With many Filipinos (including my lovely 80-year-old mother) addicted to watching Korean dramas and smitten over anything related to K-Pop, it’s titillating to learn that legions of South Koreans also find it worthwhile to visit our beautiful archipelago of delicious coconuts and smiling carabaos and experience for themselves why “It’s more fun in the Philippines!”
An article published in a broadsheet disclosed the Philippines has breached the two million target in 2022 of international tourists visiting the country according to the Department of Tourism, which reported that 2,002,304 visitor arrivals were recorded from Jan. 1 to May 12, this year. This is wonderful news, indeed. Mabuhay!
DOT data showed that South Korea was the top source of visitors with 487,502 representing 24.35 percent or almost a quarter of the total number of international visitors for the period. Those from the U.S. came in second with 352,894, followed by Australia, 102,494; Canada, 98,593; and Japan with 97,329.
The article added inbound visitor receipts from January to April totaled P168.25 billion (that’s billion!) which is a whopping 782.59 percent higher than the tourism revenues generated during the same period last year amounting to only P19.1B. Hooray!
As this near-sighted Ibaloy writer has emphasized in the past, tourism generates revenues for government coffers and creates much needed employment. It is an industry that our beloved nation can truly excel in given its natural beauty coupled with the innate hospitality and English-speaking ability of the vast majority of Pinoys.
Mayor Benjamin Magalong signed city council Resolution245, s. 2023, requesting the Baguio City Local Finance Committee to source out funds for the Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative of the local legislature in relation to the implementation of medical assistance city-aid program for indigent patients in Baguio in partnership with the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center.
The measure directed that the same be included in the city government’s 2023 Annual Investment Program. Resolution 99, s. 2009, sets policies and guidelines on the use of the financial assistance provided to the BGHMC for indigent patients from Baguio.
It has authorized the mayor to sign a memorandum of agreement for the purpose with the BGHMC embodying policies and guidelines.
May our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ continue to bless and keep us all safe.
