by PIA Iloilo

Iloilo City (10 October) -- The Philippine Coast Guard assured media here that the volume of oil coming out from the sunken vessel off Guimaras has not reached alarming levels.

The National Disaster Coordinating Council also gave assurance that all concerned government agencies are doing their best to contain the damage from the Guimaras oil spill.

Volume not alarming

Philippine Coast Guard Station Commander Harold Harder tells media that the oil coming out of the sunken vessel as of now is not enough in quantity to be considered a slick, during the weekly press briefing held by the SOS Guimaras Task Force. (PIA 6)

Everybody's on the job

National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) Spokesperson Anthony Rolando Golez, Jr. assures the media that the agencies involved in addressing the problems brought about by the oil spill in Guimaras are doing their best to contain the oil and prevent it from spreading. Golez interacted with the media during the regular Press Briefing conducted by the SOS Guimaras Task Force. With him are Civil Defense VI director Rosario Cabrera and Dumangas Mayor Rolly Distura. (PIA 6)

Making do

Evacuees in Tando, Guimaras are making do with what they have but they still long to go home and start life anew. (PIA 6)

Moves to make Region 8 a tourist haven ongoing

Tacloban City (October 10) -- There are now ongoing negotiations aimed at aligning Region 8 with President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's thrust of making the Central Philippines as the Tourism Capital of the Philippines.

This was revealed by Presidential Assistant Victor A. Domingo who just arrived from Pattaya in Thailand where he, together with Guiuan Mayor Analiza Kwan and hotel owners from Boracay and Palawan, observed the tourism industry of the place.

He said that the beaches in Region 8 are far beautiful than that of Pattaya where the sand looks like clay and the water is murky. Yet there are so many European tourists there because of the infrastructure which is in place. There is a long stretch of beaches and many hotels and tents, just near the beaches.

Secretary Domingo said that the hotel owners in Boracay and Palawan are thinking of Three Beautiful Destinations in One Package-the Boracay, Palawan and Calicoan in Eastern Samar . This means that when the tourists avail of the package, they get to enjoy the beautiful beaches of the three places.

Secretary Domingo, who has always been an advocate of development in the Region said that one of the reasons for the group's going to Thailand is to explore the possibility of buying a 150-cabin cruise ship. When realized, the Cruise Ship will ferry the tourists from Boracay to Palawan and to Calicoan.

This group is serious in making Calicoan the Boracay of the Pacific, Secretary Domingo. They have been to Calicoan and they liked what they saw. These are big time hotel investors and they know what they are doing and what they are talking about.

This will mean a lot not only for the municipality of Guiuan in Eastern Samar but for the whole Region, Secretary Domingo said. The tourism industry in the Region have been lagging behind that of the other Regions in Central Philippines but with the support of all the sectors, it will get the needed push to shine as a tourist destination, he enthusiastically said.