Task force to focus on BLISTT progress

DEPARTMENT of Tourism (DOT) Regional Director Purificacion Molintas said Task Force BLISST had initial meetings last month and will focus on development of all areas soon. 

Molintas said the task force, now in charge of the development of tourism in Boracay, is set to do the same for Baguio City and neighboring provinces in the Cordilleras.

Representatives from the National Economic Development Authority (Neda) as well as the Baguio Planning Officer Evelyn Cayat presented backgrounders of Baguio City as well as the surrounding Baguio, La Trinidad, Itogon, Sablan, Tuba and Tublay (BLISTT) sites. 

Molintas said the real scenarios in the areas were presented along with priority issues for each site, topping the list of concerns were land titles being issued within tourism parks and sites. 

The presidential task force is taking the lead for planning Boracay and BLISTT that were identified as “fragile” by the National Government. 

Only two areas were identified as fragile by the DOT and the palace meriting the set up of the task force. 

Molintas said another concern of the task force is how to engage the BLISTT in tourism programs that could jumpstart economic growth for the areas while keeping an environmental balance. 

Included in the Task Force are the Departments of Environment and Natural Resources, of Interior and Local Government as well as the Department of Justice. 

Molintas said the task force is now focusing on the implementation of plans for Boracay that include the removal of over 200 illegal structures along the white sand of the islands in a bid to preserve the environment, as well as set standards to tourism infrastructure. 

Molintas said a meeting with the task force is yet to be scheduled.

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