THE Department of Tourism (DOT) has identified the 15 local government units (LGUs) that will get a combined tourism funding worth P180 million under its new Tourism Champions Challenge (TCC) initiative.

In a statement yesterday, the DOT said the 15 were shortlisted from 90 LGUs that submitted a total of 98 proposals from across Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

The proposals underwent a rigorous evaluation process, with its “knowledge partner” PricewaterhouseCoopers Philippines (PWC) providing expert insight.

The first placer will receive P20 million worth of tourism projects, the second placer will get P15 million, P10 million for the third placer, P8 million and P7 million, for the fourth and fifth placer, respectively, for a total of P180 million.

The proposals will be officially awarded upon approval of the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) Board, through an official signing of a memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the LGUs, DOT and the TIEZA, for the facilitation of the project inauguration.

The TCC is a nationwide campaign to incentivize tourism development among cities and municipalities.

The program was launched earlier this year to help winning LGUs develop and manage tourism projects by providing funds to their project proposals, which the DOT hopes will pave the way for the Philippines’ goal of becoming a tourism powerhouse in Asia.

Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco, who formerly served as Liloan, Cebu mayor, underscored the need for strengthened tourism governance between and among the national government and the LGUs.

“President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. early on in his administration has expressed his belief in the tourism industry’s ability to become one of the country’s major economic pillars post-pandemic,” she said.

The winners are: Luzon: Ambaguio, Nueva Vizcaya; Bolinao, Pangasinan; Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro; San Jose, Romblon; and Socorro, Oriental Mindoro.

Visayas — Badian, Cebu; Panay, Capiz; Silago, Southern Leyte; Tubigon, Bohol; and Victorias City, Negros Occidental.

Mindanao — Davao City, Davao del Sur; Isabela City, Basilan; Island Garden City of Samal, Davao del Norte; San Agustin, Surigao del Sur; and Tagum City, Davao del Norte.

From the identified 15 LGUs, the proposals will be ranked according to relevance and potential contribution to the tourism industry. Philippine News Agency