Philippine News Agency (PNA) – Page 19

Two CPP-NPA members charged for financing terrorism

April 8, 2024March 27, 2024carlocarrasco

Two members of the Communist Party of the Philippines/New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) were charged for financing terrorism and the Department of Justice (DOJ) claims it found compelling evidence against the suspects, according to a Philippine News Agency (PNA) news article.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the PNA news article. Some parts in boldface…

The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Wednesday said it found compelling evidence to indict two members of the Communist Party of the Philippines/New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) responsible for collecting revolutionary funds and financing terrorism.

Following information gathered by the Philippine National Police–Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG), accused Leonor Taguinod Dumlao and Valentin Cruz Tolentino will be charged with violation of Section 8 of R.A. No. 10168, known as “The Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012.”

The charges will be filed before the Batangas City regional trial court, the DOJ said in a statement.

The two were originally arrested under Oplan Paglalansag in Mindoro Oriental and Rizal in August 2023.

According to reports, the two accused possessed firearms and ammunition with no definite source of income or apparent purpose, prompting authorities to initiate background checks and collaborate with intelligence counterparts from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) to ask the court’s issuance of search warrants against the two.

Authorities discovered firearms, ammunition, improvised explosive devices (IEDs), IED components, and a significant sum of money.

Dumlao and Tolentino, the DOJ said, are alleged members of the National Finance Commission (NFC) of the CPP/NPA which had direct involvement in demanding money from construction firms, telecommunication companies, bus companies, mining companies, and businessmen in the guise of “revolutionary taxes.”

The two were also allegedly responsible for the creation of the National Economic Striking Force (NESF) of the CPP/NPA, which serves as security of the “Rebolusyonaryong Buwis sa Kaaway na Uri” or the RBKU.

“We will never let even an inch of terrorism’s tyranny sow fear among our citizens, much more let the cowards behind this menace run free. This is a time when we Filipinos should fortify our resolve and show our resilience in fighting this evil,” Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think there are several Communists here in the Philippines who are secretly financing terrorism, smuggling weapons and plotting chaos? Do you think the young leftist activists living in your local community could secretly be agents of the CPP/NPA?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

+++++

Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Tourist spots in New Bilibid Prison?

April 5, 2024March 26, 2024carlocarrasco

If plans between the different authorities indeed push through, then it would mean that tourist spots inside the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City will be realized, according to a news article by the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news article of the PNA. Some parts in boldface…

Plans are afoot to convert historical sites inside the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa into possible tourist sites following a Monday meeting between Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Director General Gregorio Pio P. Catapang Jr. and Muntinlupa City Mayor Rozzano Rufino B. Biazon.

During the meeting attended by officials from BuCor, the Department of Justice, and the city government, Catapang assured his full support to revive the Muntinlupa’s economy through tourism, the BuCor said in a statement on Tuesday.

Included in the circuit tours inside the NBP being eyed by the Muntinlupa City Tourism Culture and Arts Department are: Kiyosi Oshawa Shrine / Memorial for Peace Shrine; the Jamboree Lake, the smallest lake in the Philippines; Director’s Quarters – Presently the official residence of the Bureau of Corrections Director General; Lethal injection and Death Chamber, which has since been mothballed following the suspension of the death penalty; Japanese Cemetery, a garden cemetery located inside the NBP Reservation Compound dedicated to the Japanese Soldiers who died in Muntinlupa; Memorial Hill, the burial place of Major Eriberto B. Misa Sr. which served as a tribute to the former Bureau of Prison Director for his 12 years of service, making him the longest-serving prison director up to this date.

The government earlier announced plans to decongest the overpopulated penal facility and convert it into a high-value multi-use development once the inmates are relocated to other facilities throughout the country by 2028.

In November last year, prison officials said an open park at the heart of Metro Manila similar to Central Park in New York, is among the components of the plan by the BuCor to develop the NBP.

Catapang said that Justice Secretary Crispin Remulla’s vision for the property is to turn a 100-hectare lot of the more than 350 hectares of NBP into an open park, while the remaining area will be for a mixed-use space to house a government center, and lease parts to private entities to generate funds for the national government.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? If you are a resident of Muntinlupa City, do you see any potential benefit of establishing tourist spots inside the NBP?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

+++++

For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673

P170.6-billion NAIA deal signed

March 28, 2024March 18, 2024carlocarrasco

Recently at Malacañang Palace, the ambitious P170.6 billion agreement to rehabilitate and modernize the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) was formally signed in the presence of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., House Speaker Martin Romualdez and Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin which symbolically starts the public-private partnership, according to a Philippine News Agency (PNA) news article.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the PNA news article. Some parts in boldface…

The PHP170.6-billion Public-Private Partnership (PPP) agreement for the rehabilitation of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) is expected to herald economic growth through better collaborations with both local and foreign investors, Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista said Monday.

At the signing of the concession deal between the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the New NAIA Infra Corp. (NNIC) in Malacañang, Bautista said the PPP project would “open floodgates” of opportunities from investments, business, tourism, and employment.

“We welcome this development for the NAIA PPP Project as this will not only generate revenue for the government but it will also create opportunities for Filipinos. With a modernized NAIA, we are elevating the airport’s facilities and services to international standards,” he said.

The agreement, Bautista said, would send signal to the international business community about the viability of government infrastructure projects.

“This radical transformation comes at no small price Substantial investments in infrastructure and technology will necessitate collaborations with local and foreign partners,” he added.

San Miguel Corporation president and chief executive officer Ramon Ang, for his part, said the NNIC would not only rehabilitate but also improve the airport’s functionality and “establish a new standard in serving excellence.”

“Together with our partner, Incheon, we have assembled a team of experts, focused on implementing immediate improvement, and help us achieve our long-term goal for NAIA,” Ang said.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos who witnessed the signing described the pact as an “investment in our future.”

“This undertaking is not just about revenues that will be remitted to treasury alone, but resources invested in the airport,” Marcos said.

The agreement, signed by Bautista, Ang and Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) General Manager Eric Ines, covers 15 years with an option for a 10-year extension.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction about this recent development? Do you think this new public private partnership will succeed with achieving its goals of modernizing the NAIA, creating new jobs and attract both new investments and a higher number of foreign visitors in the years in the come?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

+++++

It’s not right for the ICC to intervene in the judicial process in the Philippines

March 25, 2024March 14, 2024carlocarrasco

We all live in a chaotic and divisive world. In this case, I’m talking about the concept of the International Criminal Court (ICC) based in the Netherlands getting involved in the internal affairs of the Philippines, particularly with the judicial process. President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr., stood up to the ICC pointing out that the nation has a functioning judiciary, according to a Philippine News Agency (PNA) news article. Be aware that the Philippines severed its ties with the ICC five years ago.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the PNA news report. Some parts in boldface…

It is a “mistake” for the International Criminal Court (ICC) to intervene in the Philippines’ judicial process, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has said, as he maintained that the country has a functioning judiciary.

Marcos made the remarks during his bilateral meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Tuesday in Berlin, Germany, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Cheloy Garafil said in a statement on Thursday.

“President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. stood firm before German Chancellor Olaf Scholz that the International Criminal Court has no jurisdiction over the Philippines as it remains to have a working judicial system and law enforcement mechanisms,” Garafil said.

During the meeting, Marcos told Scholz that ICC cannot investigate the Philippines’ drug campaign under the Duterte administration because the country is capable of conducting its own probe.

Marcos said there is no need for the international court to meddle, considering that “there are too many lawyers in the Philippines already.”

“And so, it’s really a question of jurisdiction and we have our own investigations and we’re capable of conducting our own investigations and, so we are, we are continuing to do so,” Marcos was quoted as saying by the PCO.

Marcos said the ICC’s apparent intrusion into the Philippine judicial system is something that his administration has to deal with.

He said it is “unacceptable” for an international court to take control over the Philippines where there is a working judicial system and law enforcement mechanisms.

“Well, there is now a conflict between – in terms of jurisdiction because, in our opinion, the ICC was created when a country has no judiciary, no functioning judiciary, no police force to enforce peace and order; enforce law,” Marcos said.

“As a matter of principle, it is very difficult for the Philippines to accept that an outside court will, shall I say, dictate to our policemen, ‘who they will investigate, who they will arrest and who will say, that hey, because we don’t need that advice’,” he added, stressing that the country has a “functioning military and police force that uphold the rule of law.”

In February this year, Marcos said the ICC prosecutors could “produce as much evidence as they want but they could not act upon it in the Philippines.”

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction about this recent development? Do you think that the ICC and its henchmen here in the Philippines are secretly conspiring to weaken the nation’s justice system and the local authorities’ fight against crime? Do you think the latest move by President Marcos will send a clear signal to the internationalist organizations that it is pointless for them to violate the sovereignty of the Philippines?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

+++++

Philippines secures at least $4 billion worth of investments from Germany

March 22, 2024March 13, 2024carlocarrasco

The Philippines has been on a roll lately when it comes to attracting investors and sealing agreements. Following the success of attracting investment from Australia, the Philippines secured from Germany investments worth at least $4 billion (over P220 billion) as President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos and his team went there recently, according to a news article by the Philippine News Agency (PNA). The said amount is more than double than what the nation secured from Australia.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the PNA news report. Some parts in boldface…

The Philippines has secured at least USD4 billion (PHP222 billion) worth of investments in various sectors during President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s working visit in Germany.

“We have secured business deals worth USD4 billion in Germany, the EU’s economic powerhouse!” he said in a Facebook post Wednesday morning.

“Last year’s significant investments from Germany underscore their confidence in us as a key partner in the Asia-Pacific. We eagerly welcome further collaborations in climate action and energy transition.”

On Tuesday night (Manila time), Marcos became the first Philippine president to address German business leaders in 10 years, coinciding with the 70th anniversary of Philippine-Germany diplomatic relations.

The Philippines and Germany established their diplomatic relations on Oct. 8, 1954.

Marcos also witnessed during the business forum the presentation and exchange of various memoranda of agreement or understanding and letters of intent with different German businesses.

Marcos, in his speech, said Germany is one of the countries that the Philippines is looking forward to further fostering strong business partnerships and collaboration, being one of the biggest economies in the European Union.

He said Germany has the biggest economy both in Gross Domestic Product and population, and a global force in technology and innovation.

“Last year was a testament to the continuing confidence of Germany in the Philippines as a partner in the Asia-Pacific and the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) region by leading among the countries in terms of investments,” Marcos said.

The President also touted the policy reforms and key legislations made by his government to make the Philippines a reliable partner for foreign investors.

In 2022, Germany was the Philippines’ 12th largest trading partner, 10th export market, and 15th import supplier.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction about this recent development? Do you think that the confirmed investments from Germany will translate into new jobs and new opportunities for social and economic prosperity?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

+++++

COMELEC wants credible 2025 National and Local Elections, will enforce law against those who commit poll sabotage

March 20, 2024March 11, 2024carlocarrasco

Now that the P17.99 billion contract with new provider Miru Systems has been signed, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) announced that it aims to ensure the integrity of the 2025 National and Local Elections and they will not hesitate to apply the full extent of the law against those who intend to commit irregularities and poll sabotage, according to a Philippine News Agency (PNA) news article.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the PNA news report. Some parts in boldface…

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Monday warned it would not hesitate to apply the full extent of the law to those who are out to jeopardize the country’s electoral process.

Comelec chairperson George Erwin Garcia issued the warning during the signing of the contract for the Full Automation System with Transparency Audit/Count (FASTrAC) project with officials of South Korean firm Miru Systems Inc., headed by president Jinbok Chung, its service provider for the next polls.

Garcia said electoral sabotage is a non-bailable offense and can be meted with a penalty of life imprisonment under Republic Act 9369 or the Election Automation Law of 2007.

He also warned Miru and its Filipino partners against politicians and political parties who might approach them to rig the polls.

“Inemphasize ko sa kanila, kung kaya nyo gawin yan, huwag na huwag nyo gawin yan under the present leadership of this Commission. We want ang pinaka maayos na elections, credible, pinaka pinagkakatiwalaan election ng 2025. Sabi ko kung gusto nyo pa mag participate sa mga susunod na procurement ng Comelec, ayusin nyo 2025 elections (I emphasized to them ‘if you can do that, never do that under the present leadership of the commission. We want the 2025 elections to be most organized, credible and reliable. I told them, ‘if your want to participate in future procurements of the Comelec, make sure that the 2025 elections would be smooth),” he added on the sidelines of the signing rites.

The poll body chief also said Miru must prove to Filipinos that it deserves to bag the poll automation deal by establishing a highly credible and transparent system.

At the same time, Garcia acknowledged the support of the South Korean government for the poll automation project.

“We are pleased with the presence of the South Korean ambassador (Lee Sang-hwa) because it proves that he is supportive of this endeavor and we can trust the company that we have as partners simply because the government of Korea is very supportive of this endeavor,” he said.

Hackers – Garcia, meanwhile, said they are coordinating with law enforcement authorities against hackers who might manipulate the polls.

“Sumulat na kami sa National Bureau of Investigation asking for assistance para maaresto or mapigilan mga taong ito. So siguro napreempt na kanilang plano (We have sent a request to the NBI asking them to arrest or prevent these people from carrying out their illegal acts. I think their plans were preempted),” he said.

The poll body is looking to start the customization of the automated counting machines (ACMs) next month. Garcia said this customization process usually takes six months.

“If we can have it shortened, it would be better. But in our experience, it’s really six months. If we start by April, six months from April. We have two months for international certification and one month for source code review,” he added.

Meanwhile, Chung vowed they would comply with the rules set by the Philippine government.

“Our goal is also to build up our company and to expand and we’re looking towards the future. We will not do anything that will jeopardize our future and also the election process of the Philippines. We promise, we can guarantee that we will be transparent all throughout the process. We will abide by the rules of the Comelec, of this nation,” Chung said in Korean and was translated to English by Miru overseas sales representative Jason Lee.

Under the contract, the joint venture (JV) of Miru Systems Co Ltd, Integrated Computer Systems, St. Timothy Construction Corporation, and Centerpoint Solutions Technologies, Inc. (MIRU-ICS-STCC-CPSTI) will provide 110,000 ACMs, ballot boxes; laptop and printer; and ballots.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction about this recent development? Do you think Miru Systems will remain laser focused on doing its part in the contract and help the COMELEC preserve the integrity of the 2025 National and Local Elections? Do you think Miru Systems will do a better and more efficient job than Smartmatic?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

+++++

Over 1.2 million international tourist arrivals in the Philippines counted (January 1 to March 5, 2024)

March 18, 2024March 7, 2024carlocarrasco

If the newest data about the 1.2 million international tourist arrivals released by the Department of Tourism (DOT) for the period of January 1 to March 5, 2024, is indeed true and accurate, then it looks like achieving the 7.7 million international tourist arrivals target for the Philippines for 2024 is doable. The DOT recently announced that that 1,227,815 international tourist arrivals (which includes both foreign tourists and Filipinos based overseas) were counted during the first 65 days of the year, according to a news article by the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the PNA news article. Some parts in boldface…

The Philippines is off to a good start in reaching its year-end arrival target after getting 1.2 million foreign visitors in the first two months of 2024 alone, the Department of Tourism (DOT) reported Thursday.

As of March 5, international tourist arrivals to the Philippines have tallied 1,227,815.

Foreign tourist arrivals took the lion’s share with 1,160,129 or 94.49 percent while overseas Filipinos make up the remaining 67,686.

Speaking at the Philippine Pavilion at the Internationale Tourismus-Börse (ITB) 2024 Convention in Germany, Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco said this is 22.86 percent higher than the 999,390 arrivals received by the country in the same period in 2023.

“I would like to express my profound gratitude first to all our Philippine sellers who continue to champion Philippine tourism. As of today (March 5), the Philippines has received over 1.2 million international visitors, a robust indication of the future of Philippine tourism. Cheers to all the reasons to celebrate and Love the Philippines,” she said.

South Korea remains the country’s top source market for visitors, with 349,956 or 28.50 percent of the total, followed by the United States with 195,603 (15.93 percent), China with 85,876 (6.99 percent), Japan with 73,159 (5.96 percent), and Canada landing in the fifth spot with 50,555 (4.12 percent).

Australia took the sixth spot with 50,488 (4.11 percent), Taiwan with 42,955 (3.50 percent), the United Kingdom with 30,507 (2.48 percent), Singapore with 25,253 (2.06 percent), and Germany with 20,816 (1.70 percent).

In January, the country’s visitor receipts also grew by 4.84 percent to USD652.26 million from the USD622.14 million recorded in the same month last year.

By doing the math, 1,227,815 international tourist arrivals divided by the first 65 days of 2024 is equivalent to 18,889.46 per day. Multiply that by 366 days for 2024 (a leap year), the total would be 6,913,542 which is several hundreds of thousands of international tourist arrivals short of the declared target. The DOT and the rest of tourism industry’s stakeholders still have lots of work to do to ensure that more than enough visitors from overseas will come into the country and add to the nation’s economy. It should be remembered that the Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC) and China Banking Corp. found the nation’s Philippine tourism recovery still lacking.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this latest development? Do you think the reforms and initiatives the Department of Tourism (DOT) executed last year are generating positive results right now? Did you notice the lack of Arab nations among the top markets of international visitors the DOT declared? Do you think there is enough momentum and time for the Philippines to be able to attract 7,700,000 international tourist arrivals by the end of the year?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

+++++

FDA working with BIR to make medicine more affordable for senior citizens

March 18, 2024March 17, 2024carlocarrasco

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) are working together to cut the prices of medicine for senior citizens by means of exemption from the value-added tax (VAT), according to a news article by the Philippine News Agency (PNA). It should be noted that previously President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr., ordered the FDA to implement a 20 percent discount and VAT exemption for senior citizens under RA 9994 or Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the PNA news article. Some parts in boldface…

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is working with the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to bring down prices of medicines for senior citizens through exemption from value-added tax (VAT).

FDA Director General Samuel Zacate said the exemption of VAT coverage will be through the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises (CREATE) or Republic Act (RA) No. 11534.

“Basically, the exemption for VAT is through a law – iyong (the) CREATE Law. So, those medicines have been declared by the FDA, endorsed to the BIR para matanggal or mawala iyong kanilang (to remove) VAT,” Zacate said in a news forum in Quezon City on Saturday.

RA 11534 provides VAT exemption to certain medicines for hypertension, cancer, mental illnesses, tuberculosis, kidney diseases, diabetes, high cholesterol, as well as Covid-19 drugs and medical devices.

Pursuant to the CREATE law, Zacate said the FDA is directed to identify and transmit the list of approved medicines for VAT exemption to other implementing agencies, such as the BIR.

“Basically…we only endorse it to the BIR kasi kami po iyong nagdi-determine kung ano, para saan talaga iyong gamot. So, FDA ang magsasabi, kung papaano iyong mekanismo, kung paano tatanggalin iyong gamot (because we are the ones who determine what, what your medicine is really for. So, FDA will say, how your mechanism, how to withdraw your drug). So, it’s a joint process po of the FDA and the BIR,” he said.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction about this recent development? Are there lots of senior citizens in your local community who are aware of this development?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

+++++

Supreme Court tells Metro Manila LGUs to follow MMDA’s ticketing system

March 14, 2024March 6, 2024carlocarrasco

Motorists who travel around the Metro Manila regularly should be aware that the Supreme Court recently officially invalidated local government units (LGUs) of the National Capital Region (NCR) from issuing traffic violation tickets and seizing drivers’ licenses and ordered them to follow the ticketing system of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), according to a Philippine News Agency (PNA) news article.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the PNA news report. Some parts in boldface…

The Supreme Court (SC) has invalidated provisions of ordinances by local government units (LGUs) in Metro Manila allowing their respective traffic enforcers to issue violation receipts and confiscate driver’s licenses.

“A permanent injunction is hereby issued to enjoin respondent local government units from further issuing ordinance violation receipts; and confiscating licenses through their own traffic enforcers, unless they are deputized by the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA),” the court said in its 42-page decision uploaded March 4 and penned by Associate Justice Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa.

This stemmed from a suit filed by 11 transport groups before the Court of Appeals in 2006, claiming that different citations from the MMDA and the LGUs are confusing as some bodies do not recognize tickets by other LGUs or the MMDA.

While the case was pending in 2012, a resolution by the MMDA Metro Manila Council (MMC) then adopted a uniform ticketing system and established a system of interconnectivity among the LGUs involved in transport and traffic management in Metro Manila.

In December of that year, the appellate court dismissed the suit, prompting the petitioners to elevate the case to the high tribunal.

The tribunal, in its ruling, said traffic management in the LGUs is covered by the MMDA Law.

“(T)he Court thus declares as invalid the common provision in the said traffic codes or ordinances of the LGUs in Metro Manila empowering each of them to issue OVR (ordinance violation receipts) to erring drivers and motorists,” the SC said.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction about this recent development? Do you think this new order by the Supreme Court will turn out helpful in the years to come?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

+++++

The potential danger behind the promotion of the Philippines as an LGBTQIA+ tourist destination

March 12, 2024March 12, 2024carlocarrasco

As many of you my readers should know by now, I blogged a lot about tourism in the Philippines, what the Department of Tourism (DOT) has been doing and what the nation has achieved with regards to attracting foreign tourists.

While DOT has been working very hard to make the nation a more competitive tourism destination in Asia in accordance to the master plan, I am concerned about the department’s involvement with promoting the Philippines as an LGBTQIA+ destination. In fact, I can say it is a big turn-off as it can lead to new incidents and criminal activities that will affect local societies which the stakeholders cannot anticipate.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Philippine News Agency (PNA) news article of September 28, 2023. Some parts in boldface…

The Philippine government on Thursday vowed to promote inclusive travel in its bid to position the country as an LGBTQI+-friendly destination in the region.

During the first Tourism Pride Summit in Makati City, Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco said the Philippines plans to implement programs and initiate government interventions to address the unique challenges that the community faces when traveling.

The summit, she said, is one intervention to spark conversation and give members of the LGBTQIA+ a platform where they can share experiences and suggestions on how the government can make travel enjoyable and safe for them.

“Under the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., he seeks a tourism industry that is inclusive, where no destination and no stakeholder is left behind in the development of our country,” Frasco said.

“That is why in our effort to reach our hand of collaboration to the farthest reaches of our country, we reach out our hand of collaboration as well to the many sectors that are involved in tourism, especially and including the LGBTQIA+ community,” she added.

Frasco noted that LGBTQIA+ tourism presents vast opportunities for growing the Philippine tourism industry portfolio.

Citing data from the United Nations World Tourism Organization, Frasco said there are an estimated 36 million LGBTQIA+ travelers around the world.

“We recognize the strength of capitalizing on LGBTQIA+ tourism considering that it is a USD200 billion industry that’s only slated to grow at half a trillion dollar industry by 2030,” she said.

Obviously the DOT is determined to attract as many LGBTQIA+ foreign tourists as possible as well as their money so that it could help them reach their financial goals and add to the momentum to make the Philippines a major tourist destination by the year 2028.

If ever a huge influx of foreign tourists who identify themselves as homosexuals/transgender/bisexual/transsexual/intersex/non-binary arrive in the Philippines, there is the potential rise of criminal activities involving the acts of the LGBTQIA+ people in the country. Can they behave themselves? Already there is one local LGBT crime that resulted one death. Can you imagine the possibility of more crime happening as more LGBTQIA+ tourists arrived? Can these people really behave themselves?

I am not just talking about sex tourism but also potential violations such as rape, sexual harassment, sexual assault, theft, scams, molestation, kidnapping, murder and other incidents that LGBTQIA+ tourists could commit here in the Philippines as they know they are favored by the DOT. If these specific foreign tourists could add to crime while touring the country, then the “Love the Philippines” slogan of the DOT could end up having a very dirty reputation plus additional embarrassment for the entire nation.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction about the DOT’s drive to make the Philippines a more attractive destination for LGBTQIA+ tourists? Do you think the DOT continues to ignore the potential danger that LGBTQIA+ tourists could unleash on Filipinos while they tour the country? Did you encounter a homosexual foreign tourist who committed a crime or victimized a member of your local community? Does the majority of the youth in your local community express themselves as LGBT-friendly or even as LGBT rights activists?

Do you think that the Democrats in America, the Islamo-Leftists and woke activists could be funding LGBTQIA+ people to come to the Philippines for vacationing as well as executing secretive efforts to establish new activists among Filipinos who will blindly fight for LGBT rights in the country?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

+++++

	Instapundit »… on Trump Threatens To Hit Power P…
	Vince on NATO Slammed By Trump
	Richard on NATO Slammed By Trump
	Disillusionist on NATO Slammed By Trump
	Instapundit »… on NATO Slammed By Trump

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: