A day after she returned from a long journey abroad, President Arroyo today started to observe self-quarantine to ensure she is not infected with the influenza A (H1N1) virus.

Cabinet Secretary Silvestre Bello III said the President decided to isolate herself from the public for four days while she is under observation for any symptoms of the influenza virus.

The President returned home Monday night from a 13-day sojourn in Hong Kong, Brazil, and Japan amid criticisms over the necessity and cost of her foreign travels. Brief side trips were also made in Los Angeles, California, and Cartegena, Colombia in between her tour.

Like the Philippines, the countries visited by Mrs. Arroyo are among those listed with confirmed cases of influenza.

Bello said the President cancelled the weekly Cabinet meeting at the Palace after she placed herself under quarantine.

The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) was supposed to report on the progress of the government’s emergency employment program during the Cabinet meeting.

Other initial activities of the President this week, which are likely to be postponed due to the President's selfquarantine, are visits to Pampanga, Leyte, and Cagayan de Oro.

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde, for his part, denied that the President is already sick after returning from hectic engagements abroad. Remonde said the President and the rest of the delegation were regularly checked by a team of doctors during the recent foreign visit.

Remonde said the President also plans to rest and get medical checkup during her four-day quarantine.