Bantayan island chosen as ProGed beneficiary

CEBU, Philippines - Bantayan Island, one of Cebu’s prized tourism jewels, gets a boost as it is one of the identified beneficiaries of the German-funded program to improve its tourism value chain.

Cebu provincial government tourism affairs consultant Patria Aurora “Dawnie” Roa said that Bantayan has been identified by the ProGed program, a joint undertaking by the Philippines and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development.

According to Roa, all tourism stakeholders in Bantayan Island will be provided with extensive training and workshops on greening the tourism environment.

“Bantayan Island’s potential is promising. What remains to be the problem is the access of easy transportation going to the Island,” said Roa.

Roa is commissioned as one of the aim consultants of Cebu Provincial vice governor Agnes Magpale, who is also the chairperson of the committee on Tourism and International affairs.

The capability program, Roa said will equip the stakeholders on the world-class standard of tourism service and exploiting its potential for community-based tourism programs.

Stakeholders, as well as residents on the island will also be taught on the proper tour guiding, Roa added.

The ProGED program, has picked Bohol and Cebu as the main beneficiaries, focusing on development further the tourism, and health and wellness sector.

It will run for three years, from January 2013 to December 2015 and will be piloted in the tourism value chain of Bohol and Cebu, with an aim to upscale outside the pilot areas on the second year.

It aims to pursue its objective along three intervention lines, namely information and awareness on Green Economic Development, green service facilitation and match making and working towards green framework conditions.

ProGED  will build on the gains and experiences of the previous program jointly implemented by GIZ and DTI which ended last December 2012, the Private Sector Promotion (SMEDSEP) Program.

Bantayan Island, together with its neighbor Islet Malapascua, are gaining popularity among international divers, and vacationers, and adventure tourism enthusiasts, especially from Europe.

According to Roa, there is a need to provide capabilities among the tourism stakeholders on the island, in order to enhance its charm, luring more local and international tourists.

Earlier, Cebu Provincial Governor Hilario Davide III, said that his administration’s main thrust in developing the tourism potential of the province, is to further advance the development of countryside tourism, empowering the community to grab the golden opportunity of tourism, while providing them the right infrastructure and technical support to make tourism as one of the major livelihood channels among residents.

The Governor vowed that bulk of the provincial government funds will be spent and used to engage rural communities and tourism stakeholders in developing tourism advantages in different towns in the province.

 Also, the new Governor said that aside from forging strong linkages with the community and the tourism stakeholders, the Local Government Units (LGUs) will also be encouraged to set up good home-stay programs in the respective towns.

“Tourism is a fiercely competitive market,” Davide said adding that Cebu should take advantage of its resources and positioning as a world-known tourism destination both locally and internationally.

In a separate interview with Department of Tourism (DOT-7) regional director Rowena Montecillo, she said that more than beaches, cultural heritage, shopping and others, Cebu is now moving to intensify its niche in adventure tourism, and other out-door and nature activities either within the urban cities and countryside destinations. /JOB (FREEMAN)