Tourism Congress’ Issued a Statement on the Hostage Crisis

August 25, 2010

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This is the entirety of Tourism Congress’ statement as read by DOT Caraga Regional Director Letecia Tan during the prayer rally held in the evening of August 25, 2010 at the Rizal Park, appealing to the government to take necessary actions and hoping it won’t happen again.

RD Tan said, “The Department of Tourism is taking now the lead for them to let them feel that we too, do not like this to happen.”

Tourism Congress is headed by its President Alma Rita Jimenez.

Tourism Congress’ Statement:

The private sector of the tourism industry that the Tourism Congress represents viewed with shock and disbelief the audacious hostage taking of foreign nationals who came into our country intending to have an enjoyable time and ended up instead with this terrible experience.

We, along with the rest of the world, watched the more that 11 hour crisis in live coverage and we share the agony that our visitors must have felt as hour after hour passed with no resolution. We deeply sympathize with those who were hurt and wounded and those who eventually succumbed because of the injuries they sustained. Indeed, such deplorable incident has no place in today’s civilized society.

Today also manifested how ill-prepared we are in handling crisis like this. The victims were tourists-foreign nationals we in the tourism industry are working so hard to invite to our country because their arrivals translate to many benefits to the Philippines. The eyes of the world were upon us and brushing this off as just an isolated incident will not reverse the strong imagery of shattered windows, police with their guns drawn and hapless victims covered with blood being loaded into ambulances.

We are concerned with the repercussions, this incident will mean to our industry. Already Hongkong issued a black alert travel advisory for the Philippines to their nationals. We expect that others would follow suit.

We urged the government in our Industry Paper to put in place crisis public relations management mechanisms precisely because we have not addressed this properly in the past to the detriment of our tourism stakeholders. The world should have seen a visible strong and calming presence of a high-ranking official directing the actions. They should have seen us helping the victims ensuring their comfort post-incident, commiserating with their families-even apologizing to them for this unfortunate incident which nobody wanted to happen. They should have seen us taking care of them.

That they were treated very well, will at least be in their memory alongside the grim experience. Hopefully, they will also remember these gestures when they recount their experience to the world because make no mistake about this-they surely will.

Therefore, we strongly reiterate our call on the government to address the issue of safety and security of our visitors and make this a top priority.

We urge the establishment of a crisis PR plan that can immediately manage the repercussions of incidents like this.’

We call on our government leaders to be deliberate in their actions and exercise prudence in their statements because we cannot afford to be seen as indifferent, even callous to the situation our visitors found themselves in.

We must take steps to ensure that this will not happen again.

Rep. Pacquiao and fellow solons dive in Sarangani

MAASIM, Sarangani (August 16, 2010) – Sarangani Congressman Manny Pacquiao gears up as he prepares to dive at Lemlunay Diving Resort Saturday, August 14, with his visitors and fellow congressmen, from left, Congressman Cesar Jalosjos of 3rd district of Zamboanga del Norte and Congressman Leo Ocampos of 2nd district of Misamis Occidental. Unlike other dive spots where you have to take a boat, Lemlunay offers a majestic view and abundant marine wildlife as soon as you step down the stairs. It also offers a variety of dive sites nearby to make each dive unique and interesting. (Cocoy Sexcion/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Sarangani Rep. Pacquiao promotes river tubing adventure

MAITUM, Sarangani (August 15, 2010) – Sarangani Congressman Manny Pacquiao with friends and visitors dare the breathtaking 1.6-kilometer river tubing adventure in barangay New La Union Saturday, August 14. (Cocoy Sexcion/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Sarangani Rep. Pacquiao takes new adventure

MAITUM, Sarangani (August 15, 2010) – Sarangani Congressman Manny Pacquiao navigates with his guides the 1.6-kilometer white water tubing ride in barangay New La Union Saturday, August 14. The adventure was once described as “nothing like this in the country” by former Tourism Secretary Joseph “Ace” Durano. (Cocoy Sexcion/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Tourists

MAITUM, Sarangani (August 13, 2010) – Arnelito Ramirez, tourism assistant, orients some 80 college students from Mindanao Polytechnic College, Inc. of General Santos City, who are in Maitum to visit tourism spots like Maitum Diorama, Pawikan Nesting Site, and try the famous river tubing in New La Union. (MAITUM INFORMATION OFFICE/Afren de Guzman)