SEN. Juan Edgardo Angara prodded the Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Small Business Corporation (SBC) on Wednesday to take the initiative to offer timely assistance, including loans, to tourism operators.
The senator suggested that both DOT and SBC hold dialogues and extend voluntary aid to the ailing tourism sector to keep them afloat, and especially as they have new requirements for meeting the demands of reopening. Thousands of tourists have been flocking to the Philippines since the country reopened its borders two weeks ago.
Angara indicated this is the least that the concerned agencies can do to boost the affected investors in the tourism industry.
Referring to a report rendered by Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo Puyat on lifting the ban on foreign travellers—as Covid alert levels eased—over 212,000 visitors arrived into the country since March, noting this marked a 130-percent increase in tourist arrivals compared to the same period in 2021.
According to Angara, Senate finance committee chairman, the DOT was provided funds in its budget to extend loans at low interest in its budget to aid tourism operators through the SB Corp., under the Department of Trade and Industry.
Under the Bayanihan 2 law to address the pandemic, a P4-billion fund was intended to extend loans to the affected tourism sector but as of February, only P278 million was loaned to tourism-related firms while P524-million loans were still being processed.
It was claimed that the small number beneficiaries availing themselves of the loan was due “slow business” amid the imposition of lockdowns and community quarantine due to the Covid contagion.
Angara suggested, however, that the government take the lead in boosting the tourism industry. He noted that the Philippines will also host the upcoming Global Summit of the world travel and tourism sector in Manila on April 20-22, expected to be attended by tourism officials and stakeholders from different countries.