Duterte promotes local tourism amid COVID-19 scare
by Argyll Cyrus GeducosPresident Duterte has urged Filipinos to travel with him around the Philippines amid growing concern over the threat of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the country.
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte delivers a speech during the Annual General Membership Meeting of the Philippine Military Academy Alumni Association Inc. at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City on January 21, 2020. KING RODRIGUEZ/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO
In his second taped message this week regarding the disease, Duterte assured Filipinos that the country is still safe to travel around in.
“To my fellow Filipinos, I encourage you to travel with me around the Philippines. I assure you that everything is safe in our country, be it an issue of health, be it an issue of law and order, and be it an issue of accessibility,” he said.
Duterte likewise asked the public to explore the Philippines first before traveling abroad, especially now that hotels and airlines have lowered their rate to attract more tourists amid the COVID-19 threat.
“Maraming magagandang mapuntahan sa Pilipinas, wala kayong dapat alalahanin. Itong mga hoteliers at itong mga (There are many beautiful destinations in the country and you don’t have to worry about anything. The hoteliers and) carriers, they have agreed to lower the rates so that we can be a viable market for the Philippines,” he said.
“Come with me and be my travel companion. I’ll be traveling around the Philippines. Pasyal tayo dito sa atin. Unahin natin yung atin (Let’s explore our country first).”
In a press briefing in Malacañang Friday, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said the Department of Tourism estimated P42.9 billion in foregone revenue up to April this year because of concerns about the virus. However, the figure was “just a fraction” compared to the annual inbound tourism revenue of P441 billion in 2018 and P458 billion in the first 11 months of 2019.
He added that the country can cushion the effects or even compensate for the economic impact of the disease through domestic tourism.
“The DOT and the tourism sector, with the support from the President, will roll out an exciting domestic tourism program that will offer lower prices for airline fares within the country, and hotel and resort accommodations across our tourist destinations,” Nograles said.
Worst case scenario
Nograles said there are government lending programs available to help those in the tourism sector if it continues to suffer the impact of COVID-19.
“There are available government lending programs offered by Landbank and the Development Bank of the Philippines. Land Bank offers the CARES Program or Calamity Support Program, which includes rehabilitation via loan restructuring and providing loans to SMEs (small and medium enterprises),” he said.
The Palace official said the basic terms are a six-percent fixed rate for the first two years or the first five years for long-term loans, subject to annual repricing thereafter. He added that Land Bank is open to lowering the rate if warranted.
The DBP, on the other hand, has the RESPONSE Program, a rehabilitation financing program that is usually used for disease infestations that result in significant socio-economic damages, but one that can also be applied in the current situation.
The program provides for more relaxed terms, including reduced equity requirement of up to five percent of project cost and a reduced margin to one percent.