BAGUIO CITY – Some P2 million worth of projects await the winners in the Search for the Best Tourism village in the Cordillera this year where P1 million is earmarked for the first prize in the bid to boost the growth of the tourism industry regionwide.
The Search for the Cordillera Best Tourism Village is now on its fourth year in discovering the hidden treasures of the region and promote the same and contribute in revitalizing the region’s tourism industry and maintaining the vibrant culture and heritage of the sites.
Aside from the P1 million worth of tourism-related projects for the winning village, Jovita Ganongan, regional director of the Cordillera office of the Department of Tourism (DOT-CAR), added that P500,000 worth of projects will also be given to the second placer, P200,000 worth of projects will be provided to the third placer and P100,000 worth of projects will be awarded to each of the three runner-ups of the said search.
She claimed that there are already 68 tourism villages that have applied for the search since its inception in 2022 and that more entries are expected to apply for this year’s search following the development that had been introduced in the villages that already got their prizes from the previous searches.
For this year, one of the most important that was introduced was the increase in the percentage of environmental sustainability of the village from 10 to 25 percent that makes it equal to the other criteria for judging the best tourism village.
The criteria for judging now reflects sustainable management – 25 percent, cultural sustainability – 25 percent, socio-economic and rural economic development sustainability – 25 percent and environmental sustainability – 25 percent.
The search will run from February 25 to June 20, 2025 where it will be open to all tourism villages in the Cordillera that are outstanding examples of rural tourism destinations with recognized cultural and natural assets which preserve and promote rural and community-based values, products and lifestyle and have a clear commitment to innovation and sustainability in all its aspects, economic, social and environmental.
The applicants will be evaluated by a screening committee to be organized by the tourism department where the participants must also indicate the manner on how they will spend the prizes should they be declared winner that will form part of the evaluation criteria.
The winning entries will be determined based on the computation of their respective scorecards and shall be awarded their prizes and that the winning entries will be notified by the tourism department and will be invited to attend the awarding ceremony to be held in September this year.
Among the objectives of the search are to recognize the important role of tourism villages towards ushering in a more sustainable, responsible, equitable and participatory rural tourism development; provide incentives to tourism villages that are embracing sustainable tourism and are providing opportunities for sustainable development; promote responsible tourism as a strategy for environmentally sound and community participatory tourism programs, enlisting the active participation of local communities, including indigenous peoples and to maintain international standards of excellence in community-based tourism facilities and services in the Cordillera and promote the region as a safe and wholesome tourist destination.
Republic Act 9593 or the Tourism Act of 2009 identified the role of the State in developing responsible tourism.
Further, the Regional Development Council (RDC) in the Cordillera passed a resolution enjoining all local government units to participate in the Search for the Bet Cordillera tourism village annual competition.
Moreover, it also passed a resolution enjoining all local governments to prioritize the development of tourism villages in their product development plans and implementation initiatives.
Ganogan explained that tourism villages are rural tourism destinations with recognized cultural and natural assets that preserve and promote rural and community-based values, products, and lifestyles and have a clear commitment to innovation and sustainability in all its aspects. By Dexter A. See
