Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson has instructed provincial tourism officer Jennylind Cordero to again start accepting names of displaced tourism workers who can avail of the P5,000 cash assistance being offered by the Department of Tourism.
Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat on Tuesday, January 19, asked local government officials to spread the word that a P3 billion fund is available for the purpose, and so far only 20 percent of it has been availed of, Lacson said.
Puyat said the December 2020 deadline for application for the cash assistance has been extended to June this year.
So far P50.9 million has been distributed throughout Western Visayas, and P8.7 million in Negros Occidental to 1,754 beneficiaries, Romulo-Puyat said. She hopes more avail of the assistance because the tourism industry is one of the hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, she added.
In Romulo-Puyat’s meeting with tourism stakeholders in Bacolod City Tuesday she was informed that many did not apply for the assistance because they were told only those working for DOT accredited establishments can avail of it, Lacson said.
They found out at the meeting that the establishments do not have to be DOT accredited, they just need a local government license to operate, Lacson said.
So the provincial government will start again with its list, he said, adding that applicants have until March to submit their names.
Lacson said he has instructed the provincial tourism office to coordinate with hotels, restaurants and other tourism establishments so they can avail of the financial assistance for their employees.
Romulo-Puyat, who is on a three-day visit to Negros Occidental, visited various tourism sites today, January 20.*