Mindanao secures bigger budget for tourism infra Mindanao’s tourism sector is given a boost as P3.82 billion is allotted for the implementation of tourism road projects this year, a 12 percent increase from last year’s P1.5 billion, Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Ramon Jimenez announced recently. “This year’s budget will be utilized to implement road projects leading to tourism destinations that highlight the island-region’s natural strengths such as nature, culture, and leisure,” said Jimenez who spoke before the delegates of the 22nd Mindanao Business Conference, held here recently. Mindanao’s current share accounts 31 percent of the country’s P12 billion budget for tourism road projects, as compared to last year’s 19 percent of the total budget of P8 billion. The road projects will be implemented through the DOT and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) convergence program. Among these projects include the upgrading of the access road leading to the Rafflesia yard in Bukidnon; the improvement of the Rizal-Dakak-Dapitan coastal loop road in Dapitan, Zamboanga del Norte; the upgrading of the Lacson-Lamanan-Inayangan-Megkawayan road in Davao City; the improvement of the Island Garden City of Samal circumferential road; and the upgrading of the Makilalla-Allah Valley Road to Baras Bird Sanctuary in Tacurong City. “These upcoming projects definitely heed the call of Mindanao for better road connectivity among its top tourism sites,” said Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) Chair Luwalhati Antonino, who also sits as a one of the board members and the chair of the Infrastructure Committee of Tourism Infrastructure Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA). For 2012, TIEZA allocated a budget of about P300 million for Mindanao, which is roughly 40 percent of the total budget, and about five percent higher than the P157 million budget in 2011. In 2007 to 2010, Mindanao used to get a meager share of seven percent of the total budget, or approximately P39 million. “Complementing these road projects, are several tourism products being readied for Mindanao, which include tour packages and tourism loops in the island-region’s fast-growing tourism destinations such Caraga,” said Jimenez. The Caraga region is considered as one of Mindanao’s fastest growing destinations due to the region’s eco-tourism and internationally recognized surfing activities. In his presentation during the MinBizCon, Jimenez announced that provision for road access and other support facilities for Tinuy-an Falls, Enchanted River, and Britania group of islands - among the most visited tourist destinations in Caraga Region are already included in the DOT-DPWH convergence program. These road projects include the concreting of the Dugmanon to Enchanted River Baculin road in Talisay, Hinatuan; the Cumawas-Tinuy-an road; and the Salvacion-Britania road. In a parallel effort, the Department of Transportation and Communication will also implement the improvement of the Surigao and Sayak airports, seen to increase tourist arrivals in this part of Mindanao. “We are extremely excited about these developments. There is now an ongoing concreting project of the 2-kilometer road that leads to the Enchanted River, and another 18-meter for vertical infrastructure,” Hinatuan Mayor Candelario Viola confirmed. He added that these major developments will not only attract more tourists to the area, but will also increase job generation, which will empower local businesses and communities. MinDA, through its Growth Corridors initiative is also poised to strengthen the Western front of the island-region through the Western Mindanao Economic Cluster, which includes Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi, areas that are identified as the flourishing gateways to BIMP-EAGA. “Apart from being a mariculture and fisheries hub of the island-region, the cluster is also home to another promising tourism destination, the Turtle Island,” said Antonino, who added that a tour package for the island will be pushed as part of the cluster development. A P28 million budget was allocated by TIEZA for the development of Tawi-Tawi’s Turtle Island, which includes the construction of a 2-unit hostel, elevated board walks to protect the incubating turtle eggs, and several huts and cottages. “Despite the negative travel advisories, Mindanao is continually attracting the interest of local tourists since the island-region offers distinct and unique tourism destinations particularly its exciting eco-tourism sites,” added Antonino. Mindanao’s tourist arrivals posted a 12.76 percent growth from 2010 to 2012, with Region XI as the top tourist destination last year. Region X on the other hand was the Mindanao’s top tourist destination from 2009 to 2011. DOT is targeting at least 12 million tourists in Mindanao this year, and aims to increase this number by almost two million at the end of the Aquino administration. “Let us work together so that the tourism in Mindanao is not dictated by the news, but by the people of Mindanao,” Jimenez urged. (MinDa)
Posted on: Fri, 23 Aug 2013 04:21:54 +0000
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