LAGAWE, Ifugao- – The strong and continued collaboration of the Ifugao provincial government, Foundation for Communication Initiatives (FOCI), Inc., local government units and host communities shall surely reap big dividends for the province in terms of sustaining a more vibrant and responsible tourism industry.
There can be no better deal to promote Ifugao’s renowned rice terraces than the one forged by Governor Pedro Mayam-o and FOCI, a non-profit advocacy and development communications group based in Makati City.
The FOCI has scheduled photoshoot sessions on October 24 to 27 in Kiangan, Mayoyao, Banaue and Hungduan towns. The activity is intended to develop and produce promotional materials for the world-famous Rice Terraces of the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).
The UNESCO Jakarta project, “The Power of Culture: Supporting Community-based Management and Sustainable Tourism at the World Heritage Sites in Southeast Asia,” three World Heritage sites were chosen to be pilot sites in developing sustainable tourism strategy. One of the said places is the “Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras.” The UNESCO Jakarta has inked a contract with FOCI to come up with a leaflet/brochure. Consequently, this material is seen as a move to further expand the country’s footprint in the international tourism market.
In an exclusive interview with the ZigZag Weekly, Gov. Mayam-o said: “We are optimistic that this project and other initiatives will further boost the province’s tourism industry.”
Ifugao Cultural Heritage Office (ICHO) head William Mamanglo, who has the reputation of handling successfully projects related to the rice terraces, is closely coordinating with FOCI officers to ensure the endeavor’s success. He assisted the FOCI in the arrangement of itinerary and liaising with municipal governments for permits.
Most importantly, Mamanglo also disclosed that the project entails a zero expense outlay for the provincial government since FOCI is not charging at all the Mayam-o administration. Earlier, a similar promotional project between the provincial government and Living Asia Channel failed to materialize. According to a reliable source, the latter tendered a fee of nearly Php 500,000, an expenditure Governor Mayam-o deemed as too costly.
On the other hand, Kiangan Councilor Gemma Dimog lauded the FOCI and Governor Mayam-o for their efforts to further elevate the tourism industry to greater heights in her town, in particular, and Ifugao, in general.
“We are, of course, very grateful that this activity shall take place in Kiangan among other places, and is beneficial to our tourism industry. It shall easily present the best of Kiangan to the world,” she declared.
Councilor Dimog is the chair of the Committee on Tourism, Agriculture, Agrarian Reform, Food and Cooperatives and Trade and Industry.
She is also widely recognized to encourage key players in the private sector in increasing their role as a means of propelling the growth and dynamism in the tourism industry.
Kiangan’s Nagacadan Rice Terraces is the jump-off point of the FOCI photoshoot project in Ifugao. Low-yield, indigenous heirloom rice “tinawon” is planted in these terraces. The Department of Agriculture has instead set its sights on mechanization of terraces farming and reparing damaged terraces.
Many are highly optimistic that the fruit of collaboration among Governor Mayam-o, FOCI, municipal governments of Banaue, Hungduan, Kiangan and Mayoyao and host communities will be put to good use by all stakeholders. The production of these valuable promotional materials would not have been possible and contributions of those who recognize the significance of this UNESCO- declared World Heritage sites rice terraces. They include managing director Christina Elisse Capistrano-Cudiamat and project officer Noriel Barrios.
Domestic and inbound tourism in Ifugao are from satisfactory. Arrivals are low. Hopes are high that a better strategy crafted by private sector to attract visitors will ultimately prop up the economy.
In a related development, Mayor Joselito Guyguyon has received recently the letter of FOCI on its Kiangan photoshoot schedule. In turn, pertinent matters of the said communication were acted by tourism officer Janni Albano. Both Mayor Guyguyon and Vice Mayor Francisco Dulnuan both have vowed to provide full support for the project. They said that invigorating the town’s tourism industry can serve a lot of people because it creates jobs and it generates revenues. **By Anthony A. Araos