#nationataglance JAPAN EMBASSY PHOTO CENTRAL VISAYAS With Cebu and Bohol international airports, DoT sees ‘banner year’ for Central Visayas tourism TOURISM in Central Visayas, one ofthe country’s major tourist draw- e's, is expected to have a “banner year” in 2019 with two international airports now operating in the region, Department of Tourism-Central Visayas (DoT-7) Regional Director Shalimar H. Tamano said the open- ing of the Mactan-Cebu international Airport Terminal 2 and the new Bohol-Panglao International Airport are seen to complement each other in terms of bringing in more visitors, bringin more tourists into the region. “Bohol became big in the tourism sector because of Mactan airport... Panglao will do the same for Cebu,” Ms, Tamano said during the inauguration of Cebu-Pacifc’s Cebu-Macau flights last week. Ms. amano also stressed that ensuring security and safety is necessary to the continued growth ofthe region’s tourism industry, Tourist arrivals in Central Visayas hit about 6,9 milion in 2017, with Cebu as the region's top travel hub. Last year's tourist count surpassed the 6.3-million target and was 1213% higher than the previous year—The Freeman CORDILLERA ADMINISTRATIVE REGION: BAGUIO CITY DENR preparing ‘danger zones’ notice for Baguio City ENVIRONMENT SECRETARY Roy A. Cimatu yesterday said he has already in- structed the regional director of the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) to determine the danger zonesin Baguio City and warn establishments and house ‘owners ofthe landstide threats. “Sinabinan kona ang aking regional director there na i-compare ‘yung hazard map sa ground kung saan ang medyo hazard- ‘ous sa (| have instructed the regional director there to compare the hazard map con the ground where the hazard areas are in) Baguio and we will now identify these buildings and houses na masabihan sila sa (who will be informed of the) danger zone,” Mr. Cimatu told reporters. Mr. Cimatu said the population in the city, a popular mountain destination, is already above the carrying capacity, and the DENR will make a study on limiting tourists. — Reicelene Joy N. Ignacio >> See full story on httos:/goo.g//P7FSey New AFP chief to push for ‘community dialogues’ to address security threats NEWLY-APPOINTED Armed Forces ofthe Philip- pines (AFP) Chief-of-Staff Lieutenant Benjamin R, Madrigal said incidents like the Marawi Siege ‘and the continued communist insurgency can be only addressed through community dia- logues. “kailangan ng (We need) community dialogues. Ang nangyari kasi sa Marawi, ‘yung ‘Kakulangan siguro ng koordinasyon, pag-wusap para lalo magkaroon ng situation awareness sa ‘area (What happened in Marawi was a lack of coordination and dialogue to have more situa- tion awareness in the area,” said Mr. Madrigal in ‘a chance interview with reporters on Tuesday night, Dec. Tl. Mr. Madrigal, who was a former chief of the Eastern Mindanao Command, considered as one of the remaining strong holds of the communists movernent, attested to the effectiveness of local peace talks in his former area. “Kahit na-install ‘yung peace talk sa national level, dito sa baba, tuloy pa rin ang pagkausap natin sa mga kapatid natin na gusto ‘bumaba (Even ifthe peace talks at the national level was stalled, the dialogues continued with those on the battleground who wanted to sur- render),” Mr. Madrigal told reporters. — Vince ‘Angelo C. Ferreras 2 doctors added in Dengvaxia cases ordered to submit counter affidavits THE DEPARTMENT of Justice (DoJ) panel of prosecutors have ordered Dr. Raymundo W. Lo, deputy executive director for Professional Services at the Philippine Children’s Medical Center, and another doctor who are allegedly linked into the purchase of Dengvaxia vaccines. The two were summoned to appear before the panel on Dec. 14, where they will be furnished Copies of the complaints, supporting docu- ments and evidence, and were given a Dec. 28 deadline for their respective counter-affidavits, witness affidavits, and other supporting docu- ments. Last Dec. 3, the families of eight children who allegedly died due to Dengvaxia inocula- tion, through the Public Attorney's Office (PAO), asked the (Dou) panel led by Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Susan F. Dacanay to include MHDA NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION Higher fines for illegally parked vehicles take effect Dec. 17 VEHICLES parked in undesignated areas and/ or caught obstructing traffic flow will be slapped higher fines beginning Monday, Dec. 17, after the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) published on Dec. 12 the related guidelines under Regulation No. 18-008. The new rates are P1,000 for an “Attended Illegally-Parked” vehicle, which means a driver is present within or outside the car, ‘and P2,000 for those unattended, The old rates ‘were P200 and P500, respectively. In either case, the vehicle “may stil be subject to towing and impounding as the circumstances may warrant,” according to the regulation. The fine for “obstruc- tion on public roads” is P1,000, which may be imposed on top of the illegal parking fee. The old rate was PISO. The MMDA regulation was approved by the policy-making body Metro Manila Council last Dec. 7, Mr, Lo and Dr. Sonia B. Gonzales in the com- plaints for purchasing the anti-dengue vaccine even before the Food and Drug Administration issued a Certificate of Product Registration. — ‘Vann Marlo M. Villegas ‘the link BW FLE ‘THE BURNED NCCC Mall, which had already been demolished. DAVAO: DAVAO CITY Additional building safety rules to be implemented in Davao City BUILDINGS and other gathering areas in the city will soon be required to have photo-luminescent safety and directional markings leading to exit points as an additional safety measure in case of fire and other emergen- ies. The requirement is contained in an ordinance proposed by Councilor Maria Belen S. Acosta last Jan. following the NCCC Mall fire in Dec. 2017 where more than 30 people died. The implementation of the new rule has been delayed due to changes in the leadership at the regional office of the Bureau of Fire Protection. The BFP and the Office of the City Building Of- ficial are in charge of implementation. Ms. Acosta said the ordinance covers business, educational and health care institutions; assembly areas; storage facilities; and other facilities catering to any form of gathering with a mini- ‘mum of 50 persons. The councilor said all establishments already occupied prior to the enactment of the ordinance are given six months to comply, while new establishments will be required to comply upon the issuance of building occupancy permit. — Carmencita A. Carillo _BUSINESSWORLD GRAPHICS: ERKA CAPIL|INCIONG