President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will lead the nation in the commemoration tomorrow of the 60^th anniversary of the Leyte Gulf Landing at the MacArthur Landing Memorial National Prk in Palo, Leyte.

Arriving in Leyte from Bacolod after attending the Maskara Festival, the President is set to lead the flag-raising and wreath-laying ceremonies at the MacArthur Memorial National Park in the morning.

Aside from her, the ambassadors of Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom and United States as well as representatives of local government units (LGUs) will lay wreaths at the national park to pay homage to the heroism of those who perished during the historic World War II event 60 years ago.

The Chief Executive is expected to deliver a statement during the brief ceremonies. Afterwards, she will proceed to Ormoc City.

In was in Red Beach in Palo, Leyte (the US gave rainbow color codes to the beachheads 60 years ago) where elements of the US Sixth Army stormed ashore, followed shortly by the famous landing of General Douglas MacArthur, President Sergio S. Osmeņa General Carlos P. Romulo and several other American military officers, who waded in knee-high waters to the shore to fulfill a promise.

To commemorate the historic event during its golden jubilee in 1994, the famous beachhead was turned into MacArthur Landing Memorial Park, marked by larger than life statues wading in the middle of a pond.

The monument in Barangay Candahug in Palo, was constructed on the coastal periphery of the province’s Government Center, some five kilometers south of Tacloban City. Adjoining the four-and-a-half hectare are memorial is the 40-room MacArthur Park Beach Resort.

It was also here where part of Lt. Gen. Walter Krueger’s Sixth Army’s assault forces composed of six divisions totaling 200,000 soldiers met stiff resistance as they wade ashore on the morning of Oct. 20, 1944.

ORMOC CITY, Leyte – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will join local folks tomorrow in the commemoration of the 57^th Charter Day Anniversary of Ormoc City.

The President is scheduled to arrive at the Ormoc City Airport in the morning from Tacloban City in time for the start of the fun-filled celebration with participants from 110 barangays, various civic organizations and government employees.

Ormoc City Mayor Eric Codilla, Leyte 4^th Distric Representative Eufrocino Codilla, Ormoc City PNP Station Commander P/Supt. Dorote Palconit and Airport Manager Merla Negradas will meet the President at the airport.

The Ormoc City Charter Day celebration is an annual event to commemorate Ormoc’s declaration as a Chartered City on Oct. 20, 1947 by virtue of Republic Act (RA) 179.

The commemorative rites will feature a dance parade along the city’s major thoroughfares. A commemorative program at the city’s Superdome will highlight this year’s Charter Day festivities.

The President will meet with the media for an informal interaction at the guesthouse of Congressman Codilla.

The Chief Executive is arriving here from Tacloban City, where she is scheduled to grace the commemoration of the 60^th anniversary of the historic Leyte Landing.

The President is flying to Tacloban City from Bacolod City, where she was set to inaugurate the Magsungay Bridge, a Tulay ng Pangulo project.

In Bacolod, the President was also scheduled to officiate at the groundbreaking ceremonies of the new Bacolod City airport and lead guests during the celebration of the city’s Charter Day.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today said that Lt. Gen. Efren Abu, commanding general of the Philippine Army, will replace Chief of Staff Gen. Narciso Abaya when the latter retires on October 29, 2004.

The President said during a press briefing after the holding of a Joint National Security Council-Cabinet Group in Malacaņang that Gen. Abu would be her incoming Chief of Staff.

Abu was the vice commander of the Philippine Army and the Commander of the AFP Joint Task Force Libra before he was designated Army commander.

He became Commanding General of the 2^nd Infantry (jungle fighter) Division before he was promoted to Army Vice Commander on August 1, 2003.

The incoming Chief of Staff was born in Batangas City on June 24, 1949. He received his officer’s commission in 1972 upon graduation from the Philippine Military Academy.

Abu finished various military courses such as Officer Orientation Course, Scout Ranger Course; Junior Staff Officer Course; Infantry Officer Basic Course; Seminar on Pre Command for Brigade Commanders; Infantry Officer Advance Course which he took up at Fort Benning, Georgia, United States; Command and General Staff Course at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, United States; and Seminar on Defense Management at ADFA, Canbrerra, Australia.

He has a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of the Philippines and a Master’s Degree in War Studies from the King’s College, University of London, United Kingdom.

He also finished portfolio management from the Financial Executive Institute of the Philippines.

Abu is a recipient of numerous awards and decorations, which include, among others, the Distinguished Conduct Star Medals, Distinguished Service Star Medals, Gold Cross Medals, Outstanding Instructor Award, and Military Merit Medals.

Warning of growing links between the revolutionary left and international organizations, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today ordered a comprehensive reassessment of the government’s strategy vis-ā-vis the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA).

"Intelligence reports show growing links between the revolutionary left and international terrorist organizations. We must meet this threat internally and externally with allies," the President said.

The President issued her instruction after she convened this morning in Malacaņang the National Security Group of the Cabinet to assess recent developments in the security front.

She said the reassessment of the government’s strategy with the CPP-NPA would include a review of the negotiations with CPP’s political arm, the National Democratic Front (NDF).

The review would be done in consultation with all concerned sectors and stakeholders, she added.

"There are pressing goals in the national security agenda. We aim to consolidate our development, diplomatic and political efforts to defeat insurgency and have a durable peace under full-blown democratic processes and the rule of law," the President pointed out.

The Chief Executive revealed that political institutions were being used as platforms for dissent bordering on sedition and civil disobedience, while the labor and transport sectors were being subjected to unrelenting agitation.

She said government must protect the youth from being recruited into underground organizations, as well as the scourge of illegal drugs.

"We have to muster a broader swath of partisan and sectoral support for our efforts. This must be a drive consolidating peace advocates, human rights groups and basic sectors," the President said.

She asserted that ongoing reforms in the military and the amnesty program give the government a leading edge in the fight against insurgency.

"We have to get on with an amnesty program utilizing the influence and shared resources of the local government units," she added.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today said that approval of four of the eight tax measures she certified to Congress as urgent would create enough momentum to the government’s efforts to put the country’s fiscal house in order and generate the level of confidence needed to push economic reforms forward.

In a statement following the meeting of the National Security Council Group of the Cabinet (NSCGC), the President said the executive department would continue to do its part in cleaning up the tax collection system, plug revenue leaks and enforce political stability and the rule of law.

She stressed that the "passage of half of the eight tax measures we have proposed will generate enough momentum towards putting up our fiscal house in order and generate the level of confidence to carry our economy forward."

The President expressed optimism that the "team-up" between the executive and Congress will lead the fight against crisis, strengthen the economy and alleviate poverty.

SILAY CITY – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today led the groundbreaking rites for the 188-hectare New Bacolod (Silay) Airport in Barangay Bagtic here that would cater to the increasing number of air passengers and cargo traffic in Negros Occidental as well as boost the economic development of the Visayas region.

The President unveiled the scale model of the P4.369-billion new Bacolod Airport and laid down the rope of the capsule that contained the project plan and design of the new airport that would be finished in 2007.

Assisting the President were Japanese Ambassador Kohiro Takano, Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) representative Osamo Morata, Silay City Mayor Carlo Gumban, Negros Occidental Representative Jose Carlos Lacson and Talisay City Mayor Anthony Lizares.

The President motored here right after arriving at 2:30 p.m. at the Bacolod City airport where she was welcomed by Negros Oriental Governor Joseph Maranon, Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia, and Lone District Rep. Monico Puentebella.

After the groundbreaking rites, the President motored back to Barangay Singcang, Bacolod City, and unveiled the marker of the Magsungay Bridge, which is part of the President's "Tulay ng Pangulo Project."

The construction of the Magsungay Bridge started last February 4 with an estimated cost of P14.78 million.

The bridge provides a shorter route to the residents of Barangays Singay, Alipis and Taculing going to the Bacolod City proper.