Editorial
The ides of summer
REMEMBER when Pangasinan was simply known as the road to Baguio? Those days are gone. Finally, Pangasinan has arrived and is considered a major domestic tourist destination in the country. From Hundred Islands in Alaminos City, to the pristine beach of Bolinao, shrine of Our Lady of Manaoag, to the historical landmarks in Lingayen, to the popular Dagupan bangus, bagoong and other delicacies, to the long coastline from Lingayen to San Fabian, etc. all make the province today a favorite destination every summer among vacationers, adventure seekers, picnickers, etc.
Without a doubt, domestic tourism is great boon to the local economy. The question is, are we doing enough to keep Pangasinan in the map of tourism? The worst spoiler is negative publicity, and it is not about politics but primarily about safety of visitors when they do come. Over the past decades, news reports about visitors either drowning in our beaches or dying in vehicular accidents along our highways continue to blot our record in safety standards.
The preparation made by the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) this summer, therefore, targetting zero-drowning is a step in the right direction. But this is not enough. A total approach must be adopted by the provincial government involving all stakeholders in tourism industry, .i.e., police (for peace and order in communities and highways, resort /hotel / restaurant operators, hospitals, transport operators, etc.. All the sectors must be made to understand the objectives and a single strategy to promote the province’s tourism industry.
Only a unity in purpose can make Pangasinan a top tourist destination for decades.
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Not surprised
IT’S official. President Aquino will not apologize. The Palace had said so, essentially clearing Mr. Aquino of any liability in the SAF tragedy that killed 44 police commandoes in the controversial Mamasapano operation on January 25. Surprised by that? We were not.
The President has never been known to apologize. He didn’t apologize to Hong Kong officials when about 10 or so tourists from Hong Kong died in the botched police operation to scuttle the 2010 Luneta hostage tragedy in Manila.
It took a maverick like Erap to sort of put closure to the impasse when Erap, elected Mayor of Manila in 2013, personally flew to Hong Kong last year to apologize to Hong Kong officialdom. With PNoy’s latest no-apology stance, it seems obvious he hasn’t heard of US President Truman’s classic line, “The buck stops here.”
Appallingly, to our President, the chain of command—let alone command responsibility—does not exist. Ugh!
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