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PRESS RELEASE
Public Information Office-City Mayor's Office
REF. NO. 0105-0013
January 20, 2005

USLS Holds Second Negros Congress

    The University of St. La Salle (USLS) - Bacolod convened the Second Negros Congress at the university Coliseum yesterday, January 19, 2005. The gathering was attended by no less than Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon, Bacolod Mayor Evelio R. Leonardia, representative of LGU's, as well as the Church, business, military, the academic and other sectors.
     The keynote speaker of the Congress was Department of Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano who enumerated the various gains made in Philippine tourism in recent months. He mentioned the increase in tourist arrivals in 2004 to an all time high of 2,316,000, of which 300,000 were visitors to Negros Occidental. He said that in spite of several travel advisories against visiting the Philippines, our peace and order situation is still very good, and the recent incidents marring two major festivals, in Cebu and Kalibo Cities, were isolated incidents and did not affect the country's tourism prospects, in general.
     USLS organized the first Negros Congress in February 2001 with former President Fidel V. Ramos as keynote speaker. USLS President Bro. Gus Boquer, FSC, explained the objective of the congress was for the around 200 multi-sectoral participants to express their vision of a desired future for Negros and identify realistic obstacles to this vision. The second Negros Congress would be a formulate and implement a specific plan of action to achieve the identified vision. He said the university is committed to serve as a forum for dialogue, where '" we can work together despite our differences in order to, as the Congress theme says, '"Make a Difference".
     Bro. Gus Boquer added that an offshoot of this Congress will be "the launching of an Institute for Negros Development, with a full time office and staff, effective June 1, 2005. Its purpose will be to create linkages, connect decision-makers, animate various sectors, and learn from one another, as envisioned in the First Congress. This resource center will be USLS' humble contribution toward achieving the dream of people working together harmoniously for the development of our beloved Negros". (CMO-PIO)

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