Iloilo City – Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat assured the agency’s continued support to Iloilo’s tourism business by earmarking a total of PHP340.7 million for the province’s tourism infrastructure requirements via the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), its infrastructure arm.
“TIEZA made sure that the Province of Iloilo will have our steadfast support in terms of tourism infrastructure development, and has allocated a total of Php 340.7 million for this purpose,” Secretary Puyat shared at the hosted dinner during the Dinagyang Festival 2020.
“I am happy to announce the good news that the TIEZA Board recently approved the allocation of Php 135 million which will be utilized for the restoration of three renowned landmarks in Iloilo,” Secretary Puyat continued.
The Php 135 million allocation will be utilized for the restoration of three renowned landmarks in Iloilo namely, Arevalo Plaza, Molo Plaza, and La Paz Plaza.
Also included in the TIEZA funding are the rehabilitation of the historical Jaro Belfry, the construction of a Tourism Information Center and Tourist Rest Area (Green Restroom) in Esplanade 3, improvements of the Iloilo Convention Center, and the development of the Sunburst Park.
Secretary Puyat led the ceremonial lighting of Calle Real called Ilomination, together with Senator Franklin Drilon, Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr., Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas, DOT Regional Director Helen Catalbas, and other local officials as one of the highlights of Dinagyang Festival.
The tourism chief also sampled the famous Iloilo La Paz Batchoy, a hearty soup with meat, innards and round noodles at the first-ever Batchoy Festival which gathered Iloilo’s finest batchoy houses and favorite delicacies in one place.
Earlier, Secretary Puyat met with the Iloilo tourism stakeholders including the provincial and city tourism officers, accommodation representatives, and members of the Iloilo MICE Alliance to discuss digital tourism, DOT accreditation, and Iloilo flight connectivity among others.
