MANILA - The Philippines needs to rebuild its infrastructure and provide more support for farmers to catch up with its Southeast Asian neighbor, Thailand, a trade envoy said Tuesday.

A more efficient transportation network will attract more tourists to the Philippines, said Enrico Mariano, a commercial attache at the Department of Trade and Industry who is accompanying President Rodrigo Duterte to Thailand.

Duterte will witness the signing of three agreements on tourism, agriculture, science and technology during his visit to the Southeast Asian nation.

“That’s the lesson we already know,” Mariano said, adding the Duterte is addressing the problem by promising to bring infrastructure to a “golden age.”

Boracay island is still top of mind for Thais when it comes to the Philippines, he told ANC’s “Early Edition.”