The people’s initiative brings the fundamental issue of political reform to the grassroots.

It is real democracy in action. It not only will educate our people on the key strategic issues facing our nation. It will also allow them to directly participate in working for the stability and betterment of our society.

The public has a constitutionally guaranteed right to seek amendments to our Constitution, and the people’s initiative is a response to the continuing gridlock that prevents our legislators from agreeing on the process of amending our Basic Law .

The Armed Forces of the Philippines has the full capacity to repair and redeem itself from the wayward actions of a few. As Commander in Chief, President Arroyo supports all measures to instill military justice, discipline, unity and morale in the AFP.

These measures will be implemented in the course of the AFP modernization and reform agenda and will not be impinged upon by any form of politics.

It disproves unfounded allegations based on politically-motivated fears on why the budget approval is taking such a long time. Now, the Senate can join the House of Representatives in fulfilling their constitutional duty of reviewing and approving the annual budget of the entire government.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo launched today the P4.42 billion rehabilitation and upgrading of the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX), one of the administration’s key priority infrastructure projects to decongest Metro Manila and open new business and employment opportunities in the southern parts of Luzon.

The President arrived at Bunye Road near the foot of Alabang viaduct in Barangay Alabang, Muntinlupa City at 10 a.m. to lead the ceremonial kickoff of the construction, upgrading, widening and extension of the SLEX to the Southern Tagalog Arterial Road (STAR) expressway in Batangas.

Upon her arrival in Alabang, the President was briefed by Transportation and Communication Secretary Leandro Mendoza and Trade and Industry Secretary Peter Favila on the benefits of the project to the CALABARZON (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon) area.

Mendoza said the SLEX rehabilitation and upgrading project consists of three phases called Project Toll Road (TR) 1, 2, & 3.

The TR1 involves the full repair and rehabilitation of the 1.2 kilometers Alabang viaduct to improve its volume capacity, riding quality and the structural integrity of the superstructure, as well as the replacement of the bridge deck. Under the contract, two new lanes will be added to the existing six lanes.

Construction of the P1.34 billion TR1 project will start in May 2006. It is scheduled to be completed in May 2008.

On the other hand, construction of the P2.98 billion TR2A and TR2B projects, which start in August 2006, is expected to be completed in April 2008.

TR2A involved the rehabilitation and widening to eight lanes of the existing six-lane toll road from the Alabang viaduct in Muntinlupa City to Sta. Rosa City in Laguna, while the TR2B contract is for the repair and widening to six lanes of the existing four-lane Sta. Rosa to Calamba City tollway.

The P1.56-billion TR3 project, meanwhile, is the construction of a four-lane toll road from Calamba City to Sto.Tomas in Batangas.

When completed, the 30 kilometers SLEX will total 37 kilometers from the Alabang viaduct to Calamba and link with the STAR Expressway in Sto. Tomas, Batangas as connected highways with a single interconnected toll collection system.

Favila informed the President that the SLEX modernization and extension is the most important infrastructure project of the administration under the Philippine Medium Term Development Plan (PMTDP). It is expected to help decongest Metro Manila by opening up new business and industry centers in the southern corridor.

Favila added that the rehabilitation and extension of the SLEX is the realization of the President’s dream to facilitate faster transport of goods coming in and out of the Metropolis from local and international destinations.

Also present during the launching rites were Muntinlupa Representative Ruffy Biazon, Laguna Governor Teresita "Ning-Ning" Lazaro, Muntinlupa City Mayor Jaime Fresnedi, and Dato’ Dr. Nik Hussain Abdul Rahman, executive chairman of the MTD Capital Bhd. of Malaysia and officers of the South Luzon Tollways Corporation (SLTC).

The rehabilitation and upgrading of the SLEX is a joint venture of the Philippine National Construction Corporation (PNCC) and MTD Manila Expressway, a subsidiary of MTD Capital Bhd., the second largest toll operator in Malaysia and also a major proponent of property and infrastructure projects both in Malaysia and overseas.

FORT DEL PILAR, Baguio City – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will address the latest and largest batch of Philippine Military Academy (PMA) graduates during their commencement exercises tomorrow, March 25, at the PMA grounds here.

The President will also lead in the distribution of diplomas to the members of the PMA "Mandirigma ng Dangal ng Lahi" (Mandala) Class of 2006, the biggest batch to graduate from the academy.

The Mandala Class of 2006 is led by Cadet Ariel Toledo, who is graduating magna cum laude, besting 323 other graduates of the prestigious military training school. He is from Sto. Domingo, Ilocos Sur.

Out of the 324 graduates of PMA this year, 37 or 11.4 percent are female.

PMA Superintendent Brig. Gen. Leopoldo Maligalig said that aside from graduating at the top of his class, Toledo will also be receiving the Presidential Saber and the PMA Achievement Award for Academic Excellence.

Maligalig added that Toledo will also receive the Philippine Air Force Saber since he will immediately be joining the PAF after graduation.

The other top nine graduates, two of whom are female, are: Cadets Francis Rosales, Romel Sotero, Ethelbert Kiunisala, Michael Gotong, Amina Abdula, Noah Hernandez, Ermin Soloren, Joe Vergel Flores, and Joy Penaloza.

They will be joining the different branches of the military such as: the Philippine Navy (PN), the Philippine Army (PA) and the Philippine Air Force (PAF). The graduates automatically earn the rank of second lieutenant in the Armed forces.

The signature campaign to amend the Constitution, otherwise known as the people’s initiative, brings the fundamental issue of political reform to the grassroots, according to Malacanang.

Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesperson Ignacio R. Bunye pointed out in a statement today that the barangay assemblies which start tomorrow will educate the people on the key strategic issues facing the nation.

"It is real democracy in action," he stressed. "It will allow them (the public) to directly participate in working for the stability and betterment of our society."

The barangay assemblies, which have the imprimatur of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), will be convened March 25 and Oct. 21.

It will kick off the people’s initiative, one of three modes of amending the 1987 Constitution wherein a petition for amendments requires the signature of at least 12 percent of the total number of registered voters and at least three percent of every congressional district’s registered voters.

The other two modes are the Constituent Assembly (Con-Ass) of the House of Representatives and Senate and the Constitutional Convention whose delegates are elected.

Bunye said the public has a constitutionally guaranteed right to seek amendments to the Constitution, pointing out that the people’s initiative is a response to the continuing gridlock that prevents legislators from agreeing on the process of amending the Basic Law.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo handed today the prestigious Apolinario Mabini Awards to 17 outstanding persons with disability (PWDs) and PWD-friendly individuals, establishments and institutions in ceremonies held at Malacaņang’s Heroes Hall.

Heading the list of the 2005 Apolinario Mabini Awardees were six local government units (LGUs), namely the city governments of Bacolod, Candon, Laoag, and Pasay, and the provincial governments of Bulacan and Batangas (Cuenca).

The six LGUs were cited for their outstanding contributions in the rehabilitation of PWDs in their respective jurisdictions.

Five commercial establishments in Metro Manila were awarded "Disabled-Friendly Establishments of the Year," namely Glorietta 4, Podium, Greenbelt 3, SM City Dasmariņas and Market ! Market!

They won the award for providing PWD–friendly facilities such as accessible ramps, reserved parking and toilets.

The Philippine Postal Corporation was named "Employer of the Year" for hiring 27 deaf at the Central Mail Exchange and for consistently supporting the cause of persons with disability by allowing several of its PWD employes to pursue their professional and career development.

A teacher from Bacolod City, Carmen Salazar, who taught hearing-impaired students for the past 20 years and produced a book with illustrated sign language to make reading easy for PWDs, was awarded the "Mabini Presidential Award."

The "Rehabilitation Volunteer of the Year" award was given to Ma. Corazon Tensuan for her deep involvement in projects that helped PWDs overcome their physical disabilities.

Recipient of a Special Award for being an example of a physically handicapped person who fought for truth was Isabela Governor Gracia Cielo Padaca.

A 47-year-old visually impaired person from Bohol, Timoteo Quilas, was awarded the "Disabled Filipino of the Year" for helping other PWDs improve their lives.

The Rondalla On Wheels of the Bahay Mapagmahal was awarded "Disabled Group of the Year" for overcoming the fears and inadequacy of the youth with disabilities through good music.

The awarding ceremonies coincided with the anniversary of the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons.

Launched in 1974 by the Philippine Foundation for the Rehabilitation of the Disabled, Inc., the Apolinario Mabini Awards has been an annual event since then.

The Awards, named after the "Sublime Paralytic" and the "Brains of the Philippine Revolution," aims to promote wider recognition of disabled persons as self-respecting and self-reliant citizens.

In her welcome remarks, Kate Gordon, acting chairman of the Mabini Awards Committee, assured the President that PWDs would be her partners in progress.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo witnessed this afternoon the signing of the first-ever agreement that would make the Philippines the regional hub for research on tuberculosis (TB) and pave the way for the country to be TB-free.

The agreement supports the vision of the Arroyo administration to bring down the cost of TB drugs and diagnostics to make them accessible and equitable to those most in need, especially the poor.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III and Science and Technology Secretary Estrella Alabastro signed the MOU for the Philippine Government and Dr. Jubert Benedicto, national chairman of the Philippine Coalition Against Tuberculosis (Philcat), represented the non-government community.

Two international organizations—the Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND) and the Global Alliance for TB Drug Development (TB Alliance)-- will undertake world-class research on new diagnostic tools and drugs for TB.

TB, an infectious bacterial disease, is the sixth leading cause of mortality and morbidity in the country.