New destinations for 2015 ‘suroy-suroy’

CEBU, Philippines - ‘Balikbayan’ and foreign guests will have new destinations to explore during the Suroy-Suroy Sugbo Southern Trail set for January 21 to 23 next year, the Provincial Tourism Office announced.

The province is now on its final preparation for the staging of the event with only few weeks left.

“Most of the towns that will be visited in January (2015) were not included in this year. As much as possible, we will make it a point nga lahi-lahi every year. We want to offer something new every year,” said Provincial Tourism Officer Grace Paulino, adding that this would also attract this year’s guests to join again in the tour.

Paulino said they have already booked the resorts where the guests would be billeted, and identified major destinations which include, for the first time, the five-tier Aguinid Falls in Samboan and Mainit Springs in Malabuyoc.

While Kawasan Falls in Badian has been dropped from the list of the Suroy-Suroy Sugbo destinations, Oslob, famous for its whale shark watching, remains as one of the stops for next year.

“It does not mean nga nadaot siya (Kawasan Falls) sa bagyo (tropical depression Queenie). Pahuwayon sa nato, lain na pod,” Paulino explained.

The final list of the 12 towns as destinations is yet to be released.

The province is accommodating a maximum of 200 guests for the southern trail in 2015, which will focus on eco-tourism and heritage sites. As of press time, the province has booked 80 guests, said Paulino.

Package rates for the said tourism program range from P7,000 to P14,000.

The province has set aside P5.5 million for the Suroy-Suroy Sugbo in 2015 to be utilized for the travelling expenses, subsidies to each of the local government units participating the program, advertising and rentals.

Suroy-Suroy was first launched in 2005 by the Balik Cebu Group as part of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s Cebu Business Month celebration to promote tourism sites in the province.

It was later adopted as a provincial tourism project during the time of former governor, now third district Representative Gwendolyn Garcia. It was eventually institutionalized by the present administration through an ordinance authored by Provincial Board Member Arleigh Jay Sitoy. — (FREEMAN)