CUYAPO, Nueva Ecija – At least two faith and two tourist destinations within this province’s first congressional district have received a big boost as Congress found them to have great potential.
“Isa po sa isinusulong ng Department of Tourism ngayon ay ang faith and eco-tourism,” said Sen. Nancy Binay, chair of the Senate Committee on Tourism, after an ocular inspection on Mt. Bulalay here Friday.
Binay also visited the Holy Face of Jesus at the Immaculate Concepcion Parish in Nampicuan, which were included in a proposed legislation passed by the House of Representatives on Wednesday as authored by Rep. Estrellita Suansing.
Also included in Suansing’s measure which seeks to support established tourism programs in her district was the popular Taong Putik Festival in Barangay Bibiclat, Aliaga town.
The budget for the proposed tourism programs not immediately known.
Mt. Bulaylay in Barangay Landig in this northwesternmost Nueva Ecija municipality features a zipline that is currently attracting local tourists.
“Kitang kita ko ngayon na ang tatlong bayan na ito ay pwedeng magtulungan para i-develop yung ganitong klaseng tourist destination,” the senator said.
Binay hailed rising tourist arrivals in the country, noting however that the Philippines has still a lot to do as it remains lagging behind neighboring Asian countries. “Kasi tayo ho seven million tourist arrivals, ang Thailand ho yata ay nag-30 o 50 (million) na,” Binay said.
But in terms of development, she stressed, ngayon ho budget season bantayan ho natin budget ng DOT para po matulungan yung mga fourth and fifth class municipality na i-develop yung mga tourism site,” she said.
The country’s peace and order, however, appears to be encouraging enough despite restlessness in isolated areas.
“I think the mere fact na growing ho yung trend ng mga tourist arrivals natin tingin ko hindi na ganun kalaki yung peace and order but siyempre me mga lugar ho sa bansa na hanggang ngayon ay naka-alert pa rin sa abroad like Mindanao,” Binay added.
“I think tayo po dito sa Luzon pati na rin sa Visayas ay pwede nating ma-maximize itong tourism industry,” she said.
