Catarman boosts tourism with pedicab tours
CATARMAN, Northern Samar – With daily flights launched recently, the capital town of Northern Samar is gearing itself towards promoting local tourism.
Since October 28, Philippine Airlines launched its daily flights from Clark at 6 in the morning and Catarman to Clark at 9 a.m.
With this development, locals have come up with their own pedicab tour, a half-day tour featuring the best places for adventure, food trip and immersion, with the drivers, themselves, serving as tourist guides.
The pedicabs were designed by scholars from Center for Arts, Recreation and Education (CARE) Foundation, who also welcome the tour’s guests with Waray-waray folk dances and songs.
“We want the people of Catarman to be proud of who they are as they showcase the beauty of Catarman and Northern Samar because this place really has much to offer,” Kathrina Jusa, a local tour operator of Gusto Avventura, said.
Romulo Barandino Jr., president of the pedicab association here, said that he wanted the pedicab tour to be a success to help the livelihood of over 1,000 drivers.
“Kung wala itong tour, wala kaming mai-uuwi na kita sa bahay. Hindi namin ineexpect na may magbibigay sa amin ng ganitong oportunidad (Had there been no tour like this, we won’t have any revenue to take home. We didn’t expect that anybody would give us an opportunity like this),” he said.
He expressed pride that through their newly designed pedicabs, they will now be given attention wherever they go. Barandino has been a pedicab driver since he was in high school in order to support his family of eight.
Provincial Tourism Officer Josette Doctor welcomed the program as a boost to their tourism industry.
“We are glad that we have locals who are trailblazing tourism developments here, they have good plans that we can incorporate with government projects,” she said.
She added that the tour will give tourists more reasons to stay in Catarman longer, before they go to Pacific towns and islands such as Biri and Pink Islands in Biri and San Vicente towns.
Guests will also able to watch the student-athletes play sepak takraw, the country’s national sport.
After that, they have the chance to watch how they cook their special delicacies the traditional way such as koping, minoron and pinangat in the nearby town of Bobon.
They will also be ferried to Buko Island where they can witness how the locals make one of their premium products – copra with free refreshments.
A farm tour also highlights the experience, wherein they can ride a carabao (national animal) and experience the local’s way of life in the vast ricefields.
They may also avail of boodlefight where the freshest seafood are served, and stay in cozy yet affordable hotels.
Aside from tourism, Jusa disclosed that they are also working on promoting rattan products made by Mamanwa tribe in Las Navas.