Prepare to supply electricity to all RP provinces - Gordon to Napocor

Senator Richard J. Gordon today urged the National Power Corporation (Napocor) to prepare to supply electricity in even the remote islands in the Philippines as the country gears to implement the new tourism law, which will pump up the tourism industry.

Gordon, author of the Tourism Act of 2009 which was signed into law last May 12, said the Napocor should get ready to supply power in all the provinces in preparation for the implementation of the new law.

"The Tourism Act will make the tourism industry an engine of investment, employment, growth and national development. We are eyeing an influx of both foreign and local tourists with the development of more tourist destinations in the country," he said.

"It would be hard for provinces, especially the remote places that are not reached by electricity, to compete with the areas reached by electricity. There really is a need for the remote areas to be supplied with electric power so they can also reap the benefits of tourism," he added.

It is hoped that with the enactment of the new tourism law, the country will now have a shield against the impact of the economic recession that is gripping the world today.

The law will equip the tourism secretary and tourism stakeholders with all the power, funds, and tools that if used properly, will lead to an exponential growth in tourist arrivals.

Gordon had crafted the bill with the vision of empowering the entire tourism sector and creating a policy environment conducive to the growth of the industry..

He pointed out that the tourism bill would, among others, spur the creation of jobs and increase the demand for locally-produced consumer items as well as services since the measure is expected to double the number of foreign tourist arrivals. In 2008, there were P3.14 million tourists who visited the country.

One of the salient provisions of the measure is the establishment of "tourism enterprise zones" in strategic areas in the country to lure foreign investors and tourists to visit places rich with history and culture.

Gordon, former chairman of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, proved that tourism can transform wastelands into havens for investment. In Subic, investments reached $3 billion a few short years after the United States military abandoned it.

During his stint as tourism secretary, Gordon had launched the "WOW Philippines!" campaign, which he used to transform the country's tourism industry then plagued by a negative image of kidnappings and SARS disease. Foreign tourist arrivals reached to two million a year in 2003 from just under one million in 2001.

The senator pointed out that lack of electricity will place remote areas at a disadvantage because it would be difficult to entice tourists to visit an area where accommodations are uncomfortable.

"How can we develop tourism destinations in remote areas without electricity? Who will want to stay in hotels that are not comfortable because there is no proper lighting?" he said.