President Benigno S. Aquino III graces the Philippine Travel Agencies Association 21st Travel Tour Expo 2014 at the SMX Convention Center, Seashell Drive, Mall of Asia Complex in Pasay City on Friday (February 14) with the theme: “Love Life, Love Travel.” The Department of Tourism (DOT) is projecting 2014 tourism revenues to hit P1.4 trillion, higher by P110.6 billion of the expected earnings from domestic tourism in 2013 due in large part to a forecasted increase in the daily expenditures of domestic tourists. (MNS photo)
MANILA (Mabuhay) – Aimed at further boosting the country’s tourism industry, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will commence this year the implementation of Tourism Water Supply Infrastructure Program (TWSIP)to provide potable water supply to 30 waterless tourism spots across the country.
DPWH secretary Rogelio L. Singson said with the release by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) of P1.73 Billion for the TWSIP, the department is now set to begin with the water source development and corresponding detailed engineering design of projects that were identified in coordination with the Department of Tourism(DOT), Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA), and the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC).
Singson said areas that were identified as recipients of the projects are considered in-need locations or those that have remain waterless for years, but have potential for growth particularly in the tourism industry.
“Tourism spots need to have safe and sustainable water supplies in order to cater to more tourists. This will be addressed once our water resource projects are completed,” the DPWH Secretary said.
“Our target is to start the implementation of TWSIP this year, or as soon as possible,” Singson also said.
The DPWH chief said among the 30 municipalities that will be covered by the project are: Currimao and San Nicolas in Ilocos Norte (Region 1); Baguio City in Benguet (Cordillera Administrative Region); Roxas and El Nido in Palawan (Region 4B); Aroroy in Masbate (Region 5); Murcia and San Carlos City in Negros Occidental, Balete and Libacao in Aklan; Jamindan and Pres. Roxas in Capiz and Passi in Iloilo, all of Region 6.
Also included are eight (8) municipalities in Central Visayas, with five in Cebu namely: Aloguinsan, Toledo City, San Fernando, Sibonga, and three in Bohol namely: Jetafe, Talibon, and Trinidad.
Adding to the beneficiaries are two areas in Western Mindanao namely, Dapitan City in Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga City in Zamboanga del Sur; one in Region 10 namely, Barangay Carmen, Cagayan de Oro in Misamis Oriental; with six in Region 11 namely: Nabunturan and Montevista in Compostela Valley and Asuncio, Braulio E Dujali, Carmen and New Corella in Davao del Norte.
The Tourism Water Supply Infrastructure Program is a joint project of the DPWH, DOT, LWUA, NAPC, with support from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), seeking to facilitate tourism and economic growth in identified priority development areas in the Philippines.(MNS)