BAGUIO CTY — The Department of Tourism – Cordillera Regional Office gathered regional tourism stakeholders particularly from the local government units and private sector to recognize their contributions to the advancement of the tourism industry in the region and to share their accomplishments.
In the awarding ceremony at the Baguio Country Club on Wednesday, former DOT-Cordillera Regional Director and now Tourism Promotions Board Chief Operating Officer Marie Venus Tan and DOT-CAR Officer-in-Charge Jovita Ganongan awarded plaques to the local chief executives and tourism officers, as well as private individuals and groups in the tourism industry including accommodation establishments, travel and tour agencies, tour guides, tourism related establishments and corporate partners.
Among the LGUs recognized include the provincial government units of Benguet, Apayao, Ifugao, Kalinga and the city government units of Baguio and Tabuk. For the municipal level awardees were Lagangilang in Abra; Kabayan, La Trinidad and Tuba in Benguet; Aguinaldo, Alfonso Lista, Banaue, Hungduan, Kiangan and Mayoyao in Ifugao; Pasil, Rizal, Tanudan and Tinglayan in Kalinga, and Bontoc in Mountain Province.
For the private sector, awards were given to more than 60 tourism establishments and organizations for their dedicated support to the thrust of the DOT in upholding quality standards and for being DOT accredited establishment.
Ganongan said that the recognition for the LGUs was based on their formulation of their Tourism Development Plans, the marketing and initiatives to promote their tourist spots or destinations.
She said the awards were given to inspire other LGUs in the Cordillera particularly their local chief executives and officials to craft their tourism plans and implement these. This is also for the officials to give priority to the tourism sector particularly the community-based tourism initiatives.
Tan commended the awardees from the LGUs and the private sector for continuing to promote and support the DOT and the tourism industry in the Cordillera region.
“We recognize everybody who made a difference in travel and tourism across the spectrum of the industry in the Cordillera region,” said Tan.**PIA
