President Arroyo on Wednesday sworn in more than 10 new appointees, including four Associate Justices, as well as awarded outstanding policewomen and provided cash incentives amounting to more than half a million to some 100 medalists of the 25th Southeast Asian Games.

At the Malacañang’s Rizal Hall, Mrs. Arroyo, clad in her black dress, led the mass oath-taking ceremony, the presentation of the Asian Livestock Industry Award to the Bounty Fresh Group of Companies and the awarding ceremonies for the 2009 Ten Oustanding Policewomen of the Philippines and cash incentives to the Filipino SEA medalists.

Among the Associate Justices sworn in were Jose Perez and Jose C. Mendoza of the Supreme Court; and Danton Q. Bueser, and Elihu A. Ybañez of the Court of Appeals.

Civil Service Commission chairman Francisco Duque III, Acting Environment Secretary Eleazar Quinto; Ambassador James G. Dy, special envoy for medical tourism, National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) commissioners Mercedes Posada-Lacap and Dolores Peralta-Beley were also sworn in.

National Parks Development Committee Acting Executive Director Salome Habal, Board of Pardons and Parole Fr. Jimmy T. Giron, Commodore Richard Ritual and Vice Admiral Fidel Diñoso of the Philippine Merchant Maritime Academy also participated in the mass oath-taking.

Officers of the Philippine Franchise Association, Gymnastic Association of the Philippines, Lopez Greater Manila Residents Association Inc., and Malacañang Employees Savings and Loan Association (MESLA) also took their oath before the President.

The President also gave cash incentives to 123 SEA Filipino medalists, 38 of whom were gold medalists.

Each gold medalist received P100,000 from the government as mandated by the Republic Act 9064. He or she received additional P100,000 from the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and another P100,000 from the private sectors.

The 34 silver medalists got P50,000 each, while the 51 bronze medalists received P10,000 each.

Rubilen Amit and Chihiro Ikeda were among those who brought home P600,000 because they garnered two medals during the SEA Games.

Mrs. Arroyo also gave trophies and certificates to the Ten Outstanding Policewomen of the Philippines.

The 2009 TOPWP recipients were Superintendent Lailene Javier Amparo, Chief Inspector Delia Jacob Ingalla, Senior Inspector Lerma Macaalang Tirana, Senior Police Officer 1 Marifel Leongas Cortez, Police Office 3 Zoraida Masillam Aripin, Police Officer 3 Ruth Soriano Poserio, Police Officer Judith Daria Olbes, Police Officer 3 Lilybeth Portades Pascual, Police Officer 2 Famela David Suba, and Police Officer 2 Rina Dela Cruz Salaya.

Meanwhile, the Philippines is eyeing to forge medical tourism agreements with neighboring Asian countries, newly appointed special envoy for medical tourism James Dy said Wednesday.

Dy, also president of the Chinese General Hospital and Medical Center, bared the Philippine government’s intent to sign pacts with Asian countries, including Taiwan, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand.

“We are lagging behind Singapore and Taiwan so we are working for more foreign tours,” he told the Manila Bulletin in an interview, shortly after the mass oath-taking of Mrs. Arroyo’s new appointees, including four Associate Justices.

Dy batted for more improved medical facilities to enhance country’s medical tourism.

“We have medical doctors, but we don’t have the latest medical machines and equipments in our hospitals,” he said.

Dy said they were organizing more foreign tours to attract more foreign nationals to visit the country and take advantage of the Philippine medical tourism.

Dy is also chairman of the Board and the president of the Philippine Chinese Charitable Association Inc. He is also the governor of the Philippine Constitution Association and the Philippine National Red Cross as well as the president emeritus of the Filipino-Chinese General Chamber of Commerce, Inc.