Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat
MANILA -- The four declared tourist destinations in Nueva Ecija and Ilocos Sur are slated to receive significant attention and assistance on infrastructure, Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat assured.
"It's written in the law that TIEZA should be actively helping the local government draft tourism plans because tourism is not only on the national government but also in tandem with the local government unit," she told reporters in a recent interview.
"So we will actively help in the infrastructure," she added.
On August 22, President Rodrigo Duterte signed four laws declaring the Candon City ecotourism zone in Candon, the Pinsal Falls in Santa Maria, the Santiago Cove in Santiago, all in Ilocos Sur, and Mount Bulaylay in Cuyapo, Nueva Ecija as tourist destinations.
READ: Duterte signs laws declaring 4 new tourist destinations
Under the laws, the DOT, in coordination with the Department of Public Works and Highways and other concerned agencies will be tasked to prepare a tourism development plan “involving the construction, installation, and maintenance of such appropriate facilities and infrastructure.”
Romulo-Puyat said she was elated with the signing of the four laws as it is "on track" with their goal to promote lesser-known destinations in the Philippines.
"I've been in some of those places and we really need to have more infrastructures there to further promote it," she said in Filipino.
The tourism chief said these places are poised to attract more tourists as the DOT also eyes to set a carrying capacity on some of the most popular destinations in the Philippines.
"We'll be studying the carrying capacity of El Nido, Siargao, and Bohol pero 'di kami natatakot kasi first of all maganda 'yong may carrying capacity para di over-tourism (but we're not afraid because first of all, it’s good to have a carrying capacity to prevent over-tourism) and at the same time we can promote the other destinations that are lesser-known " she said. (PNA)
