” (Mother of the Cordillera) title by
way of Resolution CAR-024 of the Cordillera Regional Development Council which expresses deep gratitude
to Her Excellency for her unprecedented attention and full support to the CAR. The President left Cordillera a
legacy of improved development foundation by which Cordillerans will continue to pursue efforts towards a
personally more dignified and better quality of life, said the Resolution.
The President was then presented with tokens of appreciation from the participants consisting of beads and a
intricately woven coat.
The head beads, according to Presidential Assistant Armando Galimba, represent wisdom and sovereignty
while the beads woven to form a necklace represent enduring leadership and motherhood.
The coat, meanwhile, will “provide” protection for the President.
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