President Aquino challenges tourism
stakeholders: Go extra mile, cement Phl position as tourism hotspot
Even as he stressed his administration's support
for tourism, President Benigno Aquino III on Friday challenged stakeholders in
the industry to go the extra mile to ensure the Philippines cements its
position as a tourism hotspot.
Speaking at the Philippine Travel Agencies
Association's 21st TravelTour Expo 2014 at the SMX Asia, the President said
Filipinos cannot be satisfied with what they have achieved so far.
"Of course, we cannot be satisfied with
what we have achieved so far. The goal now is not merely to maintain our
growth, but to cement our position as one of the world’s vacation hot
spots," he said.
He said his administration has been working hard
to ensure visitors find their travels smooth and worry-free.
So far, he said the government has implemented
reforms in civil aviation, by liberalizing airspace through the Pocket Open
Skies Policy, and by rationalizing taxes on foreign carriers.
With added opportunities for both local and
foreign airlines to expand operations in and out of the Philippines, he said
consumers now have more options when planning their trips.
Government also continues to make massive
investments in infrastructure—from construction and rehabilitation of roads
leading to tourism clusters, to upgrading airports and ports in key areas, he
added.
However, the President also threw a challenge to
stakeholders in the industry "to go beyond what you have already
done."
"It is not just about sustaining the appeal
of already favored destinations; it is also about discovering and marketing
hidden destinations. It is not just about getting tourists to visit the
Philippines once, but getting them to return. The possibilities ahead are
limitless now that the world knows that it is indeed more fun in the
Philippines!—and each one of us is asked to do his part to realize these
possibilities," he said.
"Thus, I pose a question to all of you
today: have we, as a nation, gone the extra mile to make our tourists the
happiest visitors to the Philippines—the most fun place on earth?" he
added.
He reminded them as well that the success of any
business balances profit with customer satisfaction, and that the collective
goal goes beyond making sales and booking trips.
"What we want is for both domestic and
international tourists to become advocates of the Philippines—visitors who will
return again and again to explore every corner, every peak, every shoreline of
our archipelago, and encourage their friends and family to do the same. To
achieve this, we need all of you to become advocates of our country—first, to
go above and beyond your normal responsibilities, to do everything you can
towards the resounding success of each and every trip, even as we in government
continue to do our part," he said.
The President also said the administration
remains on track for meeting and even exceeding its targets.
He said it has already surpassed its initial
target of 35.5 million domestic travelers five years ahead of schedule, with
37.5 million travelers in 2011 alone.
"Now, Secretary Mon Jimenez has the fun
task of meeting, or better yet, surpassing our new 2016 target of just 56.1
million domestic travelers," he said.
The President added that in 2012, the country
reached another milestone by surpassing the four-million international arrival
mark.
In 2013, despite the calamities that befell the
country, the figure still grew by 10 percent to 4.7 million international
arrivals.
"The good news is that, while the growth of
international arrivals was affected last year, we found that international
tourists have been spending more money on their visits here—with average daily
expenditures among them increasing by 8.7 percent," he added. PND (jl)
President Aquino: Phl-US framework pact still
being worked out to adhere to Phl, US laws
Work is still ongoing for a prospective
Philippine-US framework agreement that would allow increased rotational
presence of US troops in the Philippines, President Benigno Aquino III said
Friday.
The President, in an interview with media in
Pasay City, said both sides want to make sure the pact does not violate
Philippine and US laws.
"Mula naman noong simulan ang usapan na ito
talagang ang focus ay mapamadali, na magkaayos na tayo't magkasundo dito. Iyong
principles that we want to uphold... dapat klaro ang details. Sabi nga nila,
the devil is in the details. Iyong details ang medyo kailangan pang plantsahin
(Since the negotiations started, the goal was to reach an agreement soonest.
But we must make sure the result does not violate the rules of both countries.
We still have to iron out the details)," he said.
The President made the clarification amid
speculations that the pact is being readied for signing in time for US
President Barack Obama's visit to the Philippines in April.
But for now, President Aquino said there are
still meetings being held to iron out the details of the pact that would allow
a US rotational presence that will meet both the needs of the Philippines and
the US.
The added presence of US forces is seen to boost
the Philippines' position in its territorial row with China in the West
Philippine Sea (South China Sea). PND (jl)
President Aquino: Complaint vs ERC chief now
being studied
President Benigno Aquino III on Friday assured
the public a Malacañang office is now studying a complaint against Energy
Regulatory Commission head Zenaida Ducut.
The President, in an interview with media in
Pasay City, said the complaint is being studied and scrutinized by Deputy
Executive Secretary Michael Aguinaldo.
"Nandoon ngayon kay Deputy Executive
Secretary Michael Aguinaldo, kung saan pinag-aaralan at sinisiyasat 'yung reklamo
(The complaint is now with Deputy Executive Secretary Michael Aguinaldo where
it is now being studied and scrutinized)," he said.
Earlier this month, Presidential Communications
Operations Office head Herminio Coloma Jr. said the complaint is being handled
by a newly created division.
Coloma said this was the Investigative and
Adjudicatory Division of the Office of the Deputy Executive Secretary for Legal
Affairs.
He said the new office replaces the Presidential
Anti-Graft Commission.
Earlier, a party list group had asked the Palace
to investigate Ducut for supposedly abandoning her duty to protect consumers
from a power rate hike. PND (jl)
President Aquino declares February 26 as a
special non-working day in the City of Zamboanga in celebration of 77th Charter
Day
President Benigno S. Aquino III has declared
February 26, which falls on a Wednesday, as a special (non-working) day in the
city of Zamboanga, in celebration of its 77th Charter Day.
The Chief Executive issued the declaration
through Proclamation No. 717 signed by Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr.
on February 7 to give the people of Zamboanga City the full opportunity to
celebrate and participate in the occasion with appropriate ceremonies.
Zamboanga City became a chartered city in 1937
by virtue of Commonwealth Act. No. 39, when the Philippines was still ruled by
a Commonwealth Government under then President Manuel L. Quezon. PND (js)
President Aquino hopes Tuason testimony on pork
mess to result in safeguards vs abuse
President Benigno Aquino III on Friday voiced
hopes the testimony before the Senate by Ruby Tuason will lead to safeguards
against the abuse of the country's finances.
In an interview with media, the President said
information provided by such witnesses can help lawmakers refine or amend laws
to protect public funds.
"Ang buong paksa ay natutukoy sa
pang-aabuso ng sistema. Natural, maganda ngang malaman nila kung paano naabuso
itong sistemang ito para mailagay 'yung kaukulang safeguards nang hindi na
maabuso sa darating na panahon (What we are looking into is the abuse of the
system. It is good to see in detail how the system is being exploited, so
proper safeguards can be put up to prevent further abuse)," he said.
On Thursday, Tuason appeared before a hearing of
the Senate and provided details of how some lawmakers allegedly profited from
the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF).
The President said he managed to occasionally
catch parts of the televised hearing Thursday.
Meanwhile, the President said it will be
premature to consider Janet Napoles, the suspected mastermind behind the PDAF
mess, as a potential state witness at this time.
He said Napoles has so far kept quiet on the
case, and has not shown any sign she should be considered "not the most
guilty."
"So until magsasalita siya, siguro,
premature na sabihing puwede siyang maging state witness (So until she talks,
it would be premature to say she can be considered a state witness)," he
said. PND (jl)
President Aquino to spend Valentine's Day with
friends
President Benigno Aquino III on Friday said he
plans to spend Valentine's Day with some friends.
"Mamaya naman ay magtitipon kami ng mga
kaibigan ko at may kaunting salu-salo, hanggang doon na lang 'yon (Later today,
I will get together with some friends. That's it)," he said in an
interview with media in Pasay City.
Earlier Friday, the President addressed the
opening of the 21st TravelTour Expo 2014 of the Philippine Travel Agencies
Association.
During his speech, he exhorted the stakeholders
in the tourism industry to go the extra mile to cement the Philippines' stature
as one of the world's vacation hotspots.
On the other hand, the President also thanked
Sen. Juan Edgardo Angara for reminding him that Feb. 14 also happens to be his
youngest sister Kristina Bernadette's birthday.
"So kung hindi dahil sa kanya baka
nakaligtaan kong mabati ang aking kapatid (If it were not for Sen. Angara, I
might have forgotten to greet her)," he said. PND (jl)
