Senator Richard Gordon on Thursday proposed to convert Marawi City and other municipalities around Lake Lanao to enable the city to rise from the ashes of war once the armed conflict ends.
Gordon, a former Tourism secretary, said the move would also spur the development of the entire island of Mindanao.
“We must all aim for the common good. At this point in time, we must already think how Marawi can rise after the war,” said Gordon.
“The losers here are the people, but they could be the biggest winners if we aim for the common good that after this battle that is going on there, we can convert Marawi and Lake Lanao and all the other areas around Lake Lanao, like some cities in Europe and other parts of the world, as tourism attractions,” he said.
Gordon said a strong tourism industry will not only help in Marawi’s rehabilitation, it will also bring economic development not only to Marawi but also to the whole of Mindanao.
He added that the government should exploit the beauty of Lake Lanao and its surrounding areas as potential tourist hubs in Lanao del Sur, and put in place a tourism development plan that would make them comparable to other cities in the world built around lakes.
Gordon is set to file a bill which seeks the creation of a Lake Lanao Development Authority to undertake the development and promotion of the lake and its surrounding areas as tourism attractions, like Lake Tahoe in the United States and Lake Geneva in Europe, among others, which are major tourist attractions.
“I have already proposed this before. Now, we will include the train system in Mindanao, the development of the highways, and the construction of new airports to make Lake Lanao more accessible to tourists,” the senator said.
“The view from the top of Lake Lanao is very beautiful, then near it is Maria Cristina Falls. We can have yacht clubs and boating around the lake. This can become a major tourism destination once it is developed and promoted properly,” said Gordon.
But the roads, he said , should be widened and repaired to ensure safe and convenient travel.
He said the residents could also open B & Bs (Bed & Breakfast), canteens or sell local delicacies or souvenir items. This will promote a culture of tourism among the people there.
Meanwhile, Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III declared his support for sustainable tourism that would improve quality of life for all, respect for the environment’s regenerative capacities, and more inclusive decision-making processes along with the growth in the tourism sector.
“Tourism is a priority development area that deserves greater attention. Focus now should not be on how much money it can contribute to government coffers but rather on how it can improve the overall well-being of people”, said Pimentel.
The Senate leader said tourism, which accounts for 8.6% of the Philippines’ GDP,
is a vehicle for poverty reduction, a tool for environmental conservation, an impulse for cultural heritage preservation, and an avenue for strengthening people to people relationships.”
He called for a healthy balance between tourism and the broader social and environmental context.
Speaking at the 6th United Nations World Tourism Organization International Conference on Tourism, a conference of tourism ministers and national statisticians from all over the world, Pimentel shared to the delegates the policies of the government which would help boost the tourism industry.
He said these arethe administration’s $23 billion infrastructure program, its independent foreign policy, and the shift to Federalism.
Pimentel added that he supports the policy of the Department of Tourism not to raise tourist arrival targets until there is sufficient infrastructure to support more visitors.
But Pimentel cautioned, “We do need the tourist dollars, but not at the expense of a polluted environment, denuded forests, or displaced indigenous groups.”
