Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 4)— Lawmakers wanted to restore cuts in the proposed budget of the Department of Tourism (DoT) for 2020.
The agency’s original budget proposal was ₱4.3 billion, but the Budget department only approved ₱3.8 billion with most cuts done on regional offices.
Members of the House committee on appropriations on Wednesday said they will increase the budget by at least ₱800 million.
“I would like to see farm tourism projects to be increased by double, at the very minimum,” said Lanao Del Sur 1st District Representative Khalid Dimaporo.
If a portion of the proposed 2020 national budget should be slashed, Rizal 1st District Representative Jack Duavit said that it should be from “less efficient” departments.
“Titignan natin (We will look into) those departments that are less efficient can be cut and those that are working well and producing can be added to,” Duavit said.
Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo Puyat said the contribution of the tourism sector to the economy has increased.
“Despite the closure of Boracay, lumaki ang contribution ng turismo sa ekonomiya. Pangalawa 13% na siya ng total employment,” Puyat said during the hearing.
[Translation: Despite the closure of Boracay, tourism’s contribution to the economy increased. It is also the source of 13 percent of the total employment.]
Puyat said the tourism sector continues to employ more people.
CNN Philippines’ correspondent AC Nicholls contributed to this report.
