MANILA, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- A lawmaker said Sunday that the Philippines has earmarked 14 billion pesos (247 million U.S. dollars) next year to continue developing access roads and bridges to tourist destinations across the country.
Marvin Rillo, vice chair of the House of Representatives committee on tourism, said the fund is on top of the 17.7 billion pesos (312.39 million dollars) already earmarked for the Tourism Road Infrastructure Program (TRIP) this year.
"We expect the incremental spending for the TRIP to create a multitude of construction-related jobs that effectively redistribute income to poorer households," said Rillo, also a House committee member on appropriations.
The improved infrastructure will also help drive tourist traffic and employment growth in accommodation, transport, food and beverage services, entertainment, and other activities in the tourism value chain, he added.
The Philippines' Department of Tourism data showed that over 3.4 million foreign tourists have visited the Southeast Asian country as of Aug. 10. South Koreans topped the foreign arrivals in the Philippines, followed by the Americans, Japanese, Chinese, and Australians. ■
