Provincial Board seeks guidelines for resorts

Local Government units in the Province of Cebu are called upon to set "practicable" guidelines prior to the granting of permits to hotels, inns and other accommodation-related businesses.

According to the resolution sponsored by Committee on Culture and Tourism head Agnes Magpale, all municipalities and component cities are urged to adopt accreditation standards of the Department of Tourism of hotels, tourist inns, motels, apartels, resorts, pension houses and other accommodation establishments, using the same standards as criteria for the issuance of business or mayor's permit.

However PB member Victor Maambong said the standards of DOT may be too high for other possible tourism destinations.

Maambong said there are sites and places that have a limited supply of water but are interesting places.

Water availability, he said, is one of the basic standards of DOT and since it cannot be addressed for now, it will be unfair not to grant them permits at the local level.

He said the municipality, component city or province should come up with "practical" standards.

Magpale welcomed the amendment of Maambong, saying that a group was already formed by Governor Gwendolyn Garcia to set up the standards prior to the granting of a Seal of Approval.

She said simple amenities such as soap and a clean towel are the requirements of the Seal of Approval and then to be used for the business or mayors permit.