DOT invites grassroots to be ecotour entrepreneurs
Tacloban City -- In line with the directive of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to promote and safeguard the country's eco-tourism sites through the provision of essential services for tourists, the Department of Tourism (DOT) is inviting individuals and groups from the grassroots to become ecotourism entrepreneurs.
Department of Tourism Region 8 Director Karen Tiopes informed PIA that the Department of Tourism has conceptualized the Grassroots Entrepreneurs for Eco-tourism (GREET) program in order to enhance the livelihood opportunities for promising entrepreneurs who can best explore the inherent tourist drawing potentials of ecotourism sites which can readily be sources of income within their respective protected areas.
The GREET program which DOT is undertaking together with the Philippine Convention and Visitors Corporation (PCVC),will be launched in Eastern Visayas on April 19-20, 2007.
The GREET Program, Director Tiopes bared, would provide blocks of P50,000 worth of grants to deserving groups of individuals with feasible entrepreneurial or business proposals in ecotourism sites in the country. Priority, she said, would be given to young entrepreneurs.
Individual or group applications will be evaluated in terms of how they meet the GREET program objectives. The project proposals should encourage the development of an enterprising culture within the locality without jeopardizing the sustainable management of natural and cultural resources of the eco-tourism site.
The proposal should also provide good value for money and with realistic projections or process of implementation and be financially and technically viable. Further, it should promote cultural preservation and respect for indigenous knowledge and practices and promote environmental education and protection through appropriate plans, standards, policies and practices.
Moreover, Director Tiopes said that applications will be assessed and graded through a point rating system with several criteria such as originality, uniqueness of the project and creativity; viability of implementation and projections, economic impact and job creation, promotion of natural and cultural preservation and growth potentials.
Interested parties may secure application forms from the Municipal Tourism Offices, Department of Tourism Regional Offices or at the GREET Secretariat Office. Forms may also be downloaded from the GREET website at www.wowpinoy.net/greet.
Deadline for submission of applications or entries is on June 30, 2007 and the awarding of grants will be in the month of September, 2007.
(PIA 8)