In support of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s medium term development plan, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is rushing construction of the Ipil-Locomo road connecting the cities of Pagadian and Zamboanga, one of the several high-impact projects aimed at reducing poverty and advancing the country’s economy.

The project includes cementing the 49.87-kilometer road as well as installing reinforced concrete pipe culvert, reinforced concrete box culvert, protection works, lined ditches, shoulder railings and markings.

The Ipil-Locomo section project also includes construction of two bridges—Buluan and Tupilac—and repair of 12 other bridges namely, Tiayon, Capran, Gango, Tigbalabag, Silingan, Surabay, Liguian, Tigbanwang, Upper Tungawan, Guilian, Tigbongabong and Tigpalay.

According to Jennifer Punzalan, officer-in-charge of the DPWH’s Public Information Division, the P853.778 million project is 88.55 percent complete to date.

Punzalan said the DPWH is positive that it will meet the June, 2004 deadline for completion of the project, noting that the regional and central offices have not encountered major problems in its implementation.

In two months time, she said, residents along the Pagadian and Zamboanga cities will see a lot of positive changes in the area.

Local produce, according to her, will reach the market place faster, commuters will be traveling more comfortably, and residents will have better access to basic facilities, which could otherwise be hard to reach.

The last day of the campaign demands no less than a final push for unity, reconciliation and healing from all camps.

We have fought hard for every vote but in the end, it is the people’s final decision that we must all safeguard and cherish.

We support the Church and other well meaning groups in the drive for peaceful, honest and credible elections.

If there are verifiable allegations of fraud, we shall be the first, at the behest of the COMELEC, to investigate these and swiftly immobilize and punish the culprits.

I am ordering the Chief of Staff to enforce absolute non-partisanship in the Armed Forces and to summarily punish any active military personnel engaged in partisan activities.

Our mandate is clear-- to protect the sanctity of the ballot, the safety of the voters and the well being of all teachers and election personnel.

The President won all her elections fair and square.

In 1998, she got the highest mandate ever given by the people to a candidate.

BACOLOD CITY – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is a sure winner in Bacolod City in the May 10 elections.

City Mayor Luzviminda "Joy" Valdez made the forecast in an interview with Malacaņang reporters at Bacolod Airport shortly before the President’s arrival Friday night. The Chief Executive flew in from Cebu City where she joined the Caravan for Unity.

"We believe that Bacolod is GMA country," Mayor Valdez said, pointing out that 17 out of the 32 city and municipal mayors in Negros Occidental have been supporting the President.

The remaining 15 mayors, she said, are supporters of opposition presidential aspirants Fernando Poe Jr., Panfilo Lacson, Raul Roco, and Eddie Villanueva.

Mayor Valdez said that the presence of 50 out of a total of 61 barangay chairmen in the city and hundreds of barangay kagawad in the dinner for the President, was a clear indication of their strong support for Mrs. Macapagal-Arroyo in her bid for a six-year term.

The President motored from the airport to the Bacolod Convention Plaza Hotel, where she held a press conference.

BACOLOD CITY–President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has called on the Filipino people to exercise prudence and sobriety and to "temper partisan passion" as the nation prepares for the synchronized local and national elections on Monday, May 10.

At a surprise press conference at the Bacolod Convention Plaza Hotel shortly after her arrival from Cebu City Friday evening, the President appealed to all Filipinos, especially her political rivals, to be calm, to unite and to respect the rule of law, particularly the electorate’s verdict.

"I want to take this opportunity to urge the people to look beyond the noise of controversy and to listen to the voice of solidarity and positive change," the President said. "I am calling for prudence and sobriety to temper partisan passion."

She also called for vigilance against forces seeking to prevent the holding of a clean, peaceful and credible election. "We must not spare resources for the government and people to defend democracy and freedom," the President said.

The President expressed the hope that on the last day of the campaign, there would be contemplation on ways of rebuilding rather than tearing down. "And with God’s blessing, we shall have peaceful and credible elections under one nation and one vision for the future," she added.

Right after the brief press conference, the President joined some 500 barangay chairmen and barangay kagawad in a dinner at the Tapas Room of the Bacolod Convention Plaza Hotel.

The President, who arrived here at exactly 8:00 p.m., left for Manila after a two-hour stay.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today ordered Gen. Narciso Abaya, chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), to enforce absolute non-partisanship in the coming elections even as she assured the Church that, like them, she too is absolutely committed to the holding on Monday of peaceful, honest and credible elections.

In a statement, the President said she has ordered Gen. Abaya to summarily punish any active military personnel engaged in partisan politics.

In a related development, former President Fidel V. Ramos called on the Filipino people to have faith in the AFP, the police and other law enforcement agencies, as well as the Commission on Elections (Comelec), to enforce the law and protect the integrity of the ballot.

Ramos said that as a soldier, he knows the professional loyalty and the democratic traditions that have been ingrained in the history of the uniformed services.

"No amount of threats from any quarters can undermine the vote of the people to ensure their nation moves forward with dignity and honor as a result of the election," Ramos said.

In her order to the AFP, the President said that "our mandate is clear: to protect the sanctity of the ballot, the safety of the voters and the well being of all teachers and election personnel."

She said she expects the mandate "to be fulfilled with professionalism and efficiency."

On reports that the Church has expressed wariness over alleged plan to cheat in the coming polls, the President said if these allegations can be verified, her administration would be the first, at the behest of the Comelec, to investigate them and swiftly punish the culprits.

"We support the Church and other well-meaning groups in the drive for peaceful, honest and credible elections," the President said.

The President, however, cautioned these groups of dignifying unverifiable allegations of fraud, otherwise, "we may end up being exploited by the hidden agenda of shadowy forces."

Ramos also urged the people to accept the result of next Monday’s election. "Everyone must abide by and respect the choice of the people," he said.

He said the presence here of international observers with unquestionable credentials will bear witness to our people’s adherence to democracy, adding that the eyes of the whole world will be upon us on Monday.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today reiterated the need for all to unite and reconcile on the last days of the campaign and especially after the May 10 national and local elections.

Speaking before reporters while visiting the residents of Barangay 645, Zone 6, a community near San Miguel Church in Manila, the President said she is praying for peace in Monday’s polls and unity and reconciliation after the elections.

"Kailangan natin ng pagkakaisa. (We need to be united) We are pushing for unity and healing," she said.

The President said she fully supports efforts of the Church and other well-meaning groups for a peaceful, honest and credible elections and that she will be the first to look into these allegations and punish the offenders.

"If there are verifiable allegations of fraud, we shall be the first, at the behest of the Commission on Elections, to investigate these and swiftly immobilize and punish the culprits," she said.

However, the President noted that everyone must be cautious of these allegations of fraud. She said everyone might end up being exploited by the hidden agenda of shadowy forces.

The President has repeatedly called on all presidential candidates to reconcile and be united especially after the May 10 elections for the sake of the future of the Philippines and the Filipino people.

Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal today said that reports on alleged systematic cheating in Monday’s polls which the group Coalition of HOPE exposed Friday are not aimed at either the administration or the opposition.

The information, which Cardinal Vidal said were obtained from certain individuals, were shared to the people, especially those who are responsible in the electoral process, for the purpose of orderliness and safety in the upcoming electoral exercise.

"At present, our group, the Coalition for HOPE (Honest, Orderly and Peaceful Elections), is continuously investigating the truth concerning the matter," he said in a statement. "We believe that to be forewarned is to be forearmed."

Cardinal Vidal said that as the group continue to seek for truth, "we are prayerfully hoping that these things are not true."

In Malacaņang, President Gloria Macagapal-Arroyo joined the Church in the call for peaceful, honest and credible elections.

"If there are verifiable allegation of fraud, we shall be the first, at the behest of the Comelec, to investigate these and swiftly immobilize and punish the culprits," the President said.

She cautioned however against dignifying unverifiable allegations of fraud, "for we may end up being exploited by the hidden agenda of shadowy forces."

"We support the church and other well-meaning groups in the drive for peaceful, honest and credible elections," she stressed.

The President has ordered the Chief of Staff to enforce absolute non-partisanship in the Armed Forces and "to summarily punish any active military personnel engaged in partisan activities."