By Prince Golez
The government has infused a total of P17.689 billion to its Tourism Road Infrastructure Program (TRIP) under the 2023 General Appropriations Act (GAA).
The amount, which will be used to build, rebuild, upgrade, and improve roads and bridges that connect to declared tourist destinations, is P602 million higher than last year’s P17.087 billion for TRIP.
Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman raised the need to provide funding support to vital infrastructure projects, which serve as the backbone of the economy.
“President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has been very consistent with his pronouncements that infrastructure development is a priority under this administration. And so we, at DBM, shall do all we can to support the realization of this objective. And so we ensured that various infrastructure projects nationwide are allocated with necessary funds to support the Build, Better, More program,” said Pangandaman.
“Mobility and connectivity are vital components in tourism development. The Philippines has so many majestic places. But how will we attract tourists if there is no transport infrastructure in place to get them to these destinations with ease?” she added.
TRIP is a convergence initiative of the Department of Public Works and Highways and the Department of Tourism (DOT).
The budgetary allocation also aligns with the DOT’s National Tourism Development Plan, which envisions a globally competitive, environmentally sustainable, and socially responsible tourism industry that promotes inclusive growth through job creation and equitable income distribution.
Under the 2023 GAA, the P17.689 billion budget will be distributed to tourism infrastructure projects in Region I (Ilocos), Cordillera Administrative Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, Bicol Region, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Davao, SOCCSKSARGEN, and Caraga.
