Philippine President Gives Address

MANILA, Philippines (AP) - President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo outlined ambitious plans Monday to fight poverty, corruption and crime, but her proposal for a year without political bickering didn't make it through the afternoon.

``We don't intend to stop as we are in the opposition and we will criticize the government responsibly,'' said Senate minority leader Aquilino Pimentel after Arroyo's first State of the Nation address.

Arroyo's plan called for modernization of the agriculture sector, special programs for the disadvantaged and improvement in the ``moral standards'' of government and society. She promised results in 12 months.

``We need every ounce of resource to wage this war on poverty,'' Arroyo said. ``We cannot afford to lose anything to waste or graft and corruption.''

She gained a crucial edge in ensuring swift passage of legislation needed to combat the country's woes after allies captured the leadership of Congress on Monday.

New Senate President Franklin Drilon and House Speaker Jose de Venecia are members of Arroyo's People Power Coalition. They pledged to work for an independent Congress but expressed support for Arroyo's efforts to revive the economy and ease poverty.

Critics said they want to see results.

``We don't expect her to do everything at once,'' said Millet Morante, secretary-general of the Movement for National Democracy. ``But it's been six months now, and she has done nothing for the poor.''

The 10,000 protesters outside the House of Representatives underscored the growing impatience for change. They were kept away by 3,500 riot police.

Arroyo, an economist, pointed out the daunting challenges she faced when she was sworn in: 4 million people jobless, up from 2.5 million four years ago; a budget deficit of more than $2.8 billion, compared to a $19 million surplus in 1997, and a rise in poverty from 36.8 percent of the population to 40 percent over the same period.

``I am not a miracle worker, but I will do what is right and I will do my best,'' Arroyo said.

She later admitted in a television interview that she would be happy if she could accomplish even half of what she set out to do.

Arroyo, 54, who took office on Jan. 20 as mass protests forced predecessor Joseph Estrada to flee the presidential palace, has faced a series of crises while trying to cobble together effective programs to help the sagging economy.

There was a failed power grab on May 1, a rash of kidnappings and a pair of natural disasters. Arroyo also inherited the ``all-out'' war Estrada declared against several bands of rebels.

Some of the same groups protesting against her now were part of the wide-ranging opposition coalition she headed against Estrada. Monday's protest was one of the biggest against her so far.

``The reason that she is president is that we supported her in the first place,'' said Noli Estrella, a 38-year-old psychologist and gay rights activist. ``She cannot ignore us now.''

The improvement in business confidence that accompanied Arroyo into office also has nearly evaporated, with her administration grappling with a nearly immobilized economy.

Rep. Jose Salcedo, a former economist and member of the government coalition, said Arroyo's new proposals were a ``reasonable road map ... to navigate difficult economic terrain for the next three years.''

But opposition Sen. Sergio Osmena said he calculated the funding needed for the projects as $19 billion.

``We better start looking for the money now,'' he said.