Zubiri proposes creation of tourism cabinet cluster

By Wilnard Bacelonia, Philippine News Agency

With this, Zubiri urged the economic team to present the proposal for a cabinet tourism cluster to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., believing it can significantly enhance the industry’s contribution to the country’s GDP. (File photo: Senate of the Philippines/Facebook)

MANILA – Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri is proposing the establishment of a cabinet cluster focused on addressing issues within the tourism industry, particularly in renowned destinations like Siargao and Palawan.

In a news release on Friday, Zubiri suggested replicating the recently approved education cluster model for tourism, involving relevant agencies like the Department of Tourism (DOT), Department of Transportation (DOTr), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), and Department of Energy (DOE).

“Why can’t we just do the same cluster that (Education) Sec. (Sonny) Angara has done for education? He came up with an educational cluster. Can we return the tourism cluster wherein we have the DOT, the DOTr, the DPWH, and the DOE working together to support what, Palawan, El Nido, Coron, (and) Siargao,” Zubiri suggested.

Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan told senators during a recent briefing of the Development Budget Coordination Committee that the tourism industry’s contribution to the country’s economy amounted to PHP2.09 trillion in 2023, which accounts for 8.6 percent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP).

Citing the tourism industry’s significant contribution to the economy, Zubiri underscored the need for increased attention and support to boost its growth.

“8.6 percent, we can increase it to over 20 percent because our neighbors are getting tourists left and right now… It (tourism) contributes so much to the economy and the GDP, but yet we do not focus on it,” Zubiri said.

The senator cited the challenges faced by Siargao, including power outages, and calls for a comprehensive tourism masterplan to address these issues.

With this, Zubiri urged the economic team to present the proposal for a cabinet tourism cluster to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., believing it can significantly enhance the industry’s contribution to the country’s GDP.