AusAID LGDP Iloilo-Guimaras joint tourism, infra plan takes off
Integrated tourism and integrated infrastructure action plans for the provinces of Iloilo and Guimaras will finally kick off as top officials of the Australian Embassy meet tomorrow with local counterparts of the Australian Government, AusAID-backed project.
An initiative under AusAID's Local Governance Development Program (LGDP), four Project Management Teams were correspondingly created with team members coming from representatives of the Australian Government, officials from local governments of Iloilo and Guimaras and region's executives from the Department of Tourism (DOT), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
AusAID has since supported various local economic development efforts particularly in programs targeted by the Metro Iloilo-Guimaras Economic Development Council (MIGEDC).
The joint tourism and infrastructure planning has Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas as chair of the Integrated Tourism Action Plan Project Board with the city mayor being the current MIGEDC chair. Members are Australian Embassy's First Secretary for Development Cooperation Angus Barnes, Australian Embassy's Program Officer Rosa Antes, LGDP Program Director David Goodwins, Narzalina Lim of consulting firm Asia Pacific Projects (APP), Tourism Regional Director Edwin Trompeta and Partnership Adviser of LGDP Iloilo's Francis Gentoral.
The Integrated Tourism Action Plan Project Board will work hand in hand with the 6-man Project Assurance Team chaired by MIGEDC Executive Director Jose Roni Peñalosa alongside Sta. Barbara Mayor Isabelo Maquino, MIGEDC Tourism Committee chair and DILG Regional Director Evelyn Trompeta as among the team members.
The purpose of this project is to achieve cooperation amongst the local tourism industry through better integration of activities, demonstration projects and the provision of supporting infrastructure, skills and expertise and to develop local tourism products and services to meet the needs of potential niche markets.
With this project, AusAID LGDP further aims to develop the tourism sector of Metro Iloilo and Guimaras in order to fast track local economic benefits to the participating municipalities.