SAN JOSE, Antique – The tourism potential here is expected to get a boost with the provincial tourism getting its own office worth P10 million.
The new building, which was inaugurated on Thursday, stands beside the new capitol building in this capital town.
It was funded by a donation from Buhay Partylist Rep. Lito Atienza.
Gov. Rhodora Cadiao, in her message during the inauguration, said she looks forward for Antique to shine as the province’s tourism industry had already been spurred by the police campaign against insurgency and illegal drugs.
“Antique is being expected to become a drug-free province by December 2019,” she said.
Based on the data of the Antique Provincial Police Office (APPO), the target of clearing all the 590 barangays in 18 municipalities of illegal drugs is almost complete.
Currently, 557 barangays had already been drug-cleared.
Acting Provincial Tourism officer Cheryl Lynn Quanico said they can now deliver better service with the provincial tourism office having a permanent building or “home”.
“Cong. Atienza said that if we could let him know if we still need more assistance,” Quanico said, relaying the message of Atienza.
Fr. Fortunato Abiera, who led the blessing, prayed that the tourism office will truly serve its purpose as a hub for tourism promotion of a sustainable developing province.
“May this office will make known that Antique is a province of talented people,” he said.
He added that through tourism promotion it could redound to economic development because of the influx of tourists.
The fund for the project was released to the province in July last year. Atienza happens to be a close friend of former Antique Governor Salvacion Zaldivar-Perez. (With a report from PNA/PN)
