The tourism industry enjoyed a fairly good year, especially in the last quarter of 2003, as it bounced back from the killing effects of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and other global challenges, according to the Department of Tourism (DOT).

Visitor arrivals grew 2.5 percent in September, 11.3 percent in October and soared to 17.6 in November, figures from the DOT Research and Statistics office showed, making up for the SARS scare, the US-Iraq war and negative travel advisories issued by some countries against travel to the country.

From January to November, visitor arrivals reached 1,668,910. Estimated receipts from international tourists from January to September reached $1.09 billion. Although less than the figures from 2002, it still was a remarkable achievement considering they were realized after severe drops from the start of the year until August.

Tourism receipts had significantly dropped during March (-19 percent), April (-13.8 percent), May (-46 percent) and June (-38.4 percent).

But towards the end of 2003, the tourism industry began to experience an upturn.

The average occupancy rates of all classified hotels in Metro Manila for January to October reached 58.55 percent, with the standard hotels posting the biggest increase at 3.16 percent.

Available rooms in Metro Manila hotels totaled 12,061, an increase of 1.73 percent compared to the 11,856 rooms recorded last year and de luxe hotels recorded the highest number of rooms sold at 7,090.

Arrivals from China continued to increase significantly from 25,146 from January to November 2002 to 28,093 for the same period in 2003. The increase is attributed to the relaxation of visa requirements for Chinese citizens and the increase of access flights from Guangzhou, China to Laoag, Ilocos Norte and Subic, Zambales.

Overall, from January to November in 2002, the US market remained the major generator of tourists with a share of 19.9 percent from the total traffic of 332,714 arrivals.

Other markets that contributed significant shares included Japan (289,499), South Korea (269,641), Hong Kong (125,250), Taiwan (83,840), Australia (58,268), Singapore (46,573), Canada (42,817), United Kingdom (40,731), Germany (33,013), China (29,093) and Malaysia (27,808).

Before he resigned as DOT secretary to run for the Senate early this month, Richard Gordon expressed high optimism for the industry this year as they introduced the "Volunteer 12" program and entered in to a partnership with Globe Telecom to spike it.

DOT also continues to intensify its campaign to generate interest among Filipinos to see the innate beauty of their own country.

Under Gordon, the DOT focused on tourism as an avenue for economic resurgence, livelihood and job opportunities in line with the objectives of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s administration.

The Volunteer 12 program aims at attracting visitors abroad by tapping Filipinos as tourism volunteers. Under this program, all Filipinos are enjoined to invite their relatives and foreign friends abroad to visit the country. It offers cash prizes and other incentives to volunteers.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Acting Secretary Florante Soriquez of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) launch in Iloilo City this evening a DPWH program, called "Kalsada Natin, Alagaan Natin," that is expected to provide jobs to barangay residents and prolong the service life of national roads in the Visayan region.

The President flew to Iloilo City from Villamor Airbase, in Pasay City, this morning with Soriquez and other senior government officials.

Implementation of the Kalsada program, which started in Luzon last October, is to be inaugurated, together with the new Iloilo Airport Development Project, at the Cabatuan Gymnasium in Cabatuan, Iloilo. It jibes with the President’s employment-generation agenda calling for, among other things, the tapping and harnessing of barangay manpower in roadside maintenance activities.

Soriguez said that the program involves routine maintenance of road shoulders, drainage lines and canals as well as vegetation control activities along 7,117 kilometers of national roads in the Visayas.

"This translates to employment opportunities for 28,468 residents from the 3,857 barangays traversed by national roads," he added. In Luzon, the number of workers hired under the program totaled 60,372.

Soriquez, who chairs the Special Funds of the Road Board, said that the empowerment of barangay residents in the upkeep and beautification of the roadsides "will provide employment opportunities and at the same time prolong the service life of our roads."

Malacaņang called today on candidates in the synchronized national and local elections on May 10. 2004 to abandon the old style of political campaigning based on mudslinging and instead concentrate on issues and proposed platforms of government.

In a radio interview this morning, Presidential Spokesman Ignacio R. Bunye said, "Iwasan na natin iyong pagsisisihan, pag-aakusahan para naman matuto iyong ating mga kababayan sa pagpili ng mga kandidato. (Let’s stop blaming and accusing each so that the people will learn how to choice the candidates)."

Bunye declined further comment on charges the ruling party, Lakas Christian Muslim Democrats, was behind the citizenship issue involving opposition candidate Fernando Poe, Jr.

"Hindi na natin sasagutin ito. Ang importante ay nagkaroon na ng resolution itong Comelec (We won’t answer this issue anymore. What’s important is that the Commission on Elections had already resolved it)," Bunye said.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, he added, "welcomes the early resolution of the issue and … is looking forward to clean and honest elections."

Asked about the people’s desire for a change in the negative style of conducting political campaigns, the Presidential Spokesman said, "Well, kaya nga hindi na tayo sumasagot doon sa mga pambabato ng putik. (Well, that’s why we don’t respond to mudslinging anymore.)"

Bunye said President Macapagal-Arroyo is concentrating on her programs for uplifting the living conditions of the people, and "we hope the other candidates will follow suit."

ILOILO CITY — President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who has just recovered from cold and fever, arrived here this afternoon to inaugurate power, airport and road projects that are expected to make substantial contribution to the economic development not only of this province but also Antique, Aklan, Capiz, Guimaras and Negros Occidental.

The President received a festive airport welcome, highlighted by a cultural performance by the Dinagyang dancers. Iloilo Gov. Neil Tupas, Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Trenas and Congressmen Raul Gonzales, Cesar Garin, Augusto Syjuco, Arthur Defensor and Narciso Monfort were among the officials who greeted her at the airport.

Before flying to Iloilo, Mrs. Macapagal-Arroyo attended a thanksgiving mass, offered on the occasion of former President Corazon C. Aquino’s 71st birthday, at the St. Joseph Convent of Perpetual Adoration in Quezon City.

Following the airport welcome, the President is motoring to Barangay Ignore, La Paz town, for the ceremonial switch-on of the 114 megawatt Panay Power Plant.

She is to motor again to Cabatuan town for the launching of the P6.2 billion New Iloilo Airport Development Project, along with the Pototan-Mina-Janiuay Road and Sara-Calinog (Iloilo)-Bugasong (Antique) boundary road projects.

Of the 86 national airports throughout the country, Iloilo airport is the fourth busiest in terms of passenger traffic, next to Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Mactan and Davao international airports.

The existing Iloilo Airport has obsolete facilities, apart from operational limitations due to obstacles and limited expandability on account of the existence of roads, rivers and squatter colonies.

The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) and the government of Japan have commissioned a comprehensive study by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for the 188-hectare New Iloilo Airport in the vicinity of Santa Barbara and Cabatuan towns.

The project was financed through assistance provided under the special loan package of the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC).

The project was designed to meet the increasing air passenger and cargo traffic in Iloilo as well as to boost the economic development of the Visayan region. It also addresses the need for improving air transport safety in compliance with the international standards.

The Pototan-Mina-Janiuay road is a national secondary artery with a length of 16.8 kilometers and links the municipalities of Janiuay, Mina and Pototan at the central portion of Panay Island.

The improvement of the road will greatly contribute to the continuing expansion of agriculture that plays a major role in the growth and stability of the economy of Iloilo.

La Paz, Iloilo City – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today switched on here a 114-megawatt power plant that will ensure adequate supply of electricity to Iloilo province and nearby islands.

The President also led top executives of Mirant Global Corporation in the launching of Panay Power Delivery Program at Barangay Ingore, La Paz, in this city.

With the completion of the project, an impending power shortage has been averted in Panay which now enjoys a 13.2-percent energy reserve.

After the brief ceremonial switch-on, the President toured the facility, accompanied by Senate President Franklin Drilon, Energy Secretary Vince Perez, Presidential Adviser on Priority Projects Marita Magpili-Jimenez and top executives of Mirant.

Meanwhile, Allan T. Ortiz president and chief executive officer of the National Transmission Corporation (Transco) revealed that his company has also launched the P4.4 billion Cebu-Negros-Panay uprating interconnection project which is expected to be completed by December 2005.

Ortiz also said the transfer of the 55-megawatt Pinamucan facility is expected to be completed on October 30, 2004, and another 55-megawatt by the end of this year.

Other components of the power delivery program here are the 72-megawatt power plant currently operational in La Paz; a 10-megawatt power plant to be completed by the end of this month; another 10-megawatt power plant to be completed in April 2004 to beef up the power supply in Iloilo; a 7-megawatt power plant to serve Boracay island to be completed in July 2004; a 5-megawatt power plant to serve Kalibo, Aklan to be completed also in July 2004; and a 10-megawatt power for Roxas City in Capiz.