10 rivers in Caraga region tagged as eco-tourism sites

BUTUAN CITY — The Department of Tourism (DOT), in coordination with Caraga’s local government units, is set to develop 10 rivers in the region as eco-tourism sites to promote inclusive growth for communities located near these waterways.

This tourism development program was hatched at a meeting among tourism officers from the five provinces and six cities at Watergate Hotel here recently. The meeting was facilitated by the technical working group of DOT 13 led by Officer-InCharge Mary Jean A. Camarin.

The tourism officers crafted the program for the 10 rivers for inclusion in the agency’s 2017 Ilog Program: “Ilog Tourism–Inclusive Local Growth through River Tourism.”

These 10 rivers in Caraga region are: Agusan River (Butuan City), Kalinawan River (Jabonga, Agusan del Norte), Cabadbaran River (Cabadbaran City), Gaas Inlet (Dinagat Island), Sabang Gibong River (Agusan del Sur), Surigao River (Surigao City), Baoy River (Gigaquit, Surigao del Norte), Tandag River (Tandag City), Abacanan River (Cantilan, Surigao del Sur) and Giasan River (Magallanes, Agusan del Norte).

This “Ilog” (river) tourism program will create employment and livelihood opportunities for the fisherfolk and lumads, and add revenues to local coffers, said Kylee Doreene Q. Plaza, DOT 13 Tourism Officer.

“Rivers are home of our tribes and fisherfolk and this Ilog program will surely add more market-drawing capacity to their products,” she said.

She said DOT 13 was emulating the efforts of officials in Loboc, Bohol,province where they utilized Loboc River to draw tourists.

She said the agency has allocated 1600,000 for the first phase of the development of the10 rivers in Caraga.