THE Sangguniang Panlalawigan has scrapped the request of the Provincial Tourism Council (PTC) for the creation of a trust fund sourced out from Provincial Government of Bohol’s share of the Chocolate Hills Complex to be used for promoting and marketing Bohol in the global tourism industry.
The tourism committee recommended to deny the said request, Committee chairperson Tita Baja said in
Provincial Government of Bohol’s share of the Chocolate Hills Complex collection to be used for promoting and marketing Bohol as a global destination.
Ms. Joanne Pinat, OIC of the Bohol Tourism Office, said that the basis behind the said request, PTC “wanted an assurance that the Provincial Government will allocate a regular budget for tourism promotion and marketing being a very important investment in the tourism industry because it is a venue for guests and interested parties to see what Bohol is and what Bohol can offer.”
The committee report said that marketing and promotion was pegged at P 1.2 Million for 2023 and has increased it to P4.8 Million in 2024 as confirmed by provincial budget officer Peter Ross Retutal.
Ms. Aida Evangelista of the Provincial Treasurer’s Office explained that the share of the Provincial Government from the collection of the Chocolate Hills Complex is set at 30% of the net income.
The provincial share from the complex collection is projected at P10 Million for 2023, with the actual share amounting to P5.2 million as of October 2023.
Reliable source of the Chocolate Hills complex operations said that the town (Carmen) that managing the complex has overshot its target for the year as of mid-year this year.
Retutal said that the said share from the complex forms part of the general fund which is utilized to carry out different functions, programs and activities of the Provincial Government. “Creating a trust fund from the collection would require a separate bank account and a separate accounting system,” he added.
Board Member Romulo Cepedoza had this to say, “the Provincial Government of Bohol should not only shoulder the bulk of the allocation for marketing and promotion and further emphasized the need for the private sector to also provide a counterpart allocation for marketing and promotion considering that it will benefit them the most.” (ricobedencio@yahoo.com)
