Capiz tourism strategic plan gets DOT praise
ROXAS CITY -- Department of Tourism (DOT) Regional Director Edwin Trompeta said he greatly appreciated the comprehensive tourism program of the provincial government of Capiz and committed to support the development and promotion of the province's potentials. 
Trompeta made the assessment in his remarks during the Executive Briefing held here Oct. 16 as an initiative of the Office of the Presidential Assistant for Panay and Guimaras, now headed by Presidential Assistant and former Concepcion, Iloilo town mayor Raul Banias, to enable provincial governments and highly urbanized cities in the area on one hand and national government agencies on the other hand to identify development areas of mutual concern and how best they can converge and work together to maximize limited resources and avoid duplication of efforts.
Right there ant then and in response to a concern presented by Panay town mayor Dante Bermejo, Regional Director Trompeta said the DOT will conduct a tourism promotion seminar to assist the municipality boost its tourism program.
Panay is one of the country's historic towns for being one of the earliest settlements established by the Spaniards when they arrived in the Philippines in the 16th century.
As an enduring legacy of its early Christianization, Panay has the centuries-old Sta. Monica Parish Church which possesses one of the world's biggest bells. Hanging from a belfry, the bells can be heard 8 kilometers away.
It also has islets and beaches that have remained pristine as well as healthy mangrove areas that serve as breeding grounds for the town's diverse marine resources. The town is considering to adopt adventure tourism to carve a niche in the country's tourism map.
Based on a five-year development agenda presented by Gov. Victor A. Tanco, Sr. as the executive briefing, Capiz hopes to become an eco-cultural tourism hub.
The program's components including strategic actions on cultural mapping and profiling, establishment of cultural infrastructure, packaging and promotion of eco-tourism, research and documentation, policy advocacy, recognition and support to local artists and cultural organizations, strengthening of festival management, empowerment of Indigenous People's communities, and conservation, protection and development of natural resources.
The DOT is set to embark on a tourism development and promotion program in line with the overall tourism thrust of President Arroyo for Central Philippines, the country's tourism belt under the Super Regions program. (PIA)