Poe to DOT: Health facilities first step to economic recovery in tourism sector

Sen. Grace Poe urged the Department of Tourism to ensure health facilities are within standard in tourist destinations to make people feel safe and confident to travel.

"In all areas in our country, ideally, there should really be basic health facilities that can address the needs of the people. We've heard stories of tourists going to certain areas where the local health center is not equipped to treat certain emergency situations," said Poe during the Senate committee on tourism hearing Tuesday.

Before the health crisis, the tourism industry contributed P2.5 trillion to the economy in 2019. The pandemic and resulting closure of resorts and hotels and travel restrictions slashed its value by 61 percent to P973.3 billion by the end of 2020.

"The tourism sector is one of the pillars that held the economy up before the pandemic. With more of the population getting vaccinated, we can expect more mobility and domestic travel that will enable provinces to begin with their economic recovery," Poe said.

According to data from the Philippine Statistics Authority, Filipinos spent P3.14 trillion in 2019 visiting local destinations but this plummeted to P556.89 billion last year when local tourism practically ground to a standstill.

Latest data from the Department of Health show that 26.7 million individuals have been inoculated with their first dose while 23 million are now fully vaccinated.

"The new normal requires us to weave pandemic health protocols into all aspects of the economy in the years to come, so health facilities are an integral part of tourism now more than ever," she added.

Poe earlier filed Senate Bill No. 2321 amending the "COVID-19 Vaccination Program Act" or Republic Act 11525 to include international and domestic travel, ease of access to business establishments and public places in order to spur economic activity.

Poe sa DOT: Pagtatayo ng health facilities, unang hakbang sa economic recovery ng tourism sector

Hinimok ni Sen. Grace Poe ang Department of Tourism na tiyaking may health facilities na ayon sa standards sa mga tourist destination upang maging kampante ang mga tao sa kanilang kaligtasan sa pagbiyahe.

"Sa lahat ng panig ng bansa, dapat namang mayroong health facilities na makatutugon sa pangangailangan ng mga mamamayan. Nakita na nating may mga turistang nagtungo sa mga lugar na 'di makayang bigyan ng paunang-lunas ng health center doon," pahayag ni Poe sa hearing ng Senate committee on tourism nitong Martes.

Bago dumating ang krisis pangkalusugan, nasa P2.5 trilyon ang kontribusyon ng turismo sa ekonomiya noong 2019. Dahil sa pandemya at pagsasara ng mga resort at hotel at mga travel restriction, nabawasan ng 61 porsiyento o bumaba sa P973.3 bilyon ang kontribusyon nito sa pagtatapos ng 2020.

"Ang sektor ng turismo ang isa sa haligi ng ekonomiya bago ang pandemya. Sa pagdami ng mga nababakunahan kontra COVID-19, inaasahan nating madadagdagan ang bumibiyahe na muling magpapasigla sa ekonomiya ng mga probinsiya," paliwanag ni Poe.

Batay sa datos mula sa Philippine Statistics Authority, gumastos ang mga Pilipino ng P3.14 trilyon noong 2019 sa pagbisita sa mga local destination subalit bumaba sa P556.89 bilyon noong nakaraang taon dahil sa pagsasara ng maraming tourist destinations.

Sa pinakahuling datos mula sa Department of Health, umaabot na sa 26.7 milyong indibidwal ang nabigyan ng first dose ng bakuna kontra COVID-19 habang 23 milyon ang fully vaccinated.

"Dahil sa new normal, kinakailangang bumalangkas ang gobyerno ng pandemic health protocols sa lahat ng aspeto ng ekonomiya sa mga susunod na taon, kaya mas mahalagang bahagi ng turismo ang mga health facility ngayon higit kailanman," dagdag ni Poe.

Una nang inihain ni Poe ang Senate Bill No. 2321 na nagsusulong amyendahan ang "COVID-19 Vaccination Program Act" o Republic Act 11525 upang maisama ang international at domestic travel, mas maluwag na access sa business establishments at public places upang mapalakas ang ekonomiya.