KORONADAL, South Cotabato -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today gave P20,000 cash assistance each to the families of the three fatal victims of the latest bombing incident here as she also ordered the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to hand out P10,000 each to the 25 injured victims now confined at the local hospitals.

The President arrived at the General Santos City airport around 10:00 o’clock this morning and directly motored to the public market here, the scene of a powerful blast at 2:30 p.m. Thursday.

She inspected the dry goods section that was directly hit by the blast that killed three and injured 25 others.

She then visited the wake of two of the victims in two funeral parlors here and the residence of Bai Masla, the 11-year-old Maguindanaoan girl killed in the blast, in Purok Kings in Gen. Paulino Santos.

She personally gave the P20,000 financial assistance to each of the three victims’ families and ordered the DSWD to provide P10,000 each to the 25 injured victims.

The President then went to the Koronadal Sports Complex gymnasium and delivered a message during the 27^th anniversary celebration of Koronadal.

Don’t be surprised if you find fewer buses plying city streets and traffic moving more smoothly.

That’s because the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC), through its bus rationalization program, has finally weeded out dilapidated and illegally operating buses, resulting in improved traffic flow along the major thoroughfares of Metro Manila.

DOTC Undersecretary Arturo Valdez, in a press briefing held in Malacaņang today, declared that the program, initiated on instructions of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo two years ago, is a complete success.

It is a product of a series of consultations and workshops conducted by the DOTC with all the stakeholders in the industry in March 2001.

From 10,000 buses operating on EDSA two years ago, Valdez revealed that there are now only 3,150 legitimate buses operating with franchise on their authorized routes.

This was attained by the DOTC in cooperation with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board by enforcing the policies set forth in the Public Service Act.

"Due process was extended, including giving the operators adequate time to comply with the requirements," Valdez said. "Three extensions of deadlines were compassionately granted to non-complying operators."

Since the final deadline has expired, Valdez said the DOTC had mobilized enforcers to eradicate from the ranks of bus operators the "kabit operation," disallowed dropping and substitution to prevent circumvention of procedure and other forms of irregularities in the franchise issuance system.

As a result of the program, the DOTC claimed there has been an increase in the income of legitimate bus operators by 200 percent, an increase in MRT riders, improvement in traffic, and reduction of smoke belching buses.

There has also been, Valdez said, an effective management and control of public transport in line with the President’s Strong Republic program.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has declared August 22, 2003 as a special non-working day instead of August 21, 2003, which marks the 20^th anniversary of the assassination of Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino, Jr.

The President said August 22, a Friday, could be declared as a special (non-working) day instead of August 21, a Thursday, to enable the people to enjoy the benefits of a longer weekend.

Proclamation No. 420, however, stated that all activities to commemorate the death of Senator Aquino should be observed on August 21 to inculcate the values of self-sacrifice and patriotism that his life and death exemplified.

The proclamation also stated that on August 22, 2003:

-- All heads of departments, offices, agencies, instrumentalities or government-owned or controlled corporations may, if required by the exigencies of public service, direct their employees to observe regular working hours and provide regular services to the public;

-- Employees of the Bureau of Internal Revenue, Bureau of Customs and other government agencies/instrumentalities that impose deadlines on the transacting public for payment of taxes, fees or fines and for compliance with reportorial and other requirements shall be required by the head of the department, office, agency or instrumentality to observe regular working hours and provide regular services to the public; and

KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato—President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today assured the people of this city and all of Mindanao that the government will not rest until the perpetrators in Thursday’s bombing are arrested and brought to justice.

In her remarks during the opening of the Tinalak Festival held at the Koronadal Sports Complex here, the President said the bombing in this city’s market that killed three and wounded several others only showed that terrorism could strike anywhere at anytime.

The President also extended her condolences to the relatives of the victims and the people of this city. "I share the grief of the leaders and the people of Koronadal over this incident," she said.

Earlier, the President visited the wake of the two victims in two funeral parlors here and the residence of Bai Masla, the 11-year-old Maguindanaoan killed in the blast, in Purok Kings in Gen. Paulino Santos Street.

According to the President, nothing in the ongoing peace process with separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) would prevent the government from punishing the terrorists and in bringing them to justice.

"And this event will not deter us from preparations for the peace negotiations unless the MILF is proven to be involved," the President said.

The most important thing, the President said, is to care for the wounded, assist the victims’ families and strengthen the vigilance of the community while the government takes the perpetrators into account.

The President said Muslims and Christians are victims of terrorism "and both must have the solidarity to ensure the security of the whole community."