Department of Tourism regional director for Central Visayas Rowena Montecillo has lauded the support of Dumaguete Mayor Manuel Sagarbarria whom she considers as one of the most pro-active and most tourism-oriented mayors in the region.
She said that it feels good when she comes to Dumaguete City and the province of Negros Oriental, which is ranked 2nd all over Region 7 in the tourism sector.
But, Dir. Montecillo also expressed that she is one of the saddest persons these days because she will be “losing” Dumaguete and Negros Oriental from her region with the creation of the Negros Island Region (NIR) or Region 18.
Although the loss may not be totally, she added, because the NIR will now be part of the One-Visayas region composed of Regions 6, 7, 8 and 18.
Montecillo was among the guests during the media exchange program with the delegates from Yeongdong-gun in South Korea, Alameda City in California, U.S.A. and Dumaguete City earlier this week.
Yeongdong-gun and Alameda are sister cities of Dumaguete City and their delegations, led by their mayors, had visited Dumaguete City from November 22 to 26 in time for the city’s charter day anniversary and fiesta celebration.
Dir. Montecillo said it is really sad for a “mother to lose a child” who is performing very well like Dumaguete City in terms of implementing programs and projects relating to tourism.
The DOT Region 7 director, however stressed she is so happy Dumaguete is on the right track by entering into a sisterhood agreement with Yeongdong-gun and Alameda because these cities are in the Top 5 of the local market in terms of tourist arrivals.
The DOT regional director has also encouraged other local government units in the region to follow the footsteps of Dumaguete to do such partnerships because it is very beneficial to the tourism industry it will not only increase the number of tourist arrivals but for investments as well.
“I will be missing Dumaguete and Negros Oriental but I’m sure local chief executives and the private sector will be choosing very soon their own regional director of the Department of Tourism. Of course, you will now be part of the One-Visayas region, that will make four of us working for the Visayas,” Montecillo pointed out. (PNA)
