by Daphne Galvez, Philippine Daily Inquirer, 17 Sep 2020
MANILA, Philippines — The Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) chief on Thursday said that “normalcy” in tourism — based on travel — could only likely happen in 2024.
TIEZA chief operating officer Pocholo Paragas said during House deliberations on the proposed 2021 budget of the Department of Tourism (DOT) that recovery for the tourism industry will possibly happen from 2021 up to 2023.
TIEZA is a Government Owned and Controlled Corporation attached to DOT.
“As to the projection in tourism, based on travel, it will start to recover within 2021, 2022, 2023. But normalcy is projected in 2024,” Paragas told lawmakers.
Paragas made the remark after Samar 2nd Dist. Rep. Sharee Ann Tan asked the TIEZA head about the construction of a boardwalk along San Juanico Bridge that was suspended due to the pandemic.
Tan asked whether the construction of the boardwalk would continue once the coronavirus pandemic dissipates since its funding have been realigned for the government’s COVID-19 response.
“We have the lights doon sa San Juanico Bridge, pagdating na magiging normal na lahat, mag-iinflux ‘yung mga turista, kailangan talaga ng boardwalk kasi doon kikita ‘yung people’s organization and the community,” she said.
“I would like to ask if it’s possible by next year, mapopondohan natin ‘yung hindi natuloy na project for the boardwalk?” Tan asked.
Paragas replied by saying that TIEZA has already created a program that would roll out projects that have been suspended due to the pandemic.
“In terms of the boardwalk, it is currently suspended now due to the Bayanihan Act. And once we get the influx of travel tax again and tourism again increases outbound-wise, naka-schedule na siya,” he said.
“The moment we get already the projects that travel tax increases, the suspended projects will automatically roll over,” he added.
The DOT is proposing a total budget of P3.8 billion for 2021.
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