USE PPP'S TO BOOST LOCAL TOURISM--ANGARA

Senator Edgardo J. Angara urged the government to continue its support of cultural development following reports of a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) program geared towards restoring Intramuros, saying that these efforts would contribute greatly towards our local tourism industry.

Earlier this week the Department of Tourism announced its plans for a redevelopment of the historic walled city to better display the country's rich cultural heritage. The project would then be bid out according to the PPP framework.

"We can draw in the local and international travelers to these places if we make a united effort to restore and conserve such historical sites. These sites would also be more attractive to tourists once they see business developers taking an interest in these areas," said Angara.

The Intramuros redevelopment would also include the rebuilding of the San Ignacio Church which used to stand inside the compound, to be turned into a museum holding artifacts relating the history of the town.

The veteran lawmaker is behind the Cultural Heritage bill, which was passed into law just last year. This bill seeks to protect and preserve artifacts, buildings and sites which are essential to the nation's culture and history.

Angara, who also authored the law creating the National Commission on Culture and the Arts, lauded the efforts of the DOT and the local government to study and protect the places which hold significant historical value to the Filipinos.

"Knowing that we can visit these sites and see relics from our country's past--this experience will make our history more than just stories in textbooks," he explained