MAASIN CITY, Philippines -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's visit to Southern Leyte has been cancelled for a third time this month but no reason was given this time.

Maasin Mayor Malone Samaco announced the cancellation of the President's July 14 visit on over his radio program on Thursday.

Arroyo was first scheduled to come to Southern Leyte last July 1 to deliver the keynote speech during a program marking the province's 49th anniversary.

However, the July 1 visit was cancelled when the President placed herself under self-quarantine after she arrived from a 13-day trip to Japan, Brazil, Colombia and Hong Kong, all of which have reported cases of the Influeza A(H1N1) virus.

She was confined at the Asian hospital from the evening of June 30 to the afternoon of July 2.

The President was again scheduled to lead the groundbreaking for a proposed new provincial hospital in Dongon village, seven kilometers from Maasin City, and the inauguration of a new dry market as well as a wet market in Maasin on July 9. That visit was canceled again.

Samaco said the Presidential Management Staff informed him about the cancellation of the visit through a text message to his mobile phone that again cited the President’s admission to the Asian Hospital.

Her visit to the province was rescheduled to July 14 but this too has now been put off, this time without any reason given.

Welcome streamers and tarpaulins bearing the picture of Arroyo and a list of accomplished and ongoing projects at different sites were taken down after the she cancelled her visit for the third time.

Samaco pointed out, however, that Maasin would always be ready to welcome the President anytime her visit pushes through.