by magnolia_eic | Jan 12, 2011 | Headlines, National News
Despite the spate of negative travel advisories on the Philippines, the number of foreign
arrivals totaled 3,451,668 in 2010, or 19.5 percent higher than the 2,887,303 who came to the
country in the previous year, according to the Bureau of Immigration (BI).
Immigration officer-in-charge Ronaldo Ledesma said the negative advisories by foreign
governments warning their citizens against going to the Philippines did not have any impact
at all. He said foreign arrivals even peaked during the last quarter of the year, when most of
the advisories were issued due to alleged threats of terror attacks in the country.
BI records showed that from 188,028 foreign visitor arrivals last September, the number
increased steadily to 204,779 in October, 218,482 in November, and 265,651 in December.
Ledesma noted that the BI statistics are consistent with the tourism department’s target of
3.3 million tourist arrivals in 2010. The number pertains to all international travelers, including
tourists, investors, expatriates, students, and balikbayans who acquired foreign citizenship.
BI Immigration Regulation Division chief Alberto Braganza said that of the 3.4 million
foreigners who came last year, about 80 percent or 2.7 million arrived at the NAIA, while the
rest were admitted in other ports such as Mactan, Clark and Davao. (PIA)
by magnolia_eic | Aug 3, 2010 | Headlines, National News
Manila, Philippines — the Senate has finished assigning the chairs and members of the 37 committees, except for one, and most of President Aquino’s allies are members of the major committees.
Ending roughly a week of horse-trading, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile presided over the session as Sen. Vicente “Tito” Sotto III the majority floor leader announced the election of the chairs of the committees. Only the committee on constitutional amendments, revision of codes and laws remains without a head. Such appointments garnered different reactions from the different Senators.
The Charimanships and memberships are as follows:
Senate Committee on Energy – Sen. Sen. Sergio Osmena III
Senate Committee on Banks, Financial Institutions and Currencies – Sen. Sergio Osmena III
Joint Congressional Power Commission – Sen. Sergio Osemna III
* Osmena’s wife, Bettina, is a scion of the Lopez family, former controller of the Manila Electric Co.
Committee on Finance – Sen. Franklin Drilon
Ways and Means Committee – Sen Ralph Recto
Committee on Agriculture and Food – Sen. Francis Pangilinan
Committee on Social Justice, Welfare and Development – Sen. Francis Pangilinan
Senate Blue Ribbon Committee – Sen. Teofisto Guingona
Senate Peace, Unification, and reconciliation committees – Sen. Teofisto Guingona
Committee on Justice and Human Rights – Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero
Committee on National Defense and Security – Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero
Committee on Labor – Sen. President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada
Committee on Public Order and Illegal Drugs – Sen. Gregorio Honasan
Committee on Agrarian Reform – Sen. Gregorio Honasan
Committee on Public Information and Mass Media -Sen. Gregorio Honasan
Committee on Public Works and Public Services – Sen. Ramon Revilla Jr.
Committee on Games and Amusement – Sen. Lito Lapid
Committee on Tourism – Sen. Lito Lapid
Committee on Education – Sen. Edgardo Angara
Committee on Science and Technology – Sen. Edgardo Angara
Committee on Environment – Sen. Miguel Zubiri
Committee on Cooperatives – Sen. Miguel Zubiri
Committee on Economic Affairs – Sen. Manuel Villar
Committee on Trade and Commerce – Sen. Manuel Villar
Committee on Local Governments – Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Committee on Urban Planning – Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Committee on Accounts – (Fugitive) Sen. Panfilo Lacson
Committee on Civil Service – (detainee) Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV
Committee on Health and Demography – Sen. Pia Cayetano
Committee on Youth and Family Relations – Sen. Pia Cayetano
Committee on Ethics – Sen. Pia Cayetano
* Sen. Allan Peter Cayetano by virtue of being the minority leader, is automatically a member of all the committees. Meanwhile, Sen. Joker Arroyo opted not to get any chairmanship as he did in the 14th Congress. Sen. Miriam Santiago likewise did not have any chairmanship position as of such session.
by magnolia_eic | Jul 29, 2010 | Headlines, Local News / Bohol Balita
TO appraise tourists about the kind of service he would get in an establishment in Bohol, a tourism classification board would possibly help.
Governor Edgar Chatto, who took the lead in crafting the country’s tourism code shared this during the recent Provincial Tourism Council (PTC) meeting held at Panda Tea Garden in Dao a few weeks ago.
Chatto clarified that the Board’s task would be to put up a unified classification of accredited tourism service providers and establishment using the star rating system, so tourists would know what to expect when they are there.
Building on Bohol tourism’s successes, several local government units and private entrepreneurs have funded for establishments and service and splurge on promotional activities without being fully familiar with the industry, PTC members said.
Not a few tourists have already shared their dismay about getting into an establishment selling itself through the internet, only to find that its accommodations are minimal.
That can happen because there is no way tourists know ahead about the kind of facilities and services the establishments offer.
As everyone wants to hitch in the tourism bandwagon, it is expected that things like this happen, agree council members.
Governor Chatto said the Tourism Code of 2009 provides for a classification board that issues a uniform standard to grade tourism products and service facilities.
Putting up the classification board should breathe life into the Code in as much as to be rated are not just the infrastructure and the accessibility and the preparedness of the facility to accept guests, Chatto added.
That way, even if establishments sell services on their own, a rating system puts them in a certain rank that tourists can easily refer, said PTC Chairman Atty Lucas Nunag. (rac/PIABohol)
by anyajulia | Aug 6, 2008 | Headlines, Local News / Bohol Balita, Tourism
Local Government Units are not convinced of the efficiency of the Bohol Marine Triangle in preserving the marine resources of Dauis, Panglao and Baclayon. This was said by Panglao Mayor Dodong Alcala after no concrete evidence could be shown by BMT.
In fact, one month ago, one congressman from Luzon together with President Arroyo, dived in the seas of Balicasag and noticed the deteriorating condition of the coral reefs.
This very much alarmed Congressman Edgar Chatto, the Chairman of the House Committee on Tourism, and the Provincial Tourism Council.
