Bacolod's tourism head vows to boost local tourism industry
BACOLOD CITY -- The newly-appointed chief operating officer of the Tourism, Culture and Development Council (TCDC) of Bacolod (COO), former congressman John N. Orola, Jr. vowed to boost the tourism industry of the capital city of Negros Occidental.
Orola, who used to be the Philippines' tourism attache to Japan and the United States West Coast, said through the TCDC, he will "create a new landscape for Bacolod in the areas of tourism and hopefully I will be able to meet the expectations of Bacoleños."
In an interview with the Philippines News Agency, Orola said tourism is "a broad field, not only arrivals which has multiplier effects, but also preserving what is truly Negros which is our own heritage."
"We look forward to work with city officials as well as with those in the province and satellite cities with tourist attractions and potentials. Bacolod is the sugar capital of the Philippines. We will create a new industry that can institutionalize tourism as an industry, and can complement with the sugar industry. This will become an avenue that can link Bacolod to the rest of the world," Orola said.
Bacolod City Mayor Evelio R. Leonardia appointed Orola as COO of TCDC through Executive Order (EO) No. 22, series of 2007, dubbed "Reconvening and Reconstituting the Membership and Composition of the TCDC".
The EO is pursuant to City Ordinance No. 97, series of 1993 creating TCDC in the City of Bacolod, with objectives that include planning, evaluating and executing tourism program and projects.
The ordinance stipulates that TCDC is an organization that truly represents the major players in the tourism industry. Its primary aim is to position Bacolod as a tourist destination in the country.
Members of the TCDC from the government sector are Bacolod Councilor Homer Q. Bais, Committee Chair on Tourism; Councilor Greg G. Gasataya, Committee Chair on Environment, Trade and Industry; Ma. Elma. M. A. Gerasmo, Senior Tourism Operations Officer, TCDC Secretariat; Sr. Supt. Ronilo V. Quebrar, Bacolod City Police Director;
Ireneo J. Asuga, Director, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG); Lea Gonzales, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI); Ardis Jaculina, Investment Promotion and Development Task Force (IPDTF); Nelson Sedillo, General Services Office (GSO) and Engr. Belly Aguillon, OIC City Engineer's Office.
From the private sector are John Lizares, Hotel and Restaurants Associations of Negros Occidental (HRANO); Greg Flores, National Association of Independent Travel Agents (NAITA); Christina Gaston, Association of Negros Producers (ANP); Raymund Tongson, Chairman, Council of Lions Club Presidents and Renier Gerochi, Lions District Governor, Council of Rotary Club Presidents.
Ronnie Lizares representing resorts was elected by the Council as Deputy Executive Director. (PNA)