Senatorial aspirant and former defense secretary Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro have revealed his plans and possible legislation to boost the country’s tourism sector, which was adversely affected by the pandemic.

Teodoro mentioned this during the KandidaTalks forum of Go Negosyo last Monday, with the end in view of creating more businesses, jobs, and livelihood opportunities for Filipinos.

He said he envisions Philippine embassies across the world as the “point of sales” for Philippine tourism, promoting the country as a prime tourist destination.

He recommended promoting high-value tourism by attracting foreign travelers who stay longer and spend more in the country.

Teodoro added that the government should also invest in infrastructure that would ease travel time from the airport to tourist destinations and health facilities to cater to the medical needs of travelers.

The former Tarlac congressman said the government must also review ownership of land for tourism establishments like hotels to lure more investors in the tourism sector.

“If you are not the owner of anything, if you just lease it, will make you make a good investment in it in the long run? Maybe, yes; maybe, no,” he said.

“If you own something, you will protect it and you will invest more in it,” he added.

Meanwhile, senatorial aspirant and former Philippine National Police chief Guillermo Eleazar is urging the government to prepare all possible remedies to cushion the impact of the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine on the Philippine economy.

In a visit to a wet market in Bacolod City recently, Eleazar came face to face with vendors and customers who relayed to him their problems on the increasing price of basic commodities.

“In the market, we hear the pulse of our fellow countrymen in their everyday battles in life. And this is really one place that we go to because here, we get to directly talk to our kababayan and we get to know their grievances and needs,” Eleazar said in Filipino.

Most of the residents in his visit complained of surging prices of local goods and products, according to the Partido Reporma candidate.