PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan (PIA) — The Department of Tourism is urging local governments to partner with the academe in producing verified narratives to further add value to cultural and heritage sites in the region.
DOT MIMAROPA Director Roberto Alabado III said that partnerships are an important formula in tourism. Academic studies, particularly from state universities and colleges (SUCs) in every province, could also provide guidance to DOT.
“Ito ay isang mahalagang formula sa turismo. Kung magsasanib-pwersa ang academe, dito sa mga probinsya meron tayong mga state universities and colleges na kung saan meron silang tourism courses, may HRM,” he said in the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas, March 26.
The SUCs can assist in conducting research on potential attractions, the quality of establishments, and additional culinary attractions.
Students enrolled in programs of tourism and hospitality may also be encouraged to produce research about tourism and its development.
“If it’s research-based from SUCs, then it should be scientific. At the same time, we have evidence-based dahil gumawa sila ng mga survey, pwede rin nila ipasa sa amin kung ano ang resulta,” he said.
DOT itself has been active in partnership with the academe, local government units and offices like the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP).
The DOT and NHCP partnership produced the installation of markers on the landing sites of the Magellan-Elcano expedition in the 500th year of circumnavigation. Aside from tourism potential, it provided additional information to locals in the area.
During the regular session on March 25, the Sanguniang Panlalawigan of Palawan also encouraged the LGUs with identified cultural and heritage sites to establish research programs to form a verified narrative in partnership with the academe.
Board member Roseller Pineda said gathering and collecting data would help in further educating locals and guests about the culture and heritage of Palawan. He cited the Ille Cave of El Nido town, which needs more focus for the research program.
The Ille Cave, located at the entrance of the Dewil Valley, holds evidence of the oldest known cremation burials in Southeast Asia.
“Anticipation na rin natin ‘yan na patuloy ang bisita sa Palawan, kung wala ka naman kwento na maganda, story-telling halos. Tamang ng narrative sa isang bagay, hindi ‘yong kwento-kwento lang para mapaganda mo ‘yong lugar mo,” he said.
It will also help provide additional tourism products for guests in Palawan, not just the tourism of El Nido and Coron, he added. (RG/PIA MIMAROPA-Palawan)
