More tourists hoped after sports tourism campaign launched

CEBU, Philippines - Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza hopes that the city government can attract more domestic and foreign tourists now that they intensified the campaign on sports tourism.

City Mayor Radaza said since they launched the city government campaign to promote the city's tourism program, a number of tourists, both domestic and foreign, have visited the city.

Mayor Radaza said the international sports tournament in previous years showed that it is very effective in attracting foreign visitors.

Radaza further said that beach resorts and hotel owners in Lapu-Lapu City supported the sports tourism program because they are the first beneficiary of it.

The city mayor further said that with the increasing number of tourists,  it also means additional income to Lapu-Lapu City.

Radaza further said good peace and order and improvement of the delivery of basic services are very important.

Radaza said she directed the city police office officials under the leadership of acting city police chief Armando Radoc to intensify the campaign against all forms of criminality.

Some barangays in Lapu-Lapu City have encountered problems in collecting garbage, especially those coming from different business and industrial establishments.

The Lapu-Lapu City government has given task to barangay officials to collect garbage in their respected place vowing to assist barangays if they face problems with regard to their garbage trucks.

Last year, officials of more than 10 barangays in Lapu-Lapu City were issued citation tickets for their failure to improve garbage collection.

Pajo Barangay Captain Junard "Ahong" Chan admitted that most of the city barangays lack resources to be more effective in collecting garbage.

Aside from the huge costs of crude oil, most of garbage trucks owned by some barangays are reportedly dilapidated.

Another barangay captain said business and industrial establishments in Lapu-Lapu City, depending of the type of business should pay garbage fee first before the issuance of business permit.

But while the city government is collecting thousands of pesos through garbage fees, the responsibility on collecting garbage rests on the barangays.

Most of these big businesses and industrial establishments pay garbage fee to the city government, The Freeman learned.  (FREEMAN)