Tourism projects said to worsen joblessness in Phl

MANILA, Philippines - The government's projects in tourism development areas across the country will result in more jobless and under-employed people, a militant group said on Monday.

Activist group Pamalakaya said these projects will ultimately displace thousands, especially those working in coastal communities.

"More and more people will join the reserve army of labor and the displacement , especially in coastal areas, would be in huge proportions," Pamalakaya vice chairmaan Salvador France said.

The Department of Budget and Management, in a national budget memorandum last  April 18, said next year and in 2015, the national government will aggressively promote tourism in identified focal areas for public investment support to finish international airports and make roads leading to these tourism development sites accessible.

According to the memorandum, the first year of the Tourism Development Plan has been successfully implemented in 2012 with foreign visitor arrivals reaching 4.3 million,up from 3.9 million in 2011, and visitor receipts reaching $3.8 billion, up from $3 billion in 2011.

DBM Secretary Florencio Abad said  the pursuit of the following strategies will need to be continued to help the tourism industry reach its employment and growth inducing potentials such as improving market access, connectivity and destination infrastructure.

France said the Tourism Development Project under Aquino's Public-Private Partnership project and Medium Term Development Plan will displace coastal communities in identified tourism areas like Vigan (Ilocos Sur), Laoag (Ilocos Sur), Subic-Clark-Corregidor, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Bulacan, Zambales Coast, Bataan Coast and inland Aurora in Central Luzon;  Metro Manila, Nasugbu- Looc, Ternate, Cavite, Laguna de Bay, Batangas Peninsula and Quezon Coast and islands representing Metro Manila and Calabarzon; Camarines Sur and Camarines Norte, Catanduanes, Albay and Sorsogon in Bicol Region; San Vicente, El Nido, Taytay, Puerto Princesa, Southern Palawan, Busuanga, Coron and Culion in Palawan; Northern Cebu, Bantayan, Malapascua, Metro Cebu, Mactan, Olango, Southern Cebu; Negros Oriental, Dumaguete, Siquijor, Tagbiliran and Panglao in Bohol province; Metro Iloilo, Guimaras, Bacolod, Silay, Boracay, Kalibo, Antique and Capiz; Camiguin, Cagayan de Oro, Misamis Oriental coast, Iligan City and Lanao del Norte, Tangub Bay, Ozamiz and Oroquieta and Bukidnon; Davao City and Samal Island, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Compostela Valley and Davao Oriental.

He said despite the PPP-pushed projects will result in thr unemployment of 172,000 and underemployment of 373,000 people in Ilocos provinces and will continue to get worse.

He said there would be little jobs to be created and will not resolve unemployment and underemployment in Central Luzon, Metro Manila and Calabarzon with 466,000 unemployed and 849,000 underemployed people, Bicol with 148,000 unemployed and 780,000 underemployed, Palawan with 55,000 unemployed and 282,000 underemployed, Central Visayas with record of 224,000 unemployed and 605,000 underemployed people, Cagayan de Oro coast and hinterlands with 95,000 unemployed and 556,000 underemployed, and the Davao Gulf region with 119,000 unemployed and 335,000 underemployed.  - Dennis Carcamo