Talisay defers giving tourism commendations

CEBU, Philippines - The approval of a proposed resolution commending the people behind the new Tourism Statistics Project was deferred during the council’s regular session yesterday after Councilor Romeo Villarante sought clarifications.

Villarante, an opposition councilor, asked the body for details, but since Vice Mayor Alan Bucao, proponent of the proposal could not answer him, the council agreed to invite City Planning Development Officer Christine Homez to explain about it on the next session.

The proposed resolution is to commend Talisay City’s Tourism Officer, Budget Officer Edgardo Mabunay, Homez, and staff “for their effort and commitment” in the Tourism Statistics Project, which reportedly placed the city second in the Regional Level and 7th in the national level.

According to the resolution, the Technical Cooperation Program on the Development of Tourism Statistics System for Local Government Units is a joint undertaking of the Department of Tourism (DOT) and Japan International Cooperative Agency (JICA) that seeks to develop and improve the institutional mechanism on the local levels for collecting, compiling, recording, and analyzing tourism data.

The purpose of the project, which runs from April 2009 to March this year, is to “raise the capacity of appropriate institutions in the formulation of tourism development plan by enhancing knowledge and skills on tourism statistics.”

A total of 131 municipalities, cities, and provinces in the central Philippines super region whose tourism industry is fast growing and emerging as an important engine for local development have reportedly benefited from this project.

DOT and JICA recently honored the city and seven other LGUs for being top implementers of an efficient system for tourism development. - THE FREEMAN