BY HELEN J. CATALBAS
THE DEPARTMENT of Tourism Regional Office VI celebrated the 50th anniversary of the agency with an Appreciation Night on May 17, 2023. Dubbed as Pagdayaw 2023, there was a program that centered on the presentation of plaques of appreciation to individuals and institutions as recognition for their contribution to the development and recovery of the Western Visayas tourism industry.
For most of the night’s plaque recipients, it was a recognition for 2022 performance, for the rest it was for a lifetime or so it seemed.
Honored Guest was DOT Undersecretary Ferdinand Jumapao Jr who represented Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco and delivered an inspirational message.
We congratulate DOT VI RD Crisanta Marlene “Krisma” Rodriguez and the ever energetic team from the Tourism Development Division especially the Project Officer Rose Marie B. Salvacion for mounting that memorable program. I understand planning for the program including the bidding started last year but was set aside due to the transition in regional leadership.
The awardees were grouped into 4 categories. Group 1 were the Training Facilitators, MICE and Media Partners.
The training champions and resource persons cited were Maria Amihan T. Panes, Angeles E. Gabinete, Sofia Celeste Sarino, Consorcia Erlyn S. Alunan, Aries Noel Cristales, Ed Rhoderick Canuto, Eddie P. Canuto , Catherine Scerri, Francisco T. Delay Cruz, Freddie A. Quinito and Anecito “Altho” Dela Cruz.
The next set of awards was given to the most proactive organizations in the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) sector. There were Iloilo MICE Alliance, Bacolod MICE Group and Boracay MICE Alliance.
Media partners in the region cited as the most proactive in helping the DOT promote and disseminate information about the agency’s plans, programs and activities were Iloilo Metropolitan Times, RMN-Iloilo, Radio Pilipinas, The Daily Guardian and Panay News.
Group 2 awardees included Ecotourism Advocacy, Community- Based Tourism Development and Accreditation Campaign. They were cited as partners of DOT VI in advocating sustainable ecotourism development sited in Western Visayas. They were NEDA Region VI, DENR Region VI, Sibalom Natural Park Protected Area Management Board, Bulabog Putian National Park Protected Area Management Board, Bakhawan Nature Study and Ecopark, Municipality of Leon for Bucari Pine Forest and Camp Site, Municipality of Culasi for Mararison Island, Municipality of Sibalom for Sibalom Natural Park.
The Community-Based Tourism Development citation was given each to the following local government units (lGUs) that fully supported the community-based organizations in their respective areas. They were Municipality of San Joaquin (Iloilo), City of Sagay (Negros Occidental) and Nueva Valencia (Guimaras).
The most pro-active LGUs in promoting DOT Accreditation in their area of jurisdiction were cited under the Accreditation award category. They included Bacolod City, Sipalay City, San Carlos City, Cadiz City, Talisay City, Hinigaran, La Castellana, Sagay City. All these LGUs are in Negros Occidental. (To be continued next issue)/PN
