29/06/2022
Excited for Suroy-Suroy Sugbo and Pasigarbo sa Sugbo (Festival of all the festivals in Cebu Province)
TOP STORY: The Suroy-Suroy Sugbo tourism initiative in Cebu may be replicated in other areas in the Philippines to drive traffic to lesser-known tourism destinations.
"This is certainly something that is worth emulating and replicating throughout the country. We will study it closely in the hopes of bringing attention to lesser-known tourist destinations in the Philippines,” said Liloan Mayor Christina Frasco, the incoming chief of the Department of Tourism (DOT).
The daughter of Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, the mother of Suroy-Suroy Sugbo, said Cebu has “shown the benchmark for the effectivity of tourism governance including Suroy-Suroy Sugbo.”
Suroy-Suroy Sugbo is a caravan that brings tourists to different destinations in Cebu Island for three days during which visitors get to experience and immerse in local culture through food, practices, and sites.
The tourism program has put the spotlight on destinations that were otherwise unseen or unheard of and, by extension, established economic activity and generated jobs in local governments visited.
LGU’s ROLE
As head of a local government unit, Frasco said she is aware of an LGU’s role in the development of tourism, which is why DOT, during her term, will ensure collaboration with stakeholders and local officials in the country to “work together not only to reclaim the Philippine’s standing in the global stage, but to exceed it.”
She cited “two essential building blocks” in ensuring sustainable tourism: Effective local government planning and implementation, and shared tourism governance by the public and private sector.
“The goal is to improve the overall tourism experience by both domestic and foreign tourists so that they not only enjoy the idea of the brand that is the Philippines but fully immerse in and keep buying into the product that is our beautiful country and the work of its people” Frasco said.
This is the reason why, Frasco said, the national and local government should recognize the value of stakeholders during policy making and implementation.
“Our country is blessed with the incomparable beauty of our natural resources and the endless talent of our people. With your help, we can continue to harness our already well known tourist sites, bring attention and opportunities to areas that are yet to be discovered and promoted, improve the overall tourist experience, and increase arrivals from both existing and potential markets, and most importantly, give to the Filipino people a wealth of economic opportunity,” Frasco said.
On June 21, the provincial government and DOT-7 headed by Director Shalimar Tamano hosted a grand tourism night for Frasco at the Provincial Capitol.
Attending the event were local officials, tourism stakeholders, as well as consuls of different countries like China, South Korea, and Japan.
PASIGARBO
Meanwhile, the Cebu Provincial Tourism Office has announced that the Pasigarbo sa Sugbo, known as the Festival of all the festivals in Cebu Province, will return in August 2022 as part of the province’s month-long founding anniversary celebration.
The street dancing and grand showdown will be held on August 28 while the Festival Queen Coronation night will be on August 26 at the Cebu City Sports Center. — Le Phyllis F. Antojado
