ILOILO – Western Visayas and Negros Occidental emerged as big winners at the first-ever Philippine Tourism Awards (PTA) organized by the Department of Tourism (DOT), with five of the region’s stakeholders clinching top recognitions during the awarding ceremony held on September 8 at Okada Manila.
DOT Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco led the historic event, which coincided with the agency’s 50th founding anniversary and is envisioned as the country’s most prestigious recognition for tourism excellence, innovation, and sustainability.
This year’s awardees are the following:
* Hotel Del Rio (Iloilo City) and Mambukal Resort (Negros Occidental) – recipients of the Philippine Tourism Pillar Awards for their long-standing resilience, service excellence, and contributions to tourism growth.
* Southwest Tours Boracay Inc. – honored as Tourist Land Transport Operator Awardee for pioneering safe and efficient transport services in Boracay.
* Ephrathah Farms (Badiangan, Iloilo) – named Farm Tourism Enterprise Awardee for its sustainable and community-based practices.
* Sipalay City (Negros Occidental) – recognized with the Tourism Destination Award (City Category) for its eco-friendly tourism development model.
Other regional stakeholders also reached the finals, showcasing Western Visayas’ strong presence in the awards:
* Malay, Aklan – Finalist for Tourism Destination Award and Lakbay Dagat (Cruise Tourism).
* Sagay City (Negros Occidental) – Finalist for Ecotourism Destination Award.
* Ilaya Retreat Spa (Iloilo) – Finalist for Filipino Brand of Wellness Enterprise.
The award process was opened to public nominations and underwent validation by the DOT with the assistance of PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) to ensure fairness and credibility.
DOT Western Visayas and concurrent NIR Regional Director Crisanta Marlene Rodriguez lauded the winners and finalists, saying their success highlights the region’s growing reputation as a premier tourism hub.
“These recognitions affirm the creativity, resilience, and hospitality of our local stakeholders, who continue to elevate Western Visayas and the Negros Island Region as top destinations under the banner of Love the Philippines,” Rodriguez said./PN
