DOT sets aggressive promotion to counter possible Taiwan travel ban

BORACAY Island – The Department of Tourism (DOT) is set to launch an aggressive promotion in China and South Korea in order to cope with the possibility of losing Taiwanese tourists this year.

Tim Ticar of the DOT-Boracay said Monday that before the conflict with Taiwan worsens, the DOT is already preparing for media tours from China and South Korea for the months of May and June.

"If ever the Taiwanese government enforces the travel ban to the Philippines, the DOT will shift its massive tourism promotion to East Asian countries," Ticar said.

In 2012, South Korean tourists registered 156,445 followed by Taiwan with 92,209. Mainland China is at the third spot with 82,358.

The DOT will also try to add promotional ventures to Hong Kong being a promising tourist potentials for Boracay. Hong Kong in 2012 was at the top eight of the largest number of tourists going to Boracay with 7,349 in 2012.

The DoT is considering it a great loss if the Taiwanese government enforces its travel ban this year as the tourism agency targets 1.5 million tourists for Boracay. This resort island has so far survived though the travel ban imposed by the Chinese government in the year 2012.

"We may expect more promotional tours coming from East Asian countries this year," Ticar said. (PNA)

‘Stress causes lifestyle diseases’ - Aklan PHO

AKLAN Provincial Health Officer (PHO) Dr. Leslie Ann Luces said that not bringing work at home will keep one away from stress as this can cause deadly lifestyle diseases.

Luces discussed this to Aklan folks during the Kalusugang Pangkalahatan/Community Health Team (KP-CHT) Multisectoral Task Force Meeting.

She stressed that the public need to adopt a healthy lifestyle to keep themselves away from lifestyle diseases which already claimed a number of lives in the province.

Luces also enumerated the top ten lifestyle diseases which cause mortality in the province of Aklan and these include heart failure, cancer, hypertension, myocardial infarction, diabetes mellitus and renal failure.

She furthered that these diseases could be prevented by maintaining a healthy lifestyle which involves proper nutrition, exercise, and early detection of diseases through regular check-ups.

Records of Provincial Health Office of Aklan show that the top ten killer diseases in 2012 include pneumonia, Cardio-Vascular Disease, Heart Failure, Cancer, Hypertension, Myocardial Infarction, Diabetes Mellitus, Sepsis, Acute Respiratory Distress Sysdrome and Renal Failure.

Meanwhile, the recently held KP-CHT meeting was the first to be held this year. The said meeting was spearheaded by the Provincial Health Office and had the task force members coming from the different national and provincial offices and non-government organizations in the province as the participants.

During the said KP-CHT meeting, the province’s Health Accomplishments for the year 2012 updates on Community Health Team Mobilization and updates on Health Facility Enhancement Programs (HFEP) were also discussed./PN

EDC enters joint venture with Canadian energy company

ENERGY Development Corp., the country's leading producer of geothermal energy, said it recently signed a joint venture agreement with a Canada-based renewable energy company.

In a disclosure to the stock exchange, EDC said it will partner with Alterra Power Corp. for four projects in Chile and Peru.

This includes the Mariposa Project in Chile and three geothermal projects located in Peru, namely Tutupaca, Loriscota and Crucero.

"The agreement sets the framework and main commercial principles for EDC’s potential acquisition of a 70% interest in each of the four projects," EDC said.

The transaction is still subject to documentation and regulatory approvals.

In 2012, EDC saw its consolidated recurring net income surge 89% to P9.89 billion in 2012 from P5.24 billion in 2011. EDC's significant investments in its recent power plant acquisitions drove the growth in profits in 2012. (ABS-CBNnews.com)

Cebu Pacific adds flights to Mindanao

CEBU Pacific is adding flights and options for travelers going to and from Mindanao.

In a statement, Cebu Pacific said it will add two weekly flights between Cebu and Zamboanga starting June 15. This will make it a six times weekly service.

Starting July 1, 2013, Cebu Pacific will add thrice weekly flights from Manila to Zamboanga, making it a 24 times a week service; and fromZamboanga to Tawi-Tawi, making it a daily service.

The budget airline will operate a total of 32 weekly flights between Cebu and Davao also starting July 1, with the addition of four more weekly flights.

"Cebu Pacific continues to develop its routes and hubs in Mindanao, to further benefit Philippine tourism and trade. These additional flights mean more choices for our guests, be it same-day returns for business meetings or more opportunities for travel due to seat sales," said CEB VP for Marketing and Distribution Candice Iyog in a statement.

In the first quarter of 2013, Cebu Pacific increased its domestic passengers to and from Zamboanga by 17% and its Davao hub by 20%. Travel between the Visayas and Mindanao also grew by 13%, while travel within Mindanao grew by 45%.

The Gokongwei-led carrier launched multiple flights from Iloilo, Davao and Cagayan de Oro in the fourth quarter of 2012. (ABS-CBNnews.com)