Arroyo vows to continue promoting Boracay amid global crisisBY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL / Panay News
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo holds her Cabinet meeting at Boracay Terraces Resort. She vowed to continue promoting this island paradise and cited the role of the national government in preserving the natural beauty of Boracay Island / PHOTO BY GEORGE CAWALING
BORACAY - President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo vowed to continue promoting this resort island and other tourism destinations in the country to ensure that tourism remains the flag bearer of progress and development.
At the newly opened Shangri-La Hotel before convening her Cabinet at Boracay Terraces Resort and Convention Center Tuesday afternoon, she was welcomed by Aklan Cong. Florencio Miraflores and Gov. Carlito Marquez.
The President observed that Boracay, the country’s showcase tourism destination, is going well and strong.
“We have many people all over the world enjoying this breathtaking shoreline. Our people from the different provinces also come here for their rest and recreation,” she said.
She added that like other destinations, Boracay used to lack in many facilities.
“But now, this island is accessible from Kalibo because of improved roads,” she said.
Arroyo said the national government will improve the Kalibo International Airport by constructing a new terminal building to accommodate more passengers and bigger commercial planes.
She revealed that the Caticlan airport (Godofredo P. Ramos Airport) in Malay, Aklan is being readied for privatization by the government with five bidders under a build-operate-transfer scheme.
Arroyo said sewer lines, a garbage disposal system, and a port in Brgy. Manoc-Manoc, Boracay will be established to preserve the beauty of the island.
She also revealed that the Ayala Corp.-owned Manila Water entered into a water concession with the Philippine Tourism Authority for the expansion of infrastructures in the island and to improve water services.
The President believes that these new infrastructures would boost Aklan’s tourism industry.
“Tourism is one of the sectors we have to strengthen as our response to the global meltdown. We have done it today. We should continue to push it to provide jobs and vast opportunities to our people,” she said.
“We will not stop. We will not be cowered by the global crisis. The government, this administration, will continue to be a strong partner of the tourism industry as we promote our nation and its natural beauty,” Arroyo stressed.
At the newly opened Shangri-La Hotel before convening her Cabinet at Boracay Terraces Resort and Convention Center Tuesday afternoon, she was welcomed by Aklan Cong. Florencio Miraflores and Gov. Carlito Marquez.
The President observed that Boracay, the country’s showcase tourism destination, is going well and strong.
“We have many people all over the world enjoying this breathtaking shoreline. Our people from the different provinces also come here for their rest and recreation,” she said.
She added that like other destinations, Boracay used to lack in many facilities.
“But now, this island is accessible from Kalibo because of improved roads,” she said.
Arroyo said the national government will improve the Kalibo International Airport by constructing a new terminal building to accommodate more passengers and bigger commercial planes.
She revealed that the Caticlan airport (Godofredo P. Ramos Airport) in Malay, Aklan is being readied for privatization by the government with five bidders under a build-operate-transfer scheme.
Arroyo said sewer lines, a garbage disposal system, and a port in Brgy. Manoc-Manoc, Boracay will be established to preserve the beauty of the island.
She also revealed that the Ayala Corp.-owned Manila Water entered into a water concession with the Philippine Tourism Authority for the expansion of infrastructures in the island and to improve water services.
The President believes that these new infrastructures would boost Aklan’s tourism industry.
“Tourism is one of the sectors we have to strengthen as our response to the global meltdown. We have done it today. We should continue to push it to provide jobs and vast opportunities to our people,” she said.
“We will not stop. We will not be cowered by the global crisis. The government, this administration, will continue to be a strong partner of the tourism industry as we promote our nation and its natural beauty,” Arroyo stressed.
"progress and development"
ReplyDeletehuh? did she not notice the entire-day-long brownouts while she was here? Of course not because she spent 200,000 pesos for her entourage in pricey resorts.
And THANK YOU GLORIA for having your plane fly so low over the island (for your photo shots) that everyone thought it was going to crash! Scared the crap out of everyone.