President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ordered a 10 percent reduction of South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) toll rates effective today and would be in effect for the duration of the SLEX improvement projects.

Press Secretary and concurrent Presidential Spokesperson Ignacio R. Bunye said the President has instructed Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) Secretary Leandro Mendoza to implement the order.

The reduced toll fees order was issued after the government noted that motorists using the SLEX are suffering from traffic congestion because of the ongoing road repairs.

The P8.9-billion, 13.5-kilometer rehabilitation work on SLEX is one of the 21 priority road projects exempted from the election ban and are set to be completed before the end of the year.

The SLEX improvement project is in preparation for the government’s plan to connect the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) and the SLEX through the P12.76-billion C-5 Expressway.

The project is part of the super regions development strategy of President Arroyo to boost economic development in the country’s five super regions by strengthening linkages between provinces.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo called on the country’s physicians today to join her in efforts to make economic prosperity, social justice and peace and security a reality "for a new modernizing Philippines."

In her speech at the 37^th annual convention of the Philippine College of Physicians, the President lauded Filipino physicians for being world-class in all fields of medicine and also for being "servants of the people."

"There are many things that we can do together, but you are such world-class physicians, I have no doubt you will also be world class citizens and servants of the people," she told her audience at the plenary hall of the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City.

The President thanked the doctors for initiating the Health Education Reform Order (HERO) which she launched through Executive Order No. 595.

The program commits physicians to orient teaching personnel of public schools all over the country on preventive health care based on current morbidity and mortality trends.

They will also help implement a yearly nationwide medical and dental checkup for elementary and high school students as well as teaching and non-teaching personnel all over the country.

"Through this program, we will be able to reach out or continue to reach out to millions of teachers and school children who will hopefully make preventive medicine a way of life for all," the President explained.

The Chief Executive also expressed gratitude to the doctors who attended to the medical and surgical needs of her husband, First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo, when he underwent a successful open-heart surgery last month.

"For me this convention is an opportunity to acknowledge once again the admirable proficiency of our doctors especially those who saved the life of my husband," she said.

The government, the President said, has allocated a big portion of the Department of Health (DOH) budget to upgrade the provincial hospitals from primary to secondary.

With only three days more to go before the conduct of the midterm polls, Malacaņang made an assurance to the Filipino people and foreign (poll) observers that next Monday’s polls would be peaceful and clean.

"We have coordinated with the Commission on Elections (Comelec), which is tasked to supervise (the elections), that they must ensure a peaceful and clean (conduct of) elections, " Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said in an interview this morning with radio station DZRB.

Earlier, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo had ordered the Armed Forces of the Philippines to reinforce the Philippine National Police (PNP), under the supervision of the Comelec, "to stop election violence and move forcefully against those using threats and intimidation for partisan ends."

The President also urged the candidates "to keep tension at bay and not to test or defy the authorities" as she appealed to all sectors, including the business community, to help ensure a peaceful and honest conduct of the May 14 polls.

At the same time, Ermita appealed to all stakeholders to share efforts in ensuring a peaceful environment before and during election day.

"Election (day) is not yet over but some sectors are already claiming that election fraud and cheating exist. Let us refrain from issuing unfounded statements and instead unite in ensuring a peaceful environment during election day and show the Filipino people that we are mature (people)," Ermita said.

PNP Chief Director General Oscar Calderon has also assured the people that necessary security preparations have been taken to ensure the integrity of next week’s polls.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo honored today the 90-year-old physician owner of one of the largest pharmaceutical distributors in Southeast Asia with the Order of Lakandula (Rank of Bayani).

Decorated with the Golden Cross by President Arroyo at Malacanang’s Music Room this afternoon was Dr. Stephen Zuellig, who also happens to be the long-time honorary consul of the Principality of Monaco to the Philippines.

Dr. Zuellig, who was born in the Philippines, is the 12^th recipient of the award since 2003. He has been Monaco’s honorary consul to the Philippines for the past 40 years, according to Ambassador Roberto Romulo.

The 12^th awardee of the Golden Cross (Orden ni Lakandula) authorized four months ago the manufacturing arm of Zuellig Pharma to enter a joint venture with the Philippine International Trading Corporation (PITC) in the manufacture of some 24 generic drugs to be sold to the public at the target price of "at least 50 percent less than the (prices of) multinational brands available in the market today."

Since its founding in the Philippines in 1901, the Zuellig Group has become one of the largest privately-owned companies in the world with a turnover of over US$5 billion, making it a global Filipino company.

Using the Philippines as its base of operations, Zuellig Pharma has become one of the largest pharmaceutical distributors in Southeast Asia, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Taiwan and China, with Dr. Zuellig donating substantial sums to various charities and organizations.

During the Ramos administration, Zuellig had "supported PCGG (Presidential Commission on Good Government) efforts in securing Marcos money in Swiss banks," according to the Malacanang Protocol Office which pointed out that "President (Fidel) Ramos can attest to the fact that, without his (Zuellig’s) pro-bono assistance with Swiss officialdom, the Marcos funds would have never been transferred to the Philippine government."

An honorary consul since the time of the late Foreign Affairs Secretary Carlos P. Romulo, Dr. Zuellig has also been very supportive of the plight and welfare of Filipinos not only in Monaco but also in France. "He has worked ‘hand in glove’ with all the Philippine ambassadors in Paris, having supported them in the funding of various cultural events, as well as assisting them in securing suitable honorary consuls in Southern France."

Ambassador Marciano Paynor, Malacanang Protocol head, said the awarding of the Order of Lakandula (Rank of Bayani or Golden Cross), was started by President Arroyo.

The first to receive the award was Ambassador Alfonso Yuchengco on Nov. 26, 2003; followed by the late Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin who received his award on Dec. 8, 2003; and the late Senator and Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas Ople on Dec. 20, 2003.

The year 2004 saw two posthumous awardees – former Vice President and Foreign Affairs Secretary Salvador Laurel; and former Senator Jose Diokno.

There were five posthumous awardees in 2005--Paul V. McNutt, the last American commissioner and the first American ambassador to the Philippines; and Morris, Alex, Philip and Herbert Frieder, all awarded on Feb. 13, 2005.

The Philippines is slated to host a global forum on migration next year in an effort to resolve the serious problems in the deployment of Filipino workers abroad.

Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Esteban Conejos revealed this today in the television program, "The Cabinet Speaks" hosted by Press Undersecretary Martin Crisostomo and GMA Channel 7 reporter Ralph Guzman, at the New Executive Building (NEB) of Malacanang.

Conejos said the DFA is scheduled to host the Global Forum on Migration and Development in the Philippines early next year to discuss the problem of migration experienced by the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

At least 500 delegates from 120 countries are expected to converge in Manila to discuss the problem of migration, he said.

The forum is considered timely considering the spate of events involving migrant workers in various parts of the world.

The country, in particular, was shocked over the death of a Filipino worker in the latest bombing attack in Iraq.

On the other hand, the Filipino nation rejoiced after Sarah Dematera, a domestic helper, was freed from a Saudi Arabian jail after 15 years in death row, even as eight OFWs, victims of kidnapping in Nigeria, arrived this morning.

Dematera was convicted and sentenced to death in 1992 for killing her employer. She was able to return home last Tuesday after she was forgiven by the Saudi Arabian king.

Conejos said Dematera got a royal pardon from The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz as a result of the successful state visit of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to Saudi Arabia in May 2006.

Conejos reiterated that the government, through the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), has existing integration program for repatriating OFWs.