ANDANAR STRESSES IMPORTANCE OF TOURISM STAKEHOLDERS’ COORDINATION GOV’T NOT BEHIND SPAM TEXTS URGING PINOYS TO GET VACCINATED

(PNA file photo)

The close coordination and cooperation of tourism stakeholders are vital to ensure the safety of travelers amid the prevailing coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic, Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Martin Andanar said on Friday.

Andanar issued the statement in the Cabinet Report on “The New Normal”, as he acknowledged the challenges to balance the reopening of tourism and ensuring public health and safety amid the pandemic.

“Bottom line nito, kailangan ng close coordination at kooperasyon ng lahat ng mga tourism industry stakeholders upang mapanatili ang public health and safety (The bottom line here is, the close coordination and cooperation of all tourism industry stakeholders are necessary to maintain public health and safety),” he said.

Andanar stresses importance of tourism stakeholders’ coordination

Leisure travel from the National Capital Region Plus (NCR Plus) to destinations under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) has been allowed despite the country’s ongoing fight against Covid-19.

The NCR Plus covers Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal. Tourism (DOT) has announced that leisure travel must be point-topoint only, which means that while pit stops or stopovers are allowed for eating and personal necessities, no side trips shall be made to other tourism destinations.

Commercial flights for leisure travel may also resume.

Andanar recognized that the revival of local tourism would help reboot the Philippine economy.

“Hindi matatawaran ang halaga ng turismo sa ating ekonomiya. At dahil dito maraming bahagi ng bansa ang gusto nang buksan ang sarili sa mga turista (The contribution of

tourism to our economy is incomparable. And because of that, many parts of the country already want to reopen their places to tourists),” he said.

Andanar also encouraged his fellow Filipinos to explore tourist stops in the country.

“Let’s revisit our country beginning with our own places and the places nearby and let’s rediscover the Philippines. I am almost sure that there is a lot more to it than we already know,” he said.

Individuals below 18 years old and more than 65 years old are allowed to travel on the condition that they undertake a reverse transcriptionpolymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test before their travel.

Other inter-zonal travel regulations set by concerned local government units in MGCQ zones or by the Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force for Boracay Island should be complied with, the DOT said.

The stricter modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) is imposed in the City of Santiago, Cagayan, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Puerto Princesa, Iloilo City, Zamboanga City, Zamboanga Sibugay, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte, Cagayan de Oro City, Butuan City, and Agusan del Sur until June 15.

Davao City, on the other hand, is under MECQ until June 20.

The NCR Plus, Abra, Baguio City, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Batangas, Quezon, Iligan City, Davao City, Lanao del Sur, Cotabato City, and General Santos City are under GCQ until June 30.

The rest of the country stays under MGCQ until the end of the month. (PNA/ Ruth Abbey GitaCarlos )

Gov’t not behind spam texts urging Pinoys to get vaccinated

The national government is not behind text messages supposedly from President Rodrigo Duterte and his daughter Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte urging Filipinos to get vaccinated against Covid-19, Malacañang said on Thursday.

Some Filipinos said they received text messages from unknown numbers urging them to get vaccinated signed with: “from President Duterte at Mayor Sara Duterte #SafePilipinas #SafeDavao.”

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque denied that the text messages were from his office, even as he acknowledged that the President would be the best “communicator” to help boost vaccine confidence among Filipinos.

“Ako po yung in charge sa communications pagdating po sa bakuna and I can say na bagamat ang Presidente po ang best communicator, hindi po kami nagpakalat ng ganyang text (I am in charge of communications when it comes to the vaccine and I can say that although the President is the best communicator, we did not spread such a text),” he said in a Palace press briefing.

On Wednesday, Duterte appeared in a government infomercial to invite Filipinos to get vaccinated against Covid-19, stressing that it is key to beating the pandemic.

“I invite all our kababayans to be vaccinated at the earliest possible opportunity because this is the most, if not the only way, effective way to defeat Covid-19 pandemic,” Duterte said in a nearly two-minute commercial.

He reminded Filipinos to get vaccinated for themselves as well as their loved ones.

“Let us all keep in mind that the vaccine will not only protect you from the virus, it will also protect your loved ones, especially the sick and elderly,” he added.

Last March, the Presidential Communications Operations Office-Office of the Global Media and Public Affairs (PCOO-OGMPA) also released a series of explainer videos dubbed “The VAXplainer” in time for the rollout of the government’s vaccination drive.

It aims to boost the confidence of the Filipino people in Covid-19 vaccine by educating them about the importance of getting vaccinated and the efficacy of the vaccines against the virus.

“The VAXplainer is only a part of our numerous efforts and commitment to make Filipinos fully understand the importance of vaccines and convince them to be inoculated with the available safe and effective vaccines provided by the government,” PCOO Secretary Martin Andanar said in a news release.

Andanar said the PCOO also has Laging Handa Dokyu Series, Network Briefing, and Laging Handa Public Briefing, among others, “as part of our information campaign to inform the people”.

He added that “The VAXplainer” is part of the PCOO’s drive to encourage Filipinos to heed the call of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, the Philippine government, and the international community to be vaccinated against Covid-19 to save lives, revive hopes, and shape our future. More than five million doses of Covid-19 vaccine have been administered since the Philippines launched its vaccination drive on March 1. (PNA/ Azer Parrocha )