MANILA, Philippines — As the 20th Congress convened, the Department of Tourism (DOT) declared it would lobby for measures boosting tourism development.
The agency would advocate for the creation of a tourism infrastructure fund and tourism quick response fund, Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco said yesterday.
In justifying the need for a tourism infrastructure fund, Frasco cited the World Economic Forum, wherein the Philippines ranked 69th out of 117 economies in the world in terms of tourism infrastructure.
More investments in tourism infrastructure would result in more livelihood opportunities for workers in tourist destinations, she pointed out.
Over 135,000 hotel rooms are needed to satisfy an apparent shortage, she said.
The tourism quick response fund would be used to aid stranded tourists and displaced workers during disasters, she noted.
A “liberal visa policy” in the Philippines is needed, Frasco reiterated.
While the DOT recognizes that national security is a priority, she maintained that the country has to “become competitive in terms of the ease of entry of international tourists into the country.”
Meanwhile, Frasco expressed support for her husband, Cebu Rep. Duke Frasco, who reportedly declared himself as an independent congressman after abstaining from voting for a House speaker.
Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez was elected Speaker for a second term.
“Duke Frasco made a decision: to prioritize the public good over political convenience. It wasn’t easy. But it was the right thing to do,” the tourism secretary posted on Facebook. “I stand with him, and I am proud of him.”
Jobs, not slogans
La Union Rep. Paolo Ortega V has urged the DOT to show clear results in job creation and local economic growth, saying the agency failed to deliver despite massive funding and widespread promotions.
The DOT’s absence from President Marcos’ fourth State of the Nation Address signals the need for the agency to step up and demonstrate measurable progress aligned with the national recovery effort, Ortega said.