Covid-19 wrecks tourism industry in P’gasinan – Celeste

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

BOLINAO, Pangasinan – The renowned father of the thriving tourism industry in the western part of Pangasinan acknowledged the huge damaged incur by hotel and beach resort businessmen here as the lethal contagious Corona Virus Disease (Covid-19) continues to devastate them.

Former nine years congressman Jesus “Boying” Celeste said a big numbers of workers in the First Congressional District of Pangasinan lost their jobs because of the pandemic.

”Malaki epekto nito dahil ang First District ay iyan ang pinakamalaking industry dito sa ating distrito ngayon ay turismo. Kaya noong (inaudible) ito’y malaking bagay ito. Maraming nawalan ng trabaho nawala ang income ng bawat mga establishment at saka ang naano ko rito mahirap ma recover. Unang una, nawalan tayo nga mga turistang galing sa ibang bansa. Pangalawa mga kababayan natin mahilig mamasyal sa ibang lugar maski dito sa ating bansa,” he stressed.

TOURISM IN BOLINAO, PANGASINAN. Photo is internet grabbed.

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The people's fear of the lethal severe acute respiratory syndrome’s contagion bankrupt a lot of traders here.

“Pero iyong iba po nakakaawa iyong iba nag loan sila para madevelop ang lugar nila tapos biglang namatay ang negosyo sa tingin ko taon ang aantayin natin bago maibalik ito habang wala pa itong vaccine na maimbento ng siyensa natin ay talaga pong mamatay na po ang industriang ito”.

The pandemic gnawed P22.9 billion ($849 million) among tourism related business around the country for the months of February to April this year according to Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat.

 Celeste said during the height of the specter of the pandemic here, he immediately rescued his jobless hotel and resort workers by plucking them into into his construction business.

“Ang iba totally shut down, ako naman dahil may construction supply iyong ibang tao ko ni divert ko sila sa construction ko.  Iyon ang nakaraan sa akin dahil ni divert ko sila sa iba”.

He cited the people in the western part of the province are resilient. They can survive with what nature provides them there.

“Kaya ang distrito namin ang isang lugar hinding hindi magugutom ang tao basta masipag lang siya tanim po tayo. May isda naman po kami. Mga bagay po sa  natin iyon huwag po natin sirain ang mga sa ating kapaligiran”.

He exhorted his former constituents in the District not to ruin but protect the natural beauty of the land because after they weather the danger of Covid-19 they can still enjoy the economic bounty it brings.

Tourism in the Philippines contributes 12.7 percent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) and provides 5.4 million jobs in 2018. It was the hardest hit sector since the Covid-19 ran berserk in the Philippines last February.

To stimulate the industry the government, according to Secretary Puyat, should fund with P14 billion to rehabilitate tourism infrastructures. P5 billion will be allocated to projects in Bohol, Pampanga, Pangasinan, Corregidor Island, and other tourist destinations. The infrastructures will be implemented within this year and are seen to be the linchpin of thousands of new jobs.

The First Congressional District hosts Hundred Islands National Park, one of the favorite tourist destinations in the north, the famous rivers, springs, and sandy beaches of Bolinao, mangrove protected area and bird watching site in Bani, and best caves for spelunking in Mabini, Infanta, Bani towns all in the First District.