The DURIAN POST assistant editor (On Leave) Joanna Balanza and daughter Avy at the Dagat ni Baste Resort in Pantukan, Davao del Oro



The DURIAN POST assistant editor (On Leave) Joanna Balanza and daughter Avy at the Dagat ni Baste Resort in Pantukan, Davao del Oro
DAVAO DEL NORTE: Construction of P3M tourist center in Sitio Talos to start Oct. 26
Construction staking is taking planned improvements and buildings, and then actually mapping them out on the site where the building will take place. It plays a vital role in preparing the plans and blueprints to actual construction work.
On Thursday, mayor Ernesto Evangelista said the construction of the tourist center is crucial to his administrationβs community-based tourism program as it is expected to beef up tourism activity in the said area.
βAtong gina-expect na kining tourist center na itukod diri sa Sitio Talos, maduso pa ang programang turismo na atong ginapromote ilabi na ang Lantawan Ni Bakoko isip usa ka local tourist attraction sa lungsod sa Santo Tomasmβ Evangelista said at the sideline of the turning-over ceremony of Davao Light Companyβs playground facility to the Santo Tomas LGU on Thursday afternoon.
Evangelista added that his tourism program highlights the importance of involving local people in tourism development to ensure and encourage people to preserve their culture, traditions and protect the environment.
Community-based tourism
Municipal Information Officer Mart Sambalud, who also acts as the Tourism Officer-Designate of the Santo Tomas LGU, said the community-based tourism program of Evangelista administration came into fruition when in 2019 started the development of Lantawan ni Bakoko in Sitio Talos and positioned it as the townβs premier local tourist destination.
βAt the very core of our Community-Based Tourism Program is to account the increasing participation of our Indigenous Peoples in Sitio Talos in our tourism development programs and projects. We need to involve them so that they have a sense of collectiveness and ownership. Their participation is imperative and mas nindot if ang komunidad mismo ang nakasabot sa proseso, sa direksyon ug sa mga programa na naay kalambigitan sa mga kalihukan sa turismo,β Sambalud said.
Sambalud said the development of Lantawan ni Bakoko and the active participation of the Ata-Manobo community was a successful implementation of a Community-based Tourism Program.
He added that the Department of Tourism XI now recognises Lantawan ni Bakoko as one of the local tourism circuits in the Davao region.
Sambalud pointed out that IP youth, men and women were trained, organized, capacitated and empowered to do their various tasks in the tourism value chain locally.
βThe reason why we opted to implement CBT is that we want this program to serve also as a poverty-alleviating tool. This means that the involvement and cooperation of the Ata-Manobo community are essential in stimulating economic activities in the area,β he said.
He added that whatever economic benefits derived from the implementation of the CBT, it should trickle down even to the poorest member of the Ata-Manobo community.
Sambalud said that CBT is being replicated in various barangays with Senior Tourism Officer Dorina Ararao leading the development and implementation of the programs.
Ararao spearheaded the development of potential tourist attractions in various barangays, namely: Suba Ni Bukindaw in Barangay New Visayas, Mt. Susuping in Barangay Balagunan, Mt. Tulayas in Barangay Balagunan, among others.
βAll these are works in progress. More than the objective of contributing to economic growth, I think we need to emphasize that tourism development projects and programs are sustainable and equitable and that the community should benefit from the implementation of these programs,β Sambalud, the tourism officer-designate said.
Sambalud also thanked the leadership of Municipal Administrator Atty. Elisa Evangelista-LapiΓ±a who was the brainchild of the CBT programs of the Santo Tomas LGU and the development of the emerging local tourist spots across the municipality of Santo Tomas.
IP consent secured
In April 7, 2021, the proponents of the P3,000,000-worth tourist centre conducted a field-based consultation to secure a certification that they acquired the free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) of the Ata-Manobo residents in the area.
The Municipal Government of Santo Tomas headed by Mayor Ernesto Evangelista and the Provincial Government of Davao del Norte headed by Governor Edwin Jubahib were the proponents of the tourism infrastructure project constructed in an ancestral land owned by the Ata-Manobo.
The tourist center was one of the tourism development projects of the Jubahib administration in Davao del Norte in support to the tourism program of the Evangelista administration aimed at reviving the tourism industry in Santo Tomas, and providing sustainable livelihood for the indigenous peopleβs in Sitio Talos, Barangay San Jose.
The project was under the auspices of the Provincial Tourism Offices headed by Dr. Noel Daquioag, the Provincial Tourism Officer.
Daquioag and his team, together with the National Commission On Indigenous Peoples β Davao del Norte, conducted a one-day field-based consultation on the free, prior and informed consent (FPIC).
Invited to the FPIC activity were the 12 Ata-Manobo tribe leaders, NCIP Davao del Norte FPIC Focal Person Ms. Rhodora Braganza, IPMR of Santo Tomas Datu Doming Tumaytay, IPMR of Barangay San Jose Datu Jepee Ompocanon, Councilor Lychyl Castrodes who chairs the Committee on Tourism and Board Member Janet Tanong-Maboloc who also chairs the Committee on Tourism in the Sangguniang Panglungsod. ###
BY ROGER M. BALANZA
βWe are looking to grow in the other cities and destinations within the Philippines as we are positive about the countryβs tourism outlook and potential. These new projects can leverage from our experience and established networks in the Philippines and in the region,β said Ryan Chen, Dusit International Director for Development Asia Pacific.
Currently, construction is underway for Dusit Thani Residences Davao. The first Dusit Thani Residences in Asia-Pacific, the 168-key full-service residences is scheduled for turnover in 2018.
According to Chen, Davao was chosen because of the positive economic growth in the region, which bodes well for the international hospitality industry. He further commended the companyβs timely partnership with Filipino real estate developer Torre Lorenzo.
βWe have found a quality partner in Torre Lorenzo as this company is both experienced with the local real estate market and is aligned with our vision for the Dusit brand in the Philippines,β Chen elaborated.
Other projects in Davao also in the works are the dusitD2 Hotel and Lubi Plantation Resort. dusitD2 Hotel is a 120-key hotel that will feature high-tech and modern conveniences coupled with a chic and playful design that matches Davao cityβs youthful vibe. Located adjacent to Dusit Thani Residences, this will be the first dusitD2 Hotel in the Philippines.
Meanwhile, Lubi Plantation Resort is a 37-hectare master planned resort community situated in a private island off the coast of Davao. Developers intend to position the resort as the countryβs first internationally branded club membership.
On a regional scale, Dusit International is looking to strengthen its capability to cater to the booming MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions) industry in Asia.
βIndustry reports show that Asia is fast becoming a preferred destination for MICE. With that, Dusit International is gearing up its services to meet this demand across our locations in Asia. Weβre optimistic that our new properties in Davao will be able to participate in this trend. A key aspect of the industry in Davao is its robust domestic market and relatively untapped markets where opportunities for growth are abundant,β Chen shared.
Chen added that as incentive travel is on the rise, new destinations are being preferred. Davao, given its burgeoning economic growth, is further touted to be a destination that will best cater to business travellers.
Chen observes, βThe Philippines is similar to Thailand in many ways as the country offers a diversified myriad of attractions and demand generators. The Philippines has very warm and friendly people which are very valuable to the tourism industry.β