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SISIGLA, umano, ang industriya ng turismo sa bansa sanhi ng P10-bilyong pondong ibinuhos ng pamahalaan sa Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA).
Ayon sa chairman ng House committee on good governance and public accountability Jose Antonio Sy-Alvarado malawak ang mararating ng pondong ito sa sektor ng turismo.
Sa isang pahayag, sinabi ni Sy-Alvarado na ang pondo’y “will unlock development in the tourism industry by boosting infrastructure and providing establishments the opportunity to work on tourist sites often neglected and lacking in facilities such as access roads, restrooms, and accommodation facilities.”
Aniya, ang pondong ito ay kasama sa “Bayanihan to Recover as One” o Bayanihan 2 na aprobado na sa Mababang Kapulungan na nakalaan ang mga mekanismong magpapautang sa mga kompanyang may kaugnayan sa turismo.
Ani Sy-Alvarado, dapat bigyan ng prayoridad ng gobyerno ang pagpapaunlad ng impraestruktura para sa turismo ngayong kakaunti ang mga turista at sa panahon na kailangan ng trabaho ng mga tao sa kanayunan dahil as krisis na dulot ng pandemyang CoVid-19.
Anang kongresman, habang ang P10-bilyong working capital ay nasa TIEZA, makikinabang din ang Department of Tourism (DOT) sa pamamagitan ng “credit and loan programs for tourism stakeholders” sa tulong ng GFIs kagaya ng Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) at Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP).
Sa Bayanihan 2, P51 bilyon ang ilalaan sa GFIs na hahatiin sa P5 bilyon para sa credit guarantee program ng Philippine Guarantee Corporation; P30 bilyon, at P15 bilyon para sa support banking facilities at equity infusion sa LBP at DBP.
Magkakaroon din ng karagdagang P1 bilyon bilang pondo sa “CoVid-19 Assistance to Restart Enterprises (CARES) Program of the Small Business Corporation at sa ibang lending programs na aabot sa mga micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
“We value the tourism industry as much as we value all other sectors in the country, which is why aside from the P10-billion fund allocated for tourism infrastructure, we also allocated P51 billion to GFIs that can easily provide access to credit and loan programs to MSMEs, including small-scale tourism-oriented enterprises accredited by local government units,” ani Sy-Alvarado.
“While we understand that the industry took one of the greatest hits when the pandemic struck, we would also like to remind everyone that we must still maintain balance in our pursuit of economic recovery. That includes considering our fiscal standing and our ability to create and fund programs that are inclusive for all sectors,” dagdag ni Sy-Alvarado.
“Ang kamara ay makikipag-ugnayan sa DOT, TIEZA, at sa tourism stakeholders upang makabuo ng mga programa na tutulong sa sektor ng turismo.
“The Bayanihan 2 is not the be-all and end-all of our COVID-19 response. It is very essential and crucial, but it is only part of a bigger master plan that we have in the House of Representatives. We still have the upcoming discussions and budget hearings for the 2021 national budget and other stimulus bills that will go hand-in-hand with it, so all stakeholders and the public do not have to worry as all of these are directed to the recovery of our economy,” ani Sy-Alvarado. (GERRY BALDO)
