DOT Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat and DOTr Secretary Arthur P. Tugade sign pact for iLIPAD convergence program. Photo by Joann Manabat
CLARK FREEPORT — To accelerate and strengthen travel and tourism in the country, the Department of Tourism (DOT) inked a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) at the at Quest Plus Conference Center here on Wednesday.
The MOA dubbed, “Institutionalize Leveraging Infrastructure Program for Airport Development (iLIPAD),” was signed by Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo- Puyat and Transportation Secretary Arthur P. Tugade.
Puyat said the DOT Board is set to approve in its next meeting a P1-billion budget for its convergence program through the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) as part of its airport-upgrading efforts.
Among the much-needed infrastructure of airports in the country is by equipping them with night-rating capabilities.
According to Puyat, the iLIPAD convergence program will help synchronize efforts to enhance the tourism infrastructure and route development programs in the country by addressing the parameters needed to boost tourism.
She said these can be done by administering adequate infrastructure that can ease in travel facilitation, provide safety and security, and develop the tourism areas.
For his part, Tugade expressed his full support and commitment to work with the DOT to fully optimize the use of the airports in the country.
“I would like to thank the Department of Tourism. This gesture is very encouraging, because believe it or not, the capacity of all commercially-operating airports in the Philippines has and have to be night-rated in order that they make sense and the efficiency desired can be achieved,” Tugade said.
According to Tugade, equipping commercially-operated airports with night-rating capability aims to increase operational efficiency of airports and reduce daytime flight congestion as he also mentioned minor problems and concerns that occur primarily at any airport that could also cause drawback on progress such as the importance of cleanliness and sanitation for public comfort rooms and relieving long queues at the immigration.
Tourism road
This, even as Puyat hailed the existing convergence between DOT and the Department of Public Works and Highways for tourism roads, access to airports and partnerships with other agencies and the private sector.
She also acknowledged the partnership with DOTr and Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines in facilitating the construction of the Mactan-Cebu International Airport and the Bohol- Panglao International Airport.
Closer to home, Puyat announced the near completion of the new terminal at Clark International Airport which is set to open by middle of this year.
In line with the Duterte Administration’s Build, Build, Build Program and as part of the efforts to decongest the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Puyat also mentioned the ongoing construction of a new international airport in Daraga, Albay, as well as the expansion plans for Davao, Iloilo, Kalibo, Puerto Princesa and Laguindingan international airports.
The iLIPAD convergence program is an implementation of Republic Act (RA) 9593 or Tourism Act of 2009 and the National Tourism Development Plan for 2016-2022 which is a direct consequence of the Tourism Act emerging as an important driver of the Philippine economy.
