With pandemic still raging

TACLOBAN CITY – The regional office of the Department of Tourism (DOT) hosted this year’s 7th Regional Travel Fair (RTF).
This is the first hybrid edition of RTF organized by the Tourism Promotions Board, an attached agency of the tourism department, which aims to sell online discounted domestic tour packages to the consumer or public, and to provide opportunities and innovative ways of developing new business connections and update local industry partners.
Some sellers at the hybrid RTF were at the venue in Summit Hotel, here in the city while the others were at their respective homes with the buyers joining the event from their respective regions.
The participants used a link which gave them access to a portal to meet each other online and do business.
A total of 54 sellers from the region and 85 buyers from other parts of the country participated in the online event held last August 5 to 8 highlighting tourist destinations, accommodation facilities, and other tourism related services that the region offers.
“We want to focus on the diverse product, the richness of your culture, the beauty that everybody of us will have a chance to visit in Eastern Visayas once this pandemic is over, with the offer of your Infinite Escapes,” Maria Anthonette Velasco-Allones, TBP chief operating officer, said.
Allones added that the use of hybrid format for RTF introduces sellers and buyers to the concept of using technology in promoting tourism products.
“It is a gift, a tool that we can use, so that we can improve the way we do things, we conduct activities, and hopefully transform communities, and improve lives,” Allones said.
She added that the TPB will also pursue the promotion of Smart Tourism, an effort which they hopes everybody will appreciate.
Secretary Bernadette Puyat, who delivered her message virtually lauded Tiopes on her effort to develop new tourism products for the region.
The secretary added that as the country and whole world is still facing challenges brought by the present pandemic, the DOT, as part of its mandate to ensure safety of tourists in reviving tourism that will help in revitalizing local economy, will continue to ensure “safe travel” to everyone.
“We will pave the way for our tourism to bounce back for the sake of those who defend for their livelihood, and for the tourism community to gradually recover from the adverse impact of this pandemic,” Puyat said.
The four-day activity was highlighted by the hybrid business-to-business (B2B) session, hybrid consumer show, showcasing health and wellness tourism, and presentation to sellers of tourism products from the transport sector, accommodation facilities, and tourism sites and destinations.
Sellers that presented their products during the consumer show included Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines; in travel and tour agencies, Leyte Gulf Travel and Tour, Kamp Kolambu, Gusto Avventura Travel and Tours, Hero Travel Solutions, SMR Travel and Tours, and Budgetmate Travel and Tours.
For accommodation, Hotel XYZ, Caluwayan Palm Island Beach Resort and Restaurant, M Grand Royale, Summit Hotel, Piňa Suites, and NASAKASECO.
Sogod Bay Scuba Resort, and Southern Leyte divers for dive resort; Villa Conzoilo Farm, and Beengo Farm for fun farms; and Samar Community-based Tourism Sites, Leyte Bike Tours, LaraPh, and Eastern Samar Surfing for destinations and tourism products.
Also highlighting the travel fair was the presentation of Eastern Visayas Food Culture dubbed as “Sumsuman ha Tarangka-an” by Chef Mark Reynan Campado Sabayan who prepared sinugba and kinilaw, two of the popular dish found in occasion and drinking session of locals.
After Eastern Visayas, the TPB will conduct another RTF before the end of this year, with Zamboanga Peninsula (Region IX) as host.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

BOBON, Northern Samar- Rep. Paul Daza lauded the leadership of this town as it celebrated its 150th founding anniversary last August 4.
The Northern Samar solon lead in the unveiling of the marker at the Most Holy Name of Jesus Parish which is under the parochial leadership of Msgr. Gaspar Balerite.
“Ora-ora ka mahinungdanun yana nga adlaw kay tungod nga aton ginsalin-urog in tulo nga dugang nga signipikante nga progreso san bungto tikang tumindog and singbahan katoliko sugad man tikang mahimu nga bungto an Bobon san tuig 1871,” Rep. Daza said on his message.
Rep. Daza was welcomed by town officials lead by Mayor Clara Celespara Gremio and Vice Mayor Elena Balite.
Also present during the low key celebration were Vice Governor Gary Lavin, board members Hazel dela Rosa and Neil Hernandez and provincial tourism officer Joseth Doctor and former mayor and now municipal administrator Reny Celespara.
(PETER  PAREDES)

Dao Integrated School in Oras, Eastern Samar now has its new multi-purpose building (MPB) that will provide venue for recreation and school activities for the teachers and students.
This MPB with a project cost amounting to P3,464,937.61 is a project of the Department of Public Works and Highways Eastern Samar District Engineering Office under the local Infrastructure Project (LIP) through the efforts of Congresswoman Maria Fe R. Abunda.
On July 23, 2021, Congresswoman Maria Fe R. Abunda, Roy Ador of DepEd Eastern Samar Division Office, DPWH Assistant District Engineer Domcelio M. Natividad and other officials from the DPWH ESDEO were gathered of Dao Integrated School teachers for a thanksgiving ceremony for the newly constructed covered court.
Jazmin Jongco, principal of Dao Integrated School, said that the multi-purpose building is a big help to their school especially to their students in avoiding cutting classes and enhancing their skills in sports like basketball.
“Sometimes we are the host school for district meet athletic activities, now that we have already MPB, venue for these activities will be no longer a problem to us,” Jongco said.
The school principal also expressed her gratitude to Congresswoman Abunda and to the DPWH for the realization of the project.
In an interview with the Federated PTA President of DIS, Ronald Quilario, he said that the newly constructed covered court is a big relief for the teachers and the students because they won’t be going to the Barangay gymnasium anymore during school programs.
“Kon may mga program po kami, yanhe kami tam stage. Danay mauran, yadto hira ha gym. Nagdadara hit mga gamit, mga puruk-anan, mga lamesa. Dire sugad kon mayda dinhe kalugaringon hit eskuylahan, dire na hira matabok. Safety liwat it kabataan, mga estudyante, hit pagtabok hit kalsada. Tapos kadugangan in hiya nga evacuation center dara nga dako it Brgy. Dao [We use our stage for the programs. But during rainy days, we use the gymnasium. The teachers and students bring the tables and chairs for the program. Now if we have our own covered court, they won’t need to carry the stuff back and forth. It will also be safer for the students because they won’t cross the road anymore. This covered court will also be an additional evacuation center for the growing population of Brgy. Dao],” said FPTA president Ronald Quilario.
The newly completed multi-purpose building is an open covered court with a total floor area of 450 meters and approximately 8 meters in height. The framework includes metal structure and roofing accessories, steel trusses and purlins.
Engr. Arturo Apura, Chief of Planning and Design Section of ESDEO, disclosed that the scope of the project did not include the floor finishing hence it was not reflected in the scope of works due to limited funds.
“We prioritize the main structure of the MPB including the roofing so that they can already utilize this MPB in conducting school activities during rainy or sunny days,” said Engr. Apura.
Moreover, Egr. Apura said that the structure would serve as a venue for both recreational and school activities and that the district office wants to contribute in the realization of each student’s potential.
Meanwhile, Congresswoman Maria Fe R. Abunda promised to the school principal, teachers and students that she will find a way to fund the construction for the flooring to give the school a complete facility and said that she will come back for ribbon cutting once the whole structure is fully completed.
“I am happy with this MPB because I see that it is constructed with quality. The facility is big that it will be utilized for its purpose but it will be more presentable and beautiful if we will complete the floor finish,” Cong. Abunda said.
(IRMA BALLETE,PIO STAFF/PR)