House leader says 'sourgraping' Drilon used to push for budget for tourism infra, too

Deputy Speaker LRay Villafuerte shot back at Senate Minority Franklin Drilon for apparently insinuating that the House contingent’s push for a P10 billion funding for tourism infrastructure under the Bayanihan 2 law is for personal gain, saying that Senate leader used to do the same thing.

Villafuerte was referring to Drilon’s comments claiming that the Senate had "blocked" the House contingent's plan to have a P10-billion funding for the construction of comfort rooms in tourist spots as well as roads en route to tourism destinations amid the COVID-19 even if tourist destinations remain largely closed.

“The issue on roads and restrooms is pure grandstanding. Why is Senator Drilon strongly against the P10-billion infrastructure for tourism [that] we wanted when he strongly pushed for billions of infrastructure funding for Iloilo, particularly [for] the construction of the P800 million Iloilo Convention Center and the P8.8-billion Iloilo International Airport, among others,” Villafuerte said.

“If he pushed for almost P9 billion worth of infrastructure funding in Iloilo to promote tourism , why can't the whole country avail of P10 billion for tourism infrastructure? We can cite more areas where billions have been spent for infrastructure projects to promote tourism,” Villafuerte added.

Villafuerte then argued that such comments are inappropriate because they were made after Bayanihan 2 was ratified.

“This is the first time that our counterparts are sourgraping after a bicameral panel discussion where both chambers already agreed and signed the report,” Villafuerte said.

“May we humbly request which exact provisions they are insinuating regarding 'personal gains?' The House [contingent] would gladly address any concern. It is very unprofessional to question a report they signed and approved,” he added.

The standoff over the P10-billion fund was broken when both parties agreed to break down the P10 billion to the following:

• P1 billion for tourism infrastructure under the Department of Public Works and Highways;
• P3 billion for displaced workers in tourism industry and
• P6 billion loans under the Department of Trade and Industry  (DTI)’s Small Business Corp.

“Hindi kami pumayag para gamitin ang P10 billion para sa pagpapatayo ng kubeta sa mga tourist areas dahil ang aming paniwala ay hindi ito makakatulong sa tourism enterprises at sa mga manggagawa sa tourism industry na nawalan ng trabaho,” Drilon had said.

Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat also earlier pushed for a P10 billion loan for tourism businesses to financially enable them to restart and recover in the aftermath of the pandemic.

The DOT, in its position paper submitted to Congress on Bayanihan 2, also assured the public that their proposal is based on consultations with stakeholders.

“The immediate needs of our stakeholders were diverse but resounding on financial assistance, such as wage subsidy and working capital loans, and provision of credit facilities for upgrading or rehabilitation in line with health guidelines and the new normal environment,” the DOT added. -MDM, GMA News