Ormoc gets PHP11M for tourism development

ORMOC CITY, Leyte, Dec. 10 (PNA) -- The Department of Tourism has spent PhP11 million for tourism development in this city under the Grassroots Participatory Budgeting (GPB) in the past two years.

A business group reported that majority of these projects have been completed and only PHP3.6 million are ongoing in Lake Danao, mangrove areas, Kan-idon Cave, and Tongonan Geothermal Production Field.

Pocholo Franco, chairman of the board of Ormoc Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said all funds for the city have been spent for local tourism program.

Franco clarified that no funds from the unimplemented projects for Lake Danao were reverted back to the national treasury as documentary requirements are in the process of submission to the DOT.

Franco knows from where he speaks being a member of the Protected Areas Management Board (PAMB), the multi-sectoral policy making body that decides on all matters related to planning and resource protection of Lake Danao.

"As a member of PAMB, we are happy to hear that development is ongoing. To comply with the requirements, product development or equipment purchasing will be prioritized which is easier than capability building," Franco added.

Of the ongoing projects, the city government allocated PHP200,000 from the GPB funds to procure four standup kayaks measuring 10.6 feet with paddles worth PHP35,000 each and 24 life jackets worth PHP2,500 for Lake Danao.

Another PHP192,000 is allotted for the purchase of six kayaks (two-seater) with paddles worth PHP27,000 each and 12 life jackets worth PHP2,500 each for the mangrove areas in Naungan and San Juan.

Despite the good news that no GPB funds were reverted back to the DOT main office, Virgilio T. Felecerda, co-chairman of the Local Poverty Reduction Action Team (LPRAT) is frustrated at the slow pace by which all GPB projects are implemented.

Of the PHP38 million GPB funds for Ormoc last year for various programs, only 7.6 percent or PHP3 million have been implemented thus far.

The good news is that the Department of Interior and Local Government has formed a four-member Regional Project Management Team (RPMT) that would focus on unimplemented GPB projects. The RPMT will first be deployed in Ormoc, LPRAT regional coordinator Manolito Bolpa informed. (PNA)
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