Lawmakers want Pacquiao as tourism’s poster boy

Congressmen yesterday urged the Duterte administration to designate boxing champion Sen. Manny Pacquiao as “tourism’s poster boy.”

Party-list group 1-Pacman and Pampanga Rep. Aurelio Gonzales Jr. said the Department of Tourism (DOT) should tap Pacquiao to promote the country here and abroad.

Gonzales said the boxing champion’s popularity would be a big boost to any DOT effort to entice foreign tourists to visit the country.

He said Pacquiao would only be too willing to do his share in promoting tourism.

1-Pacman said the boxing champion could do the job for free.

The House committee on tourism, chaired by Leyte Rep. Lucy Gomez, has approved a proposal asking the DOT to name Pacquiao its spokesman-endorser.

Meanwhile, the DOT also welcomed the idea.

“Senator Pacquiao is a living hero who has earned the world’s admiration and reaped so much honor for the country. He personifies the Filipino’s resiliency with a big heart and our people’s genuine hospitality,” Tourism Secretary Wanda Tulfo-Teo said in a press conference in Zamboanga City yesterday.

Teo lauded Pacquiao’s desire to become a tourism ambassador and encouraged Filipinos, especially the youth, to emulate the world boxing icon’s sense of volunteerism in promoting the world-class tourist destinations all over the archipelago.

“This is a great Christmas gift to the DOT from Pacman, a living legend, especially as preparations are now in full swing for the country’s hosting of the prestigious 2016 Miss Universe pageant,” Teo said.

The DOT chief foresees a knockout win with Pacquiao and Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach as frontliners in the tourism campaign.