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Tourism chief, Deputy Speaker Frasco donate for education of Pagsanjan boatmen’s children
PAGSANJAN, Laguna—Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco on Tuesday has formally handed over the P200,000 cash donation. She and her husband, Deputy Speaker Duke Frasco, pledged as support for the education of the tourism workers’ children in Pagsanjan, Laguna.
Last month, the tourism chief announced the pledge during the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Philippines fund-raising fashion show gala for its 50th founding anniversary to help restore and rebuild communities around Pagsanjan waterfalls. The amount was a personal donation from the couple intended for the education of Pagsanjan boatmen’s children.
“As a great equalizer, education can uplift communities from poverty and empower its citizens to become productive members of the society. Any avenue that would give access to people to quality education is worth our attention and full unwavering support,” Secretary Frasco was quoted as saying.
On Tuesday, Secretary Frasco joined DOT-CALABARZON Regional Director Marites T. Castro, Laguna Governor Ramil L. Governor, and mayors Cesar V. Areza of Pagsanjan, Arrantlee R. Arroyo of Cavinti, and Rolandi G. Ubatay of Lumban to witness the historic renewal of the tripartite agreement among the three neighboring towns that was 30 years in the making to strengthen their local tourism as well as for the development of their socio-economic components through the protection and preservation of the Pagsanjan Gorge National Park where the famed Pagsanjan waterfalls can be found.
PATA, for its part, has chosen the community as its beneficiary for its fundraising initiative.
The tourism chief underscored that apart from helping tourism flourish again to its former glory primarily in the towns of Pagsanjan, Cavinti, and Lumban, she said the DOT is in full support of PATA’s advocacy on tourism education, thus, their personal donation.
She said such an advocacy is close to her heart, recalling how their initiative from Liloan town in Cebu started only with a few scholars in 2008, and now has around 16,000 students benefiting from their personal advocacy by putting education at a premium across the 5th District of Cebu.
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Published:June 9, 2023
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