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Friday, June 08, 2007
Arroyo appeals for unity, end to poll conflicts
MANILA -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Thursday called for national consolidation and an end to electoral battles.
Arroyo, in her speech at the centennial of the House of Representatives, said she came to Congress straight from her trip to Chengdu and Chongqing in China to "consolidate the nation in the post-election period."
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The campaign has had its contentious moments "but its time to be magnanimous, win or lose," said Arroyo, in the speech she delivered during the kickoff ceremonies for the centennial celebration of the first Philippine Congress.
Arroyo added she is glad that elections are over and most of the winners have been proclaimed.
"The interest of the people dictates that we must close all chapters of strife and recrimination, we close the chapter of electoral battles and open the chapter of national consolidation and solidarity. We call upon the nation to close the contest of the ballot and step up the contest of all fields, all for one and one for all," she said.
She praised the voters who trooped to the polling precincts to cast their ballots, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and its deputized agencies, the teachers--especially those who gave up their lives while on election duty, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the PNP, and others who helped safeguard the vote.
"We congratulate all the winners in the elections and all those who are still to be proclaimed. We thank all the candidates of whatever party or political persuasion who fought hard and well to win the vote," she said.
Arroyo said the overwhelming victory of the administration coalition in the House and in the local government level is "a continuing mandate of reform, unity, more work and less politics."
"We all have a mandate to look forward and leave behind the contentious past," she added.
She said she is looking forward to the continued support of Congress.
"It's good to be home among allies resolved to work together, to lift everyone up, and make sure no one is left behind. Our work must be a national enterprise where no one loses and everybody wins," she said.
Arroyo thanked the members of the 13th Congress for passing the tough economic measures that she asked for. She also welcomed the 14th Congress and asked for an end to gridlock, terror and destitution.
She said the incoming 14th Congress "looks like it will be the most powerful Philippine legislature in terms of number, talent and with God's grace, unity."
"After elections, as a new Congress comes in, it is a season, it is a time of hope and unity and we pray that this would be the advent of a new Filipino nation in the palm of the Lord," she said.
Arroyo arrived at the Villamor Air Base at 2:22 p.m. Thursday, where she rested for a few minutes and talked to some Cabinet secretaries before going to Batasan.
In China, Arroyo invited businessmen to visit and invest in the Philippines. She said the Philippines will put up a consulate in Central China, so that the country could have a stronger presence in the area.
She assured Chengdu officials that "envoys from the Philippines, to be composed of prominent Filipino-Chinese, will follow through our conversations today."
She called on Chengdu officials to "reciprocate" the investment of Filipino businessmen in Chengdu, citing the Henry Sy-owned ShoeMart, which has set up in Chengdu its third branch in China.
She said Metrobank is about to open its third China branch in Chengdu, and Oishi is also thinking of putting up shop there.
For its part, Chengdu's New Hope Group has nearly completed the US$7-million expansion of its feeds manufacturing plant in San Simon, Pampanga and hoped to set up another US$5-million plant in Isabela. It will construct two more plants in the Visayas and Mindanao next year.
Trade Secretary Peter Favila said Chongqing will be sending a 200-man business delegation on July 17 to firm up business agreements, particularly nickel mining in Palawan and Surigao del Norte, tourism, and speedboat manufacturing.
Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap said Manila is looking at exporting fishery products and tropical fruits to land-locked Chongqing, which is considered the gateway to Central China.
Yap said this could be done through air rights, especially since Philippine Airlines is opening Chongqing-Manila, Manila-Chongqing flights. He said it is very encouraging, considering that there were 300,000 tourists from Chongqing alone that left last year.
"It's the biggest city in the world, with 31 million people there. So you can imagine the amount of tropical fruit sales that we can do with them. So there will be a big opportunity," he said. (JMR/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro. (June 8, 2007 issue)
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