Sarawak pledges $30T to Cebu

CEBU, Philippines - While Cebu’s participation in the 14th East Asia Inter-Regional Tourism Forum served as a venue to promote its tourism industry, this also turned into an opportunity for others to extend help to the province hit by two calamities.

This, as the province of Sarawak, Malaysia, pledged to give $30,000 (P1.2 million) to Cebu Province, which is also an EATOF member.

Vice Governor Agnes Magpale, who led the province’s delegation to the tourism forum, said the province requested the standing committee of EATOF to have its $6,000-dollar membership dues for 2013 waived since it failed to attend the 13th EATOF October last year following the earthquake that jolted Central Visayas.

“The EATOF last year was held the day after the earthquake, but we cancelled it, we did not attend. I told them nga among gidala karon is for 2014 nga fee. Unya misugot man ang standing committee, so mao to nga na-waive ang para sa 2013,” Magpale told reporters.

But apart from getting the committee’s nod to waive the membership fee, the government of Sarawak also announced to give financial assistance to Cebu, which was also hit by super typhoon Yolanda in November last year, Magpale added.

Sarawak Assistant Tourism Minister Datuk Talib Zulpilip is set to visit Cebu within the next two weeks to personally hand over the assistance to the provincial government.

Magpale said the province has yet to decide where the assistance can be utilized, but said it will most likely be used to help fund the rehabilitation of the tourism sector in the province.

The 14th EATOF was held from September 4 to 6 at the Riverside Majestic Hotel, Kuching, Sarawak in Malaysia. The conference is a venue for government officials from its member provinces to exchange information on tourism policy and tourism industry, develop inter-regional joint tourism programs, provide mutual cooperation on common issues in tourism, among others.

EATOF member provinces are Sarawak, Malaysia; Cebu, Philippines, Gangwon, Korea; Luang Prabang, Laos; Quang Ninh, Vietnam; Siem Reap, Cambodia; Tottori, Japan; Tuv, Mongolia; Yogyakarta, Indonesia and Jilin, China.

Along with Magpale, Cebu was also represented by Board Member Grecilda “Gigi” Sanchez and provincial tourism officer Mary Grace Paulino.  (FREEMAN)