09/09/2008 [ tribune.net.ph ]
With the degradation of the Banawe rice terraces reaching unprecedented scale, members of the House committee on appropriations said yesterday they might consider granting the Department of Tourism (DoT) an additional budget for the restoration one of the country’s main tourist attractions.
In yesterday’s budget deliberation, Ifugao Rep. Solomon Chungalao proposed to the committee to give DoT more for the budget in order to preserve the century-old rice terraces.
This was after Tourism Secretary Ace Durano admitted that the Department of Budget and Management had rejected the original budget proposal of the DoT for a P44 million provision for the restoration of the Banawe Rice Terraces.
“Following the order of the President to have a joint project in Banawe Rice Terraces, Secretary Yap and I immediately discussed the project that will restore the rice terraces and help the people earn a living,” Durano said.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) is allocating P100 million for the purpose.
Chungalao said the tourism in Mountain Province particularly in the Banawe Rice Terraces has dropped tremendously because of the failure of the government to restore the site once regarded as the Eight Wonder of the World.
He added with the Banawe Rice Terraces losing its economic viability, many natives are already leaving it and transferring to other places.
Charlie V. Manalo
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