Representatives for the Hapao-Baang-Nungulunan Clustered Tourism Village receive their prizes as the champion of the Search for Best Tourism Village.
BAGUIO CITY (PIA) — The Department of Tourism – Cordillera awarded the Best Tourism Villages in the region, treasures that may usher in a more sustainable, responsible, equitable and participatory rural tourism development.
The Hapao-Baang-Nungulunan Clustered Tourism Village in Hungduan, Ifugao was named as the Best Tourism Village with a prize of P1 million, a trophy and a token. The clustered barangays are host of the Punnuk Festival that marks the end of the harvest season.
In second place is the Pidlisan Village in Sagada, Mountain Province composed of barangays Fidelisan, Aguid, Bangaan, and Pide. Cash prize is P500,000.00.
The Naneng Village in Tabuk City, Kalinga is in third place and won P200,000.
Runners up with cash prize of P 100,000 are the Bila Tourism Village in Bauko, Mountain Province; the Pasil Slow Food Community in Dangatan, Pasil in Kalinga; the Marag Tourism Village in Marag, Luna in Apayao; the Balbalasang Proper “Pasual” in Balbalasang, Balbalan in Kalinga; and the La Diyang Haven in Tuba, Benguet.
Also recognized are the other participants namely Guinzadan Tripartite Tourism Village in Bauko Mountain Province; the Nagacadan Open Air Museum in Kiangan, Ifugao; the Abra Village Community in Santa Marcela, Apayao; and the Maligcong Village in Bontoc Mountain Province.
DOT Assistant Secretary for Regional Operations and Tourism Standards and Regulation Christopher Morales and DOT-CAR Regional Director Jovita Ganongan awarded checks, trophies and tokens and to the winners and all the participants in the Search for the Best Tourism Village during the awarding ceremony in Baguio City on Wednesday (February 8).
Morales congratulated and thanked the tourism village owners for their tireless effort to promote responsible and sustainable tourism by enlisting the participation of local communities thru their respective tourism villages
“Congratulations to all who participated in this very exciting, meaningful and trail-blazing competition. I hope that the awarding ceremony will awaken the passion of our tourism stakeholders to strive for their best. May we have takeaways from the best practices of this year’s winners. Let this search be an impetus towards the full recovery of tourism in the Cordilleras,” Morales said.
“Programs such as the Search for the Best Cordillera Tourism Village will provide model communities that may serve as a benchmark to accelerate economic, social, cultural and environmental growth in the rural areas. Our dearest partners from the community- based tourism organizations play a pivotal role in this development. Through the exposure of enjoying the atmosphere of rural life, gaining the added value of life from
the culture and traditions of local communities and the natural environment, as well as improving the welfare of local communities, tourists will be drawn to experience the exceptional Filipino hospitality,” he added.
Ganongan explained that the Search for the Best Tourism Village is an initiative that will create a paradign shift in communities for them to view tourism as an alternative driver of growth and that community members play a crucial role in making sure that this will become possible.
Through the search, the DOT would also be able to provide direct assistance to potential villages to become tourism villages and for existing tourism villages to become sustainable and profitable.
Ganongan called on local chief executives and the other tourism stakeholders to rally behind the tourism villages and continue to campaign to bring back the tourism industry in the country and in their respective localities. (JDP/RMC- PIA CAR)
