Our reputation as a country is at stake at the airports

Published March 7, 2023, 12:05 AM

by Manila Bulletin

“Revenge travel” is real and crowds are heading to airports to start their journey to local or international destinations, eager to enjoy the tourism spots that were out of reach during the pandemic. That dream vacation, however, could instantly turn into a nightmare even before one steps inside a plane.

In recent news and on social media, Filipinos have expressed disappointment and dismay over how our main airport terminals are being operated. Travelers missed their flights not because they were late or lacked documents, but they were delayed by the long immigration lines. Some netizens even claimed that there were hundreds of people in the line, with only three immigration counters open.

This incident has reached the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA), which vowed to address this predicament. In a statement by MIAA general manager Cesar Chiong, he said that the “MIAA is working with the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to ease congestion of departing passengers at the immigration counters at the NAIA, particularly at Terminal 3.” 

“We are getting the commitment from the BI to increase their manpower even before the surge of passengers comes during the peak hours of the day, in order to arrest the build-up of passengers,” Chiong said. “The processing time is critical here. If we can increase the processing rate of our immigration channels for each passenger, they should not have to wait too long even if the queue grows.”

MIAA also said that it has “requested that airlines open their check-in counters earlier, as arriving passengers who are unable to check-in right away add to the queue.”

Anticipating the surge of vacationers as April soon rolls in, and as summer brings with it a throng of incoming and outgoing travelers, the MIAA has said that it is “looking for ways to alleviate the issue as much as it can.”

In the statement, Chiong said that there will be new e-gates for departing passengers. “In addition to the existing electronic gates, or e-gates, installed by BI for arriving Philippine passport holders, MIAA is also advocating for the installation of new e-gates for departing passengers in order to reduce travelers’ processing time even further.”

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Last December, MIAA noted that it had removed the initial screening checks at terminal entrances to facilitate passenger entry. By mid-year, MIAA is “preparing to roll out more improvements in immigration processing, including a physical re-laying out of Terminal 3 to make room for more immigration counters, and the reassignment of terminals, which aims to turn Terminal 2 into all-domestic.”

It is comforting to know that there are improvements to look forward to with our airports and how the MIAA recognizes the improvements that it has to implement. The MIAA and everyone involved with our airports’ operations should be aware of the consequential “optics” — it takes one long line at the immigration counter, one incident of theft by airport personnel, or an operational oversight to taint our country’s image as an “investment haven” or a “tourism paradise.” Our reputation is at stake.

At this point in time, we couldn’t risk having unreliable airports, especially as our country recovers from the pandemic and as businesses are in need of tourism revenues. Will our airports become a tourism enabler or a tourism deterrent? The lines will soon reveal.

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Proposed VAT refund program for foreign tourists OK’d on 3rd reading

Published March 7, 2023, 11:29 AM

by Ellson Quismorio

The House of Representatives has overwhelmingly approved on third and final reading the measure creating a value-added tax (VAT) refund program for foreign tourists.

(Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)

Passed on the strength of 304 affirmative votes during plenary session Monday night, March 6 was House Bill (HB) No.7143, titled, “An Act creating a VAT refund mechanism for non-resident tourists, adding for the purpose a new section 109A to the National Internal Revenue Code, as amended”.

Four House members voted in the negative during the conduct of nominal voting. There were no abstentions.

Deputy Speaker and Ilocos Sur 2nd district Rep. Kristine Singson-Meehan, who presided over plenary session Monday, subsequently announced the bill’s third-reading passage.

The proposal adds a new section to the National Internal Revenue Code.

Once this is enacted, any non-resident tourist would be able to avail of a VAT refund on goods that he or she purchased from accredited retailers. The per transaction value is set at P3,000.

The main beneficiaries of the VAT refund program are non-resident foreign passport holders and/or dual citizens, who are not connected with any businesses.

As per HB No.7143, the goods must be brought out of the country within 60 days from the date of  purchase.

The transaction value of P3,000 may be adjusted depending on the administrative cost of the refund, consumer index price, and other market conditions that will be specified by the Department of Finance (DOF) upon the recommendation of the Department of Tourism (DOT) secretary and Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) commissioner.

The measure also allows the VAT refund system to be administered by a service provider, as is the practice in most jurisdictions.

One of HB No.7143’s proponents, Albay 2nd district Rep. Joey Salceda, earlier pointed out during committee discussions that the Philippines, save for India and Cambodia, is the last major Asian country without an operative VAT refund system for tourists.

“That hurts our competitiveness for tourists with, say, Vietnam and Thailand, which now receive more tourists than we do,” said Salceda, an economist.

Beauty queen keeps local pageantry alive

by Annalyn S. Jusay

Gines Shainon Angeles (middle, second row) with Miss Lla Bealla 2022 winners (Photo from Facebook) 

Gines Shainon Santiago Angeles is the reigning Mrs. Universe International North Pacific Asia 2022 and recently placed in the Top 18 of the highly-competitive Mrs. Universe tilt in Bulgaria. She is only 25 years old but she has maturity beyond her years. Aside from being a loving mother to her daughter, she has also set her sights on being the “queen mother” to aspiring beauty queens by mounting the Miss Lla Bealla pageant in her native province of Nueva Ecija.

Now on its second year, Miss Lla Bella is gearing up to be the biggest and most popular pageant in Nueva Ecija with the search being opened to other aspirants from Luzon. In the next few years, Gines announced that they will accept applicants nationwide.

“Miss Lla Bealla is different from other pageants because it is named after, and produced by, my aesthetic clinic. My vision is to show to the world that our beauties are not limited to Nueva Ecija, we have also what it takes to compete in national and international pageants,” she noted. 

Winners of Darling of the Press, Miss Lla Bealla 2023

Gines was a former flight attendant before she became an entrepreneur. She revealed that she has always been in love with pageantry, that’s why she aspired to be a beauty queen. Now that she has fulfilled it, she now wants to be known as “a Beauty Queen Maker.”

“This is what I see myself as becoming after joining pageants.I find happiness and fulfillment in supporting others achieve their dreams as well,” Gines stated.

She pointed out that she will use her platform to promote her advocacy for equality. Gines expressed the belief that there should be no room for discrimination. “A beauty queen should always be a role model and must encourage others to be the best they can be.”

The first 15 candidates of Miss Lla Bealla 2023 were recently presented to the press in a short program in SM Cabanatuan City. They are: Roxanne De La Cruz, Maryan Hasna Caira Mercado, Marla Joy Policarpio, Gerrah Evea C. Domingo, Dyna Faye D. Garcia, Mary Ann C. Tualla, Rowena H. Inovero, Jemalyn T. Nueda, Rizza Mae Cruz Caning, Noreen Cunanan, Jessica Roxas Peralta, Marinel M. Slavador, Reinalyn Gatmaitan, Kate Hazel Tapang , and Kathleen Flores.

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Misses Policarpio, Domingo and Peralta were eventually picked as Darlings of the Press.

(From left) Mrs. Universe International North Pacific Asia 2022 Gines Shainon Angeles with Miss Universe 2021 2nd runner up Steffi Rose Aberasturi and Miss Diamond of the World 2016 Christine Picardal

The 15 candidates also walked the ramp and underwent pre-screening with a panel composed of Miss Universe Philippines 2021 2nd runner-up Steffi Rose Aberasturi, Miss Diamond of the World 2016 Christine Picardal, Binibining Aurora 2023 Carmela Joy Cuaresma, Director Anshari Hablo Alonto of 2xsist Events Production, and make-up artist Bebong Belleza.

The Grand Coronation Night of Miss Lla Bealla 2023 will be held in Cabanatuan City on March 30.
Five ladies will be proclaimed Miss Lla Bealla 2023 Universe (with a P100,000 cash prize), Miss Lla Beala 2023 World (P50,000), Miss Lla Bealla 2023 Earth (P40,000), Miss Lla Bealla 2023 International (P30,000), and Miss Lla Bealla 2023 Tourism (P20,000). There will also be other prizes from the sponsors.

GOSSIP GIRL: How Inday Sara celebrates birthdays of loved ones

Published March 7, 2023, 9:58 AM

by Giselle Sanchez, MB

Vice President Sara Duterte hosts simple birthday party for son Stonefish

I  am quite sure that 32.2 million voters want to know how the Vice President of the Philippines, throw parties for their loved ones–  the answer is — super simple and fun.

Last Thursday,  Vice President Sara Zimmerman Duterte invited me to the sixth birthday of her son Marko “Stonefish” Duterte. It was a simple celebration over pansit and barbeque with her mom, Tita Beth Zimmerman, VP Inday Sara’s  husband Atty. Mans Carpio, his brother and his parents. The godfathers and godmothers of Stonefish were also present.  We were around 20 adults and 10 children.

She hosted her own party gathering everyone for a prayer and blowing out birthday candles and thanking her guests. I volunteered to host the games since her middle child Stingray was requesting games. As a Gen X baby, I decided to change the “Trip to Jerusalem” chair game to “Trip to Davao”. 

Stingray was able to convince his mom and dad to join “Hep Hep Hurrah” to the delight of the guests. The game prizes were simple chocolates and gummy bears for the children. I found out from the godmothers of Stonefish that all of VP Inday Sara’s children have ocean nicknames, the eldest teenager Mikhaila Maria is nicknamed Sharky, and Mateo Lucas is nicknamed Stingray while the birthday celebrant Marko is nicknamed Stonefish. The godmother told me that VP Inday Sara is the Mother Ocean and that the Vice President loves the ocean so much she wanted to name her children her favorite things in the ocean. 

Inday Sara (left) and the author

In this Facebook and Instagram world where people like throwing flashy over-the-top parties estimating millions of pesos, it is very calming to know that  public servants like VP Inday throw simple and minimalist parties. The Dutertes have been loved because of their minimalist living. For several years now, I have been hosting the Christmas parties of this genuine woman. When she was the mayor of Davao, we would celebrate the Presidential Security Group parties outside the street in front of her house. Thank God it did not rain. I also remember hosting the Christmas party of the Office of the Vice President last year. It was just a simple party inside their office with fun party games—no hotel venues, no event organizers,no flashy celebrities or singers,  just me and the office staff. 

Going home from the party, I had so much peace in my heart. Peace, that the second highest ranking official in our country lived such a simple life with simple needs. Peace in my heart because the children of this public servant were kind and had good manners showing what kind of parents Atty. Mans and VP Inday Sara are; and lastly peace in my heart knowing that the Vice President I supported and voted for is a kind and genuine person with simple needs and kind friends. Tell me who your friends are and I will tell you who you are. 

Before I went to bed, I offered a prayer for VP Inday Sara and her family. Aside from being a brilliant and organized leader of our country, bonding with her in her unguarded moments proved that she is indeed an amazing woman, a good mother and a fun person to be with.  

Maritime industry excellence: Affirming PH as Pearl of the Orient Seas

by Manila Bulletin

Addressing the Philippine Maritime Industry Summit 2023 at the Manila Hotel recently, President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. said: “Given that the Philippines is a maritime nation, I believe that it is time for us to make the maritime industry once again a top priority.”

The President anchored his call on the country’s reputation as the world’s primary source of maritime seafarers. One out of every four seafarers plying cargo and passenger leisure vessels is a Filipino — and this is well recognized in the International Maritime Organization (IMO) where the Philippines holds a seat in the IMO Council. The Council is the executive organ of the IMO that is responsible for supervising the work of the Organization.

The Philippines is one of 40 Council members. It is one of 20 states in category C “which have special interests in maritime transport or navigation and whose election to the Council will ensure the representation of all the major geographic areas of the world. The other 20 countries in Categories A and B are the “states with the largest interest in providing international shipping services” or the owner of shipping companies; and “the states with the largest interest in international seaborne trade. Among those In Category A are the United States, China, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the Republic of Korea. Category B includes India, the United Arab Emirates, Australia, France, and Germany.

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The Philippines is the world’s primary source of maritime manpower, constituting 25 percent of the global seafarers and bringing a total of $6.71 billion in remittances in 2022. Notably, Indonesia, Cyprus and Greece the countries’ competitors, are also well- recognized in the IMO.

The Maritime Summit called attention to a much broader field covering 10 domestic shipping in support of the Philippine nautical highway development; 2) Development of shipping services for tourist destination areas; 3) Development of coastal and inland waterways transport systems; 4) Strengthening the safety standards of Philippine-registered fishing vessels; 5) Development of a global maritime hub; 6) Enhancement of maritime safety; 7) Enhancement of maritime transport security in the Philippines; 8) Maritime innovation and knowledge center; 9) Development of competitive and highly skilled Filipino maritime professionals; and 10) Implementation of the Philippine strategy on maritime environment protection.

This year’s summit comes at the midpoint of the 10-year roadmap which projects that the maritime industry’s contribution to the economy will double to P1.44 trillion once the Maritime Industry Development Plan is fully implemented in 2028. The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) says this is aligned with the eight-point priority agenda of the Marcos administration that seeks to accelerate economic growth.

Responsible agencies must step up their efforts. State-of-the-art physical and human infrastructure must be put in place to ensure the attainment of world-class capabilities and customer-friendly services. Excellence in the maritime industry will affirm the Philippines’ heritage as the Pearl of the Orient Seas.