(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-02-15 14:29

MANILA - Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Friday vowed to redouble efforts to stamp out corruption and bring the country back on the track toward prosperity.

President Arroyo made the remarks prior to the scheduled Friday's large-scale street protest led by the opposition to call for her resignation.

Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (L) answers a question as Philippine Central Bank Governor Amando Tetangco looks on during a financial briefing for investors, diplomats and industry leaders at a hotel in Makati City, Metro Manila February 15, 2008. [Agencies]

The president reiterated that she will not leave the highest post of the land until her second term as Philippine president finishes in 2010, noting that she led the country to achieve the fastest economy growth in three decades.

"We have come a long way but there is still a long way to go. Let's focus on the common agenda of economic growth at this important time of history," she told a televised economic briefing conference at Shangril-la Hotel in Metro Manila.

She said she would finish the term because Filipino wants political stability and economic progress which they are getting under her administration.

Compared with robust economic growth, Arroyo said what is happening on the country's political arena is "less impressive". She said the administration will push forward campaigns to stamp out corruption including the creation of two tasks forces to cut red-tapes and improve transparency of government procurements.

"There is no room in our development for money to be wasted in corruption," Arroyo said, urging political and business leaders to work together to "uncorruptedly" attain the goal of achieving prosperity for the Philippine people.

Arroyo delivered the speech hours before a planned street protest organized by oppositions in Manila's financial district to call for her resignation on the concerns that her family and ranking officials in her cabinet were implicated in a broadband deal controversy.

About dozens of militant, civil and religious groups were reportedly intended to participate in Friday's street protest. The Makati Business Club (MBC), a group composed of key business leaders of the Philippines earlier this week also urged the public to join the clamor for change by ending corruption and greed in the government.

The organizers estimated the Friday afternoon rally is likely to gather thousands of participants.

She said the issue of alleged irregularities in the broadband deal has been taken "very seriously" by her administration. Oppositions insisted that kickbacks were pocketed by officials from the administration. The president noted that the controversial issue is currently being investigated by the Ombudsman and the Justice Department through objective and transparent means.  

"We have made anti-corruption one of the key areas of focus for reforms for the remainder of our term," she said, adding that the Philippines "has a legacy of political corruption". "While that legacy will not be erased overnight, we have made tremendous strides," she said.