Palace reports sustained momentum of tourist
arrivals
Malacanang reported on Saturday an increasing
number of tourist arrivals in the country, sustaining good figures from its
major markets.
“Isang magandang balita mula naman sa Department
of Tourism, mula January to June 2012 ang tourist arrivals natin---foreign lang
ito umabot ‘yan ng 2.14 million, dumating sa atin mula January to June 2012,”
Deputy Presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said in an interview over
government-run dzRB Radyo ng Bayan on Saturday.
“The same markets ang pinanggagalingan nung
ating mga bisita galing ‘yan ng South Korea, galing ng Estados Unidos, China at
Taiwan. And again, it’s more fun in the Philippines. Tumataas ‘yung numero nung
mga bumibisita sa atin. Magandang bagay ‘yan para sa ating bansa.”
The country is also hosting the Philippine
Travel Mart 2012, which will be held on August 10 at SMX Convention Center in
Pasay City to push the tourism industry.
The local tourism industry targets 4.6 million
tourists by the end of this year. The government said that if the quota for
2012 is reached, this would mean additional 1.5 million tourists, higher than
the record of the previous government.
The Department of Tourism targets to increase
the annual tourist arrivals in the country to 10 million by 2016.
In January, the DOT launched the “It's More Fun
in the Philippines” campaign and in April, released its first two TV
commercials.
The “It’s More Fun in the Philippines” slogan
was premiered in April on the international news channel, Cable News Network
(CNN). (as/1:37pm)
Malacanang expresses support for Barriga's bid
for an Olympic medal in amateur boxing in London
Malacanang expressed its utmost support for the
boxer considered as the Philippines’ biggest hope for an Olympic medal in the
ongoing 2012 London Summer Olympics as it encouraged the Filipino pugilist to
give it his best shot for the honor of the country and the Filipino people.
In an interview over government-run radio
station DzRB Radyo ng Bayan, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte, in
behalf of the Aquino government and the whole nation, expressed sincere and
all-out support to Mark Anthony Barriga who will be facing Birzhan Zhakypov of
Kazakhstan in Round 16 of the 30th Olympics’ amateur boxing in London, Saturday
evening.
“Good luck po kay Mark Anthony Barriga at
talagang marami ang na-e-excite dahil sa pagkakataon natin na ito. Tuloy-tuloy
lang po iyan, we are cheering for you,” Valte said.
Valte further noted the recent comments of
well-known boxing analysts, local and international, in favor of the Filipino
boxer.
“Nagbabasa rin po ako ng mga nagiging pahayag ng
mga boxing analysts ... at mukhang mas marami ang pabor kay Mark Anthony
Barriga. Pareho sila… para siyang si Congressman Pacquiao... marami mga analyst
ang pumapabor. Hindi lang Filipino boxing analysts natin. Kahit mga foreign
boxing analysts, mukhang ang tinatayaan po nila ay si Mark Anthony Barriga. So,
good luck and do your best, we will be cheering for you,” Valte noted.
Recent reports also revealed that Zhakypov is
reportedly having trouble making the 49-kilogram limit, something that resulted
in his rather careless showing against Frenchman Jeremy Beccu, whom he defeated
by the closest of margin, 18-17.
Barriga for his part displayed his boxing
prowess in punching, moving and defending impressively that resulted to a 17-7
decision over Italy’s Manuel Cappai.
The 19-year-old lefty light flyweight from
Davao, Barriga, will be facing Zhakypov of Kazakhstan at 1:45 p.m. (8:45 pm,
Saturday, Manila time).
The winner of the bout will be making it to the
quarterfinals in the quadrennial meet that is considered as the biggest
sporting event around the world. (jcl/2:15 p.m.)
Palace says Responsible Parenthood Bill will
help the country economically
Malacanang asked the public to support the
Responsible Parenthood Bill being pushed by the Aquino administration saying
the proposal is good for the country particularly to the economy.
In a radio interview Saturday over dzRB Radyo ng
Bayan, Presidential Legislative Liaison Office (PLLO) chief Manuel Mamba asked
lawmakers to pass the bill because of its significance to the nation.
Mamba’s statement came as the Catholic Church
and its supporters gather in EDSA Shrine to hold a huge prayer rally against the
Responsible Parenthood Bill.
“Ito po ay napakagandang batas, basahin ho natin
ng husto, makikita natin na ang gusto ng batas na ito ay meron tayong mas
magandang kinabukasan sa ating mga anak at sa sambayanang Pilipino sa darating
na araw,” Mamba said.
“Isa pa ’yung ekonomiya natin kailangan
makasabay sa paglaki ng ating populasyon, sa sobrang paglaki ng ating
populasyon, kahit pa kailan hindi makakasabay ‘yung ating ekonomiya. Gusto
natin ng magandang kinabukasan para sa mga taon natin, let’s pass this bill,”
he added.
With regards to statements saying the bill is
pro-abortion, Mamba said it is not contained in the bill and it is an attempt
to misinform the public.
“’Yung pangamba ng simbahan na may mga abortion
dito, hindi po totoo ’yon. Let us not misinform our people,” he said, adding
the government has an obligation to give the people choices about the size of
their families.
At this time, Mamba said they have enough
representatives in both house of Congress who are supportive of the bill as he
expressed confidence on its passage.
The Palace official also asked the people and
lawmakers not to politicize the issue, saying it’s not about politics but about
the future of the country.
Hundreds of people gathered outside the EDSA
shrine Saturday afternoon for what church leaders had described as a massive
prayer rally to show Congress most Filipinos were against the bill pending in
the legislature for years. (as/4:46pm)
