LUNA, Apayao December 31 – The recent staging of prestigious regional events in this capital town has proven that this last frontier of nature in the north is capable of hosting future regional and national events that would help boost the growth of the province’s tourism and economic growth, Gov. Elias C. Bulut, Jr. said here.
Aside from its successful hosting of the 2013 Cordillera Administrative Region Athletic Association (CARAA) and several meetings of the Regional Development Council (RDC) in the Cordillera, Apayao hosted the regional science and math competitions, the socio-cultural and athletic completions of the Cordillera Administrative Region Association of State Universities and Colleges (CARASUC) and other major regional education, agriculture, environment, labor and employment gatherings over the past several months.
“We are always eager to host major regional and national gatherings because it is an added promoti8on for the province as one of the preferred ecotourist destinations in the north because of our unique state of environment,” Bulut stressed.
He attributed the successful hosting of previous regional events by the province to the commitment of concerned government agencies, the seven municipal governments, the provincial government and the private sector to make sure that visitors will be satisfied with their hospitality through the duration of the gatherings.
Because of the successful staging of the 2013 CARAA athletic meet where Apayao climbed up the overall standings from last place over the past several years, Bulut disclosed Apayao will be submitting its bid to host the 2016 CARAA athletic competitions after it will be hosted by Baguio City this coming February.
He cited local officials are happy to receive numerous positive citations from regional line agency officials, provincial and municipal officials, school officials among other stakeholders who were able to experience the unique hosting of Apayao on small or big gatherings.
“We want to maximize every opportunity that will be given to Apayao to be prompted through hosting various events among others that would entice visitors to take timeout from their busy schedules and visit the province’s unique environment, culture and traditions,” he said.
Apayao is known to host the unique rock formation of Marag Valley, the former stronghold of the communist rebels during the martial law regime, various cave destinations, waterfalls and clear river systems, well-reserved forests in Calanasan town among other scenic tourist spots worthy of being visited.
Bulut expressed confidence that with more regional and national events to be conducted in the province in the coming years, Apayao will be able to gain appropriate mileage in order to encourage more foreign and domestic visitors to visit the province and be able to ap-preciate the efforts of indigenous peoples to preserve and protect the remaining state of the environment for the benefit of the present and future generations.
He called on Cordillerans and other lowlanders to first vist the province before making any conclusions on the prevailing situati8on in the province, saying that Apayao is a worthy place to visit.
