Tanauan, Leyte – Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque on Sunday, April 8, pushed for alternative destinations in light of the impending closure of Boracay.
“Isa sa istratehiya ngayon isasara sa turista ang Boracay ay magpush ng alternative destinations,” Roque said in a Palace press briefing held in one of the worst-hit areas of typhoon Yolanda.
Secretary Roque further asked Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico “Mic” Petilla to inform the Inter-Agency Task Force composed of the Department of Tourism (DOT), the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) on making Eastern Visayas as an alternative destination.
“Kung mayroon po tayong alternative destinations na gustong i-push ipagbigay alam ninyo na po… para magawan din ng paraan ng mga airlines kasi ngayon po gumagawa nga sila ng mga estratehiya na i-divert ang mga flights na intended for Kalibo and Caticlan sa mga alternative destinations,” Roque noted.
The Palace Spokesperson likewise took the occasion to underscore that the closure of Boracay is not a violation of the right to travel adding that the government has police power to protect the environment.
“Ang pagpasasara po ng Boracay ay para po mapangalagaan ang Boracay bilang isang crown jewel tourist destination natin to ensure that it is not our generation alone that can discover the paradise that is Boracay but to ensure the future generations can still enjoy Boracay the crown jewel that it is, “ Secretary Roque stressed.
“Increase in the Manufacturing Output”
In the same press briefing, the President’s Spokesman announced the increase in the country’s February 2018 manufacturing output saying that it continued to expand at a faster pace.
Secretary Roque cited the Monthly Integrated Survey of Selected Industries (MSSI) of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) which had reported that the Value of Production Index (VaPI) registering a double-digit growth of 23.6% in February 2018 from 8.3% in the same month last year.
He also mentioned that the Volume of Production (VoPI) had also climbed to 24.8% in February 2018 from 9.8% in the same period year.
“We expect that the upward trend in the country’s manufacturing sector will be sustained through the Duterte administration’s efforts in improving the country’s ease of doing business performance and increasing infrastructure spending,” Secretary Roque emphasized. ### PCO-Content
