FOR MEDIA RELEASE, Infobytes Issue No. 11 (June 21)

11% hike in tourist influx recorded in 2004
Tourists from USA and other countries continue to be drawn to Dumaguete City as the City Tourism Office reported an increase of 11 percent in tourist influx last year compared to 2003 statistics.

A total of 140,038 tourist arrivals were recorded last year.

The bulk of tourist arrivals in Dumaguete are domestic tourists numbering 124,273 in 2004, followed by foreign tourists with15,765.

According to Annie Jalandoni, City Tourism Operations Officer 2, Americans topped the list of foreign tourist arrivals last year numbering 3,819, followed by Japanese tourists with 3,173 and Koreans with 1,824.

Jalandoni said German tourists used to be the third biggest number of foreign tourists in the city, but have been outranked by the Koreans whose arrivals have increased recently.

The Department of Tourism reported that American tourists and other foreigners continued to visit the Philippines amid the spate of adverse travel advisories warning them against visiting the country on security concerns.

DOT has also recently begun issuing 14-day visas-upon-arrival to Chinese tourists after the government made China one of its priority tourism markets.

However, Jalandoni noted a slight decrease in tourist influx for the first four months this year compared to the same period last year.

From January to April this year, local tourists only totaled to 39,554 and foreign tourists, 6,031.

The tourism officer said the small drop in tourist influx might be due to economic downturn. "A couple of hotels and lodging houses have closed recently while others are not doing very well," says Jalandoni.

She is however hopeful that tourist arrivals will pick up in the coming months.
-30-

Crimes vs women, children decrease noted
The Provincial Women's and Children's Desk at the Provincial Police Office noted a decrease in the number of cases on violence against women and children reported in the province this year.

Data collated from police stations provincewide show that a total of 37 cases on violence against women (VAW) and 36 cases of crimes against children have been recorded from January to March this year.

PO2 Maricris Sacristan said the number of reported cases decreased vis-à-vis last year's records which show a total of 188 VAW cases and 88 on crimes against children reported during the same period last year.

However, there has been a slight increase in the number of cases reported in Dumaguete City, according to City Police Office's Women's and Children's Desk Officer Josefa Lacandula.

Cases filed under RA 9262 or the Violence Against Women and Children Act have also increased this year.

As of May this year, a total of 57 cases each on VAW and crimes against children have been reported, said Sacristan.

Total cases last year numbered to 280 on crimes against children and 521 on VAW.

Reported VAW cases involve rape, attempted rape, acts of lasciviousness, wife battery and parricide while for crimes against children - rape, incestuous rape, acts of lasciviousness, child trafficking and physical injury.

There are currently three rehabilitation centers for abused women and children here, namely, La Casa Esperanza, Bahay Mo Bahay Ko and Friendship Home, says Senior Social Worker Jeanette Villarubia of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office.

Villarubia said the centers provide temporary shelter for women and children who are either victims of physical abuse, in need of special protection, emotionally disturbed or in crisis situations.

City Social Welfare and Development Officer Marina Mendoza explained that women and children, whose lives are at risk and need to be stay away from home, particularly if their perpetrators are still at large, are also given shelter at La Casa.

Some 18 children are currently staying at La Casa Esperanza, which is being run by Kauban Foundation and supported by the city government.

Rehabilitation efforts for perpetrators of domestic violence are also underway as the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has started its community-based rehabilitation program focusing on the improvement of domestic violence perpetrators as individuals with emphasis on anger management and self-control.

However, Mendoza said this is not yet being implemented in Dumaguete City. "We have not yet been trained, and this needs special skills because perpetrators are also people with problems," she said.
-30-

Local execs in NegOr back PGMA- Guv
Governor George P. Arnaiz yesterday (June 20) declared his full support for President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo during a press conference attended by local chief executives nationwide.

In a press conference covered by national major media networks in the country, the governor said the provincial government of Negros Oriental is behind the President as almost all mayors and all members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan here are supportive of the Arroyo administration.

The governor's show of support came in the heels of the announcement of the 1.5-million strong Union of Local Authorities as they voiced out their full support behind Pres. Arroyo and condemned any and all forms of extra constitutional moves to effect changes in the government.

Meanwhile, Overseas Filipino Workers in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Greece also expressed support to the President, and called on the opposition to stop trying to discredit the Arroyo administration.

At least nine business groups in the Visayas have expressed their unconditional support to the current administration, amidst the allegations and accusations hurled against her and her family.

Amidst the attempts to undermine the Arroyo administration, the President has asked the public to remain calm as administration officials lambasted various groups, particularly the opposition, for pushing "orchestrated" moves to oust Pres. Arroyo.

The Church has recently announced their position in favor of the President, pointing to what they call is the absence of "compelling reasons and circumstances that would warrant for the change in the Presidency" and welcoming "a change in the attitude in the culture of graft and corruption, economic poverty, gambling, and traditional politics through a change in the way of governance."

Presidential Spokesperson Ignacio Bunye said that separate investigations on jueteng and wiretapping will lead to more destructive politics.

"The Filipino people want to hear more of how well we are faring in improving our economy rather than the never-ending political squabbles that are dividing our nation and setting back the clock on investments, jobs and better services."

He called on the opposition to desist and respond to the call of unity behind the welfare of the people.
-30-