Speech delivered by Tourism Secretary Ramon R. Jimenez, Jr.

on the DOT-DPWH Convergence on Tourism Infrastructure Program Muralla Room, 2/F Bayleaf Hotel, Intramuros Manila 19 January 2011 Good morning everyone. Good morning Secretary Singson. Good morning Mr. Steven Rood of the Reid Foundation. Good morning friends at USAID, regional directors, Undersecretary Corpuz, Assistant Secretary Cabral, everyone, good morning. Well, obviously, the composition of the group here today clearly indicates that there is a distinct possibility that convergence will in fact be a lot more fun in the Philippines. Of course, if you ask our friends from the Reid Foundation, they would much rather that convergence had a lot more funds in the Philippines. But thats a different story altogether. I would like to express my keen interest and welcome this opportunity program for, in fact a convergence program with the DPWH. This is something that has been long and coming. In fact, when you think about it, this is happening for the very first time. Thats helping to build a strong public sector institution that promotes transparency, good governance especially in tourism an industry which has now gained national importance. It is an approach to business that is inspired by the leadership of no less than His Excellency, the President himself. The DOT and the DPWH partnership will also contribute to the promotion of inclusive growth and poverty reduction by integrating communities to the tourism value chain and building local institutions through better or improved road connectivity. Again, in pursuit of the vision that says, tourism is the peoples business. The convergence program between the DOT and DPWH is mandated actually in the Tourism Act of 2009, specifically Sections 34 and 37 that mandate the coordination of national and local government initiatives in accordance with the National Tourism Development Plan. The workshop today is the first step, and believe me, only the first step to capacitate the regional offices of the DOT and the DPWH, as well as other stakeholders in the tourism sector to identify, evaluate, and prioritize I repeat prioritize tourism growth projects based on sound, technical assessment, and consensus process. One standard, one action, one process.

I would like to extend my appreciation to the DPWH and Reid Foundation for making the convergence program on the tourism road access possible. Surely, this joint undertaking will ensure the timely implementation of the National Tourism Development Plan towards achieving the target foreign visitor arrivals of 10 million visits by 2016. I also wish to acknowledge the support extended by the USAID to the convergence initiative of the DOT and DPWH through the Reid Foundation itself. Thank you very much and have fun today.