‘Love Philippines’ slogan unveiled

By Angelica Villanueva and Charles Dantes

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday expressed optimism that the Philippines will become the “tourism powerhouse” of Asia in the next few years as the government unveiled its new tourism slogan “Love the Philippines” yesterday.

“What a better way to express that love than directly incorporating it into our country’s newest tourism campaign slogan, Love the Philippines. This is new branding which we unveiled today. It will serve as our guidepost for the Philippine Tourism Industry moving forward,” Marcos said in his speech during the Department of Tourism’s

Health workers demand COVID wages, pay hike

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

A GROUP of health workers staged a noise barrage Tuesday calling for the immediate release of COVID-19 allowances and performance-based bonuses for their services during the pandemic.

The demonstrators at the Philippine Orthopedic Center (POC) and National Children’s Hospital (NCH) also urged the administration to grant a pay hike, demanding a P33,000 entrylevel salary to all public and private health workers in the country.

Alliance of Health Workers (AHWs)

President Roberto Mendoza said this is part of health workers’ series of protest actions before President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s 2nd State of the Nation Address.

On June 23, specialty hospital health workers held a lunch break protest with the same demands.

“Health workers deserve salary increase. We are conducting a noise barrage to break the deafening silence of President Marcos, Jr for not responding to the just calls of public and private health workers for pay hike,” said Mendoza.

“President Marcos Jr has been in power for almost a year now, but we have not even seen any steps taken by his administration to heed our longtime demands for a living wage, job security, mass hiring and release of unpaid benefits,” stated Ricardo Antonio, president of the National Orthopedic Hospital Workers Union-Alliance of Health Workers.

Dry spell,...

From A1 provinces,” Solis said.

Based on PAGASA’s forecast, the areas that may experience dry spell are as follows: Abra, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, Apayao, Mountain Province, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, Zambales, Metro Manila, Batangas, Laguna, Rizal, Quezon, Marinduque, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Romblon, Palawan, Spratly Islands, Camarines Sur, and Catanduanes in Luzon; and Antique, Guimaras, Iloilo, and Leyte in Visayas.

Meanwhile, Southern Leyte and Camarines Norte may experience drought by the end of December.

Meanwhile, PAGASA senior weather specialist Rusy Abastillas said 11 to 14 tropical cyclones are still expected to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility from July until the end of the year.

Abastillas said three or four tropical cyclones may arrive in July.

The number of tropical cyclones will be reduce to two or three each in August, September, and October. By November and December, one or two more may enter PAR. Rio N. Araja

SC:...

From A1 the conduct of the BSKE on the last Monday of October 2023, pursuant to the operative fact doctrine.”

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. last year signed Republic Act No. 11935, postponing the 2022 BSKE to the last Monday of October 2023.

The term of the incumbent barangay and SK officials was supposed to end December 31, 2022, but they stayed in a hold-over capacity until successors are elected.

50th anniversary celebration.

“The campaign that you [DOT] have conceptualized aims to enhance the overall experience of every traveler,” he added.

In May, Mr. Marcos approved the National Tourism Development Plan (NTDP) 2023-2028 which will serve as his administration’s blueprint and development framework for the tour- ism industry. He said the NTDP 2023-2028 contains the government’s targets, which include the promotion of local products and the implementation of more infrastructure projects to ensure hassle-free travel.

“The five-year plan stemmed from this admin’s determination to implement programs that will positively transform our country towards being a tourism powerhouse in Asia in the coming years. Let us therefore strive to translate our golden vision into reality,” he said.

Marcos lauded the DOT for making the tourism industry “a major driver of economic growth.”

He also welcomed the “improving”