Wazzup Pilipinas!
Tourism Secretary Ramon R. Jimenez, Jr., together with the Department of Tourism (DOT) and the tourism industry, expressed their deepest sympathies to the families and victims of the 7.2 magnitude earthquake in Bohol and Cebu last Tuesday morning, which also resulted in significant damages to cultural and heritage structures. The DOT has commenced moves for the swift recovery and rehabilitation of key tourism infrastructures in Cebu and Bohol. Secretary Jimenez said, “We ought to find ways to speed up recovery of the affected areas, especially that tourism is a major industry fueling their economies.”
The DOT Region 7 office reports that most hotels, resorts and other business establishments have resumed their operations and business as usual is being observed in Cebu and Panglao Island in Bohol. The rest are still assessing the structural integrity of their establishments. Though there are some tours still being carried out, areas severely affected by yesterday’s quake are off-limits to the public. These include the Basilica del Sto. Nino and Fort San. Pedro in Cebu, the Baclayon Church and Dauis Church in Bohol, and its other heritage churches. The National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) and the National Commission of Culture and the Arts (NCCA) are conducting the necessary assessment of these heritage structures.
Parallel to the Secretary’s visit to the provinces tomorrow, the DOT’s Crisis Management Committee headed by Undersecretary Daniel G. Corpuz, will hold consultation meetings with heads of industry to come up with a contingency plan to regain market confidence and a plan to offer alternative tour programs within Cebu/Bohol.
Ross is known as the Pambansang Blogger ng Pilipinas - An Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Professional by profession and a Social Media Evangelist by heart.
