Mindanao gets higher tourism budget

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Tourism (DOT) has been setting aside a higher budget for Mindanao to further boost the tourism industry in the island.

Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) chairperson Luwalhati Antonino noted that prior to the creation of MinDA and its membership to the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) board, Mindanao receives only about seven to 10 percent of the Philippine Tourism Authority’s (now TIEZA) annual budget. 

However, with MinDA’s membership to the TIEZA board, the island received a hefty share of 35 percent or P157 million from TIEZA’s budget for tourism development in 2011.

She said a 40-percent share or P340 million from the P851.22-million TIEZA budget for tourism development in 2012 was also secured.

Among the completed TIEZA projects in Mindanao last year include the construction of Bagobo-Tagabawa Village in Brgy. Tibolo, Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur; the construction of Davao Oriental Provincial Museum; and the Lake Sebu development.

A P30-million budget was also secured from TIEZA for the construction and implementation of ecotourism projects aimed to protect endangered marine species and help sustain community-based tourism enterprises in Tawi-Tawi’s Turtle Islands, one of the world’s major nesting sites of marine turtles. 

Antonino said the projects are aimed to provide residents sustainable means of livelihood by promoting the islands as tourist attraction while ensuring the protection of the endangered species and their nesting sites.

Other ongoing TIEZA projects in Mindanao include the construction of Baywalk in Brgy. Aplaya, Digos City, Davao del Sur; the Tourism Police Information Counter in Polomolok, South Cotabato; the World War II landmark in Rosario, Agusan del Sur; and the construction of one unit drydock facility or boat ramp in Siargao Island.

With this, Antonino also urged local chief executives in Mindanao to come up with viable eco-tourism development proposals, which can be pushed by MinDA for possible funding from the TIEZA board.

She added that MinDA endorsed to TIEZA several tourism project proposals from the province of Surigao del Sur, which are currently being undertaken. These include the provision for road access and other support facilities for the Tinuy-an Falls, Enchanted River and the Britannia Islets jump-off point.

“Surigao del Sur is host to a number of Mindanao’s key tourist destinations such as the Tinuy-an Falls in Bislig City, touted as the “Niagara Falls of the Philippines,” Hinatuan’s Enchanted River, which is unique to the country, and the becomingly popular Britania Group of Islands in San Agustin,” said Antonino.

“While Mindanao is blessed with natural resources that make ecotourism as one of its major economic drivers for growth, tourism development however, must not be pursued at the expense of our environment,” she added.