AN AGREEMENT has been formalized among the Cebu Provincial Government, the Department of Tourism (DOT), and the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (Tieza) to promote and develop Tieza’s assets in Cebu Province, with an aim to realize potential economic benefits.
The signatories of the memorandum of agreement (MOA) were Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia, her daughter DOT Secretary Christina Frasco, and Tieza Chief Operating Officer Mark Lapid.
The MOA signing took place at the Carcar City Hall in southern Cebu, on Sunday, Aug. 27, 2023.
The partnership recognizes tourism as a potent economic catalyst in Cebu Province.
Under the agreement, the Capitol, DOT, and Tieza (an attached agency to DOT) will work hand in hand on the promotion of Tieza-owned lots across the province.
Tieza’s properties include the Kang-Irag Golf Course and Maomawan properties in Cebu City, the Argao Beach Club in Argao, the Dalaguete Beach Park in Dalaguete, and an 11-hectare property in Moalboal, which is part of Tieza’s list of prime Tourism Enterprise Zone (TEZ).
Tieza is on track to collaborate with the private sector to implement its master plan for the development of its property in Moalboal, said lawyer Karen Mae Sarinas-Baydo, Tieza’s assistant chief operations officer for TEZ, in a tourism forum last July 13.
As part of its master plan, Tieza is aiming to strengthen the diving community in Moalboal by building an integrated tourism complex.
Under the agreement, the Capitol will help Tieza market its properties through the Provincial Economic Enterprise Council (EEC).
The EEC may suggest tourism-related projects and investments for the development, operation, administration and management of Tieza’s assets in Cebu, either by the provincial government or other qualified developers and operators.
Tieza may also allocate funds for the rehabilitation, operations, maintenance or development of these properties, and grant economic incentives to qualified tourism investors.
These high-value assets are expected to generate revenue for the DOT, create jobs for Cebuanos, and increase Cebu’s tourism offerings and packages.
The LGUs involved will also benefit from revenue generation.
The MOA signing was held after the launching of the DOT’s Tourist Rest Area (TRA) in Carcar City (the second in Cebu), and hours before the start of the Pasigarbo sa Sugbo 2023 at the New Carcar City Sports Complex.
Also present during the MOA signing were Vice President Sara Duterte, First Lady Liza Marcos, Senators Ramon Revilla and Lito Lapid, Argao Mayor Allan Sesaldo, Dalaguete Mayor Ronald Allan Sesante, and Moalboal Mayor Titing Cabaron.
DOT Usec. Shalimar Tamano, Tieza board of directors Roy Martin, and provincial board member Kerrie Shimura also served as witnesses of the MOA signing.