Panglao execs push for tourism measures to generate revenues

CEBU, Philippines — If “political bickerings” in the past have damaged the tourism programs of Panglao town in Bohol, Mayor Leonila Montero said this time she and Vice Mayor Pedro Fuertes have vowed to join hands in carrying out measures that would generate revenues from tourism.

Montero, emphasizing tourism as the town’s main economic driver, issued an executive order promoting scuba diving, mooring and snorkeling that, per her computation, could generate revenues of about P8.6 million in a year.

The Montero-Fuertes administration, she said has now given priority to tourism activities to achieve these revenue goals, which in the past had failed due to political turmoil between the executive and the legislative.

Montero said she and Fuertes have formulated strategies in properly implementing tourism-related policies, such as empowering dive organizations and requiring every dive outfit to become a member of the Panglao Divers Association, headed by Holger Hom.

Another provision in the mayor’s executive order is the one-entry-one-exit policy, in which personnel will be assigned to every dive site to monitor and collect fees.

The revenues generated from tourism-related activities will be used for peace and order, environmental protection/preservation and social concerns, Montero said.