Apr 222017
 
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte leads the unveiling of the marker of the Metro Manila Crisis Monitoring and Management Center (MMCMMC) of the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) during its inauguration at the MMDA Metrobase in Makati City on April 4, 2017. (MNS photo)

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte leads the unveiling of the marker of the Metro Manila Crisis Monitoring and Management Center (MMCMMC) of the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) during its inauguration at the MMDA Metrobase in Makati City on April 4, 2017. (MNS photo)

MANILA, April 19 (PNA) – President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday politely declined to accept the offer of an honorary degree from the University of the Philippines (UP), saying that accepting awards is not in his personality.

“With due respect sa University of the Philippines, I do not accept even when I was mayor. Hindi ako tumatanggap, I do not… As a matter of personal and official policy, I do not accept awards. Wala sa pagkatao ko,” the President told reporters following the ASEAN security briefing in Tagbilaran City, Bohol.

“Hindi ko naman nire-reject. But I… To use the word reject is not good. I simply declined,” Duterte said.

The UP Board of Regents (BOR), the university’s highest policy making body, is reportedly keen on conferring Duterte the honorary doctor of laws degree as part of tradition.

However, some sectors are opposing the move due to alleged human rights violations in the campaign against drugs.

Earlier, Malacañang said that President Duterte was not angling for any awards but might accept the honorary degree if offered.

Following the development, Duterte became the third president to decline the conferment.

Former presidents Joseph Estrada and Gloria-Macapagal Arroyo have both declined honorary degrees from UP.

Oct 172013
 
Bohol tourism stakeholders pick up pieces, continue holding tours

TOURISM stakeholders in Bohol will continue to offer day tours to local and foreign tourists through alternate routes, said a top official from the Department of Tourism (DOT). “It’s business as usual for Bohol although not all roads are passable,” said DOT-Central Visayas regional director Rowena Montecillo in a phone interview Wednesday. “For tourism we are looking into alternate routes in going to the tourism sites.” Bohol is the second most visited destination in Central Visayas after Cebu. Montecillo, who is in Bohol, said that with the cooperation of the private tourism sector, they identified alternate routes in Bohol, particularly for day tour activities. New route She said they also found a new route and a new area where local and foreign tourists can still experience the breathtaking view of the famous Chocolate Hills. “We found a route whose roads are in good condition and passable, though its 20 kilometers farther than the usual route. We also discovered a new tourism site, an adventure park which is supposedly due for launching but given the recent calamity, they will open the site for tourists. It has a mini park and a viewing deck, with 248 steps, for Chocolate Hills,” said Montecillo. Tourists, though, would miss the viewing of century-old churches and the lunch cruise at the Loboc River Floating Restaurant as roads going there are not yet passable and the Loboc River is not yet operational, she said. According to Montecillo, the day tour activity will start in Tagbilaran City going Read More …