NEWSFLASH

TARLAC PUSHING FOR TOURISM HUB

Tarlac City, Jan. 5, 2001 - The provincial government is pushing the development of Tarlac as an agri-industrial and tourism hub of Central Luzon with efforts focused on “harmony with the environment and promoting a healthy, educated, and empowered constituency.”

This developed as the Department of Tourism, in its Regional Master Plan for Central Luzon, cited the province’s potentials for tourism development with its national parks, historical landmarks, museums, natural wonders, golf course, and eco-tourism sites.

The province will also be developed as the region’s “tourism highway,” being a favorite stopover place of motorists traveling to the Ilocos and Cordillera regions.

The Sangguniang Panla­lawigan (SP) has submitted for Yap’s approval the Provincial Investment and Tourism Ordinance of 2000 that aims to “accelerate the sound development of Tarlac in accordance with the provincial development plan and the national development plan of 2000.”

The ordinance seeks to encourage new investments or expansions/diversifications in agri-business, tourism facilities, miscellaneous light manufacturing, and property development, all aimed at improving the standard of living and equitable wealth distribution.

“The province of Tarlac welcomes and encourages domestic and foreign capital to establish enterprises that would utilize substantial amount of labor, raw materials, and natural resources of the province,” the proposed ordinance said.

To mobilize promotion activities provided for in the ordinance, the provincial government shall allocate P2 million for the Provincial Investment Promotion Fund that will be sourced from the 20 percent Development Fund.

An initial multisectoral action-planning workshop was held at the Provincial Agriculturist’s Office (PAO) recently to map out activities promoting Tarlac as an agri-industrial and tourism center.

Present during the workshop were non-government organizations, including the Soroptimist International and government agencies like the PAO, Department of Trade and Industry, and the Provincial Planning and Development Office.

To be created with the enactment of the Investment and Tourism Ordinance of 2000 are the Tarlac Investment and Tourism Board and the Tarlac Investment Planning and Promotion Center.