The new North Luzon Expressway (NLE) is more than 60 percent complete and would be fully operational by the end of the year.

The Manila North Tollways Corporation (MNTC) said that out of the total 437 lane-kilometers to be constructed or rehabilitated, about 174 lane-kilometers are now in use.

The mainline pavement, interchanges and flyovers will be completed by July this year, while all toll plazas will be completed by August or September, also this year.

MNTC president and chief executive officer Jose P. de Jesus said that the new NLE pavement is designed to last for more than 30 years.

"The NLE is not just a newly-paved road, it is a world-class and state-of-the-art expressway system which Filipinos can be proud of -- the first and the only one of its kind in the Philippines," de Jesus said.

According to de Jesus, the NLE will have eight lanes (both ways) of high quality asphalt covered pavement for the first 23 kilometers; six lanes (both ways) of the same quality road from Sta. Rita all the way to the San Fernando, Angeles and Mabalacat; a brand new interchange in Mexico to defuse the traffic along San Fernando; a brand new interchange with a dedicated flyover to Dau proper to maximize the traffic flow northward and to do away with unsafe traffic light in the middle of the expressway; and a brand new interchange in Marilao, Bulacan to help ease the traffic along MacArthur Highway,"

To ensure the long-term safety, some of the bridges have been widened, and all have been reinforced and strengthened.

De Jesus said that the toll plazas have been widened to accommodate as much as 16 vehicles at any given time to avoid long waiting time.

DAGUPAN CITY, Pangasinan – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo this morning launched two programs here for the province of Pangasinan and the surrounding areas: the Students' Assistance Fund for Education for a Strong Republic, or SAFE 4 SR, and PhilHealth insurance.

In a press conference at the Dagupan City Astrodome here, the President said the SAFE 4 SR program provides the needs of third and fourth year college students who may drop out at the last minute because of financial problems.

The President disclosed that about 40 percent of third and fourth year students drop out of school because of lack of funds. A student can borrow from his or her school up to P8,000 so that he or she can finish college education.

"This is interest-free and the student gets to pay the amount two years after graduation," she said.

The President said that when she assumed the presidency in 2001, almost all those who have health insurance were only the Social Security System (SSS) and Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) members.

The President said that after she assumed office, she ordered the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) to provide counterpart funds to local government units to pay the premiums for PhilHealth of indigent members of the community.

The arrests in Malaysia were made sometime ago after we were also chalking up several gains versus the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) through the capture of their leaders.

This is a transnational effort that brings Malaysia and the Philippines along a common front and our successes can be attributed to the solidarity of the nations in the region.

There are indications that foreign terrorists who once sought refuge here have already started to leave the country with the strict anti-terrorism drive we have been implementing.

DAGUPAN CITY, Pangasinan – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today said that if she is supported by the Pangasineses in the coming election will build more infrastructure projects in the province to entice foreign investments and thus create more jobs.

The President said that a memorandum of agreement was recently signed in Tokyo to further fund the big irrigation project for Pangasinan, "where the water will come from the San Roque Multi-Purpose Project in San Manuel."

The President also said that big flood control project, which she started in her first term and has a construction span of eight years, hopefully will be completed by the end of her full a six-year term as President.

If she will not be elected President this May, foreign investors may not give the new the administration its full trust and may find ways to abort the projects. "There are many steps where they can abort the project if they don’t trust the government," she said.

The President said that the construction of the irrigation project in Pangasinan, which is funded by Japan, will start soon.

The President likewise said that farmers of Pangasinan are benefiting form the planting of hybrid rice which, she said, doubles the yield of farmers.

She also said that corn farmers are now enjoying good prices because of good marketing.

The President said has that visited anew to open the Ilocos Region Athletic Association (IRAA) meet and to interact with local officials, farmers and residents of the province, where their problems and solution were discussed. She also met with the women who received livelihood projects for the province. and she inaugurated the Mangaldan-San Fabian Flood Controls.

DAGUPAN CITY, Pangasisnan—President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today said the Judicial Bar Council (JBC) would have to submit another list of nominees if it believes the appointment of the replacement of Supreme Court Associate Justice Josue Belosillo has lapsed.

The President made the remarks during a press conference at the Dagupan Astrodome this morning following her barnstorming of the province of Pangasinan that started Saturday.

Reacting to a question on whether the appointment of Sandiganbayan presiding Justice Minita Chico-Nazario in lieu of Bellosillo is still effective, the Chief Executive said that it all depends on the interpretation of the JBC.

"If their interpretation says the time (allotted for any vacancy to be filled up) has lapsed, then they will have to submit a list to me again as they have with other Presidents and as they have done with me with other justices’ positions in the past," she said.

The law states that any vacancy in the Supreme Court should be filled up within 90 days from the time the vacancy existed. Bellosillo’s seat became vacant Nov. 13.

Long craving for clean water, residents of this nearby community came in droves to see the Chief Executive finally fulfilling their dream through a program designed to give water to waterless communities in Metro Manila.

"Itong tangke ay down payment pa lamang habang hinihintay ninyo ang inyong permanenteng koneksiyon (This tank is a down payment while you are still awaiting your permanent connection)," the President said as she opened the faucet of the tank during the launching.

In just two months since she inaugurated the project in Barangay Payatas, Quezon City last December 31, the "Patubig ni PGMA" has provided potable water to 645, 177 households in the provinces of Rizal and Cavite as well as in the National Capital Region (NCR).

The President called on the residents to help her accomplish more by giving her a fresh mandate in the coming May polls.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today led in the christening and commissioning of the Philippine Navy’s newly acquired Cyclone Class vessel, now officially named BRP General Mariano Alvarez (PS38).

The President, assisted by Defense Secretary Eduardo Ermita and Charge d’ Affaires Joseph Mussomeli of the US Embassy, poured champagne on the newly-acquired vessel, which was acquired through the Excess Defense Article (EDA) Program of the US government.

Vice Admiral Ernesto de Leon, Flag Officer in Command of the Philippine Navy, led officials in welcoming the President.

The cost of repair and rehabilitation of the vessel, estimated at $17 million, was sourced from the Foreign Military Financing Program and the Presidential Drawdown Authority of US President George W. Bush.

President Macapagal-Arroyo’s state visit to Washington, D.C. in May last year has hastened the process of acquiring the vessel.

The President has earlier said that under her administration, she was able to strengthen the military partnership between the Philippines and the US, allowing the former to receive modern military equipment and facilities from Washington, D.C.

With the President’s commitment to fight local and global terrorism, the PN was given priority in acquiring the vessel.

The vessel is one of the 14 vessels built by the Bollinger Shipyards in Lockport, Louisiana that were commissioned in the United States Navy in 1993.

Designed mainly for conducting coastal patrol, interdiction, and surveillance, the BRP General Mariano Alvarez is the newest addition to the Navy’s inventory of Category II vessels.

It will be primarily used for internal security operations, that would include anti-smuggling activities as well as search and rescue operations in case of sea tragedies.

During the ceremony, the President also awarded medals and plaques to 61 officers and men of the Philippine Navy and the Philippine Marine Corps who conducted search and rescue operations during the Superferry 14 tragedy.

The crew of BRP Rafael Pargas (PG379), headed by Commander Bayani Gaerlan, and members of the Marine Force Reconnaissance Battalion of the Special Operation Event, Marine Forces Event Balikatan 2004, headed by Major Antonio Rosario Jr., and a Naval Special Warfare Group team, headed by Lieutenant Junior Grade Dexter Diego, all received Bronze Cross medals for their acts of heroism in rescuing passengers of Superferry 14 in the early morning of February 27.

Also awarded with the Military Merit Medal was US Navy Lieutenant Gregory Miller, who volunteered two rubber boats to be used in the search and rescue operations upon learning of the Superferry 14 incident.

Miller and his team were in Marine Base Ternate for the Balikatan 04 Exercise at the time of the tragedy.

Reaffirming her vision and commitment to gender equality and women’s empowerment, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today signed into law Republic Act 9262, penalizing all kinds of domestic violence against women and children.

The signing of Republic Act No. 9262, also known as the Anti-Violence against Women and Children Act of 2004, coincided with the celebration of the National Women’s Day held this afternoon at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City.

Hailing the new law, women’s groups expressed support for the candidacy of the President, saying the President has always been an advocate of the rights of women.

In her speech at the packed Astrodome, the President said her administration’s main concern, aside from focusing on the lives of the Filipinos, is to protect women and children from abuse.

"Karapatang pangkababaihan, pabahay at karapatang pangkabuhayan. Iyan ang ating ibinigay sa mga kababaihan sa ilalim ng aking administrasyon Women’s right, housing and livelihood, that’s what we gave women under my administration)," she said.

Republic Act No. 9262 declares abuse of women and children a public offense and a criminal act.

It defines the specific acts of violence and abuse against women and children.

It further considers the acts punishable such as those which result or likely to result on physical, sexual, psychological or even economic abuse, harm, threats, coercion, harassment or use of force and infliction of physical injuries against a woman and children.

The President told the crowd that included government employees that her administration has three priority concerns: to promote women’s economic empowerment, to protect women’s rights, and to promote-gender responsive governance.

"Sa magandang pamamahala partikular ang gender-responsive governance ngayon pa lang nangyari na kalahati ng miyembro ng Cabinete ay kababaihan (With good governance, particularly on gender-responsive governance, half of the Cabinet members are women)," she said.

She further hailed women empowerment, citing the eleven women Cabinet members under her administration, namely Budget Secretary Emilia Boncodin, Finance Secretary Juanita Amatong, Justice Secretary Merceditas Gutierrez, Labor Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas, Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman, Science and Technology Secretary Estrella Alabastro, Foreign Affairs Secretary Delia Albert, Anti-Poverty Secretary Veronica Vicencio, Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Elisea Gozun, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Deles and Marita Jimenez, Cabinet Secretary for President’s Priority Projects and Official Development Assistance.

She also cited other women leaders in her administration like Civil Service Commissioner Karina David, Philippine Commission on Good Government (PCGG) Chairperson Haydee Yorac and Human Rights Commissioner Purificacion Quisumbing.