It’s business as usual in GenSan after bombing

Koronadal City — Government and business leaders in General Santos City sought to allay fears over the Jan. 10 bombing there, saying it was just an isolated case and its business as usual as far as trade activity is concerned.

General Santos City Mayor Pedro Acharon Jr. said the bomb explosion that killed five persons and seriously injured more than 30 others have little effect on the business activity in the city.

The bomb explosion happened just after the conclusion of the two-day meeting of the Coordinating Committee of the Cessation of the Hostilities (CCHS) of the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), which was attended by the Malaysian-led International Monitoring Team.

"People were scared at first but eventually, business goes on as usual," Acharon said in a long distance interview.

Acharon’s statement was supported by the officials and members of the General Santos City Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GSCCCI), saying the effect of the recent bombing incident is only minimal and could easily be overcome by the business players.

GSCCCI executive director Pilar Afuang believed that the traders and the city government would overcome the effects of the bombing.

The Jan. 10 bomb explosion in General Santos City was the 15th attack since May 2000.

Afuang said that despite the bombing incidents, the investors, mostly locals, never left the city. Arnel Sayco of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) there also issued a statement saying that the bombing has not really caused a negative impact on the local business climate.