I can’t decide if what happened at the airport recently was depressing or rage-inducing. The tourism sector has been quite upbeat about visitor arrivals post-pandemic, but what did some godforsaken individuals do?
They (and I mean some staffers in the security office) attempted to steal money off a Thai tourist’s bag (only to return it when caught). They got fired, yes, but do we have any idea what damage this may have already caused to our country’s image? What will happen to our optimistic bid for a much stronger tourism sector?
Previously, in another report, a tourist from New Zealand was shot defending someone in a holdup situation in Makati City.
Two things: How safe do you feel nowadays? How do we rectify this damnable situation?
With the national weather authority recently announcing that the amihan or cold season is ending, bringing summer season’s sunnier and hotter days ahead, we can expect travel to pick up quickly.
The domestic market is already buzzing, with summer plans afoot following a series of promotions from hotel and resort associations, travel fairs, and airline deals.
Tourists from all over will make their way to and around the Philippines. Our country has countless experiences to offer, from island beaches to mountain adventures, heritage tours to regional feasts.
Each city has its own charm, one of them being the cultural icon we call the jeepney. A ride in a calesa and a jeepney often make it to Instagram reels, right along with the balut-eating and “tusok-tusok” of fishballs, gizzards and chicken feet.
As exotic as our tourist attractions are, we might see the international visitor numbers dwindling if the agencies concerned do not act quickly enough.
And speaking of jeepneys, we may also see the last of the colorful, historic rides if the total shift to modern public utility vehicles pushes through by June or December.
Apart from relegating the jeepney to museums, this modernization move could spell the end of their drivers’ livelihood.
The most affected by the planned phase-out have raised their opposition to the plan. The program could leave many of them out in the streets as the proposed changes under a new PUV transport system would put them at the mercy of jeepney cooperatives.
Operators and drivers must join a jeepney cooperative to put an electric jeepney on the road, and the franchise is given to the coop.
Some are afraid officials of the coop may abuse their power, by raising membership rates, for example.
The one-cooperative system will also put the entire franchise at stake if a member breaks the law.
At this point, the implementing rules and regulations for the modernization scheme and its one-route, one-franchise policy have yet to be thoroughly examined.
The plan in theory appears sound and beneficial to all, from operators to driver employees to the commuting public.
However, questions and issues being raised at this point must be heard and addressed, lest we end up with a solution worse than the problem in the first place.