The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has signed an agreement with two other agencies, the Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Department of National Defense (DND) to ensure peace and order along with tourism development in Mindanao.
DILG Secretary Benjamin Abalos, Jr. said his agency’s partnership with the DND and the DOT was a demonstration of the government’s dedication and desire to continue the development of an insurgency-free Mindanao that possesses great potentials through the implementation of community-based tourism programs.
Abalos said the DILG was committed to ensure that the local police were properly deployed in tourist destinations.
He also called on local government units to formulate action plans and engage civic organizations in their localities to collaborate and work together in promoting tourism development projects in the region.
He also called on local government units to formulate action plans and engage civic organizations in their localities to collaborate and work together in promoting tourism development projects in the region. “I’ve been to Mindanao countless times and every time I go here, I am really amazed by the beauty of Mindanao. The pristine beaches, the history-filled heritage sites, the warmth of the Mindanaoans–all of these are important ingredients for this region to thrive,” he said.
“What we need to do is to ensure peace and order. When a place is peaceful, quiet and safe, tourists will flock to it and that is what this convergence program is all about,” he added.
Signatories to the agreement were Abalos, DOT Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco, and DND Secretary Carlito Galvez, Jr. The event was held on May 31 at Marcian Convention Center in Zamboanga City.
Frasco visited recently Sultan Kudarat where she said her agency will prioritize the promotion of emerging destinations across the country and highlight the Filipino culture and identity.
She underscored the commitment of the government under the Marcos administration to give equal opportunities for tourism development and promotion, which puts emphasis on providing opportunities to lesser-known destinations.
“Our President Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos, Jr. very early on articulated in his administration that tourism is a priority, recognizing the power that tourism holds as far as its ability to change the lives of our fellow Filipinos,” Frasco said.
“No other industry is able to give such a great opportunity for economic advancement in the farthest places in our country other than tourism. His directive, together with the support of our Vice President Sara Duterte, is to allow tourism to be seen, felt, and heard in the countryside; to leave no one behind in the development of tourism,” she added.