Media advisory: Tourism in the Philippines: A View from the Underside

Ecumenical Coalition on Tourism (ECOT) – is an international group with active networks all over the world. It was established in Manila under the umbrella of the Christian Conference of Asia (CCA) and the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC) in 1982.

The Arroyo government has been trumpeting that it worked very hard to clinch the hosting of the “6th International Tourism Forum for Parliamentarians and Local Authorities” in Cebu City on October 22-25. The forum is a big international event sponsored by the United Nations-World Tourism Organization and is expected to gather 400 delegates from 156 countries. The government placed much premium on tourism believing it is the engine of investment, employment, growth and national development” by cashing in on the ‘booming global industry” and play catch-up with Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore.

Anent this, a parallel consultation is being convened by church-based groups, non governmental organizations and sectoral movements to present alternative voices. The consultation includes a comprehensive analysis of global tourism, Philippine policies and experiences viewed within the framework of social and environmental justice. Also, presentations shall be made on the concrete experiences and impacts of tourism to women and children, farmers, workers, urban poor, medical and health services, church people, indigenous peoples, the environment and communities.

Reference:

Ms. Carmencita Karagdag-Peralta

Peace for Life Coordinator

Cellphone 09063573017 or Tel No. 9278043

ECOT seeks to give visibility, a platform and a framework to the issues of tourism as it impacts on vulnerable communities in the Third World and beyond. and interrelates with development, human rights, justice, gender, law, ecology and culture.

ECOT acts predominantly as a point for the ‘Tourism Movement’ while implementing projects as appropriate. Within such an understanding ECOT assumes the role of raising new questions and challenges on tourism, and discerning the broader global circumstances that impinge on the tourism sector and affect the social and natural environment.

Initially conceived as a mainly-Christian ecumenical initiative in solidarity with other faith groups, Peace for Life was affirmed as a place for people whose varied spiritualities-regardless of creed-are nurtured as collective resource for resistance to all forms of injustice. We recognised the urgency of such coming together in the face of the flagrant misuse of religion for profit and as an excuse for war by the United States Empire and its allies. We join together to call on people of all faiths and convictions to speak out and rise up against the violence, fear, and greed that drive empire.

The National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP) is the largest aggroupation of non-Roman Catholic churches in the Philippines. For over four decades, the NCCP has kept abreast with and is continually responding to the signs of the times, ever focused on its vision for itself and the wider church and following the example of Jesus.

Timely information, incisive analysis in popular style, effective education. IBON is popularly known for these things. especially when it comes to socio-economic issues. IBON is a research-education- information development institution.

Timely information, incisive analysis in popular style, effective education. IBON is popularly known for these things, especially when it comes to socio-economic issues.

IBON is a research-education-information development institution. IBON undertakes the study of socio-economic issues that confront Philippine society and the world today. It explores alternatives and promotes a new understanding of socio-economic issues that best serve the interests and aspirations of the Filipino people. IBON commits to bring this knowledge and information to the greatest number so that the people may effectively participate in building a self-reliant and progressive Philippines, a nation that is sovereign and democratic.

Since 1978, IBON has fully developed into a multi-center multi-program capacity building institution that provides research, education, publications. information work, and advocacy support. Besides its original programs—industry researches, databanking, popular publications, and seminars, IBON has strengthened its presence in the formal education sector, in providing non-formal education to people’s organizations, in conducting in-depth research and information services to all sectors of society, in mainstream media education, and in international networking.

CONTAK Philippines is committed to building solidarity linkages between the Filipino masses and ecumenical communities here and faith-based groups abroad for coordinated support to the Filipino people’s struggle against exploitation and oppression hoping thereby to contribute to the development of an international network for global transformation.

25 NGOs to review RP’s tourism program

Some 25 of the country’s non-governmental organizations, church-based groups and sectoral movements will review the country’s tourism program and its effects on various social sectors starting today (October 21) till Thursday (October 23) at the National Council of Churches of the Philippines (NCCP) along EDSA.

The review, entitled Tourism in the Philippines: A View from the Underside, is a parallel activity to the 6th International Forum for Parliamentarians and Local Authorities now being held in Cebu City under government and United Nations auspices.

The multi-sectoral review and parallel consultation is sponsored by the Ecumenical Coalition on Tourism, an international group with active networks all over the world. Established in Manila in 1982, ECOT was formed under the initiative of the Christian Conference of Asia and Federation of Asian Bishops.

The consultation includes a comprehensive analysis of global tourism, official policies and Philippine experiences as they relate to the standards of social and environmental justice.

Social sectors whose situation participants will look into include women and children, farmers, workers, indigenous communities, and the urban poor.

Special areas of concern for the participants are the environment, medical and health services, and public administration of justice.

Speakers will present researches based on actual monitoring of the tourism industry and case studies of how this economic sector has impacted on various sectors.

The consultation is being organized by the international non-government organization Peace for Life, social research group IBON Foundation, church network Contak Philippines and the NCCP.

For reference:

Carmencita Karagdag-Peralta

Coordinator

Peace for Life

c/o National Council of Churches of the Philippines

879 EDSA, Quezon City

Tel. No. 927-8043 / Mobile 0906-357-30 17

Secretariat

c/o 879 EDSA West Triangle Quezon City, Tel No. (02) 927-08043