The Department of Tourism (DOT), led by Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, held a convergence meeting with all concerned government agencies to solicit inputs on agency initiatives concerning tourism development for 2022 to 2023. It will jumpstart a collective response from concerned agencies to align initiatives and address the recovery requirements of the Philippine tourism industry that was critically affected by COVID-19. The Tourism Development Plan is a priority program under the Economic Development Cluster.
In response to the call of the DOT for concerned agencies to provide their initiatives on tourism development, Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center Director Maria Lerma L. Advincula briefed the participants on how to tap PPPs to build the supporting infrastructure for tourism-led economic growth. Director Advincula shared the Center’s proposed strategy for PPP implementation, focusing on the different approaches and activities in pursuing PPPs for tourism-related infrastructure.
“In managing the Covid 19 impact on the Philippine economy, the full implementation of the economic recovery program should always include private sector participation through PPPs. In the case of our tourism sector, infrastructure development is central to its ability to bounce back. The private sector can play a vital role in these much-needed infrastructure for tourism-led economic recovery.”
The Philippine PPP program currently has several tourism projects under implementation. Using an integrated approach, the PPP Center and the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) are developing the Rizal Park Western Section Development Project.
This project involves the redevelopment of the western section of the Rizal Park in the City of Manila which aims to preserve the cultural significance of the park while optimizing the engagement of the private sector in the financing, design, improvement, construction, and operation and maintenance of the park and its facilities and attractions. The PPP Center is also assisting the University of the Philippines – Los Baños in the UP Los Baños Agro-Industrial and Information Technology Parks Project. Other tourism-related PPP projects in the pipeline include property development projects such as the Clark TIEZA Tourism Enterprise Zone (TEZ) – 150-Room 3-Star Hotel (Businessman’s Hotel) and the Mount Data Lodge Project. One PPP tourism related project that is currently operational is the Clark International Airport Expansion– Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) and Operation and Maintenance (O&M) implemented by the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA).
On local PPPs, tourism is an emerging sector where implementing agencies such as local government units (LGUs) see PPPs as a viable delivery mechanism for local tourism infrastructure projects. With the Mandanas Ruling and full devolution stated in Executive Order No. 138, LGUs are expected to prioritize tourism-related development projects. The PPP Center, through its Local PPP Strategy, has been assisting the LGUs in their PPP and JV projects
