05/10/2022
The department of tourism is the Philippines' agency for the wellness of tourism in our country. The Department of Tourism (DOT), established in 1973, is the administrative body governing and promoting the travel and tourism sector in the Philippines. The goal of DOT is to extend the advantages of tourism to both the public and commercial sectors by promoting, encouraging, and developing tourism as a significant socioeconomic activity that creates foreign exchange and local jobs. Since they are a department, they have to set a direction and goals; that is why they have their mandates. With the support, assistance, and collaboration of both the public and private sectors, the Department of Tourism (DOT) is mandated to encourage, promote, and develop tourism as a significant socioeconomic activity to generate foreign currency and local employment and to spread the advantages of tourism to a broader segment of the population. The DOT ensures that foreign and domestic tourists have a safe, convenient, and entertaining time visiting the nation.
Currently, many projects of the Department of Tourism do not follow the department's mandate. For example, Manila Bay's dolomite sand damages the marine life of Manila Bay and the city's sewage system. According to geologist Hobart King, dolomite sand arises in warm, shallow aquatic habitats and is thought to form when groundwater rich in magnesium changes limestone. Due to its poor solubility, it is resistant to the acidity of rain and soil. What are its effect on people and the sea? Dolomite contains different amounts of crystalline silica, which, when breathed in, can harm the lungs or potentially result in cancer. Additionally, the substance might irritate the skin and eyes. It does not follow the mandate in that the government may be harming Manila Bay's natural environment and the source of the synthetic sand because the sand does not naturally occur at the bay.
Some projects of DOT are aligned with their mandates, and some are not. Some projects do not support sustainable tourism and do not correctly use natural resources. One promising project of DOT is the closure of Boracay to rehabilitate it. Since we all know that the island of Boracay has emerged as a leader in ecologically friendly travel, the rehabilitation program's success may serve as a model for similar initiatives elsewhere. With this, the locals and tourists can now enjoy the beautiful white sand of Boracay again.
Based on their performance, I can say that I'll give them 3 out of 5 since most of their projects do not reflect their mandates and since it is not sustainable. They still have a good performance, and they are doing their best to make tourism bloom again in the Philippines.
