Rosy prospects for tourism as Chinese travelers return to PH

MANILA – The Philippines on Tuesday, January 24 welcomed a planeload of Chinese travelers after China finally eases its restriction for outbound travel.

About 190 visitors from Xiamen arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 via Xiamen Airlines flight MF819.

With China contributing to over 1.7 million tourists prior to the pandemic, the arrival signaled renewed hope for the tourism industry’s speedy recovery.

“The arrival of Chinese tourists to the Philippines brings a very positive impact for the prospects of the Philippine tourism industry recognizing that China supplies the most number of people for outbound travel,” Tourism Secretary Cristina Frasco said in a presser.

“We anticipate even more Chinese tourists to arrive which will greatly help us in our efforts to transform and to recover the tourism industry as our intention is not only to regain our prepandemic numbers but to exceed it knowing how the relationship between the Philippines and China will only further improve in the years to come with the stance of both our governments,” she added.

Frasco said Manila targets to further exceed the 2019 Chinese arrivals to the country as the government ushers in a new period for recovery it recognizes the travel sector as pillar of economic growth. Manila, she said, would continue to improve its key destinations popular to Chinese tourists, specifically Boracay, Cebu, Bohol and Palawan. Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian, for his part, said the arrival reflects the importance Beijing places in improving relations with Manila, specifically on strengthening tourism cooperation.

“The recent state visit of President (Ferdinand Marcos) to China, both presidents of China and the Philippines have agreed to make people to people exchanges as one of the four already areas of cooperation and of course during the visits, our tourism cooperation was actually signed so I think that today’s event is also one of the measures to implement the agreement reached by our two leaders,” he said.

“We believe this kind of tourism cooperation and people to people exchanges would further promote the traditional friendship and cooperation between our two countries,” he added.

China identified the Philippines as one of the 20 pilot areas for outbound tourism group tours, which also includes Thailand, Indonesia, Cambodia, Malaysia, relations at CalOES, shared the level of California’s preparedness regarding the recent storms.

The information she provided is valuable to understanding the current situation in the state, as well as what the state and federal government are doing to address the needs of those affected.

“CalOES is a critical hub to direct state emergency activities and harness the expertise of the whole of state government while working with our local, federal, and tribal partners,” Crofts-Pelayo emphasized. “We firmly believe every Californian, regardless of age, ability, income, or language deserves a culturally competent education to prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters, including flooding,” she said.

Crofts-Pelayo explained that the severe storms have caused destructive flooding that has affected homes, businesses, and communities. Some weather occurrences include rain, snow, levee breaches, mudslides, hurricane-force winds, and even a tornado in one community.

“These storms are among the most deadly natural disasters in the modern history of our state,” she declared, signifying just how severe the weather has been, where 20 deaths have been reported. She, however, reassured webinar attendees that “The full weight of state and federal government has been rapidly deployed to protect impacted communities.”

One such form of aid was requested on January 12 by Governor Gavin Newsom in the form of an expedited Major Disaster Declaration. This was promptly approved by President Biden on January 14. This aid will only be in effect, as of now, for three specific California counties: Merced, Sacramento, and Santa Cruz.

Crofts-Pelayo detailed how this is declared by the president for any natural event that they believe has caused damage of such severity that is beyond something that state and local governments can handle on their own. The program will provide a full range of federal assistance programs for individuals and infrastructure that has been affected by the storm.

“Cal OES continues to work closely with FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) to maximize aid and support communities during this storm event,” she continued, noting how the organization has requested for more counties to be added to the declaration after assessing the damage within their communities.

“To add a county as a designation in the major disaster declaration, it’s imperative that emergency response and lifesaving activities still remain a priority and go uninterrupted during storm conditions,” CroftsPelayo stated, emphasizing that CalOES is working with local authorities to quickly assess the damage all the while ensuring that people are safe.

She ended her section with a glimmer of hope. “We received a report this morning from the national weather service and as we look to the coming days, we are seeing clear skies ahead,” where the big storm event that has been affecting California will be over and clear skies would be seen starting Friday, January 20.

However, Crofts-Pelayo also made sure to emphasize that while these storms may be coming to an end, it is not too late to be prepared for the next emergency. “Have those conversations with your family now. Have an emergency kit ready,” she strongly encouraged.

Keeping vulnerable communities safer

The next section of the webinar was led by Vance Taylor, Chief of the Office of Access and Functional needs at CalOES, who spoke on a variety of resources that are being prepared and utilized amidst this storm season, especially for those who are more vulnerable.

“Even though we have a break in the weather, just like anything, that could change,” Taylor, similar to Crofts-Pelayo, emphasized how while the weather is clearing up, it does not hurt to be prepared. “What we recognize is that anytime there are these types of disasters there are individuals who are disproportionately impacted,” he continued, acknowledging that while there are many affected, there are also those who are severely impacted that may not have the right support or access to things they need to recover.

Taylor listed that these people include older adults, people with disabilities, those who are economically disadvantaged, and people with access or functional needs. “To ensure that our emergency management systems, programs, and services are being rolled out in a way that is equitable and accessible to everyone,” he detailed one of the main priorities that CalOES has.

In reference to the Major Disaster Declaration that was approved on the 14th, Taylor detailed how within approved counties, as well as those they hope to be approved, those who were impacted will be available to apply for federal assistance through FEMA.

Some of these resources include grant money, aid in receiving essential items (such as furniture and durable medical equipment), rental aid, housing provision, assistance in receiving low interest SBA loans, and anything else that will help people recover and financially get back on their feet.

“In order to apply for that disaster assistance, there is a phone number, 800-621-3362, that you can call. You can also use the FEMA mobile app or apply online,” Taylor described how to gain access to these resources, noting that the services are available in multiple languages, including ASL, as well as, the provision of closed captioning.

Furthermore, he detailed how FEMA will be sending out disaster survivor assistance teams to shelters and approved areas in order to help people register. CalOES will also be setting up mobile registration intake centers. This service will be driving to people who do not otherwise have any transportation service available for them.

“We’re essentially trying to get to the community by one-on-one approach and make sure that everyone who has been impacted, that lives in an approved county, is able to register for services,” Taylor declared.

Signs of the times

The maintenance work at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport lasted only for nearly two hours, but it still delayed at least 47 flights as Philippine airspace was shut down anew early Sunday morning, January 22.

It was a continuation of the problem that crippled air travel in and out of the country on New Year’s Day. As initial investigation showed, a cooling fan broke down on Jan.

1, making the uninterrupted power supply for the Communications, Navigation and Surveillance for Air Traffic Management system break down. The standby UPS, however, failed to kick in. When the CNS / ATM was connected to the NAIA’s commercial power line, a circuit breaker failed to work and the system was fried, grounding flights across the country. The probe is not yet complete.

Sunday’s shutdown was for the replacement of the blowing or cooling fan for the second UPS, according to the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, which operates the CNS / ATM. But the shutdown still delayed at least nine flights at the NAIA taxiway and another 38 flights that were awaiting clearance.

This time, at least, airlines received notice on Saturday, January 21 about the maintenance work scheduled to begin at 4:20 a.m. on Sunday. It was supposed to last for only an hour, but the notice to airmen was lifted only at 6:19 a.m. Last Jan. 1, the shutdown delayed or diverted around 300 flights, affecting an estimated 56,000 travelers both in the country and abroad. Many of those stranded at the NAIA were overseas Filipino workers waiting for their flights to their host countries after the holiday break. President Marcos later apologized for the New Year shutdown and said emergency procurements were being made for circuit breakers and cooling fans. Probers are still trying to establish conclusively if the technical problems were not caused by sabotage. Transport Secretary Jaime Bautista has said that depending on the outcome of the probes being conducted by several agencies including Congress, heads could roll.

Babe’s Eye View

BaBe Romualdez

THE four-day 10th Bilateral

Strategic Dialogue held in Manila hosted by our Department of Foreign Affairs and Department of National Defense was very successful and productive, with discussions centering on various issues that are of mutual interest between the United States and the Philippines.

Aside from DFA Undersecretary Teresita Lazaro, with us in the Philippine delegation were DFA Assistant Secretary JV Chan-Gonzaga, DND Undersecretary Angelito de Leon and Assistant Secretary Henry Robinson. Leading the delegation from the U.S. for the BSD was Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Kritenbrink along with delegation co-chair Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Lindsey Ford and of course our dear friend, U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson.

In November 2021, the 9th BSD hosted in Washington, DC was held with a very small delegation from both sides due to COVID-19. But despite that, the discussions were very substantial, with both delegations coming out with a “Joint Vision for a 21st Century United States-Philippines Partnership” that not only outlined several areas of cooperation aimed at boosting security and economic ties, but also took into consideration the current realities and challenges

JANUARY is the start of income tax filing once again.

It is due on or before April 15, 2023. However, due to the natural disaster caused by the so-called atmospheric-river storm that battered California, the Internal Revenue Service just announced that your tax filing can be extended to May 15 for counties covered by a federal emergency declaration — to file their income tax returns for 2022. Among the counties included are Los Angeles, Orange, Ventura and San Diego and the rest of several beleaguered counties.

But we don’t have to wait if we can do it now to get it out our way. And if you have a tax-exempt

In the meantime, the damaged CNS / ATM system will have to undergo continuing maintenance works, which could mean more delayed flights. This is bad news as people resume traveling after the COVID restrictions. The NAIA, the country’s main