The municipality of San Remigio is an upland area that has long been considered the summer capital of Antique due to its cool weather even in summer months.
The influx of tourists was reported by the local tourism office even before the pandemic wherein several mountain resorts and recreational sites were established to cater to the growing number of visitors.
Aside from the promising tourist destinations, the upland areas of San Remigio also produce varieties of high-value crops, vegetables, native chickens and livestock, among other agricultural products.
Some of these local products are processed and sold to tourists visiting the area, while others are brought to the Poblacion during market days every Sunday.
The huge volume of the upland products also reached the public markets of the adjacent municipality of Sibalom and San Jose, Antique’s capital and center of business.
To respond to the growing number of tourist arrivals, the municipality of San Remigio with the support of Antique Lone District Representative Antonio Agapito Legarda (Congressman AA) and Senator Loren Legarda requested the support of the Department of Tourism for the construction of a tourist area in Barangay Aningalan, San Remigio.
Thus, the groundbreaking ceremony was held recently at the site with the Department of Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco gracing the event.
Frasco expressed enthusiasm for the project, highlighting its potential to drive sustainable growth in local economies and improve the travel experience by providing essential amenities for tourists.
She cited the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to elevate the competitiveness of the Philippine tourism industry by taking care of the tourists, thus the groundbreaking ceremony of tourist areas in various parts of the country commenced.
She also extended her gratitude to the siblings Congressman AA and Senator Loren Legarda for their steadfast support in preserving and nurturing the province’s vast natural resources and preserving its rich culture and heritage.
Likewise, the Legarda siblings reaffirmed their shared commitment to making Antique a more accessible and enjoyable destination, dedicating themselves to transforming it into a premier tourist hotspot while promoting sustainable growth and empowering the local community.
As the first tourist rest area in Antique and second in Panay Island, this facility hopes to contribute to developing tourism infrastructure across the region, significantly boosting local tourism and business enterprises.
Local entrepreneurs, and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) are also seen to benefit from this project with the promising demands of local products that could be displayed in pasalubong center, also an integral part of the tourist rest area.
The first tourist rest area in Panay Island is in the Municipality of Tubungan, Iloilo province, a few kilometers from San Remigio, they are soon expected to be a connecting destinations for travelers when the road construction is completed.
“These initiatives mark only the beginning of our commitment. We remain unwavering in our support for efforts that drive sustainable development and improve the livelihoods of our people,” Congressman Legarda said.
With the completion of the project, the people of San Remigio led by Mayor Mar Mission expressed optimism for a more progressive economic activity benefiting the local businesses and also generating job opportunities for the locals.
Mission assured travelers that they can enjoy the relaxing ambiance of San Remigio’s cool climate and scenic views with the completion of the state-of-the-art tourist rest area. (AGP/PSM/PIA Antique with reports from SJQ/LDO/SLL)
