by Raymund Antonio, Manila Bulletin
True to their campaign promise of “unity,” President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte on Monday, Oct. 17, raised a “unity toast” during the Philippine Tourism Industry Convergence Reception for the revitalization of the country’s tourism sector in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Speaking during the event at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City, the Chief Executive noted how the country’s “majestic and natural wonders and exciting man-made sites” should bring back the imagination and confidence of the people in exploring the “best destinations” in the Philippines. “We want one of the key players in our nation’s progress to be buzzing once again with life stronger than ever so that they will be able to keep up with these fast-moving times,” Marcos said.
The President thanked the key players of the tourism sector who were there at the event, which he described as the “perfect opportunity to talk one another, to network and expand our plans for the future.”
“It is my hope that this reception will foster a meaningful discourse and yield concrete plans that we can immediately put into action,” he added.
Marcos hoped that “initiatives for greater tourism, connectivity, and convenience” would be pursued after the event as he stressed the support of the administration, which ran on the campaign promise of unity.
“Allow me to repeat that under this admin, the government will remain committed to ensuring that the inputs that you have acquired from your listening tours will be optimized for the benefit of the sector,” he said.
The “unity toast” was also joined by First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco, Deputy House Speaker Rep. Duke Frasco, Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, Ilocos Norte’s 1st District Rep. Sandro Marcos, Cabinet members, government officials, and partner private stakeholders leaders.
“The best days of the tourism industry are yet to come,” Frasco vowed as she highlighted the accomplishments of the department in the past 100 days.
Among these accomplishments are exceeding the 1.7 million tourist arrivals target, the relaunching of the Philippine Tourism Awards, and the launching of the Philippine Experience: arts, heritage, and culture caravans.
Marcos himself was all praises for the Tourism department and Frasco for their “energy, passion and continuing belief in the tourism industry in the Philippines.”
“And let us keep going, we can, I believe and I am certain in my heart that if (we) work together properly, if we continue from this very good start, and we continue that trajectory which we have started in the last 100 plus days that we will succeed and to the benefit of our people and our country,” he said.
