TACLOBAN CITY – Marketing remains to be the most challenging part of promoting Eastern Visayas tourism industry.

Unlike other regions in the Visayas that are already popular among domestic and international tourists, Eastern Visayas although blessed with beautiful natural tourist destinations, is still looking for ways to make a mark in the tourism stage of the country.
One of the best ways to market the region is to encourage more MICE gatherings in the region that bring in large number of people, according to a travel and tour operator from Leyte province.

MICE means meeting, incentives, conventions/conferences, and events.
During the launching of their outbound product, IM Travel Corporation owner Rochelle Alfonso said that 2023 was the busiest year for travel and tour operators in the province due to the number of MICE gatherings that brought not only a hundred but more than a thousand participants.

Among the MICE events held in 2023 were the PESO convention, and the JCI national convention.

“For 2024 let us continue our MICE tourism, because it is in group. Because it is by group, it has a lot of participants who by the power of mouth can promote and market how beautiful our region is to their relatives and friends,” Alfonso said.

Alfonso added that MICE participants are not only visiting the region to attend their activities but they also allocate time to visit some of the region’s tourist destinations which is good for marketing.

Alfonso added that unlike Bohol and Cebu, the region has still a long way to go when it comes to marketing which is why encouraging more MICE events to be held in Eastern Visayas will greatly help boost the local tourism industry.

Alfonso added that the new product of their company offering an outbound travel to countries in Asia and Europe is also a way that they can promote the region to the international market.

She hopes that marketing and promoting the region will not only be done by travel and tour operators and the Department of Tourism (DOT) but also by local government units.
The signing of contract with Miss Universe Philippines-Leyte 2023 Angel Rose Tambal, The Miss Philippines – Leyte Jamby Belegorio, and Miss Universe Philippines – Leyte 1st Runner-up Trisha Gabrielle Moreto who will act as the official tourism ambassador of the company is also viewed to help in promoting and marketing the region more especially among their social media followers.

DOT8 Regional Director Karina Rosa Tiopes, in a previous interview, admitted that one of the weaknesses of the region’s tourism industry is marketing.

“Marketing is not only a task of a tourism enterprise, it’s not only a task of DOT, not only a task of the LGU, but we should have a concerted effort to work and going towards one direction, we should have one brand that speaks about us, and identify us, making us different from other destinations and we should communicate this properly to our target market,” Tiopes said.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

CATARMAN, Northern Samar-The awarding of the best GAD (Gender and Development) implementer barangays initiated by the provincial government of Northern Samar through the Provincial Gender and Development Focal Point System highlighted the culmination of the 18-Day Campaign to End Violence against Women (VAW) held at the Ibabao Hall of the provincial capitol on December 12.

Maria Teresita Gacusan, chairperson of the PGAD Focal Point System Technical Working Group, said the awarding was aimed at recognizing barangays that excelled in GAD implementation, inspiring them to formulate programs and services adopting the GAD approach that can be replicated as best practices.

After a thorough evaluation by the team, Barangay Daganas, Catarman who got the highest score received P75,000 and plaque of appreciation; second was Brgy. Little Venice of Laoang, with P50,000 cash; and third was Brgy. Sangcol, Laoang which received P 30,000.

The other 10 barangays that participated and submitted documents for evaluation also received P10,000 each.

A barangay to be considered best GAD implementer should ensure to have a functional Barangay VAW Desk following the operational handbook provided by the Philippine Commission on Women and the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

It should have established linkages with the local and national government agencies where the barangay can refer to particularly if there’s a victim or a VAW survivor which needs further assistance.

The Barangay VAW Desk promotes harmonious family and community relationships grounded on mutual respect to human rights, taking proactive measures to attain a VAW-free community.

Board Member Liza Esidera, Sangguniang Panlalawigan chairperson on the Committee on Women and Family Relations, said she is happy to note that the community is now aware of the crusade to end violence against women and children.

“This was shown with the passage of PGAD Code not only in the province but as well as in other LGUs, and this mirrored how serious we are in following what is stipulated in the law protecting the rights of women and children,” she added.

In his message read by Vice Governor Clarence Dato, Governor Edwin Ongchuan, who sponsored the prizes, said, “Let us continue our partnership with other advocacy groups to sustain the gains we have in the province in the fight to end VAWC. Let us stop the culture of patriarchy, machismo and exaggerated masculinity. Men should be aware of their responsibilities, and women should uphold and know their rights.”

(MMP/ADiaz/PIA Northern Samar)

ORMOC CITY-One of Leyte’s most wanted persons fell to the hands of the law after he was arrested on December 20.

Arrested wanted person, only identified as 65-year-old ‘Teofilo,’ at his house in Barangay Linao, Inopacan, Leyte at about 1:30 pm on that day, municipal police chief, Major Ian Po, said.

The accused, ranked number seven on the most wanted list, was arrested by virtue of a warrant of arrest issued by Judge Aaron Dy Go, acting presiding judge of the Regional Trial Court-Hindang-Inopacan Leyte, dated December 13, 2023 for the crime of frustrated murder.

The court issued a bail bond recommended of P120,000 for his temporary liberty.
The accused was apprised of his constitutional rights through the Miranda Doctrine in the vernacular.

He is now detained at the local police station. (ROBERT DEJON)

CATARMAN, Northern Samar– Three times in a row, the provincial government of Northern Samar again received the prestigious Gawad Kalasag Seal of Excellence Award in Disaster Risk Reduction and Management and Humanitarian Assistance – Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils and Offices (LDRRMCO) category for CY 2023.
The provincial government was declared as ‘fully compliant’ for adhering to the standards for the establishment and functionality of LDRRMCOs as prescribed by the Philippine DRRM law.

The Northern Samar PDRRMC and its PDRRMO was first recognized by the National Disaster Risk Reduction Council (NDRRMC) and the Regional DRRMC in 2021 and subsequently in 2022 for the province’s continuous efforts to attain risk resilience.

Chaired by Governor Edwin Ongchuan, the PDRRMC has continuously strived for excellence in disaster risk governance, to protect lives and properties, and to mitigate the effects of disasters especially in vulnerable communities.

The award was presented on December 20, 2023 in Palo, Leyte during the 23rd Gawad KALASAG Awarding Ceremony.
(THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNEMNT OF NORTHERN SAMAR)