Province bags two national tourism awards
BACOLOD CITY -- The Panaad sa Negros Festival and the Provincial Tourism Week Celebration of the Province of Negros Occidental were respectively awarded during the Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines (ATOP) Convention at the Sarabia Manor Hotel, Iloilo City recently.
The annual celebration of the Panaad sa Negros Festival was adjudged as the Best Tourism Event, Provincial Festival Category and the Provincial Tourism Week Celebration spearheaded by the Provincial Tourism Office as the Best Tourism Week Celebration nationwide.
Placing second to Panaad Festival is the Anilag Festival of the Province of Laguna while Bulawan Festival of the Compostela Valley ranked third.
Moreover, ranking 2nd, 3rd, and 4th respectively to the Province's Tourism Week celebration are the National Tourism Week of General Santos City, Laag Ta Uyi of Compostela Valley and Tricycle Festival of Antique.
This year marks the ninth celebration of the ATOP convention with the theme, "Tourism Today…Coping With Climate Change".
Department of Tourism Secretary Joseph Durano graced the awarding ceremony attended by the different provincial, city/municipal tourism officers, Local Government Officials and employees and other delegates from the different parts of the country.
Personally receiving the award for the Panaad sa Negros Festival are 2nd District Representative and Chairman of the SP Committee on Tourism Edgardo Y. Acuña, Panaad sa Negros Festival Executive Director and Provincial Information Officer Ma. Lina P. Sanogal, Panaad Park and Stadium Administrator Ian A. de Ramos, PIO staff Dina Michelle Odio and Alaine Noelle Borja and Public Affairs Officer Anna Marie Lucasan. While Karen Dinsay, Julie Ann Villamor, Lilibeth Traspadilla, Thea Jison with Provincial Tourism Officer Jennylind Cordero received the award for Best Tourism Week Celebration. Capitol News