MikeLigalig.com

Rey Anthony Chiu

To make sure everybody starts on the right foot when it comes to tourism development here, Bohol government authorities gathered local government unit heads for an orientation on the Bohol’s green development agenda.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the German Development Corporation (GIZ) briefed newly elected mayors and reiterated to those who are getting fresher mandates on the Promotion of Green Economic Development (Pro-GED) as local economic development guide, during a forum July 25, at the MetroCenter Hotel here.

In addressing the mayors and town leaders, Governor Edgar Chatto said Bohol’s sustainable development has always been identified in the overarching goal of green Bohol.

Chatto Administration picked the enhanced vision and mission of Bohol’s development based on the earlier crafted vision of making the island a prime eco-cultural tourism destination with a bias for the environment.

With tourism as an engine for development now driving a huge portion of Bohol economy, local leaders think a move towards a pro-environment tourism would give Bohol a unique edge, Chatto said.

Pro-GED is a management model for sustainable development which the GIZ and its partners developed in the spirit of collaborative partnerships and developing the atmosphere of learning and implementing innovations, DTI Regional Director Aster Caberte explained.

In Bohol and Cebu, where ProGED is piloted in the country, tourism stakeholders have been in a series of discussions to prepare the transition and adoption of greener technologies as well as streamline their operations with the least to zero carbon impacts to the environment.

But, with local governments eager to join the tourism development bandwagon, the orientation on the ProGED is a timely step to further guide local governments in helping plan for investments rising in their respective areas, tourism stakeholders observing the forum said.

During the forum, Department Of Tourism Assistant Secretary Rolando Cañizalbriefs town dad of the salient points of Tourism Act of 2009 and dealt exhaustively on the crucial role of LGUS in implementing the law.

On the other hand Interior Local Government Regional Director Ananias Villacortadelved on the local application of national laws especially on the context of the Local Government Code.

To expose the local chief executives on the ProGED best tourism practices in the country, GIZ Consultant Sarah Muniz gave LGUS the idea of how to further craft their development plans from the available templates.

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