PHILIPPINES - Cebu tourism groups to form a coalition

Philippine Information Agency, 18 September 2006

Stakeholders and players in Cebu's tourism industry had decided to form into a coalition to fast track the industry's developments and to establish a niche in the tourism hubs in other parts of Asia.

This developed as the Canadian Ambassador to the Philippines , Peter Sutherland told the various tourism-related groups in Cebu that the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) is willing to provide technical assistance to Cebu's tourism industry through its PEARL 2 program (Private Enterprises Accelerated Linkages 2) saying further, "But the industry must organize first and apply for assistance as one."

Mila Espina, chairperson of the tourism committee of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) said she has already discussed the industry's need for funding with the Canadian Ambassador, "but he said we have to be a bigger group; we have to unite into a bigger organization without losing the identity of each association," Espina added.

Espina further said, PEARL 2 has provided financial and technical assistance to the CCCI, Cebu-GTH Manufacturers and Exporters and the Confederation of Philippine Exporters Foundation Inc. Cebu, in terms of capability building in serving the member organizations, which are mostly small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

>>Full article