Caraga is safe for all travelers, says DOT
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY (PIA) – The Department of Tourism (DOT) Caraga headed by Regional Director Ivonnie Dumadag assured that the Mindanao Island including the Caraga region is safe for all domestic and international tourists.
Based on the data from DOT-Caraga, tourist arrivals [domestic] showed a significant increase from 2022’s tourist arrivals in Caraga at 711,059 to 1,378,751 in 2023, while foreign arrivals at 14,207 in 2022 and 63,281 in 2023.
This, according to Dir. Dumadag is the result of having a peaceful region with stakeholders working together as one in maintaining peace and order.
“This number is expected to increase by this year, 2024. I’m happy to announce also that people from Mindanao and Caraga have the highest number of tourists in our destinations sites, especially in Dinagat Islands and Siargao Island. We Filipinos know how to patronize our own by visiting our local places,” she remarked.
This was emphasized during the conduct of the two-day Mindanao Communicators’ Network (MindaComNet) Caraga Regional Congress organized by the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), in partnership with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Caraga, held at VCDU Prince Hotel, Butuan City.
“I’m so happy that all of us are really onboard, not only the local government units, but all line agencies and even the academe, and all other sectors in the region whose intention is to help us promote Caraga and Mindanao, and erase that negative perception that Mindanao is not safe. This time around, let’s tweak it and make Mindanao as a vibrant, safe and relatively beautiful island to visit,” expressed Dumadag.
She also called on the Caraga stakeholders to show the world that people in the region are a loving and peaceful community.
“Let’s help promote and intensify the country’s brand concept by the DOT led by Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco, which is LOVE the Philippines! This is inspired by the sari-sari store [variety of products], so with this branding. It’s a jampacked of colors and products which symbolizes the maxi-minimalism approach in which the brand truly showcases to you what LOVE is about in the Philippines,” said Dumadag.
Dumadag explained that L symbolizes the rich biodiversity of love; O represents the award-winning natural beauty of love; V represents the archipelago of festive and cultural love – festival and cultural activities; E represents the love for food and delicacies that the Filipinos can truly be proud of.
“The Philippines iconography is the essence of our brand guide showcasing the diverse and vibrant elements that define our country. Each icon represents a unique aspect from landscapes to cultural heritage. So, it is crucial that when we design the icon for LOVE the Philippines, it is carefully layouted as every icon represents a product,” she said.
“This LOVE the Philippines branding is really in support of the seven goals of the National Tourism Development Plan. It was just last year that the country’s Plan was approved under the administration of Sec. Frasco. This Plan aims to promote the diversification of the tourism portfolio in the Philippines through multidimensional tourism,” added Dumadag.
Meanwhile, Police Colonel Ringo Zarzoso, regional community affairs and development division chief of Police National Police (PNP) Regional Office 13, called for a united action to achieve and sustain peace and order in the community.
“We cannot do this alone, we need you – our key partners in realizing a safe, peaceful and progressive Caraga under the banner of Bagong Pilipinas,” Zarzoso said.
The DOT-Caraga also recognized the government agencies and local government units that adapted the Mabuhay gesture.
"There have been LGUs that have already issued a Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) Resolution adopting the Mabuhay gesture as a standard greeting. This forms part of the Filipino brand of service excellence. The Mabuhay gesture conveys a sense of warmth and welcome through its symbolic meaning and cultural significance. This gesture is commonly used in the Philippines as a way to greet and welcome others. It involves extending one's hand with the palm facing upwards and gently waving it back and forth," she said.
DOT's mission is to encourage, promote, and develop tourism as a major socio-economic activity to generate foreign currency and local employment, ultimately spreading the benefits of tourism to both the private and public sector. (JPG, PIA-Caraga)
