ILOILO — The Iloilo provincial government has rolled out P183 million worth of tourism, infrastructure, and disaster-preparedness projects for local government units (LGUs) as part of a broader strategy to institutionalize community-based tourism across the province.
The turnover of projects marked the initial implementation of Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr.’s newly signed executive order titled “An Order to Institute Fun, Foodie and Friendly sa Kabanwahanan for MoRProGRes,” which seeks to position LGUs not only as hosts of tourism events but also as frontline service providers for visitors, in line with the Provincial Tourism Development Plan.
“Our tourism industry has an LGU development-oriented approach in three areas – food and agriculture, natural environment, and culture and heritage,” Defensor explained.
The governor said the program also covers three additional pillars — infrastructure and facilities, capacity building, and partnerships and collaborations — to ensure that tourism growth translates into long-term local development.
Based on provincial data, the P183,159,648 total allocation includes P22,441,000 for support to festivals; P34,131,648 for tourism infrastructures; P88,780,000 for tourism support infrastructures; and P37,807,000 for disaster preparedness programs.
Eight municipalities that participated in the recent Kasadyahan sa Kabanwahanan competition of Dinagyang Festival received direct financial assistance, namely: Miag-ao (P2 million), New Lucena (P3 million), Santa Barbara (P2 million), Bingawan (P3 million), Maasin (P2 million), Anilao (P2 million), Banate (P2 million), and San Rafael (P2 million).
The provincial government also funded several tourism-related infrastructure projects, including a greenhouse with tourist reception facility in Bingawan (P4.5 million); a multi-purpose tourism hub with rest areas in San Rafael (P3 million); restoration of the Santa Barbara Victory Plaza Complex and football field (P5 million); a School of Living Tradition Center in Barangay Lipata, Sitio Nagpana, Barotac Viejo (P2.5 million); and a weaving center in Badiangan (P3 million).
Other funded initiatives include green space programs in Banate and Bingawan (P1 million each); bamboo industry support projects in Maasin (P2 million), Tubungan (P1.5 million), and Concepcion (P1.5 million); rehabilitation of the Batiano River in Oton (P1.131 million); establishment of a crab hatchery in Banate (P5 million); construction of a village warehouse in Concepcion (P2 million); urban container gardening projects in Badiangan and Cabatuan (P100,000 each); deployment of artificial reefs in Carles (P600,000); and improvement of the marine protected area in Ajuy (P200,000).
Tourism support infrastructures funded by the province include a food terminal in New Lucena (P10 million), warehouses in San Rafael (P20 million) and Badiangan (P10 million), a hanging footbridge in Igbaras (P5.485 million), and improvements to the water system in Barangay Bangka, Batad (P2 million)./PN