WPS now part of 'Love the Philippines'

The tourism master plan to develop the Pag-asa Islands in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) is now in the finishing stages by the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA).

- MARICHU A. VILLANUEVA

An attached body of the Department of Tourism (DOT), TIEZA is ready to launch its master plan by year 2026 to officially include the WPS as one of the destinations for both foreign and domestic tourists under our "Love the Philippines" tourism brand.

Carrying out directives from President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., DOT Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco proudly reported the impending transformation of Pag-asa Island into a tourist spot and a recreation haven as promised. The DOT secretary announced this latest update from TIEZA during our Tuesday Club breakfast gathering that perked up the otherwise drab morning as the monsoon rains flooded most parts of Metro Manila going to Edsa Shangri-La Hotel.

Frasco disclosed TIEZA chief Mark Lapid informed her that they have started implementing the basic infrastructure needs like pontoon or jetty ports and more community-based tourism activities in Pag-asa island. As part of these efforts, Frasco explained, the DOT is assisting local government officials in the island in the training of residents, including fisherfolk, in promoting their own tourism attractions and handicrafts and other entrepreneurship skills.

TIEZA is a government-owned and controlled corporation being supervised by the DOT. Among its mandate, TIEZA is tasked to establish tourism enterprise zones and construct infrastructure projects in local tourism destinations. The TIEZA generates its own revenues from travel tax collections. A lawyer by profession, Frasco cited TIEZA signed a memorandum of understanding with the Department of Information and Communications Technology to help ease payment of travel tax via online using the eGovPH and eTravel systems.