(MANILA BULLETIN)

The additional P6.4 billion earmarked for the Tourism Road Infrastructure Program (TRIP) under the 2025 National Expenditure Program (NEP) will have a two-fold impact, Quezon City 4th district Rep. Marvin Rillo said. 

First, Rillo said the fresh funding will benefit local communities. 

“The infrastructure projects (under TRIP) create construction-related jobs that readily benefit low-income families,” said the House Committee on Appropriations vice chairman. 

Second, it will boost actual tourist arrivals, which in itself has its own benefits. 

“More importantly, the improved road access will boost tourist passage, thus spurring new jobs in accommodation, transport, food and beverage services, entertainment, and other activities,” Rillo explained. 

The Quezon City congressman says Congress is determined "to provide all regions across the country ample support to upgrade their access roads and bridges leading to their tourism sites". 

“This is pursuant to the mandate of the Constitution for all sectors of the economy, including tourism, and all regions of the country, to be given the optimum opportunity to develop,” Rillo added. 

The P6.4 billion for the TRIP in proposed 2025 national budget is on top of the P15.2-billion allocation for the program in the current 2024 General Appropriations Act (GAA). 

The Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) jointly identify the TRIP projects are not yet covered by other funding sources. 

Rillo said that as per the  DOT, a total of 3,276,731 foreign tourists arrived in the Philippines from January to July 2024, up by 338,014  (or 11.5 percent) from the 2,938,717 that landed in the country in the same seven-month period in 2023. 

The top 10 foreign visitor arrivals from January to July by nationality are as follows: South Korean (932,632); American (580,338); Chinese (219,743); Japanese (213,864); Australian (150,065); Taiwanese (136,334); Canadian (130,232); British (97,358); Singaporean (90,460); and Malaysian (57,153).