TPB turns over notebooks to beneficiary school children in Bohol

As part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR), the Tourism Promotions Board, led by chief operating officer (COO) Maria Anthonette Velasco-Allones, turned over 600 notebooks to Gov. Arthur Yap on Sept. 27, 2020 during the PhiTEx 2020 Farewell Dinner held at the Amorita Resort, Panglao, Bohol.

The notebooks are intended to be distributed to target school children in the province, reports say.

TPB started its CSR program in 2015, with the aim of creating deeper environmental awareness and providing assistance to communities as partners in advocating sustainable tourism.

808 transport group members receive rice support from PGBh

The Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer (PSWDO) Carmelita Tecson reveals that 808 members of the tourist transport group receive rice support from the provincial government of Bohol (PGBh).

This is the revelation made by Tecson in a radio interview on Open Forum over dyTR, hosted by The Bohol Tribune’s managing editor Ardy Araneta – Batoy and associate editor Dave Albarado on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020.

She said that the PGBh has completed the distribution of the rice support. The rice support from the PGBh given to tourism-affiliated workers is a special rice pack weighing 10 kilos each.

The distribution of the rice packs to each beneficiary in the tourism-affiliated transport workers happened on Sept. 25, 2020, Tecson said in the radio interview.

When asked if there is a possibility of adding more names from the tourist transport industry to the list of beneficiaries, Tecson replied in the affirmative. She said that there are names that have been reportedly and inadvertently left out. She, however, assured persons in the tourism transport industry who were left out in the first wave of rice support distribution that they will be considered in subsequent rice support distribution.

Moreover, Tecson said that PGBh’s program for tourism-affiliated workers is not only for those who are working in the transport sector, but extends to other workers in the tourism industry affected by the slowdown of the local tourism industry due to the pandemic.

Furthermore, Tecson said that her office already identified at least 12,000 persons working in the tourism industry in Bohol who are beneficiaries of the rice support program of the PGBh.

It can be remembered that on August 26, 2020, the provincial government procured 7,185 sacks of rice and paid P8.7 million in cash.

DOT, TPB celebrate PhiTEx’s success

People from the Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB), including the Philippine Travel Exchange (PhiTEx) celebrate the success of the hybrid event with a closing ceremony graced by DOT Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, TPB Chief Operating Officer (COO) Maria Anthonette Velasco-Allones, Gov. Arthur Yap, 1st District Representative Edgar Chatto (principal author of the National Tourism Act of 2009), DOT Undersecretary for Tourism Development Benito Bengzon Jr., DOT Assistant Secretary for Product and Market Development Verna Buensuceso, DOT Assistant Secretary for Branding and Marketing Communications Howard Lance Uyking, DOT Undersecretary for Tourism Regulation, Coordination & Resource Generation Arturo P. Boncato Jr., Vice Gov. Rene Relampagos, President of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines Bohol Chapter Mayor Miriam Sumaylo, Panglao Mayor Leonila Montero, Bohol Provincial Tourism Council Chairman lawyer Lucas Nunag, Sangguniang Panlalawigan Committee on Tourism Chair Board Member Jade Baustista, Board Member Frans Garcia and Provincial Administrator Kathryin Pioquinto.

DOT Sec. Romulo-Puyat and COO Velasco-Allones awarded the PhiTEx top buyer title to Joebert Opulencia of Orientours Co. Ltd (USA) and top seller Thea Ifurung of Gustoavventura Travel and Tours.

The night also showcased the talents of the Loboc Children’s Choir, Kasing Sining Teatro Bol-anon Ensemble, JAM 403 and the Camayaan Singers.

With the theme “Business Unusual,” PhiTEx showcased leading players in the tourism industry who shared new strategies, technologies, and marketing innovations that shape the sector during this pandemic and in the post-Coronavirus disease world.

N-IATF recommends Bohol to stay under MGCQ

The National Inter Agency Task Force (N-IATF) recommends that Bohol shall remain under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) status in October 2020, along with other community quarantine statuses for other areas in the country, based on pronouncements released on Sept. 28, 2020.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, later told the media, President Duterte approved the recommendations of the N-IATF.

The MGCQ is the most relaxed form of community quarantine in the country. Bohol has been under MGCQ for a couple of months already. The current MCGQ status of Bohol is set to expire on Sept. 30, 2020 and it is expected that Gov. Arthur Yap will issue an executive order further extending the MGCQ status of the province.

Furthermore, the N-IATF recommended that Lanao del Sur, including Marawi City, to be placed under the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ).

Reports say, Metro Manila, where half of the nation’s Coronavirus disease (Covid) cases are located, is recommended by the N-IATF to be placed under general community quarantine (GCQ). The areas of Batangas, Tacloban City, Bacolod City, Iligan City, and Iloilo City are recommended to be placed also under GCQ.

The report adds that the rest of the country, including Bohol, are recommended to be placed under MGCQ.