ILIGAN CITY – How the government intends to shield the domestic economy and the people from the gloom of global recession, breathe life into the fragile peace process in Mindanao, and sustain the manhunt against rogue Muslim separatist rebels involved in the atrocities in the south would dominate today’s first meeting of President Arroyo and her Cabinet this year.

On the second day of her four-day journey to Mindanao, President Arroyo will convene at 11:30 a.m. today Cabinet members to tackle these three major concerns affecting the country.

The three-hour Cabinet meeting at the Macaraeg-Macapagal Ancestral House in Timoga, Iligan City, will be held under tight security, according to Presidential Management Staff chief Cerge Remonde, noting that it will take place a few weeks after a series of bomb attacks rocked Iligan City and other parts of the restive south.

After a weeklong respite in Baguio City for the holidays, the President kicked off yesterday her visit to Mindanao, starting with Zamboanga del Sur and Misamis Occidental, to check road and bridge projects as well as irrigation systems.

Apart from the Cabinet meeting, she will also visit today the flood victims at a nearby evacuation center at the Tubod elementary school in Iligan City following the onslaught of heavy rains and flash floods in recent days.

Remonde said the Cabinet meeting will first tackle the R300-billion economic resiliency plan, a massive infrastructure spending spree proposed by the economic team, in the first six months of 2009 to buffer the nation from the world financial crisis.

Remonde said the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) would make a presentation on the infrastructure component of the economic resiliency plan with inputs from the Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Transportation and Communication, Department of Agriculture, Department of Education, Department of Health, Department of Defense, and Armed Forces of the Philippines engineering brigade.

The National AntiPoverty Commission will also brief the President and the Cabinet on the comprehensive livelihood and emergency employment program as another measure to counter the adverse effects of the sluggish world economy.

Remonde said the government remains optimistic the economy will continue to overcome the global economic crisis and maintain economic growth.

Although a number of multinational financial institutions have predicted the domestic economy will not fall into recession, Remonde said the government will not be complacent and would rather continue pump-priming the economy through investing in infrastructure, supporting local industries and micro-, small-, and mediumenterprises, generating jobs, among others.

"During this troubled time, the role of government is to help insulate the Filipino people from the price shocks and economic pressures," he said.

On the peace process in Mindanao, Remonde said the President and the Cabinet would tackle the resumption of the peace talks between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), involvement of various sectors in the peace process, as well as acceleration of peace development efforts.

Newly appointed chief government negotiator Rafael Seguis will make a presentation on efforts to jumpstart the stalled negotiations. Presidential adviser on the peace process Hermogenes Esperon Jr. will give an update on the social integration program for rebel returnees.

Remonde said the government is determined to pursue peace talks in the context of disarmament, demobilization and reintegration, as earlier enunciated by the President in the fresh approach to peace efforts.

He added they will also implement peace agreements, which include an enhanced reintegration, rehabilitation and amnesty program for former rebels and development projects aimed at conflict-affected areas.

He noted that the government has provided emergency and livelihood assistance to 40,000 rebel returnees, who were awarded with immediate assistance of R20,000 each in cash and R50,000 capital assistance in goods.

"The government is optimistic that the paradigm shift to disarmament, demobilization and rehabilitation policy in dealing with armed groups will end the armed conflict and will lead to a just conclusion of the peace process that will focus on genuine dialogues with conflict-affected communities and stakeholders," Remonde said.

The third part of the Cabinet meeting would involve a command conference on government operations against rogue MILF commander Bravo, who led a recent series of attacks on civilian communities in Mindanao, according to Remonde.

Armed Forces chief of staff Gen. Alexander Yano will make his report to the President and the Cabinet.

Despite the recent attacks in the south, Cabinet Secretary Silvestro Bello III said the safety of the President and her government team has been secured for their assembly in Iligan City.

The Cabinet meeting was originally scheduled in Molundo, Lanao del Sur, but was reset to Iligan City so the President could visit the flood victims in the area.

From Iligan City, the President will head to Cagayan de Oro City, Bukidnon, and Camiguin before she returns to Manila on Thursday.

Press Secretary Jesus Dureza earlier explained that the President opted to kick off her first working week in Mindanao to bring the government closer to the people.