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DOT CHIEF HIGHLIGHTS SUSTAINABLE TOURISM COMMITMENT AT PHILIPPINE SUSTAINABILITY NOW FORUM 2025
MAKATI CITY — The Department of Tourism (DOT) reaffirmed its commitment to building a sustainable, inclusive, and resilient tourism industry as Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco addressed stakeholders during the Philippine Sustainability Now Forum 2025 on Wednesday (Apr. 23) at the Dusit Thani Hotel Manila.
Organized by the Italian Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines (ICCPI), the forum gathered leaders from business, government, and civil society to champion environmentally conscious strategies and long-term development solutions.
“Today, we gather in the spirit of shared responsibility and bold ambition to build a future that is not only prosperous but also resilient, inclusive, and deeply rooted in sustainability. The Philippines Sustainability Now Forum is more than just a venue for dialogue; it is a call to action. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the Italian Chamber, as well as our partners from the diplomatic corps, the business sector, and our development organizations, for advocating for this cause that must and should graduate from mere policy to actual practice across our destinations. Sustainability should not be a mere preference. It should be a mandate. And this is something that we feel very strongly about in the Department of Tourism—so much so that in crafting the National Tourism Development Plan under the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., sustainable tourism development underpins all of our programs,” the Tourism Chief stated in her keynote address.
Secretary Frasco presented the Department’s transformational tourism agenda, built on the pillars of infrastructure, connectivity, product diversification, and heritage-centered promotion. She highlighted the government’s investments in airports, tourism roads, and flood resilience through partnerships with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA).
To enhance visitor comfort and improve tourism quality, Secretary Frasco shared updates on the DOT’s rollout of 100 Tourist Rest Areas (TRAs) nationwide, which now feature solar power and rainwater harvesting systems. From an initial 10 launched since 2023, the TRAs are on track to reach 100, benefitting travelers across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
Also at the heart of these efforts is the Tourism Champions Challenge (TCC), a flagship program awarding over Php 250 million in grants to 15 local government units for infrastructure projects that meet the criteria of sustainability, inclusivity, and resilience. Projects include Panay: A Coastal Resource Experience, a mangrove-based ecotourism site in Panay, Capiz, and Legacy of the Sea, a community-based conservation initiative in Bolinao, Pangasinan. The program will soon launch its second cycle with expanded funding.
The Tourism Chief also reported the growing impact of the Philippine Experience Program (PEP), which promotes regional culture, heritage, and creative industries through tourism circuits co-developed with LGUs and communities. The initiative, now implemented in 12 regions, puts the spotlight on festivals, traditions, and local products.
As chair of the National Ecotourism Council (NEC) this year, the DOT recently launched the National Ecotourism Strategy and Action Plan (NESAP) 2024–2028, reinforcing the country’s commitment to becoming a global leader in ecotourism built on conservation, stewardship, and climate resilience.
Secretary Frasco further highlighted the agency’s push to institutionalize sustainability through updated National Accommodation Standards, sustainable tourism training with the Asian Institute of Management (AIM), and green infrastructure projects, including bike-friendly roads and ecotourism circuits. She also cited the solar-powered, locally woven Philippine Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka as a showcase of sustainable tourism values, which will be repatriated to the country for reuse after the expo.
“We must graduate from this concept of simply counting arrivals to measuring the true value of tourism in our destinations, and most importantly, what it contributes to the host, to the local communities, and to community-based tourism organizations. It cannot be simply about quantity—it must be about quality…If we are to truly pursue sustainable tourism development, then we must ensure that tourism growth benefits our local stakeholders, manages capacities in our destinations, and offer experiences that have a deeper engagement between tourists and our communities, for them to value our assets and our destinations,” Secretary Frasco emphasized.
Among the distinguished officials and resource speakers present at the forum were H.E. Davide Giglio, Ambassador of Italy to the Philippines; former Tourism Secretary Dr. Mina Gabor, now President of the International School of Sustainable Tourism; Atty. Javey Francisco of the Securities and Exchange Commission; Mr. Roel Refran of the Philippine Stock Exchange; Mr. Alfredo Pascual of Banco de Oro; Mr. Michael Toledo of Metro Pacific Investment Corporation; Architect Romolo Nati of Italpinas Development Corporation; Ms. Miles Ballestar of iONTEK Power Solutions; Mr. Illac Diaz of Liter of Light; and ICCPI officers led by President Sergio Boero and Executive Director Lorens Ziller.
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Published:April 25, 2025
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