DOT girding for tourism infra projects

MANILA, Philippines - Local and foreign tourists can look forward to faster and more comfortable trips to the country’s tourist destinations.

Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez said the government is girding for infrastructure projects to improve roads to tourist destinations nationwide.

Jimenez said the government is developing tourism road networks as part of the National Tourism Development Plan (NTDP).

Jimenez said the DOT, as part of the NTDP, would also build new international airports to accommodate the targeted 10 million foreign tourists by 2016.

Just recently, Jimenez said the DOT and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) forged a memorandum of agreement (MOA) seeking to boost tourism infrastructure projects in priority tourist destinations under a “Convergence Program for Enhancing Tourism Access.”

The MOA calls for, among others, the development of Tourism Road Infrastructure Program (TRIP) Criteria led by the DOT, and identification of “Convergence Champions” to provide policy guidelines and supervision in formulating the TRIP.

The agencies will be aided by the Research, Education and Institutional Development Foundation, a policy research and advocacy institute based in Metro Manila.

The foundation is currently implementing a Partnership for Better Infrastructure and Tourism Management technical assistance program with select civil society, business and government groups.

It earlier had signed a memorandum of understanding with the DPWH and the Department of Education for a school building program.

There would also be a Technical Working Group to prepare the multi-year program and forward estimates of prioritized tourism road projects and an Annual Tourism Road Infrastructure Program.

“In the next two to three years, travelers will begin to see a different atmosphere with the implementation of those infrastructure projects,” he said.

Part of the plan is to develop the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport in Clark, Pampanga as the country’s main gateway, replacing the old Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

Jimenez said the DOT is also looking at the possibility of developing Sangley Point, a former US naval base in Cavite, as a tourist resort.

With the summer soon coming up, Jimenez said the DOT and local government units have lined up numerous festivals and beach tourism activities for travelers to enjoy.