DoT-DoTr meet to boost tourism infra, connectivity
Credit to Author: The Manila Times| Date: Fri, 10 Jan 2020 16:49:40 +0000
Philippine tourism and transportation officials convened to strengthen the tourism infrastructure convergence program to ensure that the country’s tourism industry is off to another productive year with enhanced tourism infrastructure and increased connectivity.
The conference highlights included the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement titled “Institutionalized Leveraging of Infrastructure Program for Airport Development (iLiPAD) led by Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat and Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade.
In her opening remarks, the tourism chief announced that the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority, or Tieza, the implementing agency and infrastructure arm of the Department of Tourism (DoT), is currently working with the Department of Transportation (DoTr) on the possibility of funding several airports in the country to equip them with night-rating capabilities. “Funding amounting to P1 billion is set for approval by the Tieza Board in their next board meeting. We must make sure that it’s not only more fun in the Philippines, but much safer too.”
In his remarks, DoTr Secretary Tugade expressed his full support and commitment to work with the DoT.
“I would like to thank the Department of Tourism. This gesture is very encouraging, because believe it or not, the capacity of all commercially-operating airports in the Philippines has and have to be night-rated in order that they make sense and the efficiency desired can be achieved,” stressed Secretary Tugade.
In line with the Duterte Administration’s Build, Build, Build Program and as part of the efforts to decongest the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), Sec. Puyat said in the works is the construction of a new international airport in Daraga, Albay, as well as the expansion plans for Davao, Iloilo, Kalibo, Puerto Princesa and Laguindingan international airports.
Joining Secretaries Puyat and Tugade were DoT Undersecretary Arturo Boncato, Jr., Usec. Manuel Tamayo, DoT Region 3 Director Carolina Uy, officials of Tieza and CAAP. Representatives from the private sector include Philippine Airlines, Air Asia Philippines, Cebu Pacific, Air Swift, Air Juan, Aboitiz InfraCapital Inc. GMR-Megawide Cebu Airport Corporation and Lipad Consortium.
Also in attendance at the 2020 convergence conference were representatives of the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA), Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB), International Air Transport Association (IATA), Bureau of Immigration (BI), Office of the Transportation Security (OTS), Tourism Congress of the Philippines (TCP), DoT regional directors and CAAP area managers.