Gov. George Arnaiz said Dumaguete City remains safe for domestic and foreign tourists despite the reported series of crimes happening in the capital city of Oriental Negros.

The governor's position came in reaction to Dumaguete Mayor Agustin Perdices's earlier complaint that the Department of Tourism regional office has again ignored Dumaguete in its Central Visayas tourism promotion campaign.

Arnaiz said the series of killings in the city last month must stop even as he condemned the attacks against the victims who were known as police characters. He said these are reports that would discourage visitors from coming over the city and subsequently to the province.

On the other hand, Arnaiz said, he will inform Tourism Secretary Joseph Durano that he was slighted that the DOT has, for the second time, ignored Dumaguete and Oriental Negros in its tourism campaign. Arnaiz said he will be forced to use his position as chairman of the Regional Development Council of Central Visayas to address the concerns of the city government.

Arnaiz said the province will continue its own tourism program with or without help from DOT and the Philippine Tourism Authority.

Both agencies, he said, had not helped develop and promote the tourism potentials of the province, and what exists now was a result of local initiatives.

Perdices had aired his discontent after learning of reports about the visit to Cebu City and Bohol of the US ambassador, consuls, and attaches.

Perdices lamented that regional tourism director Patricia Roa left out Oriental Negros when she introduced the tourism destinations of Region 7 but mentioned only Bohol and Cebu City.*RG

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