BORACAY ISLAND, Malay, Aklan - Natural calamities spawned by global warming and climate change impact more disastrously on the country's tourism potentials far more than any political uncertainty. This was one particular observation made by Albay Governor Joey S. Salceda in his presentation before Visayas Media Forum participants on Boracay Island over the weekend. The Forum was organized by the Publishers Association of the Philippines, Inc. (PAPI) headed by Juan P. Dayang, in cooperation with the Boracay Foundation Incorporated. ''Typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng which ravaged parts of the country last year hurt Philippine tourism far more extensively than the recent hostage tragedy in Rizal Park in Manila,'' pointed out Salceda who had just recently been hailed Senior Global Champion by the United Nations International Strategies for Disaster Reduction, with his province Albay named a global model. In his presentation, Salceda also underlined that ''climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction and environment protection all help in poverty reduction through good governance, and these concerns are themselves investments in development.''
The forum sessions were held alternately at the Boracay Regency, Casa Pilar and Shangri-La Resort Hotel. Other principal speakers included Philippine Information Agency Director-General Jose Favia, who represented Secretary Herminio Coloma of the Malacañang Communications Operation Group, and Tourism Undersecretary Simeon Marfori.
