DOT 6 to award grant to 5 tourism enterprise zones
The Department of Tourism (DOT) in Western Visayas is set to award a grant to five eco-tourism enterprise zones recipients under its Grassroots Entrepreneurial Eco-Tourism (GREET) program, in support of the government’s Comprehensive Livelihood Emergency Employment Program (CLEEP).
The five were chosen from among those 13 proposals previously validated by the DOT to be recipients of the GREET Grant for the development and enhancement of local entrepreneurship, where the direct beneficiaries are the local residents themselves.
DOT 6 Information Officer Rene Cortum said the five grantees are the Bulabog Puti-an National Park Tours, Accommodation and Transport Services, Dingle, Iloilo; Bugang River Cultural, Nature and Adventure Tours, Pandan, Antique; Marugo Dam Resort in Tapaz, Capiz; Pangilatan Falls Eco-Tourism Park, Tapaz, Capiz and the Bgy. Tuno Eco-Lodge, Tibiao, Antique.
Cortum said these eco-tourism zones, true to the provision of the Tourism Act of 2009 recently signed by President Arroyo, are expected to spur the creation of jobs and provide more channels for investments that will pull out people from economic difficulties.
The grant, Cortum said, will take the form of capability building activities for members of the eco-zones, like skills training as needed in the operation of the enterprise, and facilities or equipment as needed.
“If the group will venture into tours and transport operations or resort management, , they will be given training and orientation on the mechanics of tour-guiding and transport or resort management, to enable them to compete and earn,” Cortum said.
“This way, they will be capacitated to run community-based eco-tourism enterprises that can lure foreign and domestic tourists to visit their places and experience the richness of culture and history, while enjoying the comfort of local hospitality,” Cortum added.
Under the Tourism Act, tourism is declared as an indispensable element of the national economy and an industry of national importance. (PIA6/ESS)