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Monday, November 21, 2005
Tourism chief hit for 'failure to promote SEA Games'
MANILA -- A congressman has scored Tourism Secretary Joseph Durano for "sleeping on the job" as shown by the Department of Tourism's (DOT) "ineffective" advertisement both domestically and abroad of the forthcoming Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) in Manila and major cities.
"Now is the time for the DOT to say 'Biyahe na!' but it is eerily silent," said Representative Antonio Alvarez, whose northern Palawan district is a prime tourist destination.
Alvarez said the tourism department should have been drum beating the event months ago, but its drums are silent.
He said any sports event has tourism potential to it but the tourism department has been slow to capitalize on.
"Imagine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's trip to Hong Kong Disneyland has gotten more press in the region than a big event in our backyard," Alvarez said, referring to the First Family's weekend sojourn to the theme park.
He said the DOT has more than P500 million fund this year for "marketing and promotions".
"In a region of P600 million, there are sports tourists. You combine the SEA Games with great shopping courtesy of malls which seem to be perpetually holding a sale, plus the beaches, then you have a great sales pitch there," he said.
He said the problem would not arise if Senator Richard Gordon is at the helm of the DOT. He added Gordon would have aggressively sold the games abroad.
"He (Gordon) would have also rallied all Filipinos to prepare because our guests are coming. He would have told us to be ready with our smile, our charm and our hospitality," Alvarez added.
The congressman said the present DOT officials "are a far cry from Gordon, when it comes to the cheerleading."
Meanwhile, the Manila Police District has enlisted the help of the Muslim community in ensuring peace and order in the coming 23rd SEA Games, which the country will host next week.
Chief Superintendent Pedro Bulaong, chief of the Manila City police, said the city's Muslim volunteers have offered to be on the lookout against potential terrorists out to sow trouble during the SEAG activities.
"Volunteers will be utilized for the security coverage and safety of participating athletes from 11 Southeast Asian countries who will vie for various sporting tournaments here in Manila," he said.
Bulaong earlier met with officials of the Office of Muslim Affairs (OMA) and tribal leaders to allow Muslims to serve as volunteer security officers in the SEA Games' task force on security.
He said the Manila City police "welcome" the offer from the Muslim community, adding that their willingness to volunteer will be a great help to efforts to guarantee the peaceful holding of the games.
He said they will issue security identification cards and vehicle passes to OMA officers and Muslim tribal leaders and volunteers.
"To effectively optimize Muslims' vital role in the promotion of goodwill, camaraderie and Asean brotherhood toward prosperity and the attainment of peace and security for the event, we request to be part of the Manila City police's security volunteers to safeguard the smooth conduct of the SEA Games," he said.
Bulaong added that volunteers for the SEAG security assistance are also members of the Peacemakers' Circle Foundation of the different local government units that regularly conduct interactions and consultations with government officials for the peace and security of their respective communities. (DBP/ECV/Sunnex)
(November 21, 2005 issue)
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