Palace welcomes increased direct flights to
Italy
The Palace welcomed the new agreement between
the Philippines and Italy increasing the number of flights to both destinations
saying the development would be a major boost to the country’s tourism sector
and a relief to Filipinos working in Italy.
The Civil Aeronautics Board said this week that
the Philippines and Italy have agreed to increase seat entitlements between the
two countries during air service talks in Rome on Sept. 5 and 6.
“Nakikita naman natin that despite the focus on
negative news, marami pa ring positibong nangyayari. Isa ito, magiging
magandang bagay ito doon sa mga OFW natin, na hindi na nila kailangang
magpa-ikot-ikot, which essentially is mas mahal ang ticket, at puwede na ang
mga direktang flight,” Deputy Presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said in
an interview over dzRB Radyo ng Bayan on Saturday.
There are 170,000 Filipinos working or staying
in Italy.
Secondly, Valte said the increased flights
between the Philippines and Italy will boost the Philippine tourism front,
which has been posting continuous increase in the number of visitors entering
the country.
Among the major sources of foreign tourists are
South Korea, the US, China and Japan, Valte said.
"It’s a good thing that the Philippines
continue to post increasing tourist arrivals because of its multiplier effect
domestically," the Palace official said.
“At mabuti naman na patuloy na umaakyat ito.
‘Yung mga turistang pumupunta dito, at makikita talaga na it’s more fun in the
Philippines, when they go back to their countries, they tell their friends,
they tell their families and love ones, mga officemates nila,” Valte said.
“And ito ang maganda kasi na-spread din by word
of mouth ang mga magagandang nakikita nila dito sa ating bansa.”
The CAB said both countries reached the new
agreement after four decades. Under the new terms, the Philippines and Italy
would have 14 flights per week. This number of flights is a tremendous increase
from one flight a week since 1969.
The air service talks between the Philippines
and Italy came after the European Union lifted its ban on Philippine air
carriers, starting with Philippine Airlines, on July 10.
The Philippine Airlines previously said that it
plans to fly to Amsterdam, London, Paris and Rome starting next quarter. PND
(as)
Government anti-corruption fight to boost
investors confidence
Malacanang said that it hopes foreign investors
will continue to look at the country’s economic gains and not, the controversies
being uncovered by the government particularly the P10-billion pork barrel
scam.
There are concerns in recent weeks saying that
as the pork barrel scam inquiry drags on, this has eclipsed the good news and
developments happening in the Philippines.
“There,’re many pieces of good news to find and
hopefully, the investors can look… Nakikita naman natin that the investors
continue to have an eye of the development of the country,” Deputy presidential
spokesperson Abigail Valte said in a radio interview over dzRB Radyo ng Bayan
on Saturday.
“Whether this will drag on or not is a question
that the Executive branch cannot answer for itself because hindi lang naman ang
Executive branch ang involved sa legal system natin. Of course, the judiciary
is likewise there.”
Asked how the Palace sees the resolution of the
controversy and its impact on investors’ confidence, the Palace official said
the single major aim of the Aquino administration is to hold accountable those
who committed wrongdoings.
And for the cases to prosper, Valte said the
government must file charges based on solid evidence and without bias.
Valte also admitted that the administration is
facing an uphill fight with regards to prosecuting people once cases are filed
in court given the lengthy judicial process in the country.
Despite these obstacles however, Valte said the
President hopes to see convictions under his term, before he steps down from
power in 2016.
Valte said she cannot predict whether the
country could reverse its gains which are overshadowed by current developments.
But in the end however, the Palace official said
the most important thing on the side of government is its quick action if there
are anomalies that are uncovered.
“Pag may mga lumalabas na mga anomalya ay
naiimbestigahan agad at nagkakaroon ng kaukulang aksyon, na hindi naiisantabi o
hindi pinapansin. ‘Yun ang isa doon sa mga importante on the part of
government,” she added. PND (as)
