CEBU – Independent Senator Richard Gordon sees brighter prospects for Filipinos, especially for Cebuanos if they take advantage of the opportunities to invest in their own country and develop tourism-attraction potentials despite the global economic meltdown.
“We have the competitive advantage because of our proximity to our neighboring Asian countries. Cebu for example has several tourist attractions; now is the time to take advantage in investing in our own country,” Gordon, who was in Cebu the other day, said.
Gordon also lauded the Cebu province’s local tourism program, the Suroy-Suroy Sugbo pitched as “a leisurely journey around the Province of Cebu”.
Suroy-Suroy Sugbo has five components —the Northern Escapade, the Southern Heritage Trail, Enchanting Camotes, the Urban Adventure, and the Explore the Midwest. Gordon expressed interest in joining any of these caravans anytime this month.
Aside from the warmth and hospitality of the Cebuanos and the beautiful beaches of Cebu, Gordon added that Cebu has Malapascua and Bantayan Islands that have great potentials for tourism investments, surely to spur more income and create jobs.
To further boost the country’s tourism sector, Gordon said that his Tourism Bill is now up for deliberation before the bicameral committee of both houses of the Senate and Congress, which is expected to be approved within the month in spite of several objections by some sectors.
Gordon said that local government units should take advantage of this proposed measure since it provides for the establishments of tourism enterprise zones across the country, thus, boosting domestic tourism.
Targets for the tourism enterprise zones are Cebu, Davao, Bohol, Laguna, Cavite, Boracay, Palawan and Iloilo, which according to Gordon will be developed into haven for tourists, both local and foreign.
Cebu province is considered as one of the major travel destinations in the country and it is also a gateway to other tourists’ destinations in other parts of the Visayas and Mindanao.
Gordon, who is the chairman of the Senate committee on tourism, has enlisted the support of LGUs, which according to him would reap the benefits once his bill is passed into law.
The former Tourism secretary further said that a boost in tourism, while the export and the manufacturing sectors continue to downsize the number of employees because of the economic crunch, would not only mean more jobs creation but additional revenues for the LGUs.
Also, Gordon said that once the tourism enterprise zones are established, the LGUs will have a major role in developing these zones, which will be established to lure foreign investors and tourists to visit places rich with history and culture.
The Gordon bill also aims to enhance the capabilities of LGUs in administering tourism activities and enforcing tourism laws through the support and training programs of the Department of Tourism.
Gordon added that the bill seeks to provide the people with much-needed job opportunities in the country. — Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon/MEEV (THE FREEMAN)