Mindanao crisis upsets Oro's tourism, investment

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines – An official of Promote CDO Foundation has said that Cagayan de Oro's tourism and local investments have suffered due to the atrocities committed by lawless Moro rebels, resulting in a US travel advisory for its nationals to avoid visiting the city. Ruben Vegafria, president of Promote CDO Foundation and former president of the Cagayan de Oro Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation, said "there's nothing we can do" about the travel advisory because the US government is only after protecting its citizens. In an interview with Sun.Star, Vegafria said while the travel advisory is not new, other countries like Japan, Australia, and Canada having issues similar ones, still it has a negative effect in one way or another. Vegafria appealed to government to do something about the situation in Mindanao, particularly the Lanao crisis. "Gikasakit kana nato kay nakahatag og dili maayo nga image sa dakbayan although we all know that peaceful ang atong siyudad (We are saddened by the advisory as it is destroying the peaceful image of our city)," said Vegafria. However, he is optimistic that the advisory is only temporary. Vegafria is urging the people of Cagayan de Oro to invite tourists to come and disprove the US travel advisory. – Sun.Star CDO http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/cag/2008/09/12/news/mindanao.crisis.affects.oro.s.tourism.investment.html