by Leilani S. Junio
PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan, March 25 (PNA) — The Department of Health (DOH)-MIMAROPA region, local government units (LGUs) and different government agencies and representatives of hotel establishments have signed a commitment and pledge to ensure that the beautiful island provinces of the region, including Palawan and its lone City of Puerto Princesa, are cared for properly and protected for health and tourism destinations both by its population and tourists.
The signing of the pledge of commitment and vow was led by Puerto Princesa City Vice Mayor Luis M. Marcaida III and DOH-MIMAROPA Assistant Regional Director Dr. Vilma M. Diez during the Provincial Summit on Health and Tourism conducted on Tuesday at Hotel Centro here.
In his speech, Marcaida said he was honored to host the first leg of the summit convened by the DOH-MIMAROPA and supported by different government agencies.
These agencies include the Department Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Tourism (DOT), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Bureau of Quarantine (BQ), and Philippine Ports Authority (PPA).
Marcaida noted that a joint initiative should be undertaken in taking care of Palawan’s environment and tourism aspects.
He also said that as tourism is promoted as the major industry in Palawan, it is important to treat its visitors as “kings and queens” and work together in ensuring the reputation that Palawan is a safe tourist destination is continuously met.
“Let us join hands in enhancing the tourism, health and environment aspects of Palawan,” he stressed.
For her part, DOH Assistant Regional Director Diez said that in recognition of the need to ensure that health and tourism are mutually promoted in the island provinces of MIMAROPA, the DOH in the national level has decided to come out with the series of summits calling for pledge of commitment and readiness in addressing health problems that may arise.
DOH-MIMAROPA Regional Director Eduardo C. Janairo said that a total of three summits are scheduled for the MIMAROPA region.
The first leg of the summit, which was dubbed as “Usapang Lokal Para sa Kalusugan,” was held at the Hotel Centro in Puerto Princesa City. The second leg will be held in Romblon and Marinduque and the third leg in Occidental and Oriental Mindoro.
Janairo said that since MIMAROPA has been fast building the recognition as the country’s “Destination of Choice,” there is a need to focus on strengthening the health and safety of both the community and the tourists visiting the island provinces seeking vacations and leisure.
He added that through the summit, they are expecting to create better understanding on the proper reporting of emerging “infectious diseases” and establishment of better referral system in case that there will be possible cases to prevent further spread so as not to affect the local tourism.
He further said that it is important that necessary precautions are taken to prevent easy spread of diseases due to the country’s high population density and entry of tourists/local citizens like returning Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) that will arrive from endemic countries.
Among the infectious disease are MERS-CoV (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus, SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome), Influenza A (H1N1) and others.
He said that having a positive case has the potential to destroy the tourism industry as well as the economy in general not only in the region but also of the whole country.
On the other hand, Assistant RD Diez said, “We know that health concerns now also are under global perspective because some of the viruses are coming back and mutating… These viruses are leveling-up — more stronger — so the fight against them should be leveled-up, too,” Diez said.
She added that while undeniably, there were local health problems and outbreaks, it was good to note that such incidents were easily contained or controlled.
“This summit is really important — the life you will save maybe your own (too),” she stressed among the participants as she said that lack of preparations and awareness may result in affecting the health of the resort’s clients and even its workers and immediate family members in case an outbreak happens and there is no in-place strategy.
She noted it is important that hotel owners and managers will learn not only in enhancing their services among their tourist clients but also in ensuring that everyone in MIMAROPA is protected against emerging infectious diseases that may arise as a challenge.
She also said that through the health summits, they are hoping to give the tourist establishments vital information on what to do in case that a person or tourist suspected with a case of infectious disease is reported or under surveillance and also how can they they contribute or cooperate in the reporting and referral system so that local transmission and waste of resources can be prevented.(PNA)