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Post by EXO on Nov 21, 2023 8:31:08 GMT 8
President Rodrigo R. Duterte had directed CFI to save Corregidor from a slumber of over two decades and to restore its strength as a memorial shrine and a world-class tourism destination in order to arrest the consistent decline in the number of visitors to the island over the past 15 years.
COVID, however, brought Corregidor to a standstill. The Concessionaire who operated the daily boat withdrew it from service, and Corregidor Inn was closed down. Currently, neither are operating. CFI is still present on the island, acting in caretaker mode.
Carrion's vision was that CFI should be self-sustainable in the development of Corregidor by actively attracting more investments and soliciting donations that will provide support for the perpetual maintenance and preservation of its historical relics and facility infrastructures.
Whether that vision failed for being "a bridge too far", or whether the the COVID PANDEMIC lockdown caused its tourism traffic to collapse, I do not know and cannot say. Maybe a bit of both. Other tourism attractions have reopened around the Philippines, but to date Corregidor has not. There are presently no daily tourism trips from Manila bringing tourists to Corregidor.
Tourists need to have certainly if they are to take a day trip. Corregidor needs to be a taxi-ride away.
The Board of Trustees of CFI is currently comprised of the Secretary of the Department of Tourism, the Secretary of the Department of National Defense and PVAO, the Chief Operating Officer of the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Authority, and the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Cynthia L. carrion has resigned and taken up an appointment as General Manager / CEO with the Philippine Retirement Authority.
Goodbye Cynthia Carrion, "We hardly knew ye."
COMMENTARYIt's been how long since the high impact of the Covid-19 pandemic misery, and the tourist industry in the Philippines - generally speaking - has been busy reopening and reinventing itself in an effort to get its earnings to "bounce back". In January 2021, the Manila Times reported that the government had announced that it was confident the Philippine tourism industry would bounce back. That may have been a mite premature, particularly as the news never did seem to make it all the way to Corregidor, which is still suffering a deep freeze. The concessionaire of Corregidor's transport and accommodation arrangements did not seem to be all that keen to start again. Well, not under the same rules. With next to zero traffic, CFI's financial position became even more parlous. There needed to be confidence that CFI could arrange a kick-start. Well, it didn't happen. The success of Corregidor, as an income-earning entity, requires a reliable boat service for TBIS (Tourist bums in seats). Tourists want an easy day, they don't want to have to make their way down to Bataan and spend all morning trying to hire a banca at cartel-inflated prices. It requires coordination to provide transport on the island, and food services. It requires skilled governance. It requires comfortable - and not overpriced - accommodation. (TBIB's? Tourist bums in beds?) Speaking of overpricing, and I do a lot, the last time I stayed in the Corregidor Inn, the room rate was higher than the room rate in the Manila Hotel. I have been preaching for years that Corregidor needs to renew itself, in terms of the tourism life cycle. What has been served up time and again, in justification of all things inadequate, is the "force of circumstance" approach - "We have no budget," and "Oh, there can be no long-term investments made because all income is set by the number of day trips." Whatever. Do we get long term capital improvement, or fresh coat of paint over the cracks tourism? Sooner or later, the word gets around. Tourist resorts/attractions have a life cycle. In 1980 a tourism researcher Richard Butler developed a well regarded model called the Tourism Area Life Cycle that describes the evolution of the economy of resort regions. Here are the stages" 1. Exploration: A secret spot is discovered, no amenities, must "go feral". 2. Involvement: A few locally-run concessions are established 3. Development: A well defined tourism industry is developed via advertising the destination 4. Consolidation: Tourism becomes the dominant feature of the local economy 5. Stagnation: Tourism growth slows and carrying capacity is reached, the area is no longer a new hotspot, maybe its overbuilt or loses its charm. 6. Decline or rejuvenation: Decline results as tourists choose other destinations, rejuvenation typically requires attracting a different kind of tourist. So, with the other tourist attractions reopening, Corregidor never did. It literally "missed the boat." Whether CFI was at fault or not, they were in a position of authority in which they were responsible for the rebuilding of the attraction. Our Corregidor Historic Society has been involved in being customers of Corregidor for more than twenty years. Some of us started coming in the 1970's, others of us have visited more than sixty times. We have members from all the major continents, and our interests are as diverse as our residencies. Those interests extend to all aspects of History (not just WWII), education (the next generation of experts has to be trained somehow, somewhere), hiking, off-trail hiking, bushwalking, diving, ornithology. We are cavers and spelunkers. We are protectors and aficionados of wildlife. We are visitors of tourism resorts worldwide. We have had experiences that many bureaucrats would never conceive of. We have brought our family members, we've brought our friends. We are writers, publishers, engineers, military men, pilots, lawyers, accountants, and yes, even dreaded middle managers. We know what won't work on Corregidor. We know what won't work FOR Corregidor (that's not the same as "on" Corregidor.) We know what shouldn't be put there. We know that two years of unrestricted natural growth have concealed Corregidor's visual landscapes. We know that roads became trails, and that trails have become impassable. We know that a government department has removed Corregidor's assets, just like the scrappers did all those years ago. Two of Corregidor's gun barrels are now in Manila, and their origin concealed. We know that " spend the money programs" are are more capable of ruining Corregidor's landscape, and hiking trails, than not spending the money at all. I have no time for schadenfreude.
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Post by Karl Welteke on Dec 15, 2023 14:25:15 GMT 8
What is happening with Corregidor? Z170 Went to the CFI Office in Manila today 2023-Dec. 12 (Tuesday), on my way back to Olongapo from Cavite. The office is located at, Corregidor Foundation Inc. Rm. 10 Bay Terminal, CCP Complex, Roxas Blvd Malate Manila Very strange and noteworthy; I was not able to meet or see anyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I Arrived 7am, waited to 8:45am but nobody showed up! One female guard said, if I understood her alright, that they moved, but her English was almost zero and my Tagalog is not much better. I dialed two smart phone numbers, Mrs. Melody Bondoc, Sales & Marketing Officer of CFI Mrs. Melody’s phone just gave one click and out, like it is turned off from receiving calls. The other number from the CFI office display board in front of the building (0977 643 4819), rung until the telephone system said maybe out of reach or something like that. All the signs are in place, outside and in front of the building and next to the door inside of the building into the CFI office; only the door was locked and no answer. And I saw nobody coming or going. Then I left; will keep trying to contact them in the future. The problem is getting urgent, for the veterans of the 503d Parachute Regiment and the Corregidor Forum Friends I am trying to make reservations for about 6 people for us to conduct our annual anniversary of the paratroopers raising the First Flag on Corregidor Island on the 16th Feb. 1945. On our last visit to Corregidor in Nov. 2023 we only were able to get accommodations for two people because only two cottage rooms were fit to be used. Two our friends had to stay behind on that Nov. 2023 visit. About two weeks ago I send an email to CFI requesting reservation for the (First Flag) 16th Feb. 2024 anniversary service but received no answer. About one week ago I did reach Mrs. Melody per telephone who said something that, if I understood her right, CFI did not answer my email because some room repair was in the works on Corregidor. Frankly, I’m beginning to worry about being able to visit Corregidor!
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Post by Robert Hudson on Dec 15, 2023 15:36:02 GMT 8
The Stewardship of Corregidor is in the process of changing hands. The only entity capable of running it is the PVAO which manages Mt.Samat and Capas National Shrine. If this is true then it is my belief that Corregidor will also become a National Shrine, beloved and protected for its historical value and a memorial to the men who demonstrated to the world the value of freedom and what valiant men are willing to suffer for its preservation.
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Post by EXO on Dec 15, 2023 19:51:49 GMT 8
Thanks Karl for those facts. It doesn't speak well for the wake that Carrion left behind her when she shipped out to her next command. Many of the CFI staff gave good and faithful service, and they deserve a continuity of employment. They need empathy, the failure of Corregidor to restart after the Covid lock-down is not their fault. CEO's and CO's get paid the big bucks because they are supposed to take responsibility. My life experience has taught me not to be enthusiastic about large governmental organizations running small commercial operations. Their hearts might be in the right place, but they need to take the advice of experience. I believe that Corregidor (PVAO) needs to learn from the US National Parks Service, which allows tourism operations to be conducted on their lands by concessionaires subject to close supervision of standards. Many people think Corregidor is a National Park, but the truth is it never was. Maybe it's time. In Corregidor's case, I believe that the "tourism" business is a single business - i.e. that the boat and the Inn, and the tourist busses are all parts of the same operation - that they are better operated by the same entity. Corregidor is not a real-estate opportunity, it is not some place to be sold off to developers. It needs to maintain its dignity as one of the world's historic battlefields, a place where men of three nations sacrificed and died. And what do we get? Visions of tone deaf urban architects - Years ago, I likened the relationship between Sun Cruises and CFI to two people locked in a dance, a waltz, each with a knife pressing in the back of the other. I think we've just witnessed what happened when Covid came along, and the music stopped. Both of them shafted each other, fighting over the ever-decreasing cash flow, and the costs that simply could not be avoided. I sure hope that sort of thing doesn't happen again.
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Post by EXO on Dec 16, 2023 6:06:56 GMT 8
What is happening with Corregidor? EXO Reply: Concerning your visit to the CFI Business Office - It's CFI's Office, their face to the world, they should have left a NOTICE on the door. Don't they have a sheet of paper, a felt-tip pen and a bit of sticky tape? Anything would be better than nothing. Heck, this is not rocket science!
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Post by rlbj25 on Dec 19, 2023 9:50:03 GMT 8
What a shame. I hope Corregidor isn't completely lost as a destination. It has so much potential. Sadly, the Philippines just can't get out of its own way. I love the country and its people, but too often the corruption and incompetence can't be overcome.
*Edit* I just realized that its been 10 years almost to the day since I last visited Corregidor. 2 nights and 3 days of exploring with an old college friend who was working at the embassy. The island was alive with people and the weather was perfect. Fond memories.
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Post by westernaus on Dec 19, 2023 10:32:36 GMT 8
What a shame. I hope Corregidor isn't completely lost as a destination. It has so much potential. Sadly, the Philippines just can't get out of its own way. I love the country and its people, but too often the corruption and incompetence can't be overcome. You took the words out of my mouth ribj 25 .It is such a shame .
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Post by EXO on Apr 5, 2024 18:54:56 GMT 8
CORREGIDOR FOUNDATION INC - ARE ITS DAYS NUMBERED? Business World published the following article in June 2023. Essentially it's the public release of information critical of CFI. I'm just reading between the lines here, but I suspect CFI is not going to be with us all that much longer. I just hope that the powers that be have a better arrangement up their sleeves. CoA flags Corregidor Foundation for unauthorized paymentsJune 19, 2023 | 7:58 pm THE COMMISSION on Audit (CoA) has flagged the Corregidor Foundation, Inc. (CFI) for not seeking appropriate approval for human resource payments worth P61.66 million as well as failing to remit taxes worth P3.30 million. In its 2022 audit report made available online on June 15, 2023, state auditors noted that the “payment of personnel services from 2018 to 2022 aggregating to P61.66 million is unauthorized due to the absence of Governance Commission for GOCCs-approved Total Compensation Framework of CFI.” The Governance Commission for government-owned and controlled corporations, as part of strengthening its monitoring work, requested the CFI in 2017 to submit a Total Compensation Framework, which will contain its salary structure and cash and non-monetary benefits and allowances. CoA said the CFI did not comply as the foundation maintains that it is a private corporation not covered by Republic Act No. 10149 or the GOCC Governance Act. The CFI has responded to CoA saying that it will seek the GCG’s post-facto approval of the standard salary rates from 2018 to 2022. The CFI was created in 1986 under the Philippine Tourism Authority, now the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), to develop the historic Corregidor and its neighboring islands as a major tourist attraction in the Philippines. CoA also said that the CFI has unremitted taxes withheld worth P3.30 million that “may incur penalties, interests and fines for late filing or remittance contrary to sections 248, 249 and 255 of the National Internal Revenue Code (NIRC) of 1997.” CFI used its cash sourced from withholding taxes due to lack of funds for operations. However, CoA said this may result to the piling up of unpaid taxes and depletion of the CFI’s resources. In response, the foundation said it will submit a request for a compromise agreement as the CFI is currently “not capable” of paying the full amount to the Bureau of Internal Revenue. State auditors also said that assets worth P2.71 million purchased from Sun Cruises, Inc. and not covered under a compromise agreement “may be considered as unnecessary expenditures,” citing its 2012 circular. Sun Cruises, which provided cruise and tour services to the Corregidor Island, closed down in 2020 due to the pandemic. CFI said that the assets purchased, particularly items inside the Corregidor Inn, are “necessary because the CFI has no choice but to continue to operate the hotel” after Sun Cruises closed. CoA still found the purchasing of assets “unnecessary considering the CFI’s unstable financial condition and lack of capability to run the hotel.” — Beatriz Marie D. Cruz ________________________ COMMENTARY: It's somewhat unfair of Commission on Audit to criticize CFI for the efforts it made to prevent Corregidor sinking even deeper into the mire after Sun Cruises closed down in 2020 due to the pandemic. But that's accountants for you. Government, in full knowledge that CFI's income was approaching NIL, should have taken special steps to provide funds to maintain Corregidor at a baseline level. Where did the Powers That Be think adequate funds to prevent the island's ruination would come from? CFI was put on a starvation diet, and then criticized for doing what they could to prevent things from getting worse. I'm not saying this as a friend of CFI, for I never was. But fair's fair, guys.
Perhaps a significant part of the problem was that CFI's CEO lost friends and goodwill, and that ultimately push came to shove, and the Powers That Be had the upper hand. The governance of trust property needs to be to the benefit of the owner of the property, not to the benefit of the trustee.
I think that the next news we're likely to be hearing will be the deactivation of CFI. What arrangements will follow that, will require an investment-sized crystal ball.
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