Category: General

Leyte: The Department of Tourism (DOT) has encouraged hotels and restaurants in Eastern Visayas to seek Muslim-friendly status to fit the Muslim lifestyle travel segment.

In a gathering here on Tuesday, DOT Undersecretary Myra Paz Valderrosa-Abubakar said some foreign Muslim tourists are reluctant to visit destinations outside Mindanao because of a lack of services and amenities designed to cater to Muslim travelers.

Last year, the country welcomed at least 6,500 foreign Muslim tourists, and the number is growing annually, she said.

‘We always encounter issues where can they or where can they stay. Most of them go to Mindanao, but we’re looking at opportunities to have more Muslim-friendly establishments in Manila and other parts of the country,’ Abubakar told reporters during an orientation at the Oriental Hotel here.

The Muslim-friendly tourism orientation for Eastern Visayas is the sixth since last year as the DOT steps up information dissemination with tourism enterprises of their values, beliefs and
practices of Muslim travelers.

With the help of experts, the DOT has been conducting a comprehensive inventory of Halal-certified dining options and the pursuit of increased Halal accreditations for tourism enterprises across the country.

Halal is a dietary law derived from Islamic teachings, meaning ‘lawful or permitted.’

A major requirement for a hotel to be certified as Muslim-friendly is the allocation of at least 5 percent of rooms to Muslim guests.

The hotel rooms must have a directional sticker, a clean prayer mat, the Qu’ran, Islamic TV channels, a list of nearby Halal products, and a list of mosques near the hotel.

Currently, Eastern Visayas has no certified Muslim-friendly or Halal-certified dining places.

As of middle of 2023, the DOT has identified 289 Muslim-friendly accommodation establishments nationwide.

The tourism department said the Muslim travel market will significantly propel the tourism industry’s growth, with projections that Muslim traveler arrivals will reach 140 million in 2
023 and, in succeeding years, could reach 230 million with estimated expenditures of USD225 billion by 2028.

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: Consumers may expect a downward trend in the price of rice amid the peak-harvest season, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA).

The DA issued the statement on Tuesday following the reported rice inflation which hit 23.7 percent in February, contributing to the food inflation hike which reached 4.8 percent.

During a Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon briefing, Agriculture Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa said the prices of rice slightly dropped in the latter part of February.

“Noong huling bahagi ng February hanggang ngayon ay nasa PHP49 to PHP50 level na iyong prevailing prices (In the latter part of February until now, the prevailing prices [of rice] are at PHP49 to PHP50),’ he said.

In January, the average prevailing price of rice was around PHP52 to PHP53 for well-milled and regular-milled rice.

‘Inaasahan natin na lalo pa itong bababa dahil ngayong March, nagsimula na iyong harvest natin ng palay at magpi-peak ito March-April (We are expecting that the price will drop even more this March, ou
r palay harvest has started and it will reach its peak by March to April),” De Mesa added.

Likewise, he said that the lowering of the farmgate price will contribute to the decline of retail price.

De Mesa, meanwhile, said that El Nino’s worst effect did not hit the productive stage of palay due to its timing.

“This is very small in terms of total rice area. In terms of total rice production, medyo minimal din about 0.11 percent ng total harvest na inaasahan natin. So hindi ganun kalaki iyong epekto (that’s somehow minimal about 0.11 percent of the total harvest that we are expecting. So the effect is not that huge),” he said.

The El Niño phenomenon has so far caused PHP284.27 million worth of loss in rice production, affecting at least 5,011 hectares of rice farms, according to the DA-Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO).

Modifying value chain

Undersecretary Asis Perez, meanwhile, said the DA is eyeing to modify the entire value chain.

He said this will cover soil and water management,
improving logistics, and building post-harvest facilities.

“Kaya ito bibigyan natin ng pansin (We need to focus on this). We have to expand and make sure that our available resources, which is a lot, is properly managed,’ he said in a separate radio interview.

He said that out of 14 million hectares of available natural assets, there are 3.1 million hectares of estimated land area that can be irrigated.

Perez said they are looking to be more stringent in implementing a regulation, under the Price Act, to ensure stable prices of commodities in the market.

“In case na mayroong sinasabing (there will be what they call) abrupt increase in the price, which to our mind based on certain parameters is unnatural, then [the] government can intervene,’ he said.

Pork prices

As for pork prices, the DA said that although the country is recovering from the effects of the African swine fever (ASF), having vaccines would help address price challenges.

In Metro Manila, the retail price range of pork kasim (shoulder) is
set at PHP290/kg to PHP370/kg, and PHP340/kg to PHP420/kg for pork liempo (belly).

Earlier, consumers are raising complaints amid the surge in pork prices in Visayas and Mindanao, reaching as high as PHP400 per kilogram.

De Mesa expects a supply of vaccines against ASF by year-end or early part of 2025.

“Iyong United States of America at bansang Vietnam ay magsa-submit na ng application sa FDA para sa bakuna rito sa ASF (The US and Vietnam shall submit their applications to the Food and Drug Administration for the ASF vaccine),’ De Mesa said.

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: The Korean Chamber of Commerce-Philippines (KCCP) on Tuesday expressed support for the proposed constitutional amendment that would allow more foreign investments in Philippine education, as it would help colleges and universities become more globally competitive.

During the hearing of the House Committee of the Whole on Resolution of Both Houses No. 7, KCCP president Hyun Chong Un said more Koreans and foreign students would come to the country if there are foreign schools operating here with the planned liberalization of Philippine education.

‘It will make Philippine education more competitive. It will benefit the Philippines,’ he said.

He informed the panel that at present, some 50,000 Koreans are enrolled in local schools.

The KCCP president also told the Committee of the Whole that his group shares the stand of the Joint Foreign Chambers of Commerce supporting the proposed economic constitutional amendments.

Another resource person, Robin Michael Garcia, who described himself as an educator
and a social scientist conducting lectures here and abroad, stressed need for the Philippines to modernize its education system.

Garcia said the lackluster performance of local schools is proven by the fact that Philippine universities are in the bottom of 500 globally ranked universities.

‘Their counterparts in some ASEAN countries are in the top 10, top 50,’ he said.

Garcia argued that the quality of education available in a country has a significant impact on the development of a prosperous state and an effective and efficient government.

During the committee hearing on Monday, Commission on Higher Education (CHED) chair Dr. Prospero de Vera III said other Asian countries have opened up to foreign ownership and control of educational institutions in higher education, making these institutions more competitive in their internationalization efforts.

“The Philippines is one of the very few countries in the region that has restrictions in foreign ownership and participation in higher education,’ de Vera s
aid.

De Vera cited Malaysia and Singapore as models of countries that not only amended their laws to allow foreign companies to participate in their higher education structure, but even gave incentives to encourage foreign schools to set up and participate in the provision of higher education.

The CHED, according to de Vera, is of the position that the liberalization of the higher education system should also include incentives to entice foreign nationals and foreign companies to open higher learning institutions in the country.

Lawyer Joseph Noel Estrada, chief legal counsel of the Congressional Commission on Education II, said only the Philippines has foreign ownership, establishment and enrollment restrictions stipulated in the constitution.

‘Foreign equity participation in educational institutions cannot exceed 40 percent except those established by religious groups or mission boards. Educational institutions exclusively for aliens, diplomatic personnel and their dependents may only be established in
the Philippines via legislation,’ Estrada said.

Estrada compared the Philippines to Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand in so far as maximum foreign ownership of educational institutions is concerned and found that the Philippines allows only 40 percent, while the three countries allow 100 percent foreign equity participation.

Estrada proposed giving incentives and doing policy adjustments; strengthening the capacity of the Department of Education (DepEd), CHED and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to regulate the entry of poor-quality institutions; using research by industry; and reviewing government regulations in a way that enables quality institutions to thrive.

Speaking for TESDA, lawyer Kimberly de Asas said the agency recognizes the necessity of reframing the nation’s economic policy to keep up with the demands of increasingly globalized age, while considering protecting the Filipino First Policy that guides the economic provisions of the constitution.

She assured the panel
of TESDA’s “readiness to provide its utmost support’ for the liberalization of the ownership of educational institutions.

Meanwhile, DepEd Undersecretary Omar Romero said the agency ‘strongly’ opposes the proposed constitutional amendment on lifting the foreign ownership restrictions in basic education due to its ‘far-reaching consequences and serious implications” to the mandate of the department and the exercise of its function.

Romero said allowing foreign ownership in the sector could affect the sense of nationalism of Filipino students, notably by weakening ‘fundamental aspects of Filipino identity, culture and values.’

‘It is essential that the Philippine curriculum is exclusively implemented by Filipino citizens. This ensures alignment with the specific needs and context of the country,’ he said.

Source: Philippines News Agency

Quang Ninh: The Ha Long Carnival 2024 will be a highlight among 186 tourism promotion programmes and events to be held in the northern province of Quang Ninh this year, during which a drone light show will be performed over UNESCO-recognised Ha Long Bay for the first time.

According to the provincial People’s Committee, the Ha Long Carnival is slated for the National Reunification Day (April 30) and May Day holidays at the Ocean Park in Bai Chay ward of Ha Long city, bringing together thousands of domestic and foreign artists.

First held in 2007, the annual event, set to promote the values of the world natural heritage of Ha Long Bay, has offered a familiar and favourite venue to both local residents and tourists.

This year’s festival should promote the values of the Yen Tu – Vinh Nghiem – Con Son, Kiep Bac heritage complex, whose dossier has been submitted to UNESCO to seek the world heritage tittle, as well as the typical values of Quang Ninh, the committee said.

The committee noted that there will be n
early 50 cultural, sport and tourism programmes and events at provincial, national and international levels in the province in the second quarter of this year.

Such activities are expected to help Quang Ninh fulfill its yearly target of luring at least 17 million tourists, including 3 million international visitors, and earning 39.1 trillion VND (1.5 billion USD) from the tourism sector.

Ha Long Bay was recognised as the world natural heritage site by UNESCO twice, in 1994 for its globally outstanding aesthetic values and in 2000 for its geological – geomorphological values.

The recognised area covers 434 sq.km and consists of 775 limestone islets of all sizes – one of the core factors of the heritage’s values./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

MALASIQUI: The La Union Police Provincial Office (LPPO) has intensified visibility and the conduct of checkpoints to address the rising number of vehicular traffic incidents (VTIs).

A total of 872 VTIs with 88 deaths were recorded in the province in 2023, up from the 511 cases with 77 deaths reported in 2022.

‘The causes of VTIs are mostly due to over speeding, driver under the influence of liquor or drugs, and running over or avoiding potholes, which caused them to lose control, miscalculations and distracted driving and lack of knowledge on traffic rules and regulations,’ LPPO deputy provincial director for operations Lt. Col. Arnold Ongachen said in an interview on Tuesday.

Land Transportation Office (LTO) – Ilocos Director Glorioso Daniel Martinez said in a statement that efforts have been made to address traffic safety concerns since the second half of 2023.

Last year, the regional LTO office launched the Driver Better to Enjoy Safe Travel (DBEST) campaign to further educate the public on safe drivin
g practices.

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: A Senate panel will consult the Civil Service Commission (CSC) regarding a memorandum circular it issued in 2016 that a person with dual citizenship would not be appointed in government unless the foreign citizenship is renounced.

This, after Commission on Higher Education chairperson J. Prospero de Vera III brought up the matter during the resumption of the discussions on Resolution of Both Houses No. 6 (RBH 6) on Tuesday, saying the policy also applies to professors seeking postings in state universities and colleges (SUCs).

“I’d like to inform the committee that even if you teach in a state university or college, dual citizenship is not allowed. The Civil Service [Commission] requires you that you have to give up your citizenship to be able to teach and to be appointed in a state university or college,” de Vera said.

Senator Sonny Angara, who presided over the hearing, said the panel should consult the CSC on the policy as it may affect the push to liberalize higher education.

“I understand the
spirit of this law but maybe medyo baka ma-hold tayo dito sa ganitong klaseng pag-iisip (we can be held up in this kind of mentality),” Angara said.

“I think the spirit is to ensure allegiance only to one country but that kind of thinking is I think a product of a different world, a world where nationality is very important,” he added.

The current setting, Angara said, finds more benefit from migration, citing renowned scientist Albert Einstein who migrated to the United States.

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III said that under the Philippine Constitution, a Filipino, even with a dual citizenship, is still a Filipino.

“Meron pa tayong Balik (Returning)-Scientist Program na most likely kunwari naka-10 to 20 years na sa ibang bansa yun, baka dual citizen na. Bumalik siya dito tapos ano? Di siya pwedeng magturo (We have the Balik-Scientist Program that most likely, for example, the Filipino has been abroad 10 to 20 years and maybe has a dual citizen. That Filipino comes back home and would not be
allowed to teach)?” Pimentel said.

After issuing Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 23 in 2016, the CSC issued MC 8 the following year clarifying that the previous MC covers only “natural-born Filipino citizens who were naturalized in another country, and later on reacquired their Filipino citizenship.”

“Therefore, Filipino citizens whose foreign citizenship was acquired by birth is not covered by CSC MC 23, s. 2016,” the memo stated.

Source: Philippines News Agency