Aksyon Demokratiko standard bearer and Manila Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso has vowed to support and promote the tourism industry in Cagayan de Oro City and in Misamis Oriental to generate jobs and spur economic growth in the province, if elected president in May.
“We’ve lost 4.2 million jobs during the pandemic and the easiest way to recover those opportunities for our people is to create more tourism ventures in every province, including Misamis Oriental. Sa awa ng Diyos, sa tulong ng tao, pag pinalad tayo na maging pangulo ay talagang tatargetin natin na mapalaki ang turismo sa buong bansa,” Moreno said in an interview after a courtesy call on Misamis Oriental Gov. Yevgeny Vincente Emano at the provincial capitol.
Tourism is a major factor in diversifying northern Mindanao’s economic base that has been dependent on manufacturing, agriculture and retail.
“I really want jobs for our people. Pag may trabaho, may makakain. Pag may makakain, that answers your problem,” he stressed.
In the same interview, the multi-awarded local chief executive lauded the provincial government led by Emano for its aggressive tourism promotion efforts, especially now that the country has reopened to foreign tourists as a result of the improving COVID-19 situation in the country.
Moreno shared that “I agree with the governor with regard to his direction for the past decade, putting the entire province as part of the tourism belt of the country. We know for a fact that every tourist creates one job. So, one tourist, one job. Napakaganda ng kanyang direction.”
Tourism is a major factor in diversifying northern Mindanao’s economic base that has been dependent on manufacturing, agriculture and retail. Like Davao City, Cagayan de Oro City, the provincial capital of Misamis Oriental, is a major destination for the meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) segment of tourism.
Prior to the pandemic, the city hosted at least 400 events every year. It has close to 5,000 rooms in different hotels and can host a single gathering of 3,000 people.
Tourism is one of the main pillars of Moreno’s 10-point Bilis Kilos Economic Agenda, his roadmap to hasten human and economic growth in the six years of his term once elected.
According to the Regional Development Report 2018 prepared by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), the increase in tourists in northern Mindanao between 2016 and 2017 generated 10,000 jobs.
But like in all tourism destinations across the country, Misamis Oriental was adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to job losses and rising unemployment. The easing of travel restrictions, in the country and across the world, has given hope for the revival of the tourism industry, which can potentially generate desperately needed jobs and livelihood to Filipinos.
Tourism is one of the main pillars of Moreno’s 10-point Bilis Kilos Economic Agenda, his roadmap to hasten human and economic growth in the six years of his term once elected.