00:00Meanwhile, tourism in Leyte is heating up with local officials and partners stepping up efforts to attract more visitors.
00:06But a recent remark by Vice President Sara Duterte dismissing San Juanico Bridge as a tourist spot has sparked strong reactions from the province's leaders
00:16who say the bridge remains an important attraction despite safety-related restrictions.
00:21Joshua Garcia reports.
00:23San Juanico Bridge is a tourist spot. This was emphasized by Leyte Governor Carlos Jerico Icon Petiria during a press conference held this afternoon at the new Leyte Provincial Capital in Palo Leyte.
00:36The governor strongly disagreed with Vice President Sara Duterte's statement wherein she said that the San Juanico Bridge is not a tourist spot in Leyte.
00:43It is a tourist destination. Kung meron mang 100 kilometers na bridge sa China, pumunta ka ng China.
00:53Okay, pero dito sa Pilipinas, okay, San Juanico Bridge ang pupuntaan mo, hindi China.
00:59The governor also admitted that not all will like San Juanico Bridge, but he believes that those are the people who cannot stop and take pictures in the middle of the bridge.
01:07But this is just a precautionary measure because the bridge is a danger zone area, according to Governor Petiria.
01:13One of the board members of Leyte also expressed dismay over the remarks of the Vice President.
01:17Mayroong nag-post sa Facebook na yung San Juanico, hindi yan tourist spot. It is just only a 2.6 kilometers bridge compared to China na mayroon more than 100 kilometers bridge.
01:33So that touches my heart.
01:37To recall, on May 15, restrictions were implemented on vehicles passing through the San Juanico Bridge, where only those weighing up to 3 tons are temporarily allowed to pass through it.
01:47The Leyte Provincial Tourism Office emphasized that the rehabilitation of the San Juanico Bridge will not harm the region's tourism industry.
01:53Today, the provincial government of Leyte partnered with one of the country's major airline companies to promote latest tourism not only within the Philippines, but also internationally.
02:02Joshua Garcia, from the National TV Network, for a new and better Philippines.
