Tourism in Ilocos Norte may be affected by impending Marcos burial at ‘Libingan’

Residents of Ilocos Norte fear that tourism in their province may dwindle when the remains of the late President Ferdinand Marcos are transferred to the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Taguig City.

In an Unang Balita report on Friday, GMA News’ Saleema Refran said many local industries in the province rely mainly on revenues brought in by tourists who visit the Marcos mausoleum in Batac City.

In fact, the tourism revenue in the province in 2015 amounted to P28 million.

Following the Supreme Court’s decision to dismiss the consolidated petitions seeking to stop the burial of the late President at the heroes’ cemetery, the number of people visiting the Marcos mausoleum has begun to increase.

“Milyon ang supporters pa rin ng ating Pangulo at inaasahan natin na magkakaisa tayong lahat…. Buksan ang kanilang mata at puso, dumalaw dito sa Norte para maintindihan lalo kung bakit ganoon ka-popular ang ating Pangulo,” said Aian Raquel, Provincial Tourism Officer of Ilocos Norte.

But now that the remains of the late President are going to be transferred to Manila, many local businessmen are worried about a decrease in the number of tourists and, eventually, in tourism revenue.

“Mawawala na ‘yung mga turista na pumupunta dito. Made-decrease ‘yung mga income,” said Chanel Cabansag who sells Batac souvenir items.

Marilyn Agapay, who has been selling the famous Ilocos empanada for more than 20 years near the Marcos mausoleum, shared the same view.

“Gusto ko rin mailibing siya pero mas kumportable ako na nandito siya kasi marami din po ang umaasa kapag marami ang turista,” Agapay said. “Dito po kami nabubuhay.”

But the local government of Ilocos Norte told its residents not to worry.

“We are confident that Batac particularly as a destination will stay strong,” Raquel said.

“Final conceptual and technical plans are being done already for the redevelopment of Batac as a park city,” he added.

Marcos died as an exile in Hawaii in 1989, three years after his ouster in the 1986 People Power Revolution.

His remains were brought to Ilocos Norte in 1993, and have since been laid inside a glass coffin at the Marcos mausoleum in Batac City. —Erwin Colcol/KG, GMA News