The government will not slacken its war against terrorism even as it pursues the peace process with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo reiterated this during her weekly message to the nation as she revealed that the government would continue to pursue separate doctrines for peace, for law enforcement and for fighting terrorism.

"Our will for peace is only matched by our will to fight terrorism," the President said, giving broad hints that the government would not hesitate to further intensify efforts to forestall and fight terrorists while it keeps the door open to negotiations for a final solution to the conflict in the South.

"Katunayan, kailangan pa nating palakasin ang ating mga pagkilos laban sa terorismo habang itinataguyod ang peace talks dahil baka masabotahe at masira nila ang proseso (In fact, there is a need to step up our efforts to fight terrorism even as we talk peace because the terrorists might sabotage and derail the peace process)," the President said.

She stressed that the government will not sacrifice vigilance in upholding the law and fighting terrorism for the sake of earning illusory gains in the peace negotiations.

Recalling the capture of an Abu Sayyaf leader in Metro Manila recently, the President said the war against terrorism would be pursued until the terrorists are wiped away from the Philippine map.

"We will continue to effectively check terrorist intrusions so that civilian communities are not put in harm’s way," she added.

The President said peace and development in Mindanao stands out as one of the main objectives of her administration. "We have long aspired for the attainment of peace and development in Mindanao, and it is my wish that this be achieved during my term," she added.

The President said her administration has been pursuing numerous programs to bring peace and progress to the Southern Philippines, including the Mindanao Nation Initiative or "Mindanao Natin" Program.

Perhaps more than anything else, the best question to ask President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo these days is where she gets the energy to travel from one province or island to another, sometimes in just a single day.

Like her dream Strong Republic Nautical Highway that she inaugurated recently, the indefatigable President has crisscrossed the country faster than the RO-RO (Roll-On, Roll-Off ferry) and Super Ferries that ply the islands.

Fresh from her successful stints in the United States and South Korea plus a short working visit to Japan, the President immediately buckled down to work upon her return, spending eight days in Mindanao to check on her Mindanao National Initiative (Mindanao Natin) program.

She then went to Ilocos Sur last Monday (June 21) for the inauguration of the multimillion foreign-funded road network project in Lidlidda town, officially opened the Muelle del Rio Linear Park, part of the Pasig River Promenade project in Manila last Tuesday, before motoring to Dolores and Tiaong in Quezon Wednesday to inaugurate three KALAHI-CIDSS projects in line with the government’s anti-poverty program.

Tomorrow (June 30), the President will return to the Quezon province area to lead the celebration of the Philippines-Spanish Friendship Day in Baler, Aurora province as well as to unveil the marker and formally open the Baler Museum. Aurora used to be part of Quezon province.

It will be another island-hopping trip the following day for the Chief Executive as she flies back to Mindanao for scheduled visits to Davao and Cotabato.

In all her past trips, the President has emphasized government efforts against poverty, illegal drugs, and terrorism and in ending the decades-old secessionist movements in Mindanao.

Not a few have noted the emphasis now being placed by the government in the South, for so long ravaged by conflict, poverty, and high-illiteracy rate.

As part of the administration’s 10-point program, for example, the Chief Executive opened a slew of opportunities for the people of Mindanao from housing, livelihood, and irrigation to nautical food highway, airport, solar power project and new air destinations.

In Quezon, for years reeling from the Communist insurgency, the President inaugurated several projects that are aimed at countering the communist propaganda.

She formally opened a three-classroom building in Baronage Putol, Dolores, a 455-meter road in Manggahan and a Barangay Health Center in Pinagdanlayan under the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services: Kapangyarihan at Kaunlaran sa Barangay (KALAHI-CIDSS: KKB).

The program is a community-based project of the government that aims to accelerate the delivery of basic social services to the poor and reduce poverty, which often, has been used by the Communists to win the people over to their side.

In all her travels, she is always met by a throng of enthusiastic children and adults who have greatly benefited from her programs.