19/04/2023
Transcript of the Press Briefing of DOT Secretary Ma. Christina G. Frasco
DOT Secretary Frasco: Good Afternoon. Maayong Hapon.
As I am aware, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources as well as the Department of Health have recently issued a joint statement concerning the water quality test results in Puerto Galera showing that there were 35 sample sites, nine of which passed the water quality test in accordance with DENR guidelines. We welcome this positively, especially considering that the nine sites identified, several of these are actually very prime dive sites of Puerto Galera, one of which I dove in recently, specifically in La Laguna. With regard to the other areas that were not seen to have complied with the threshold set in the water quality test results under the DENR guidelines, we are also pleased to receive the Department of Health’s position that the public is advised to proceed with caution but that no swimming ban has been indicated. Only that concerns have been expressed on the ingestion of water and therefore our perception of this joint statement is that the Puerto Galera tourism continues to be open, as well as that there has been no direct attribution in terms of the direct source of the findings considering the presence of the other human and economic activities in Puerto Galera, but with that, the Department of Tourism expresses its full support to the DENR and the DOH in terms of our willingness to work together as well as together with the provincial government of Oriental Mindoro and the Local Government Units involved so that we can proceed and in a manner that will ensure the sustainability of these tourism destinations. Puerto Galera in particular is the top-rated destination for Oriental Mindoro contributing no less than 85% of the tourism economy of the province. At its peak, Puerto Galera generated tourism receipts of over 1.2 billion pesos. Notwithstanding the fact that the Philippines only reopened in February of last year. Puerto Galera had already raked in half a billion pesos. And we fully perceive that the recovery of Puerto Galera and especially in terms of domestic tourism is well on the way this year. As far as international tourism is concerned, we want to be able to make sure that the viability of Puerto Galera as a tourism destination continues and that is why the report indicating that no direct link to the oil spill is something that we welcome positively.
Question and Answer
Ace Romero from (PhilStar)
Q: Secretary, so you don’t see the oil spill affecting the tourism in Puerto Galera not even mildly or no impact at all?
Secretary Frasco: First of all, the Department of Tourism has expressed and continues to expresses its grave concern over the occurrence of the oil spill that has devastated many areas in Oriental Mindoro. On the other hand, we receive positively the data that would show that there is at present no evidence of oil spill in Puerto Galera. Nonetheless, and that being said, the impact of the oil spill to the province in general, according to statistics from the provincial tourism office is no less than a little over 900 million pesos. That, we perceive, with great concern especially if you add to that, any losses that may incur to Puerto Galera should there be any perceptions of the oil spill having reached Puerto Galera and that is why I think the most important thing right now as far as tourism concerned is to really ensure the continued viability of Puerto Galera as a tourism destination considering that no less than 11 thousand tourism workers depend on the industry continuing to be open. Multiply that by at least 5 in terms of their families. And that is thousands upon thousands of people that depend on tourism. According to statistics as well, should Puerto Galera be closed to tourism there is a projected loss of no less than five at least 5.3 million pesos a day, so our effort really in the Department of Tourism is to work very closely with the DENR, DOH, and other related agencies including the DILG, so that we can together hand in hand with the LGU of Puerto Galera in particular, and the province in general. So we’ve all seen the devastation that can be caused by a tourism destination being shut down. We experienced that recently in the pandemic. And we recently experienced that in Cebu during the super typhoon Odette. So what is critical really right now is the protection, not just of life but also of the livelihood of the tourism workers that critically depend on the continuation of the tourism industry.
Eden Santos (NET 25)
Q: Nabanggit po ninyo na medyo malaki yung mawawala sa turismo kapag ipina-ban natin yung mga water-activities sa Puerto Galera despite the fact na 9 lang po yung pumasa out of the 35. Does it mean po ba na mas binibigyan natin ng way yung livelihood than dun sa lives nung ating mga kababayan na sa halip na iprevent muna natin yung mga water activities doon para naman maging safe po yung mga tao, even yung mga local turista sa halip na tuloy-tuloy parin yung activities doon.
Secretary Frasco: Needless to say, the protection of life is always the prevailing consideration of any God-fearing person. As it is of the Marcos administration, but at the same time, the lessons that we’ve learned from the CoVID-19 pandemic and the various calamities that have befall in our country is that there has to be a balance between the protection of life and the protection of livelihood because the complete and the utter devastation of livelihood can also lead to a loss of life. Kaya naman po, damang-dama po natin, yung paghihirap ng ating mga tourism workers. Especially po yung mga nandoon sa oil-spill affected areas. And that is why, understanding the suffering that they are presently harboring under, pumunta po tayo sa Puerto Galera at under the directive po ng ating Presidente, nag offer po tayo ng alternative livelihood training skills that may not be necessarily connected to their present occupation but is still connected to the tourism industry. And with that, we met with the several mayors as well as community-based tourism organizations. Magsisimula na po yung alternative livelihood trainings on April 24 and will continue until May. In conjunction with this, kasi po concerned yung ating Presidente sa kapakanan ng ating mga kababayang Pilipino, especially to our Tourism frontline workers, we have also agreed with the Department of Labor and Employment, na yung magbibigyan ng alternative training, on one hand bibigyan po sila ng free na starter kit para sa trainings na matatanggap nila and on the other hand, mabibigyan sila ng TUPAD financial assistance. And therefore, it is an overall approach towards managing the present tourism destination that is not yet affected by the oil spill as well as assisting the tourism destinations that are already affected by the oil spill, all the while prioritizing life and balancing that with the need to protect livelihood.
Q: So secretary, wala pa naman po tayong naiitalang anumang mga complaint na yung mga nag-swimming doon or nagpunta lalo na nung bakasyon ay nakaranas or nakakaramdam ng mga problema sa balat, sa paghinga, gayanung mga sinasabi ng DOH na posibleng maranasan natin kapag tayo ay nakainom ng contaminated na tubig mula sa langis.
A: The Department of Tourism is not in possession of any data regarding any such information considering that is not within our primary mandate. Nevertheless, nag-diving po ako doon sa La Laguna, isa po sa mga pinakamaganda na dive sites sa Puerto Galera at okay pa naman po ako.
Ivan Mayrina (GMA 7)
Q: You spoke of the recovery of domestic tourism in PG at it’s peak you said, umaabot ng 1.2 billion pesos and tourism receipts ang Puerto Galera. Nasaan na tayo sa recovery natin na ‘yun, especially you personally saw the holy week crowd, would you say that we are almost at the pre-pandemic level or maybe even on the way to surpass those numbers?
A: Thank you very much for that question, as that will allow me to deliver the good news that as of 2022, Puerto Galera has already generated half of a billion pesos in the tourism receipts as far as international arrivals are concerned. On the other hand, with regard to domestic tourism, Puerto Galera, plus other regional destinations have reported in excess of their target in terms of the projected arrival for domestic tourists. And this fully supports the projections of the Department of Tourism, that the country will recover its domestic tourism numbers 100% this year. And that means no less than 122 million domestic trips that will be taken by our fellow Filipinos and visiting foreigners living in the Philippines this year.
In addition, Secretary Christina Frasco adds,
Well, I wanted to thank our President for continuing to articulate the importance of the tourism industry under his administration recognizing the massive contribution that it has had and continues to have upon our economy. I would also like to take this opportunity if you will allow to invite our fellow Filipinos to book your trip to your local destinations especially with the forthcoming long weekend. Considering that any touristic activity that you do within any of our local destinations will ultimately help a Filipino family. Tulungan po natin ang ating mga kababayan sa turismo sa pamamagitan po ng pag-book ng ating mga vacations kasama ang ating mga pamilya anywhere across the Philippines. Maraming maraming salamat po. Daghan kaayong salamat.
