The city government of Bacolod is open to any proposal that can help the local tourism industry recover from the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, Mayor Evelio Leonardia said during the Tourism Stakeholders’ Meeting, organized by the Department of Tourism, at the Seda Capitol Central Tuesday.
“If tourism stakeholders have any proposal, we are willing to go over them, we are open to that. If we can hear your proposal, I can take it up with the Sangguniang Panlungsod,” Leonardia told the stakeholders from the public and private sectors.
Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat had called for a tourism stakeholders’ meeting Tuesday to discuss with the provincial and city governments, and the various stakeholders from private and public sectors, the rehabilitation and recovery efforts of the industry to restart tourism activities.
The meeting was part of the three-day visit of Puyat to Bacolod and some parts of Negros Occidental. She also led the turnover of DOT-DOLE financial assistance for displaced tourism workforce, a press release from the city said.
She will visit various farm sites, heritage houses, and food tourism areas in Bacolod and Negros Occidental to boost domestic tourism to mitigate the economic impact of the Covid crisis in the tourism industry.
Leonardia told the stakeholders that the proposals to help the local tourism industry may involve adjustments in taxes and business permits.
The mayor assured them that due consideration will be given to these proposals.
“Everybody has been affected by the pandemic. That is the magnitude of the current situation,” he added. With many businesses affected, the proposals should also contain different frameworks that can help the local government assess the impact and determine what kind of support it can provide, not just for the tourism industry but also for other stakeholders, Leonardia added.*