GMA cancels visit
amid protest plans
BY CARLA GOMEZ

The visit of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to Bacolod City on March 9 for a "Sigaw ng Bayan Charter Change Rally" has been postponed indefinitely, Gov. Joseph Marañon said yesterday.

No explanation was given for the postponement and the governor said he could not speculate if it was called off because of planned protests against Proclamation 1017 in Bacolod City the day before her visit.

It is likely that the President will come to Bacolod at a later date, Marañon said.

Bacolod dads call
for lifting of 1017
BY CHRYSEE SAMILLANO

The Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod yesterday passed a unanimous resolution expressing its gravest concern over Proclamation 1017 and General Order No. 5, and asked the President to immediately lift them.

The SP is concerned that the entire country, from Apari to Jolo, is placed under a state of emergency when the threat is only in Manila thereby creating concern, if not confusion among the people, the resolution said.

Bacolod Councilors Lyndon Caña, Greg Gasataya and Homer Bais proposed the resolution that will be subject to further refinement of its final draft.

'State of emergency
not affecting tourism'
BY NANETTE GUADALQUIVER

Tourism Regional Director Edwin Trompeta said yesterday that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's declaration of a state of emergency would not affect at all the tourism promotion efforts of the country.

We don't foresee a backlash because of Proclamation 1017. It's just a statement of fact, like saying that there is a flooding or typhoon, Trompeta, who was among the guests at the opening of the 1st Travel Xchange at the Robinsons Place Bacolod yesterday, said.

He said that the President's move to counter attempts to overthrow her administration is a signal of strong government and shows that she is not cowed by political adventurism.