LA TRINIDAD, Benguet (PIA) – In line with efforts to revive the tourism sector in the new normal, the provincial government conducted Tourism and Investment Forum as part of the 122 Benguet Foundation celebration thru the Adivay Festival 2022.

The activity was initiated by the Benguet Provincial Tourism and Culture Council as a way to assist the tourism stakeholders, the micro small and medium enterprises and other partners to restart the tourism industry which suffered significantly at the height of the   COVID-19 pandemic.
 
Provincial Tourism Office Chief Tourism Operations Officer Eleazar said that thru various coordination with the different partners from the government agencies and recommendations from the tourism sector, they came up with the diverse topics that cater to the needs of the partners and stakeholders from the tourism industry in   Benguet.
   
Reyell Viado of the Small Business Corporation (SBCorp) Baguio presented the RISE UP program,  the new loan package dubbed Resilient, Innovative, and Sustainable Enterprises, Unleash your Powers (RISE UP) being offered by their office. The RISE UP aims to sustain the operation of small enterprises affected by the pandemic.
 
Engr. Jeane D. Dangkeo also presented the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines, the government agency mandated to administer and implement State policies on intellectual property (IP) to strengthen the protection of IP rights in the country.
 
Entrepreneurs were also encouraged to level up and transact thru the various platforms and programs during the talk on E-commerce by Jessie Cris Lahboy.
  
Food and Drugs Administration Regional Supervisor Saturnina Pandosen discussed the FDA regulatory compliances particularly for stakeholders involved in food products.
 
There were also presentations on customer relations, Department of Tourism  accreditation and on cooperatives. 

Sangguniang Panlalawigan Committee Chair on Tourism Juan Nazarro Jr. said the forum served as an avenue for the various stakeholders to learn from the resources speakers and at the same time provide inputs on how to jumpstart the tourism industry in Benguet in the new normal.

Nazarro noted that Baguio City has already   re-opened its borders for tourism and is   welcoming thousands of tourists, the province of Benguet should also be gaining in terms of the economic benefits from the tourism industry. He encouraged the different stakeholders particularly from the private sector to help the provincial government in bringing back the tourism industry of the province which started to boom before the COVID-19 pandemic.
 

Ariel Layugan from the Office of Vice Governor Ericson Felipe also encouraged the participants to apply their learnings from the speakers to their businesses and activities. He also called on the tourism council and the tourism office to conduct more forums and trainings that would benefit and develop the tourism sector of the   province. (JDP/RMC- PIA CAR)