Forbes: Arroyo is world's 41st most powerful woman for 2008

MANILA, Philippines - President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was the 41st most powerful woman in the world, according to Forbes Magazine. The magazine’s World’s 100 Most Powerful Women list for this year saw President Arroyo jumping 10 notches from last year’s 51st spot. Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya Jr said President Arroyo’s firm stand on the Expanded Value-Added Tax (Evat) law despite the opposition and campaign against it by several sectors made her deserving of the rank. "From the economic standpoint, ang pinakamalaki challenge na hinarap niya iyung suggestion na tanggalin ang VAT. Malaki bagay iyung hindi siya bumigay doon (Her biggest challenge was the suggestion to scrap VAT. It’s good that she remained firm on her stand not to remove VAT)," he said in a briefing in Malacañang. Andaya said the implementation of the EVAT brought down the country's foreign debt, increased government spending for infrastructure, education and health services, and helped provide short term relief to the world food and fuel price crisis through the different "Katas ng VAT" programs. Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, meanwhile, shrugged off the Forbes' report, saying that President Arroyo is not after popularity but governance. Forbes described President Arroyo as a scandal-tainted president whose popularity plunged to a record low in 2008 due to the problems in oil and fuel prices. "A recent imbroglio: Arroyo's husband is among those accused of accepting bribes in a $330 million deal with a Chinese telecom firm. Despite rumors of another ouster campaign in the works, Arroyo has survived three impeachment attempts and three coup plots since taking office in 2001 and is sure to fight back," the article said. President Arroyo got her highest ranking in 2005 after landing in the fifth spot and in 2004 when she landed in the ninth slot. Her ranking dropped to 45th in 2006 and 51st in 2007. She is joined in the Top 100 by Hollywood talk show host and Harpo chairman Oprah Winfrey, who is at the 36th spot; US Senator Hilary Clinton, 28; US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice, 7; and Nobel peace laureate and former Myanmar prime minister Aung Suu Kyi (No. 38). Topping the list was German Chancellor Angela Merkel. - GMANews.TV