PALAYAN CITY, Nueva Ecija – Senator Cynthia Villar said the “Build, Build, Build” program of the Duterte administration is a big boost to the tourism industry of Central Luzon.
Villar, who served as keynote speaker during the kick-off of the Association of Tourism Officers of Central Luzon, Inc.’s 5th Regional Conference at the Nueva Ecija Convention Center here Thursday, said the construction of various roads and other infrastructures helps to attract tourists.
“I know in Central Luzon, they are building some expressways, different expressways,” Villar said on the sidelines of the two-day conference.
She cited, among others, the construction of a skyway from the Port of Manila to Bulacan and the NLEX-SLEX (North Luzon Expressway to South Luzon Expressway).
“The project is very good also because those coming from SLEX, Southern Luzon, you can go to Northern Luzon without passing through Epifanio delos Santos Ave. (Edsa), which is super-traffic,” Villar said.
She, however, said it is not only Region 3 or Central Luzon that stands to benefit from the Duterte government’s infrastructure program.
“In fact, napakaganda nga ng programa ng gobyerno natin kasi ‘Build, Build, Build’. May emphasis sila sa infrastructure. Today, more than ever, gaganda yung infrastructure natin throughout the Philippines. Hindi lang sa Central Luzon (In fact, the programs of our government are good because of ‘Build, Build, Build’. They have emphasis on infrastructure. Today, more than ever, our infrastructure will be better throughout the Philippines and not only in Central Luzon),” she said.
Villar also lauded the tourism officers in this region for uplifting the industry by forging linkages as planned during the conference.
“Maganda naman. Marami talaga tayong tourist spots dito. Marami tayong magandang beaches, marami tayong magandang mountains, marami tayong mga cultural heritage na hindi natin makikita sa ibang lugar. So, we are really proud of it (It’s a good thing. We have many tourist spots here. We have many beautiful beaches, we have many beautiful mountains. We have many cultural heritage that we cannot find elsewhere. So, we are really proud of it),” she said.
Villar, who has been pushing for farm tourism, said tourism is one of the industries the country should develop.
“Malaki ang income na ibibigay nito sa ating mga kababayan (Tourism will give our countrymen a big income),” she added.
Lorna Mae Vero, provincial tourism officer of Nueva Ecija, said that while the province lacks beaches, it has abundant farm tourist spots and an agriculture technology hub in the Science City of Muñoz.
She said the conference also aimed to create tour packages for participating towns and provinces. (Marilyn Galang/PNA)
