BY HELEN J. CATALBAS
THE DEPARTMENT of Tourism (DOT) 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.
Group 2 was composed of Ecotourism Advocacy, Community-Based Tourism Development and Accreditation Campaign.
The 3rd group of awardees was labeled Tourism Data Managers and Compilers.
Ten top tourist attractions/sites in Western Visayas that received the highest volume of same-day visitor arrivals in 2022 as reported by the LGUs based on standard tourism reports were Malumpati Health Spring and Tourist Resort, ADZ Inn Hilltop, The Ruins, Villa Francisca Beach Resort, Magikland, Campuestohan Highland Resort, Garinfarm Agritourism Park, Sipaway Island, Guimaras Landmark, and Bucari Pine Forest .
Top 12 tourist arrivals-contributing Accommodation Establishments (AEs) in highly urbanized cities (HUCs)/provinces award was given to DOT-accredited accommodation establishments in Western Visayas that were reported by their respective LGUs to have received the highest number of overnight guests in 2022 based on standard tourism reports. They were L’Fisher Hotel (Bacolod City), Park Inn by Radisson Bacolod, Adelaide Tourist and Travellers Inn, Inc., Eagle’s Hotel & Function Hall, Asia Novo Boutique Hotel Inc., Raymen Beach Resort, Alobijod Cove Resort, Jardeleza Sea Garden Resorts, Inc., Seaside Cove Farm Resort, Richmonde Hotel Iloilo, Injap Tower Hotel, and Nature’s Village Resort.
Top 10 contributing Western Visayas local government units (LGUs) in same-day visitor arrivals for CY 2022 as consolidated monthly from various visitor attractions were recognized accordingly. They were Talisay City, Negros Occ. (305,317); Ajuy, Iloilo (230,297); Passi City, Iloilo (225,272); Oton, Iloilo (219,738); Binalbagan, Negros Occ. (204,243); Nueva Valencia, Guimaras (199,551); Pandan, Antique (197,913); Jordan, Guimaras (184,415); Banate, Iloilo (176,286); and San Joaquin, Iloilo (153,911).
Recognized as Top 10 WV local government units (LGUs) with the highest record of overnight visitor arrivals for CY 2022 as consolidated monthly from accommodation establishments were Malay ( Aklan), City of Iloilo, City of Bacolod, Sipalay City (Negros Occ.), Carles (Iloilo), San Carlos City (Negros Occ.), Nueva Valencia (Guimaras), Kabankalan City (Negros Occ.), and Silay City (Negros Occ.).
The Fourth and last group of awardees were introduced as Tourism Partners and Pillars of the Western Visayas Tourism Industry.
This accolade was given to the Provincial and City Tourism Offices in Western Visayas that actively supported the various programs and data collection of the Department of Tourism Region VI for CY 2022.
The Top 4 supportive and responsive provincial and city tourism officer recognized according to their rankings were Capiz Tourism and Cultural Affairs Office, Iloilo Provincial Culture, Arts, History and Tourism Office, Guimaras Provincial Tourism Office and Iloilo City Tourism and Development Office.
Top 9 Tourism Partners were given appreciation for their invaluable support extended to DOT Region VI in the development and recovery efforts for WV tourism industry in 2022. They were Uswag Iloilo Molecular Laboratory, Aklan Province, Antique Province, Capiz Province, Guimaras Province, Iloilo Province, Negros Occidental Province, Iloilo City and Bacolod City.
Three personalities were honored as Pillars of the Western Visayas Tourism Industry for their invaluable contribution and significant role in the development and recovery efforts of the Western Visayas tourism industry. In the order of their recency, they were Cristine C. Mansinares (former Regional Director), Atty. Helen J. Catalbas (former Regional Director) and Edwin G. Trompeta (former Regional Director).
We once again extend our appreciation to Department of Tourism Region VI and our congratulations to all Western Visayas tourism stakeholders. This activity is indeed a way of coming together and to renew our collective commitment to deliver the gold for the region’s tourism industry.
We believe the first 50 years of existence of the Department of Tourism were indeed the golden years of the tourism industry in Western Visayas. The regional office and its predecessor, the Iloilo Field Office, was only three years old when this writer, straight from college, was invited to join its personnel compliment. We are looking forward to double gold from that current and future manpower of the tourism industry in the next 50 years. May the Almighty bless us long life to savor the centenary of this great agency we all chose to have mixed feelings for./PN
