TACLOBAN CITY – The Department of Tourism (DOT) reported that Leyte continues to have the highest number of tourists among the provinces and cities in the region.
Of the 1.51 million tourists, local and foreigners alike, who visited the region last year, more than 971,000 of them visited Leyte who went to it various tourist attractions.
The most frequently visited destination in the province by the tourists were Kalanggaman Island in Palompon town and Cuatro Islas, a group of four islets located in Hindang and Inopacan.
Tacloban City, the premier city of the region, had the second number of tourist arrivals last year with 532,800 tourists.
Samar, whose provincial government under Governor Sharee Ann Tan is strengthening the province’ tourism promotion, was visited by 212,189 tourists followed by Baybay City with 157, 364; Southern Leyte (142,970 tourists); Ormoc City,119,099; Calbayog City with 115, 997; Catbalogan City,95,147; Northern Samar(83, 433); Eastern Samar(78, 422); Maasin City with 72,604; Borongan City with 57, 945; and Biliran province with 23,297.
In terms of grouping percentage, North Americans had the biggest part of the pie with 24.77 percent, followed by East Asian with 11.88 percent, European with 8.86 percent, Australasia with 6.45 percent and Asian with 1.76 percent.
Rodel Balierbare, DOT8 tourism operation officer and in-charge of tourism statistics, said that they are targeting to achieve 1.76 million tourist arrivals.
For next year, the DOT is targeting 2.10 million visitors in the region and 2.51 million by 2020.
The DOT also reported that tourist receipt reached to P13.97 billion in 2017, an increase from the P11.68 billion in 2016.
The increasing number of tourist arrivals in the region is being complemented with the implementation of infrastructure programs and tourism industry skills program (TISP), said Balierbare.
Under the Tourism Road Infrastructure Program (TRIP), 29 road access projects to tourism sites were given allocation of P1.84 billion budget for this year.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY – The city government here under Mayor Cristina G. Romualdez recently secured funding for a park that will be developed at the Abucay Transport Terminal
Some P14 million was approved by the Department of Budget and Management from its Green Green Green Local Government Support Fund for the project that will highlight the vision of the local government to increase eco-friendly spaces in the bustling city, and upgrade the features of the terminal with more green spaces for commuters.
According to the City Planning and Development Office (CPDO), the park which will be located at the heart of the transport terminal, will cover 2,063.267 square meter will feature a fountain and a landscaped lawn planted with endemic plants and trees.
Other features of the proposed park will be a commercial area, public toilets, food court, shaded waiting and picnic areas spaces for commuters and visitors.
The park’s design was conceptualized by the City Architect’s Office.
“With its greeneries and walkways, it will provide a healthy space for people to relax, ultimately contributing to the physical well-being of visitors to the site…the park will serve as a new tourist hub. It is projected to increase foot traffic in the area leading to more revenue for the City in terms of increased business opportunities in Abucay,” disclosed the CPDO.
One of the city government’s flagship programs under Mayor Romualdez is the Clean Green and Resilient Tacloban which promotes eco-friendly initiatives such as the upkeep and maintenance of “green spaces” within the city.
At present, Tacloban City has only one public park maintained by the city government, which is the Astrodome Park and Playground.
The park, located within the Tacloban City Convention Center grounds, has become a favorite spot for locals and visitors to the city. (TACLOBAN CITY INFORMATION OFFICE)

GOVERNMENT CENTER, PALO, Leyte – More than 6,000 teachers from all over the country are to converge in Ormoc City in next month’s national celebration of the World’s Teachers Day.
This was disclosed by Education Undersecretary Tonisito Umali as he led on Thursday (August 30) the kick off ceremony of the October 5 annual event.
The celebration for the 2018 World Teachers Day kicked-off in Eastern Visayas, the host for this year’s annual celebration honoring those in teaching profession.
“People working at the education sector must celebrate World Teachers Day by heart and not because of compliance,” Usec. Umali said.
“We hope this effort will be recognized not only during World Teachers Day but every day,” Umali added.
The celebration of the World Teachers Day with will start this September 5 and will have its culmination on Oct.5 with a program to be held at the Ormoc City astrodome.
This year’s event has a theme “Gurong Pilipino: Turo Mo Kinabukasan Ko.’
According to Umali, Ormoc City Mayor Richard Gordon offered to host the national event, adding that the event could also be a testament that the city has bounced back after it was hit by super typhoon ‘ Yolanda’ on November 8,2013.
“The mayor of Ormoc graciously offered their city as the host. Aside from that, we also wanted to hold the event there because it will symbolize that the city of Ormoc had already recovered from the calamities they suffered and they can host a national event like any other city in the country that had not suffered the way Ormoc suffered a calamity,” Umali explained.
President Rodrigo Duterte was invited by their department to grace the event though he has yet to confirm his attendance.
In line with the celebration, a special national teachers’ day commemorative stamp was released by the Philippine Postal Corporation (PhilPost).
Celebrating the National Teachers Day every October 5 is mandated under Republic Act 10743 or “An Act declares October 5 every year as National Teachers Day.’
The law was approved in January 29, 2016 and will be the second time for the Department of Education to celebrate the national event since the law was passed.
Last year, the event was held in Legazpi City, Albay. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)

CALBAYOG CITY- The Rotary Club of Calbayog received a special award as one of the outstanding stakeholders of the Department of Education (DepEd), Schools Division of Calbayog City on August 31, 2018 at the Calbayog Convention Center.
The award was in recognition of the club’s exemplary contribution, active engagement and shared responsibility for developing life-long learners through provision of slippers, feeding program, dental care, livelihood program, and provision of school supplies to Happy Valley Clustered Schools located at the far-flung barangays in Calbayog and Alternative Learning System (ALS) – Calbayog Arts and Design School of Eastern Visayas (CADSEV), Barangay Gadgaran.
The Rotary Club of Calbayog qualified as a special awardee based on the monetary consideration and number of schools which availed of its significant programs and services.
The club recognizes the relentless and unwavering support of its partners including the Philippine Army, Philippine National Police, People’s Outreach Program, Kalipayan-Katitirok-Kasangkayan, and Boleros Basketball Club in the successful delivery of its projects, programs and services. (PR)

CALBAYOG CITY- Tourists who want to visit two of the most well-known waterfalls found in this city would now make it easy in going there.
The city government, under Mayor Ronald Aquino, has started the construction of concrete road worth P8.4 million leading to Bangon and Tarangban Falls, said its tourism officer Ronald Ricafort, Jr.
According to Ricafort, among Calbayog City’s several waterfalls, Bangon and Tarangban are the most accessible and easy to reach reason why they are giving a priority on these tourist attractions.
Aside from concrete road,the city government will also put up tourist assistance centers to assist tourists.
The two waterfalls are located in Barangay Tinaplacan which is just 45 minutes away from the city proper.
Of the two waterfalls, Bangon can be reached easily through a 5-minute ride from the entrance of Brgy. Tinaplacan while tourists need to walk for 30 minutes from the village’ center before they could reach Tarangban Falls.
For tourists to have better access to Tarangban and to avoid accident, construction of a 1.5 kilometer concrete pavement is now ongoing.
“This really makes me happy because it will make Tarangban more accessible knowing that this falls is the best seller because of its beautiful landscape,” Ricafort said.
Ricafort added that tourists will also find five other waterfalls on the top of Tarangban Falls.
Aside from the tourism center and pathway concreting, some residents of Tinaplacan have attended tour guiding training including basic safety and first aid response.
Dubbed as the “City of Waterfalls”, Calbayog at present has a total of 22 waterfalls validated by the City Tourism Office.
Ricafort said that they are projecting a surge of tourist arrivals with the operation of a fast craft serving Calbayog to Cebu and the on-going improvement of Calbayog Airport that will allow bigger commercial planes to land at the said facility. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)