PGMA keynotes Tourism Congress
There is need for a stronger partnership between the government and the private sector for the tourism industry to take advantage of the anticipated economic recovery of its traditional international markets.
In her keynote address at the first-ever Tourism Congress at the Marriott Hotel near the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said the National Tourism Policy Act of 2009 will be the key instrument to strengthening the government-private sector partnership.
“We are gathered here today to cement in accordance with the law, the strong government-private sector partnership,” the President said.
The law requires the Department of Tourism (DOT) to convene the Tourism Congress to allow participants to elect nominees for five seats in the governing board of the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority ((TIEZA), Tourism Promotion Board (TPB) and the Duty Free Philippines Corp.
The three agencies, once operational, will implement the government’s tourism programs.
The president noted that tourist arrivals in the first semester of the year reached almost four million. Only half of that number came to visit the country on 2001.
Likewise, she said domestic tourism also increased, along with foreign tourism, due in part to the efforts of the government, in partnership with the private sector, to provide tourism infrastructure and facilities.
From 2004 to August this year, P555 billion worth of investment went to the development of transportation, tourism ecozones, accommodations, and infrastructure.
The president said that through these investments, the
As a result of this tourism infrastructure, tourist arrivals from Asian countries has increased with Koreans and Chinese topping the list.
The tourism infrastructure progress fall under the president’s Super Regions Economic Development Strategy.
The programs called for the construction of road, and bridges, airports and ports.
Also, the president added, the liberalization of the airline industry contributed to the surge in tourist arrivals.
PGMA mourns victims of Maguindanao massacre
PORAC, Pampanga -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Wednesday called on the whole nation to mourn the death of at least 46 people in the Maguindanao massacre on Monday.
The president was in town to inaugurate the Porac Access Road, which leads to the SCTEX (Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway).
Though happy that the project road had been completed, the president could not shake off the lingering sadness and outrage over the crime that many people described as unprecedented in its brutality.
Speaking in the vernacular, the president promised the perpetrators will not escape the long arm of the law. She said the government is committed to human rights and will not tolerate lawless violence.
“We will arrest them and have them punished,” she added.
In a way, the president explained, the access road “demonstrates our commitment to human rights by victory it easier for people to travel in safety and convenience.”
PGMA declares national day of mourning for the Maguindanao massacre victims
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita on Wednesday said that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo declared the national day of mourning for the victims of Maguindanao massacre. The declaration was made three days after the violent incident wherein at least 46 individuals, including media men, were brutally killed on Monday at Sitio Masalay, Barangay Salman, Ampatuan, Maguindanao.
According to Ermita, President Arroyo extended the government’s sympathies and condolences to the families of the massacre victims by declaring a national day of mourning.
Ermita also said that they are expecting Secretary Jesus Dureza, the appointed head of the Maguindanao Crisis Management Committee, would submit within the day an update regarding the initial investigation of the gruesome killings.
Earlier, President Arroyo declared a state of emergency in the provinces of Maguindanao and Sultan Kudarat and
She also ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to conduct a swift and precise investigation to give justice to the victims of the massacre.
PNP vows swift justice to victims of Maguindanao massacre
The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Wednesday vowed swift justice to the victims of the gruesome Maguindanao massacre, which include at least three members of a political clan and more than a dozen media practitioners.
PNP spokesman Chief Supt. Leonardo Espina said government authorities, particularly the PNP and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), are now in total control of Maguindanao following President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s declaration of state of emergency in the province and nearby Sultan Kudarat and
”We would like to give justice immediately in this massacre,” said Espina.
”The general idea of state of emergency is to hold the area under PNP and AFP,” added Espina.
Latest update showed that elements of the PNP’s Scene of the Crime Operatives (Soco) have already unearthed 26 more bodies from shallow grave in a remote area in Barangay Salman, Ampatuan town. This brings to 46 the total people killed during the incident.
Among those killed were members of the Mangudadatu clan – Genalyn Mangudadatu, the wife of Buluan Vice Mayor Esmail Mangudadatu, his elder sister Bai Farina Mangudadatu, and youngest sister Eden Mangudadatu, who is also the incumbent vice mayor of Mangudadatu town.
Esmail Mangudadatu asked his wife to file his certificate of candidacy for governor of Maguindanao to the provincial capitol in Shariff Aguak.
The group of Mangudadatu, however, were stopped along a checkpoint in Barangay Saniag in Ampatuan town and were brought to the remote area of Barangay Salman where the gruesome slaying was done.
More than a dozen media practitioners, who were invited to cover the event, were also killed.
”We need the cooperation of the witnesses,” said Espina, as he cited ongoing investigation of the case to punish those responsible. “Everything is under process to disarm those involved in this case.”
No less than PNP chief Director General Jesus Verzosa flew to Maguindanao on Tuesday to supervise ongoing investigation and pursuit operations against the perpetrators of the brutal killing.
Esmail Mangudadatu has tagged the Ampatuan clan, particularly Datu Unsay town Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr., as behind the massacre.
Devanadera assures criminal raps will be filed vs people behind Maguindanao massacre
Denavadera formed a panel of prosecutors to assist the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Task Force Against Media Killings (Task Force 211) to immediately conduct an investigation of the gruesome killing.
The panel is headed by Senior State Prosecutor Philip Kimpo, with the following as members: State Prosecutors Bernardo Parico, Rene Gingoyon, Bunrofil Altares, Aldrin Evangelista and Lamberto Fabros, Maguindanao Provincial Prosecutor Rami Guiling and Shariff Kabunsuan Provincial Prosecutor Akilali Balt.
"I will be getting in touch with the Philippine National Police on whatever evidence they have already gathered," Devanadera said.
However, the DOJ chief clarified that she would not want to interfere in the investigation being conducted by the PNP at present, in the sense that they have not yet talked about the incident.
"I assure you, as far as the department (DOJ) is concerned, if there is a case, charges will be filed against those responsible," Devanadera said.
"The Department of Justice shall expedite the investigation of these cases until the perpetrators thereof have been arrested and prosecuted to its successful conclusion," Devanadera stressed.
Task Force 211 head Undersecretary Ricardo Blancaflor has joined the DOJ-NBI team and immediately proceeded to Maguindanao to supervise the investigation.
Earlier reports said among the massacre victims were the wife of Buluan, Maguindanao Vice Mayor Ismael Mangudadatu, two lawyers and at least 12 reporters.
PGMA declares national day of mourning for the Maguindanao massacre victims – Ermita
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said in his weekly media briefing that the President declared the national day of mourning three days after the violent incident wherein at least 46 individuals, including media men, were brutally killed on Monday at Sitio Masalay, Barangay Salman, Ampatuan, Maguindanao.
According to Ermita, President Arroyo extended the government’s sympathies and condolences to the families of the massacre victims by declaring a national day of mourning.
In the same briefing, Ermita said they are expecting that Secretary Jesus Dureza, the appointed head of the Maguindanao Crisis Management Committee, would submit within the day an update regarding the initial investigation of the gruesome killings.
Earlier, President Arroyo declared a state of emergency in the provinces of Maguindanao and Sultan Kudarat and
She also ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to conduct a swift and precise investigation to give justice to the victims of the massacre. (PNA)
