City dad to revive tourism commission

THE re-activation of the Cebu City Tourism Commission will be prioritized by Councilor James Cuenco, who will chair the Cebu City Council’s tourism committee.

Cuenco said the commission will have to be revived to assist Mayor Michael Rama’s plan to convert Cebu City into a retirement destination and medical tourism services hub.

“We want to make a dent on the retirement market and even medical tourism. It is very expensive to get medical treatment in other countries. We have good hospitals here to market medical tourism,” he said.

Cuenco is one of four allies in the council whom Rama appointed to perform executive functions.

Cuenco also mentioned about Cebu City’s bid to host the 2015 Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit and the 2016 Tourism Congress.

Councilor Margot Osmeña, former chairperson of the council’s tourism committee and the tourism commission vice chairperson, said the commissioners haven’t convened since July last year.

Rama had appointed former tourism undersecretary Phineas Alburo as its chairperson.

“He (Alburo) has never called for a meeting,” she said.

Osmeña said the terms of all commissioners expired last June 30.

Former tourism commissioners included Philip Rodriguez, Marissa Fernan, Teta Baad, Petite Garcia, Joy Benedicto and Joey Gaisano.

Alice Quibaltin and Hans Hauri, Hotels, Resorts and Restaurants Association of Cebu Inc. (HRRAC) president were also appointed tourism commissioners.

Osmeña said the commission is tasked to oversee city government tourism related projects like the annual Ms. Cebu competition, the Gabi sa Kabilin and the city’s adventure tourism campaign.

Cuenco said he chose the tourism committee due to his travel experiences as a labor attaché in Taiwan.

He said he was happy that Councilor Osmeña offered him the tourism committee through his brother, former councilor Ronald Cuenco.