The Observer. Observer.com
ARTS&TRAVEL
VOLUME 1, NO. 31 SUNDAY JULY 31, 2022
Cultural, heritage sites severely damaged by quake: DOT
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By Joyce Ann L. Rocamora
MANILA – The Department of Tourism (DOT) has reported severe damage to cultural and heritage sites in several parts of northern Luzon following the powerful 7.0 magnitude earthquake that rocked Abra on July 27. In a statement sent Wednesday night, Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco ordered DOT’s regional offices and the Tourism Infrastructure Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) to extend possible assistance to affected stakeholders and tourism establishments. Based on initial reports, at least two churches that had been declared “National Cultural Treasure” by the National Museum of the Philippines were affected by the tremor while several heritage and ancestral houses sustained notable damage. “We will request TIEZA to prioritize assessment of the cultural treasures affected by the recent earthquake recognizing the need to
protect and sustain our heritage and cultural treasures for the benefit and welfare of our future generations,” Frasco said. The DOT has so far recorded damage in the following tourist destinations: Abra - Sta. Catalina de Alexandria Church, a 19th-century baroque
church and declared a National Cultural Treasure by the National Museum of the Philippines in 2001. - San Lorenzo Ruiz Shrine (heavily damaged), one of the oldest churches in Abra Baguio City - Minor cracks in Lafayette Luxury Suites Hotel and Crown
Legacy buildings Ilocos Sur - Vigan Cathedral - Syquia House, an ancestral home turned museum in Vigan - Hotel Linda - Heritage and ancestral houses along the Vigan Heritage Village - Bantay Bell Tower in Bantay,
Hokkaido officials support PAL’s Sapporo route MANILA -- Some officials from the Hokkaido Prefecture went to the Philippine Airlines’ (PAL) office in Manila on Wednesday to show their support to the carrier’s upcoming Sapporo route. PAL will launch the Manila-Sapporo route on Dec. 7, which aims to attract more tourists from Japan. PAL spokesperson Cielo Villaluna said Hokkaido government officials, led by Vice Governor Hitoshi Kubota, met with PAL officials on Wednesday. “He (Kubota) said the region has already recovered from the 6.7-magnitude quake that hit Hokkaido last September. Kubota also stressed that the tourist spots in Hokkaido are now open and ‘business as usual’ for both the domestic and international tourists,” Villaluna said. Villaluna said the Hokkaido officials shared that they are currently in the midst of organizing tourism campaigns to attract more travelers
SAPPORO ROUTE. Executives of flag carrier Philippine Airlines and Hokkaido government officials pose for a photo after their meeting in PAL’s Manila office on Wednesday (Nov. 21, 2018). The Japanese visitors gave their support for PAL’s upcoming Sapporo route, aimed to attract more tourists from Japan. (Photo: Cielo Villaluna) “Offering this to and from the with in-flight entertainment, Wi-Fi to the region. While PAL president Jaime other airports in the country will not connectivity, and more comfortable seat features. Bautista earlier said that there is a happen anytime soon,” he added. Currently, PAL flies to Osaka PAL will be using its new Airgrowing demand for the Sapporo route, he also said that as of now, bus A321neo aircraft for this route. (Kansai), Tokyo (Narita and HanePAL will only offer the Sapporo The airline’s executives earlier said da), Fukuoka, and Nagoya in Japan. -- Ma. Cristina Arayata the A31neo will provide passengers route to and from Manila.
Ilocos Sur - St. John The Baptist Church in San Juan, Ilocos Sur Multiple ground faulting was likewise seen in the Santa Ana Beach Area, a favorite tourist spot among visitors. The agency said two TIEZA properties also sustained damage. The riprap and ceiling of the Banaue Hotel and Youth Hostel in Ifugao partially caved in while Mt. Data Hotel’s ceiling in the fireplace and lobby area collapsed, prompting TIEZA to cancel all bookings in both hotels until a thorough assessment has been undertaken. “My concern and sympathy are one with those who have been affected by the recent earthquake in Northern Luzon. The Department will extend whatever help it can to tourism stakeholders and establishments that have been directly affected by this incident. I have requested the DOT Regional offices in Northern Luzon to continue with the assessment of the extent of the damage and to immediately submit the report for our appropriate actions and assistance,” Frasco said. “Our resilience as a nation has already been tried and tested in the past. I am certain that this can be strengthened by the essential collaboration between our national agencies, local governments, and crucial stakeholders as we conquer our challenges,” she added. No tourists were reported harmed but those with travel plans to the Northern Luzon area are advised to practice extra precautions.
Gov’t eyes incentivizing sustainable tourism practices
From Page 12
“[It’s] very, very important to incentivize sustainable tourism policy implementation -- the introduction of incentives for the private sector who would implement green policies that give value to the preservation of the environment, as well as the introduction of measures that promote environmental protection, energy-efficient usage, and the like,” she said. Frasco made the statement as she acknowledge that sustainable development as a concept “does have a tendency to be disconnected to actual implementation on the ground, by the very nature of it being quite theoretical.”
“From my local government experience, it has taught me that it’s very, very important to be able to translate these theoretical policies to actual implementation. And how we are looking to do that, is to be able to introduce sustainable development policies to a wider sustainable development that looks at economic policy, environmental policy, and social policy,” she said. Frasco said she would involve local government units in policy crafting as well as the host community and private sector for grassroots implementation. In addition, she laid out her vision for the local communities to adopt sustainable tourism not only
as a policy but rather as a way of life. “[This is] so that eventually, sustainable tourism is not only a matter of government regulation but rather of self-regulation, in that the community takes an active part in the implementation of all of these policies,” she said. “It’s also very important to our mind that President Marcos has very clearly laid out the importance of enhancing the Filipino brand, in that we inculcate among the Filipino people --and encourage among them -- pride of place, that they may take ownership of taking care of their communities,” she said. Frasco, in the same forum, also
outlined her plans to fast-track the sector’s recovery from the pandemic. These include improving tourism infrastructure, enabling digitalization, enhancing overall tourist experience, diversification of present tourism portfolios to explore “multi-dimensional tourism,” and equalization of tourism marketing and product development opportunities. “In our view, it’s also very, very important to ensure that we examine all existing strategies that have been set in place, continue the good programs that have been implemented, and introduce innovations and strong coordination with
DOT Secretary Christina Frasco
tourism-enhancing [government] agencies in the national government,” she said. (PNA)
