The government is investing another P14 billion to develop access roads and bridges to tourist destinations across the country, according to Quezon City Rep. Marvin Rillo.
The P14-billion budget is itemized in the national spending plan for 2024 and is on top of the P17.7 billion already earmarked for the Tourism Road Infrastructure Program (TRIP) this year, he said.
Rillo is a member of the committee on appropriations and vice chairperson of the committee on tourism.
“We expect the incremental spending for the TRIP to create a multitude of construction-related jobs that effectively redistribute income to poorer households,” he said.
“The improved infrastructure will also help drive tourist traffic and employment growth in accommodation, transport, food and beverage services, entertainment, and other activities in the (tourism) value chain,” he added.
The TRIP bankrolls the construction and upgrading of roads and bridges leading to declared tourist sites that are not yet covered by other funding sources.
The Department of Tourism and Department of Public Works and Highways have jointly identified the projects under the TRIP in support of the National Tourism Development Plan.
Based on DOT data submitted to Congress, a total of 2,938,717 foreign tourists and 279,668 Filipinos who are permanent residents abroad visited the Philippines from January to July this year, Rillo said.