THE World Bank and the Asian Development Bank want to fund sustainable programs by building proper infrastructure in the Philippines, Undersecretary Arturo Boncato Jr. said.
During a panel discussion at the Routes Asia 2019 Summit, Boncato, who is in charge of tourism regulation, coordination and resource generation of the Department of Tourism (DOT), revealed there is an ongoing discussion on the plan of a grant at no cost to the government.
“It’s more of them helping us in doing planning and making recommendations on what kind of investments the country should make in terms of infrastructure, primarily,” Boncato said.
“This is also giving us the software of providing us skills through training, and helping our stakeholders to do proper planning, of local and national government to invest in planning for sustainable tourism,” he added.
He said sustainable tourism is not only about enforcing existing environmental laws and creating new ones, but also about building infrastructure that will preserve it for the next generations.
“We have to provide an environment for it to thrive and grow. That’s why infrastructure like drainage, water and sewer systems are really vital in ensuring our islands with sensitive environments are protected with this kind of infrastructure,” he said.
“Intervention of the government in providing infrastructure is really necessary and it’s something we need to focus on and invest in,” he said.
Tourists, he added, should also maintain a set of manners and decorum when visiting destinations in the Philippines. (JOB)