Tourism to benefit from P182B infra fund—Abad

Malacañang is marshalling the bulk of the P182.2-billion budget earmarked this year for infrastructure projects to help the tourism sector lure 4.6 million foreign visitors.

Budget Secretary Florencio B. Abad said Monday that “much” of the infrastructure kitty will be used to build airports, roads and bridges that are key to drawing tourists to visit the various attractions in the country.

“Our ultimate target is to attract 10 million visitors [a year] by the end of President Aquino’s term,” he added.

The infrastructure package includes the P8.1-billion budget of the Department of Public Works and Highways for the construction of access roads to airports and to roll-on/roll-off ports leading to various tourist destinations such as those in Boracay, Palawan, Bohol, Bicol, Cebu, Mindanao, and Northern and Central Luzon.

Also, a total of P1.2 billion has been earmarked for the development of the New Bohol International Airport in Panglao, while P1 billion will be directed to the Puerto Princesa Airport Development project. Both projects are under the Department of Transportation and Communications.

Further, the Department of Tourism has allocated P762.4 million to push its international promotion campaigns into high gear.

Abad said an additional P18.6 million will be channelled to a major international tourist exposition in Yeosu, Korea, and another P12.5 million will be used to beef up local tourism promotion activities.

He said the development of parks will also be funded as the National Parks Development Committee will have a P37.6-million budget for the development, beautification, preservation and maintenance of Rizal Park and other satellite parks in the country.