FIVE outstanding Ilonggos made the cut for the Most Inspiring Tourism Entrepreneurs of 2023 organized by Go Negosyo and the Department of Tourism.
From over 100 nominees nationwide, five individuals from Western Visayas were awarded during the National Tourism Summit at SM Seaside City Cebu on May 6:
* Mr. Ed Roderick Cañuto, general manager of Ephrathah Farms Corporation
* Atty. Jobert Peñaflorida, president and chief executive officer of Fiesta! Favorite Souvenirs
* Mr. Cedric Sazon, chief executive officer of Southwest Tours (Boracay), Inc.
* Mr. Reynaldo Villan, president of Bongbong’s Piyaya and Barquillos
A special award for Tourism Leadership Excellence was bestowed on Mr. Henry
Chusuey, chairman of the Henann Group of Resorts.
The winners received their trophies from Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco,
Cebu’s Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia, Cebu City’s Mayor Michael Rama, Siargao’s Mayor Sol
Matugas, Panglao’s Mayor Edgardo Arcay, and Go Negosyo founder and Private Sector
Advisory Council chairman Joey Concepcion.
The awardees were recognized for their achievements and contributions in promoting
Philippine tourism in the areas of accommodation, tour services, food tourism, retail
goods and services, food tourism, community-based/cultural tourism, unique attractions
and activities, and eco-tourism.
Since 2016, Go Negosyo has mentored over 12,000 entrepreneurs through the 3M
(money, market, and mentorship) on wheels and its mall-based mentoring program. The
Department of Tourism, on the other hand, has set its goal of training 100,000 tourism
workforce across all 16 regions in the country in 2023./PN
