Tacloban tourism takes a back seat as city govt focuses on housing for Yolanda survivors

The scores of foreigners helping victims of Typhoon Yolanda in Tacloban City have so far been providing good business to hotels there still reeling from the storm's massive devastation.

Hotel management officials, however, fear that they will feel the full impact of the typhoon to their businesses once these foreigners end their tour of duty in the Philippines.

“We are looking forward na talagang hihina (ang negosyo) because alam natin na they are here to help, but eventually we will be starting on our own,” said Jadway Go, manager of Leyte Park Resort Hotel, in a report on GMA News TV's “State of the Nation with Jessica Soho.”

Tacloban City officials are aware that in order to rehabilitate the city, they will have to revive its tourism industry. But it may take longer for the industry to get back on its feet, as the local government's focus is at providing and rebuilding shelter for residents who lost their homes.

The “State of the Nation with Jessica Soho” report said the local government of Tacloban under Mayor Alfred Romualdez does not have a definite timeline yet for breathing new life to the city's tourism industry, since it's focusing on “medium-term and long-term” plans for housing, including bunk houses for residents that will be put up in the capital and in neighboring Palo and Tanauan towns.



Tourism is one of the main sources of income in Tacloban City, famous for the Sto. Niño Shrine and the Heritage Museum, one of the 29 rest houses the late President Ferdinand Marcos built. His widow, now Ilocos Rep. Imelda Marcos, was born to the well-known Romualdez family in Tacloban, and her souvenir items were among those on display in the museum.

While the building still stands, the Department of Tourism office in Eastern Visayas said most of its roof and windows have been blown apart at the height of Typhoon Yolanda last November 8. It is now being repaired and cleaned up for a re-opening in December.

“Para meron naman kaming income—parang 'yun na lang ang pinakatulong nila sa museum namin, to visit again our museum in Tacloban,” said Anabelle Arpon, a tour guide at the shrine-museum.

Meanwhile, at the Leyte Landing Memorial in Palo, work has begun to rebuild the statue of former United Nations General Assembly president Carlos P. Romulo, which was toppled down by the storm surge.

The site, which features 10-foot bronze-cast statues including those of Gen. Douglas MacArthur, President Sergio Osmeña Sr., and Romulo, was where MacArthur, an American military official, made true of his now-famous promise “I shall return” statement.

Power has yet to be restored in the city, with some establishments relying on generators. Mayor Romualdez met with local traders last week, advising them to open and close shop during the day, while staying wary of looters and opportunists likely to exploit the present lack of electric power and utilities.

The city government estimates that power will be back by Dec. 24. In the meantime,  a curfew from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. is being observed. — Rose-An Jessica Dioquino/KBK, GMA News