President Aquino declares the 3rd Monday of June
of every year as National Tour Guides’ Day
President Benigno S. Aquino III has declared the
third Monday of June of every year as National Tour Guides' Day in recognition
of the contribution of the tourist guides' sector in the development, promotion
and sustainability of tourism in the Philippines.
The Chief Executive issued the declaration by
virtue of Proclamation No. 574 signed by Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa
Jr. on May 7.
"Tourism is an indispensable element of the
national economy and an industry of national interest and importance, which
must be harnessed as an engine of socio-economic growth and cultural
affirmation," President Aquino said.
The President noted that Republic Act. No. 9593
or the “Tourism Act of 2009,” promotes a tourism industry that is ecologically
sustainable, responsible and participative.
"Tour guides play a very significant role
in tourism, as they promote, market and advocate the Philippines as a tourism
destination, creating a favorable image of the country and contributing to an
enriching Philippine experience for local and foreign visitors," he said.
"The National Tour Guides’ Day provides an
opportunity for professional tour guides to convene and conduct activities that
will promote and advance their profession, and that will also draw the
attention of authorities, the public and the media to the quality and the value
of their work," he stressed. PND (js)
Malacanang hopeful Comelec can address slow
count
Malacanang expressed hope on Thursday the
Commission on Elections (Comelec) would be able to address concerns regarding
the proclamation of winners in the May 2013 midterm elections “as soon as
possible.”
In a press briefing, Presidential Spokesperson
Edwin Lacierda said he expects Comelec chairman Sixto Brillantes to proclaim
the winners tonight.
“We certainly hope…that the concerns can be
resolved by the Comelec as soon as possible. And also the lag in transmission
came in only after the first 48 hours so we certainly hope that the issues, the
transmission lag, would be solved the soonest,” Lacierda said.
“What we are concerned with certainly is that
there will be no issue on the credibility of the elections,” he added.
“This is just a lag of transmission. The Comelec
has already explained the process, has already explained the ways they will be
able to ensure that the votes will be properly counted,” Lacierda said. PND
(rck)
Palace expects Taiwan to treat Filipino workers
decently
Malacanang appealed to the Taiwanese people to
treat Filipinos staying in that country decently in the midst of new tensions
due to the killing of a Taiwanese fisherman off Batanes last week.
Some Filipinos working in Taiwan have expressed
concerns of harassment by some Taiwanese despite the Philippines’s appeal to
spare them in the recent diplomatic row.
“Naniniwala kami na ito pong naiuulat na
ginagawa ng iilang mga Taiwanese ay isolated incidents lamang. Hindi ito
kagagawan ng sambayanang Taiwan,” Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said in
a press conference in Malacanang on Thursday.
“Naniniwala kami at nirerespeto namin ang ating
mga kaibigan na nasa Taiwan. But let me also again appeal to them, to the
Taiwanese people, to refrain from hurting or making our Filipino compatriots
there as object of their anger,” he added.
As the host for Filipinos in Taiwan, Lacierda
said the Palace expects that they will be treated decently as Filipinos treat
Taiwanese well here in the Philippines.
There are about 42,000 Filipino migrant workers
in Taiwan, according to the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration.
The labor department said it hasn’t received any
reports of Filipinos losing their jobs in Taiwan adding such cases will be
handled first by the Manila Economic and Cultural Office.
The justice department said the National Bureau
of Investigation would determine what happened in the Philippine-Taiwan border
and find out if anyone could be held accountable for the death of the Taiwanese
fisherman. PND (as)
