Palace lauds DOT-DPWH infra program

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang lauded yesterday the Convergence on Tourism Infrastructure Program of the Department of Tourism and the Department of Public Works and Highways to coordinate support for tourism-related businesses in local communities.

The program also forged tie-ups between the two departments in constructing roads throughout the Philippines to reach the country’s tourist sites.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said this will help in the preparation for the influx of 10 million foreign visitors targeted by the government by 2016, as well as ensure that inclusive growth would redound to the marginalized.

“These reports are reminders of the sea-change in how we do things in this country: a nefarious practice transformed to aid those in dire need; a public-sector initiative rolled out to benefit those in the farthest margins,” Valte said.

“The fight for transparency, accountability, inclusive growth and good governance has many fronts – these stories tell us that we are winning the fight,” she said.

Valte also cited a report that P19.65 million worth of illegal timber were seized by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Davao region last year.

Through a memorandum of agreement between the Tagum City government, the DENR, and the Department of Education (DepEd), the logs were converted into school and hospital fixtures, as well as double-deck beds for soldiers and law enforcers.

“The report stated that about 12,000 of these school chairs, desks, and hospital beds have so far been distributed to our brothers and sisters in disaster-ravaged Davao del Norte and Compostela Valley,” Valte said.

She said cooperation between national government agencies and local government units (LGUs) continued to produce materials and services benefiting the poor.