Committee On Tourism Holds The Public Hearing On The Proposed Tourism Code Of Misamis Occidental
Oroquieta City – The Committee on Tourism of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Misamis Occidental held the public hearing on the Proposed Ordinance 05-17, “An Ordinance Enacting the Tourism Code of Misamis Occidental”, at the Provincial Cultural and Farmers’ Training Center last March 10, 2017.
The Committee on Tourism, Archeology, Antiquities, and Cultural Heritage is composed of Hon. Gerard Hilarion M. Ramiro, Chairperson, Hon. Emeterio Roa Sr., Vice-Chairperson, and the members, Hon. Zaldy Daminar, Hon. Dodge Cabahug, Sr., and Hon. Tito Decina.
The public hearing was well-attended by the representatives from the Cities and Municipalities in the Province, the Tourism Officers, different Tourism stakeholders representing the hotel and accommodation, transportation, restaurants, and non-government organization sectors. Aside from the members of the Committee, Hon. Octavio Parojinog, Hon. Dan Navarro, and Hon. Lel Blanco were also present in the Public Hearing,with Hon. Aurora Virginia “Jiejie” M. Almonte, Vice-Governor, who gave her inspiring Solidarity Message.
In his Opening Statement, Hon. Gerard Hilarion M. Ramiro stated, “the Tourism Code, being part of the Executive-Legislative Agenda in 2013, aims to institutionalize the Province’s tourism industry and to protect and develop the tourism sites in the Province”. This statement was also strengthened by Vice-Gov. Aurora Virginia M. Almonte who also said in her Solidarity Message that the Province of Misamis Occidental is very rich with flora and fauna and other natural resources that can attract tourists, local and foreign alike.
The Code was presented by Hon. Gerard Hilarion M. Ramiro, Hon. Dodge Cabahug, Sr. and Hon. Tito Decina, members of the Committee on Tourism, and by Mr. Albert N. Medina, Provincial Tourism Officer-Designate. A forum was opened for the audience to raise concerns, suggestions and recommendations related to the Code.
Few of the recommendations or suggestions raised and duly noted by the Committee were the inclusion of a representative from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and from the armed and uniformed services such as, the PNP, Philippine Army, Coast Guard, and LTO in the Tourism Council of Misamis Occidental; capacity building of tourism staff and employees of tourism-related establishments in partnership with academic institutions offering tourism-related courses; and, the inclusion of putting in safety nets for human and child trafficking.
Guests were encouraged to send in additional suggestions, recommendations and concerns to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan not later than March 28, 2017 for consideration to be included in the Tourism Code. A Committee Meeting will be scheduled for the finalization of the draft before it will be included in the SP Session’s agenda for second and third reading, and finally, the approval of the Code.
The Committee on Tourism, together with the Tourism Code’s Technical Working Group, is targeting for the Tourism Code of Misamis Occidental to be finalized and approved before the first half of 2017 ends.