The Philippines will meet 100 percent of its domestic tourism targets this year amid the oil spill that recently crippled the tourism sector in Oriental Mindoro, Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco said on Tuesday.
In a press briefing at Malacanang, the Department of Tourism (DOT) chief said the numbers they are getting from the sector have been encouraging, with most of them exceeding their target projections, particularly Puerto Galera, the top tourism destination in Oriental Mindoro province.
“As of 2022, Puerto Galera has already generated half a billion pesos in tourism receipts as far as international arrivals are concerned. On the other hand, with regard to domestic tourism, Puerto Galera, plus our other regional destinations, have reported in excess of their targets in terms of the projected arrivals for domestic tourists,” Frasco said.
“And that means no less than 122 million domestic trips that will be taken by our fellow Filipinos and visiting foreigners living in the Philippines this year,” the DOT official added.
Frasco also welcomed the joint statement issued by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Department of Health (DOH) regarding the water quality test results in Puerto Galera, showing that of 35 sample sites, nine passed the test in accordance with the DENR guidelines.
“We welcome this positively especially considering that of the nine sites identified, several of these are actually very prime dive sites for Puerto Galera – one of which I dove in recently, specifically in La Laguna,” she said.
“With regard to the other areas that were not seen to have complied with the threshold set in the water quality test results under DENR guidelines, we are also pleased to receive the Department of Health’s position that the public is advised to proceed with caution but that no swimming ban has been indicated, only that concerns have been expressed in the ingestion of water,” Frasco pointed out.
She noted that the DOT is fully supportive of working with DENR, DOH and the provincial and local government units in Oriental Mindoro “so that we can proceed in a manner that will ensure the sustainability of these tourism destinations.”
Citing figures from the provincial tourism office, Frasco said the province incurred a little over Php900 million in losses due to the recent oil spill.
“And that is why, I think, the most important thing right now as far as tourism is concerned is to really ensure the continued viability of Puerto Galera as a tourism destination considering that no less than 11,000 tourism workers depend on the industry continuing to be open,” the DOT chief added.
During their visit to Oriental Mindoro, Frasco said national government officials, led by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., met with several mayors and community-based tourism organizations regarding the livelihood training for the affected residents.
“Magsisimula na po iyong alternative livelihood trainings on April 24 and it will continue until May. In conjunction with this, kasi po concerned iyong ating Presidente sa kapakanan ng ating mga kababayang Pilipino especially our tourism frontline workers,” she said.
“We have also agreed with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) na iyong mabibigyan ng alternative training, on one hand, bibigyan po sila ng free na starter kit para sa trainings na matatanggap nila and on the other hand, mabibigyan po sila ng TUPAD financial assistance,” the DOT chief said, adding that the Marcos administration is carefully balancing the need to protect lives and the livelihood of residents.
TUPAD or the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers is a community-based package of assistance that provides emergency employment for displaced workers, underemployed and seasonal workers, for a minimum period of 10 days, but not to exceed a maximum of 30 days, depending on the nature of work to be performed.
Frasco also thanked the chief executive for continuing to articulate the importance of the tourism industry under his administration, recognizing the massive contribution that it continues to have on the Philippine economy.
Last week, the chief executive went to Oriental Mindoro to inspect the oil spill site in the province.
The President then led the distribution of various government assistance to the residents affected by the oil spill. (PND)
