MANILA, Philippines?Vice President Noli de Castro believes President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is serious about stepping down when her term ends in June 2010, and is steering clear of any move to extend her term.

?I believe she?s stepping down,? De Castro, who is reportedly being groomed as the administration?s standard-bearer in the 2010 presidential elections, said Thursday. ?She has served nine years and she has proved her worth.?

He added: ?She will follow the Constitution. The support for Charter change is another matter. But it doesn?t mean she will stay in power.?

De Castro spoke at the Carbon-Cutting Congress vs Climate Change in Malacañang, where he outlined the government?s actions to address the impact of a warming climate on the country, such as the rise in sea levels.

Press Secretary Jesus Dureza?s wishful prayer for a longer stay in power of the President at last Tuesday?s Cabinet meeting has set off speculations that Malacañang was keen on extending her term beyond 2010.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita tried to scotch the speculations by saying that the President would step down in 2010, and distance herself from any move to amend the Constitution to extend her term.

Dureza had apologized for the prayer, but insisted it wasn?t a pitch for Charter change.

Secretary Heherson Alvarez, Presidential Adviser on Global Warming and Climate Change and vice president of the Lakas administration party, agreed with De Castro.

Proof that the President was quitting office in 2010 was the economic program which the administration crafted to serve as her legacy, he said.