Davao City (May 2007) — South Cotabato’s Lake Sebu and Davao’s Mount Apo are now the priority areas to be promoted by the Department of Tourism (DOT) in their newest program, Grassroots Entrepreneurs for Ecotourism (GREET).

The program opens opportunity for promising entrepreneurs who can best explore the inherent tourist drawing potentials of ecotourism sites which can readily be sources of income within their respective protected areas.

Locals in Lake Sebu and Mount Apo could receive P50,000 to P100,000 grant from the said program if they could come up with a feasible entrepreneurial/business proposals in eco tourism sites.

DOT XI regional director Sonia Garcia in a press briefing said that a more strengthened grassroots seemed to be the missing point in the whole package of tourism promotion.

“This time we want the people in the grassroots to maximize the potential tourism sites in their area, contribute in its development and at the same time earn a living out of it,” she said.

There are 32 tourism sites identified by the DOT across the country. In Mindanao alone, some of these areas are found in Siargao, Camiguin, Agusan Marsh, Misamis Oriental, Dipolog, Mount Apo, and Lake Sebu.

Garcia stressed that her office and the tourism council had already identified potential areas which could receive the grants. Each province in the region has a number of eco-tourism sites identified.

“It is now up to the barangays if they would really work for a business proposal which will be determined viable or not by the various government agencies involved in the program,” she added.

Other agencies that will form part of the program are the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Technical Education Skills Development Authority (TESDA), and the different local government units.

Examples of activities or projects eligible for funding are tourism products like the operation of new activities (whitewater rafting, water sports, hiking etc) and new services (tour guiding, interaction guiding, ground handling).

The DOT also urged applicants to consider projects concerning tourism facilities like accommodations, food and beverage establishments, souvenir shops, gears and equipment shops.

Garcia also cited the need for important projects like the construction of toilets as it had been the top problem in most eco-tourism areas in the region.

Tourism secretary Ace Durano noted that this program prioritizes young entrepreneurs who are seen to awaken many of the country’s sleepy towns into brisk economic activity.

He said that the DOT has begun a series of roadshows on how the youth can engage in eco-tourism business and obtain such grants. (PIA XI)

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