SENATOR Joseph Victor Ejercito have vowed to support and promote Cordillera’s tourism industry, which he sees as the premiere centerpiece of development in the region.
Ejercito, who was the guest of honor during the Lang-ay Festival in Bontoc, Mountain Province, said the beauty of the Cordilleras should be persevered since it is the strength of the region.
“I really appreciate the beauty of Mountain Province and Ifugao, and I think this are not only a natural treasure but part of the wonders of the world," he said.
Ejercito is set to make a privilege speech in the Senate to advice the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (Tieza) to restructure their process of allocating budgets for potential tourism destinations instead of allocating budgets for some 300 districts which have proven to be non-viable.
"As vice chairman on committee on finance, I will propose to Tieza that those areas like Banaue, Mt. Data, Mayon and others should be supported via the concentration on building high impact infrastructures projects instead of spreading it with no positive impact," Ejercito said.
Aside from the Banaue Hotel, Ejercito visited Mt. Data hotel to see for himself the much needed rehabilitation it needs for tourist to enjoy.
"These are all tourism potential areas and I would like to do my share on how to develop these areas and this are the threats of Cordillera which is very beautiful to which we should develop it," Ejercito said.