DOT Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco signed the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the Tourist Rest Areas (TRA) that will be established in Bogo City and the Municipalities of Pinamungajan, Dumanjug, and Santander in Cebu province.
These additional TRAs are part of the initiative led by Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia, who pledged to match the number of TRAs turned over by the DOT to the province.
The DOT has inaugurated two TRAs in Medellin and in Carcar, with two more to be completed soon in Carmen and Moalboal.
“As we ventured to fulfill our President’s vision to transform the Philippines into a tourism powerhouse in Asia, we made the effort to listen. We listened to our tourism stakeholders, we listened to our tourists, and their concern was common, and that is that to and from the beautiful destinations across the country, they needed a place to rest, they needed amenities, and they needed clean and decent restrooms,” Frasco said.
Moreover, a separate MOA was also signed by COO Mark Lapid for the promotion and development of TIEZA’s assets. The agreement is between the DOT’s infrastructure arm and the municipalities of Argao, Dalaguete, and Moalboal.
According to the agreement, Cebu will support TIEZA’s property marketing efforts via the Provincial Economic Enterprise Council (EEC). These high-value assets are anticipated to improve Cebu’s tourism portfolio and package deals while also generating income and employment for the province and concerned LGUs.
Meanwhile, the establishment of sisterhood relations between Cebu and Albay provinces was also formalized through the MOA between Governor Garcia and Albay Governor Grex Lagman.
“We, in the Department of Tourism, fully support this collaboration between local government units cognizant of our President’s priority to ensure that tourism development thrives to strengthen collaboration and engagement.”
“We, in the Department of Tourism, fully support this collaboration between local government units cognizant of our President’s priority to ensure that tourism development thrives to strengthen collaboration and engagement,” Frasco said on the sisterhood agreement of the two tourism provinces.
These MOA signings were witnessed by notable figures such as Senators Lito Lapid and Bong Revilla, Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas (OPAV) Undersecretary Terrence Calatrava, DOT Undersecretary Tamano, and other officials from the provincial board and the LGU.
Participating officials in the MOA signings on the TIEZA’s assets promotion partnership included Pinamungajan Mayor Ana Jessica Baricuatro, Dumanjug Mayor Efren Guntrano Gica, Santander Mayor Marites Buscato, Bogo City Mayor Carlo Jose Martinez, Argao Mayor Allan Sesaldo, Dalaguete Mayor Ronald Allan Sesante, and Moalboal Mayor Inocentes Cabaron.
Pasigarbo in Carcar City
The turnover of the TRAs and the MOA signings coincided with the Pasigarbo sa Sugbo 2023, the showcase festival of the Cebu Provincial Government held at the New Carcar City Sports Complex where the Cebuanos’ demonstrated their deep affection for the country, as the performances embodied the DOT’s “Love The Philippines” campaign.
“The Pasigarbo sa Sugbo is our opportunity to show the love that we have for Cebu, for the Philippines.”
“The Pasigarbo sa Sugbo is our opportunity to show the love that we have for Cebu, for the Philippines. Through our festivals that commemorate our culture as Cebuanos, we celebrate our faith in Sto. Niño and our respective patron saints, and herald the identity of every one of our local government units. All of you, our mayors, our officials, our dancers, choreographers, costume makers, and everyone involved in turning the Pasigarbo sa Sugbo into a reality, you give pride to Cebu. You give pride to the Philippines,” Frasco stressed.
“Through your dances, through your festivals, and everything that celebrates our identity as Cebuanos and Filipinos, you give the Philippines and the rest of the world all the reasons to Love The Philippines,” the tourism chief added.
