Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri has voiced his approval on the new tourism slogan that the Department of Tourism (DOT) has recently launched.                Senate President Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri (Senate PRIB Photo)

But Zubiri said he hopes that the new campaign would be accompanied with a promise of a better traveling experience for local and foreign visitors who have to contend with the long queue and unsavory incidents at the country’s airports and other major tourism infrastructure. “I love it! It’s okay. You know, personally, I would have been happy with the old slogan…but I spoke to (Tourism) Secretary (Christina) Frasco and she explained to me the rationale why they are moving for the ‘Love the Philippines’ campaign,” Zubiri said during the Kapihan sa Senado on Thursday, June 29. “And it’s because they (visitors) love the food, they love the people, they love our smiles, they love our beaches,” he pointed out. “Ang importante dyan (The important thing is that) the message is clear and concise, but at the same time, ang mas importante dyan is ayusin nila yung imprastraktura nila (the most important thing still is for them to fix the infrastructure),” Zubiri pointed out. The Senate leader said it is very important that the DOT works in close coordination with other government agencies, particularly the Departments of Transportation (DOTr), the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), and the Department of Health (DOH) to provide authenticity to the campaign. “Kasi (you say) ‘Love the Philippines,’ but I don't love the airport. Pagdating sa airport stressed kaagad (Once you get to the airport, you get stressed)” said the senator who just arrived in the Philippines on Wednesday, June 28, after a three-week working visit at the United States. “Nakita ko kahapon ang dami-daming tao. Parang palengke. (I saw it yesterday, there were so much people. It looks like a market). So we have to make sure that it's a convergence,” Zubiri stressed. “Tourism (should be) a convergence of the DOTr, DPWH, and DOT. Kelangan buuin nila ulit yan (they should form it again),” he said. The Senate chief pointed out a “tripartite” meeting of the DOTr, DOT and the DPWH was already done during the term of former Presidents Benigno Aquino III and Rodrigo Duterte to improve the country’s tourism sector. “These three should always meet…But I also suggest that they include the DOH (Department of Health),” Zubiri said. He said another negative point for Philippine tourism is the need for travelers to complete the e-Travel Registration form at the ports as part of the government protocol against Covid-19. Zubiri said this must already be scrapped and should only be applicable to those who are unvaccinated against Covid-19. Other countries, he noted, have already eased their strict Covid-19 guidelines. “I love the tourism slogan of the DOT, for the record, but they have to be supported by these agencies. Ilagay mo na dun sa tripartite na yun yung DOH (Include the DOH in the group),” he said as he lamented how travelers have to deal with having to download and register online upon arrival at the airport. “Kasi dapat wala nang mask sa eroplano, yung mga e-pass, na yan, mga health e-card na yan… (We should do away with the wearing of face masks inside the plane, with the e-travel pass, e-health card), “ the senator stressed.