(Eagle News) — The Aquino administration remains committed to its “Daang Matuwid” line, as Malacanang reiterated its position that the government will act in the people’s best interest.
Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said in a statement that the “Aquino administration’s commitment to Daang Matuwid goes beyond mere rhetoric.”
He said that the President and even all government agencies are doing their best to translate into concrete action their “rhetoric.”
The President’s schedule last week, which culminated with a two-day trip to Central Visayas, “exemplifies the kind of citizen-oriented service we aspire to provide under a government that is truly for the people,” Lacierda said.
Aquino went to Bohol on March 2 to inspect the building site for the new Panglao Airport, scheduled to be finished in 2017, and led a ceremonial switch-on ceremony for the electrification of 2,684 sitios in Region VII.
“The product of much planning and collaboration among different government agencies, the new airport is designed to boost tourist arrivals in Bohol, from the current figure of 500,000 to an estimated 1.7 million per year,” Secretary Lacierda said.
From Bohol, the President proceeded to Cebu the next day to inspect newly restored heritage sites, as well as to inaugurate the four-storey, 20-classroom school building at the Guadalupe Elementary School in Cebu City. The new school building was donated by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR).
“In Cebu as well, the President spoke about boosting tourism through the restoration of heritage sites that had been damaged during the 2013 earthquake. Among them are Fort San Pedro and the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño de Cebu, which on Thursday the President turned over to Augustinian fathers. While there, the President also took the time to visit Guadalupe Elementary School, which was recently endowed a new building by PAGCOR,” he said.
“All these efforts have served not only to improve the lives of Filipinos but also to boost the Philippines’ reputation as an attractive tourism and investment destination,” the Palace official added.
Lacierda also noted the country’s robust tourism sector as reported by the Department of Tourism (DOT).
“Just last week, the DOT announced that our tourism sector has been experiencing robust, uninterrupted growth since 2010. In the last five years, from 2010 to 2015, international tourist arrivals posted a compounded annual growth rate of 8.77 percent, higher than the 7.76 percent achieved from 2001 to 2010. Last year, the industry in fact reached another milestone, as total inbound tourists hit the five-million mark for the first time, with 5,360,682 recorded visitors,” he said.
“Of course, these encouraging figures have repercussions that go beyond tourism, with foreign visitors helping to create more jobs and stimulate our economy. According to the DOT, international tourist receipts rose significantly between 2010 and 2015, growing from P112.55 billion to P227.62 billion,” he further said.
“Rest assured that, for the remaining months of President Aquino’s term, the government will continue to act in the people’s best interest. Beyond that, it will be up to the voters to decide whether our country will deviate from the Straight Path or continue on toward even greater progress,” Lacierda said. (with a report from PND)
