LUNA, Apayao – Apayao Congresswoman Eleanor Bulut-Begtang made a clear and direct pronouncement to all the participants which include three mayors present during the culminating day of the three-day “Tourism Development Planning Workshop” that there is a need to create permanent municipal tourism officer positions ready to take full responsibility in promoting and developing the tourism industry in the province.
Gearing towards tourism,Bagtang pointed out on March 21 at the Apayao Eco-Tourism and Sports Complex, Payanan here the necessity of employing full-time tourism officers in all the seven municipalities of Apayao who will engage in a more serious and extensive work programs come her assumption as the Governor this July.
“I am not yet the Governor but I am saying this in advance to prepare you and the whole province taking into account that even the [current] Governor prioritizes and gears towards the promotion of our tourism industry. This is where we are heading, so it should be the priority now of our municipalities to have permanent municipal tourism officers,” Bagtang stressed.
Bagtang explained the negative side of having merely designated municipal tourism officers. She said the creation of new permanent positions might save the government from additional expenses compared to having designations, but according to her, it would lead to inefficiency in the long run due to different conflicting responsibilities or too many workloads handled by one official.
“So our priority is to have municipal tourism officers at hindi dapat designate lang kasi mahirap yan, maraming implications (it should not be designate only because it is difficult, there are many implications),” she added.
In response with the challenge of the Representative of the Lone District of Apayao, Mayor Josephine Bangsil and Mayor Hector Reuel Pascua of the Municipalities of Luna and Pudtol, respectively, readily committed for the creation of an office along with its permanent tourism officer.
The participants as well as the resource speakers were pleased as well as challenged by the pronouncement of Bagtang. With the good impression coming out from the group, the facilitator and lecturers from the Department of Tourism – Regional Office assured their support in whatever aspect they can provide in Apayao more so that in the coming years, tourism would be the focus of the administration.
Department of Tourism-CAR Supervising Tourism Operation Officer Mary Bilagot along with her co-speaker Senior Tourism Operations Officer Sylvia Chirayog and facilitator Marialda Nadunop were all delighted with the outcome of the 1st Tourism Planning Workshop considering the presence of key officials of the province.
“We were glad that our leaders here in Apayao are prioritizing now the tourism industry.This is an appropriate and timely move after establishing excellent road networks within the province leading to easier access to our tourists spots,” Bilagot underscored.
The three day workshop is the first from a series of planning workshops which was initiated by the Provincial Government of Apayao through the Provincial Tourism Services. Provincial Tourism Officer Rebecca Tamaken expressed her gratitude to all the participants for heeding the call of working together as a team in order to lay down concrete plans towards Apayao tourism sector.
The workshop was attended by provincial and municipal officials including the provincial and community environment and natural resources office, farmers and transportation association, provincial and municipal planning and development coordinators, municipal tourism officer designates, tour guides, Apayao State College representative and other stakeholders in the province.
Bagtang and Governor Elias C. Bulut, Jr., in different special occasions, had earlier openly and repeatedly declared that the province is now heading towards the establishment and promotion of Apayao’s wonders. BY GERRIAHZON S. SEBASTIAN
