AN awarding ceremony was held for the winning local government units (LGUs) that participated in the flagship program of the Department of Tourism (DOT), the Tourism Champions Challenge (TCC).
President Bongbong Marcos Jr. led the activity along with Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin and Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC), Pasay City on April 15.
Out of nearly 100 entries from LGUs across the Philippines, fifteen (15) LGUs received a combined amount of P180 million from the DOT.
15 LGUs from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao received funds for tourism projects based on their winning tourism proposals submitted.
These include the following:
- Ambaguio, Nueva Vizcaya (Local Paragliding Airport Terminal)
- Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro (Mangrove Forest Park Development Project)
- Bolinao, Pangasinan (Community-based Project in Sikali Island)
- San Jose, Romblon (Eco-tourism Park)
- Socorro, Oriental Mindoro (Naujan Lake Wetland Center) *Visayas
- Tubigon, Bohol (Volcanic Plug)
- Badian, Cebu (Badian Toong Spring Nature Park)
- Silay City, Negros Occidental (Ridge-to-reef Eco-experience Project)
- Victorias City, Negros Occidental (Gawahon Ecopark)
- Panay, Capiz (Coastal Resource Experience) *Mindanao
- Isabela City, Basilan (Lampinigan Jetty Port and Leisure Development Project)
- Davao City, Davao del Sur (Cultural Peace Hub)
- Island Garden City of Samal, Davao del Norte (Mangrove Boardwalk Gallery)
- Tagum City, Davao del Norte (Heritage Tourism Circuit)
- San Agustin, Surigao del Sur (Tourist Catwalk)
The national government awarded the winners with certificates and cash budgets from the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) for the implementation of their project proposals.
The winners of the first place received PHP20 million; PHP15 million for the second place; PHP10 million for the third place; PHP8 million for the fourth place; and PHP7 million for the fifth place.
Also, the Philippine government through TIEZA approved an additional PHP5 million for each winner of the DOT’s Tourism Champions Challenge.
TCC is a nationwide campaign that incentivizes the development of tourism in cities and municipalities.
The guidelines for its implementation were approved on April 4 last year.
