DOT's star rating system suspended

We have been writing columns against the Department of Tourism's "Star Rating" system, which in my book is totally unnecessary for the simple reason that many nations have already dropped their own rating systems because these ratings are now being collated and published worldwide by Internet sites like Agoda, Expedia, Hotels.com, and many other sites where you can find great hotel rates and deals all in the Internet. These websites do not only give you the hotel rates, but gives you their own ratings which they collated via direct feedback from satisfied clients.

But the DOT decided to do their own "Star Ratings" scheme and there they downgraded the status of Plantation Bay from its original 5-Star rating down to 4-Star Rating. I talked with Plantation Bay owner Manny Gonzales and he confirmed to me that he was so pissed off about this that he openly wrote DOT to express his opposition to this DOT ratings plan. Then the DOT dropped his rating status. This is why he filed a case in the Office of the Ombudsman vs. DOT Secretary Ramon Jimenez and his inner staff.

I read in yesterday's Philippine Star report that the House Committee on Tourism sought for the suspension of the Star Rating of DOT. But I wasn't satisfied with that report so I placed a call to Rep. Gwen F. Garcia who told me that it was Rep. Raul del Mar who proposed to suspend the Star Ratings system until the DOT comes up with clear and measurable system.

Apparently committee chairman Rene Relampagos thought that suspending the ratings system was too harsh. But Rep. Gwen asked for a vote whether the members of the committee wanted the DOT to implement their flawed ratings system. Since no one wanted to implement that flawed system it was unanimously suspended until the DOT can come up with a less subjective and measurable ratings system.

We thank Mr. Robert "Bobby" Joseph of The National Association of Independent Travel Agencies Philippines (NAITAS) who also gave his testimony on behalf of the small hotels from all over the country. We thank both Rep. Raul del Mar and Rep. Gwen F. Garcia for their valiant effort to ensure that the DOT doesn't create a corrupt monster through this star rating system, which many found to be so vague that it can be used by a corrupt official who wants to make life of a hotel owner miserable.

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Did we read the news report right that Malacañang had ordered a 60-day preventive suspension of Mayor Michael for his alleged culpable violation of the Constitution, grave abuse of authority, grave misconduct, and oppression because he unlawfully ordered the demolition of the center island in Barangay Labangon? Wow! How flimsy and excuse can you get to have a Cebu City Mayor suspended because he removed a center island?

In its official statement on Wednesday, December 9, the Department of the Interior and Local Government said the Office of the President ordered Rama's suspension on December 2 through Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. This order stemmed from the complaint of Barangay Labangon chairperson Victor Buendia who accused Mayor Rama in a 2014 administrative complaint of unlawfully ordering the demolition of the barangay's center island and street lighting project.

Naturally the camp of Mayor Rama is crying foul and political harassment. Indeed, it is a political harassment of the highest order when the Department of Interior & Local Government through the Office of the President can have our mayor suspended for the flimsiest of reasons. There is no doubt that this is the handiwork of those belonging to the Liberal Party who are running scared that former mayor Tomas Osmeña who is seeking for a new term as mayor might not win against Mayor Rama and the next best thing is to use your influence to have Mayor Rama suspended.

But do you know what? This could backfire on the LP because firstly this suspension would allow Mayor Rama to go on campaigning and best of all, he will get the sympathy of the Cebu City electorate who I'm sure is not happy that our mayor can just be suspended for such a stupid excuse.

Mind you, when I was chairman of the Cebu City Traffic Operations & Management I too tried to remove that triangle island fronting JY Square and I talked with then Barangay Captain now Councilor Mary Ann delos Santos for help. But she refused on the fact that I represented Mayor Tomas Osmeña who was then her nemesis. But since it was a national road, I requested the DPWH to have the island reduced (not removed), but we didn't get any trouble from DILG because of this.

Well, the only way we can get back at the LP is never vote for their presidential standard bearer Manuel "Mar" Roxas who has done nothing for Cebu City. Of course the Aquino Regime still holds the Optical Mark Reader (OMR) the successor of the cheating PCOS "Tikas" machines.

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