Town to tap bizmen in tourism boost bid

CEBU, Philippines – The municipal government of Compostela will tap the private sector in its move to promote the town as a destination for domestic and foreign tourists and its agricultural products.

Compostela municipal councilor Joy Ann Cabatingan, chairman of the Committee on Tourism at the Municipal Council, said Mayor Joel Quiño wants to attract more domestic and foreign visitors to the town.

According to Cabatingan, there are beautiful places the Compostela municipal government can offer to visitors, especially in the mountain barangays.

She further said the municipal government is in close coordination with the Department of Tourism as they have agreed to join their resources in promoting Compostela's tourism potential.

Officials said Compostela recently availed of the financial assistance from the Department of Tourism.

DOT-7 supported Compostela's queseo production as a means of livelihood for farmers and its Queseo Festival as a way of promoting the town's tourism.

Director Rowena Montecillo of DOT-7 recently turned over an initial amount of P 425,000 to the town, through Mayor Joel Quiño, in order to boost the town's tourism efforts. The agency has approved a total of P850,000 aid for the town towards this purpose.

The municipal government in turn has allocated P150,000 as counterpart share in the program.

Compostela, a prime agricultural town whose inhabitants' means of livelihood is mainly farming, was the first to receive the financial support from DOT after it complied with all the necessary requirements of the department.