Central Visayas governors to outline rules for tourism revival

CEBU, Philippines —  Governors of the four provinces in Central Visayas will meet next month to formulate protocols that will be followed as the region prepares to revive its tourism industry to  resuscitate the its economy.

Siquijor Governor Zaldy Villa has volunteered to host the governors’ meeting scheduled tentatively on August 12, 2020.

The economy in Region 7, which is composed of Cebu, Bohol, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor, has been driven largely by tourism but the past four months saw businesses closing and workers losing jobs owing to quarantine restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Except for Cebu City, which is under modified enhanced community quarantine, and a few local government units in Cebu Province, which are under general community quarantine; majority of the areas in Region 7 is now under modified GCQ.

Tourism-related activities may be allowed in areas under MGCQ granting that strict health protocols are followed.

Yesterday, Villa joined Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, Bohol Governor Arthur Yap, and Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo, and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Asst. Secretary Asteria Cabarte in an online meeting as part of the observance of the National Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Week.

DTI gathered the governors to discuss how assistance to micro businesses entrepreneurs affected by the pandemic can be expedited.

Villa, Yap, and Degamo agreed that an inter-province tourism plan, which Garcia proposed, can help small business and revive the economy.        

“Bisan ug katong GCQ status pa ang probinsya sa Sugbo, naghimo na ta og nag-andam na ta og mga plano nga unsaon nato pagbuhi ug balik sa ekonomiya sa probinsya sa Sugbo,” Garcia said.

(Even while Cebu Province was still in GCQ status, we already started planning how we can revive our economy.)

The other day, Garcia signed Executive Order 20-A, which lays down the protocols and guidelines that the province will adopt for “tourism-related activities that promote the health and wellness of an individual, accommodation establishment, and the dine-in of persons in restaurants.”

Countryside development

As far as helping small businesses is concerned, Garcia bannered the Enhanced Countryside Development program that Capitol formulated when Cebu Province was still under ECQ in April.

With restrictions on the movement of people, the program aims to make the province self-sufficient in terms of food supply. It also aims to provide livelihood to residents in the towns so they won’t have to go to the metropolitan areas for work.

 “Angay na tingali nga mo-focus ta sa countryside of the province, mao na nga giporma nato ang Enhanced Countryside Development (ECD) Task force,” Garcia said.

(It is but right that we should focus on the country side of the province so we formed the Enhanced Countryside Development (ECD) Task force)

Garcia said the province has invited businessmen in the cities to go back to the province if they own pieces of land there and develop these properties for agriculture.

The program is now being implemented in the Third District in coordination with DTI.

“Gi-encourage ang mga gagmay nga magpapatigayun nga mu-sumbit ug proposal ug tabangan, whether in cash or in-kind, to a certain extent aron sila makasugod sa ilang negosyo,” Garcia said.

(We are encouraging small businesses to submit proposals so we can help them, either in cash or in kind, jumpstart their businesses)

The Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP), Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP), and the Philippine Veterans Bank (PVB) have agreed to bankroll the ECD program with a start-up find of P20 billion. 

Garcia said the funding from the three government depositories will be available to marginalized farmers, small and medium farm organizations, and up to large agricultural enterprises.  JMO (FREEMAN)