ILOILO — The Iloilo provincial government has rolled out the first phase of its new tourism development program, naming eight local government units (LGUs) as initial beneficiaries of financial and technical assistance under the “Turista sa Barangay for MoRProGRes Iloilo” executive order, Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. announced.
The initial recipients are the eight LGUs with contingents in the upcoming Kasadyahan sa Kabanwahanan competition, one of the major highlights of the Dinagyang Festival.
Defensor said the timing of the program’s implementation is deliberate, coinciding with the start of the fiscal year when fresh budget allocations are available to support local tourism initiatives.
Under the executive order, the province will provide festival-linked assistance tailored to the unique tourism assets of each LGU.
In Banate, Defensor said provincial funds will be released in support of the Kasag Festival, alongside plans to establish a blue crab hatchery in the municipality.
“What we want to see there, every time may Kasag Festival sa Banate, we will start the affair sa dispersal sang kasag sa Banate Bay. May blue cab hatchery kita sa Concepcion, so we also want nga may one kita sa Banate,” Defensor said.
For Zarraga, which hosts the Pantat Festival, the provincial government plans to set up a pantat hatchery. Preparatory work has already begun, including the establishment of a water system last year.
Meanwhile, in Bingawan, home of the Pagnahi-an Festival, Defensor said funding will be released to support “slow food” initiatives tied to local culture and agriculture.
“This is in addition to the assistance that we will give to the tribes, we will give other form of assistance based on executive order,” the governor added.
Defensor emphasized that provincial support will go beyond financial aid, covering capacity-building programs, partnerships, and infrastructure development. Funding for the executive order will be sourced from the province’s share in the National Tax Allocation (NTA).
While priority will be given to the eight Kasadyahan participants this year, Defensor said other LGUs will follow as the province aims to elevate the festivals of all 43 municipalities and component cities in Iloilo.
The eight tribes competing in Kasadyahan sa Kabanwahanan are:
* Jimanban Festival of New Lucena
* Tawili Festival of San Rafael
* Salakayan Festival of Miag-ao
* Pagnahi-an Festival of Bingawan
* Tultugan Festival of Maasin
* Kasag Festival of Banate
* Kahilwayan Festival of Santa Barbara
* Banaag Festival of Anilao/PN
