Locsin backs P10 billion aid to tourism businesses, not TIEZA

MANILA, Philippines — Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. has backed the proposal of Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez to allocate P10 billion in the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act to the Department of Tourism (DOT) itself and not to the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA). 

“You’re so right, Rufus. It should go to the Department of Tourism to revive the jobs lost. Putting it in infrastructure is a recipe for stealing,” Locsin said in a post on Twitter on Thursday. 

The House version of the bill allocates P10 billion to TIEZA, the infrastructure arm of the DOT. In the Senate version, the funding is given to the DOT itself. 

Rodriguez said millions of employees in the tourism industry have lost their jobs since quarantine measures were imposed in March. 

“It is these workers we need to give priority to in allocating public funds for the tourism sector, not to more road projects leading to faraway tourist destinations,” he said. 

The House of Representatives on Monday approved the proposed act or Bayanihan 2 to cushion the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the country.

The Senate earlier approved its version of the measure.