Davao de Oro’s tourist destinations to the world

Two well-known personalities in the mainstream media recently visited Davao de Oro’s highland adventure as part of the province’s tourism wellness loop, and featured the province’s rich tourism destinations on Metro Channel’s travel show “Beached” Episode.

Marc Nelson and Christi McGarry visited the highland adventures in the province accompanied by the team from the Tourism Division of PLGU-DdO headed by Senior Tourism Officer Christine Dompor, in collaboration with the local government units, and private individuals who manage top tourist sites in the province.

Marc Nelson is a television host and model credited for being one of the most visible and prominent personality in Philippine television, while Christi McGarry is a former beauty queen, part of the Batch of Binibining Pilipinas 2015 led by Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach, and won first runner-up in Miss Intercontinental 2015.

The duo visited and featured Dusit Thani Lubi Plantation in Mabini, Bilawa Mainit Hot Waterfalls, New Barili Heights and Sights, Lake Leonard in Maco, Tagbibinta Falls, and Ayuste Nature Park in Maragusan and Salvosa Falls in Pantukan. Metro’s “Beached” episode is streamed on Metro’s Youtube Channel, Skycable channel, Cignal Channel and GSAT channel.

In a statement, Dompor thanked the partners of PLGU-Davao de Oro headed by Governor Dorothy Montejo-Gonzaga for the successful conduct and accommodation of the well-known personalities, “Daghan kaayong salamat sa tanan namong partners. Above all, thankful to God and the universe for the safe travel, good weather and the mystifying experience with the natural world. Truly we have captured golden memories,” said Dompor.

Marc Nelson on his official Instagram account posted that he was hooked with Davao de Oro's therapeutic and steaming Bilawa Hot Waterfalls, and was amazed with the spectacular view of the Sea of Clouds in Maragusan, "Such a pleasant surprise here in Davao de Oro," Nelson said. 

Data from the tourism office of DdO reveals that the province’s tourism returns are still high even in the midst of the pandemic. This is due to the collaborative efforts of the province with the LGUs and private partners who prioritized the vaccination roll-out of the tourism workforce. 

Davao de Oro has a total number of 3.4 million tourist visits from January 2020 to June this year. (PAO-IPRD DdO, photos by PAO-Tourism)

Senate locked down after 8 members catch Covid

By Javier Joe Ismael, Manila Times

THE entire Senate building has been locked down until Monday after eight senators tested positive for Covid-19.

Senate President Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri issued the lockdown order to check the spread of the virus.

Catching the virus were Senate Majority Leader Emmanuel Joel Villanueva, Senators Alan Peter Cayetano, Maria Imelda Josefa "Imee" Marcos, Cynthia Villar, Mary Grace Poe, Joseph Victor "JV" Ejercito, Francis "Chiz" Escudero and Maria Lourdes "Nancy" Binay.

The latest to be infected were Ejercito, Villanueva and Binay.

In a text message to reporters, Ejercito said his RT-PCR test was positive.

Villanueva said he, too, tested positive and sent a copy of his medical certificate to the Senate media Viber group.

Binay said she was going into self-isolation after being tested positive for Covid.

"I am currently at home in isolation, and strictly following recommended protocols, including health and safety procedures," said Binay.

Zubiri instructed the chamber's secretariat to conduct a thorough cleaning and disinfection of all Senate offices.

"For this reason, there will be a total lockdown of our Senate building and all Senate employees shall work from home and need not report to the Senate on Monday," he said.

Senate sessions will resume on August 23, he said.

"Please stay safe and healthy everyone. Together we shall fight this virus and continue to deliver government service as efficiently as possible. Maraming salamat po (Thank you very much)," Zubiri said in an advisory released on Friday.

Earlier in the week, Poe said she was experiencing mild symptoms, "mostly headaches," after her antigen test came out positive.

Escudero has been attending sessions online after being exposed to a person with Covid.

Marcos has scrapped her trip to Dubai this weekend, where she was scheduled to greet her countrymen who will watch the film "Maid in Malacañang" during the weekend.

"Unfortunately, her RT-PCR test result yesterday is still positive so she was advised to continue quarantine and therefore cannot travel," a statement from Viva Films said.

The Senate has imposed stricter anti-Covid measures, banning visitors for the next three weeks and requiring negative antigen or RT-PCR tests for government officials and resource persons required for committee proceedings.