Boost in tourism
New Samal tourism council officers take oath
ISLAND GARDEN City of Samal (Igacos) - Igacos Mayor Al David Torres Uy administered the induction of officers of the Samal Island Tourism Council (SITC) during Monday's convocation held at Samal Cultural Multi-purpose Gymnasium Peñaplata.
The local government, through City Investment and Tourism Office (Cito) headed by Jennifer Cariaga, initiated the convergence of resort owners, private sectors, Sangguniang Panlungsod members, sea transports, tour operators, and others purposely reorganize the SITC.
The reorganization of SITC is a need since members can play a big role as coordinating body with the government and private sector members to develop and establish the quality standards of all tourism-related establishments.
The new set of SITC officers: chairperson Araceli L. Ayuste, vice-chairperson Engr. Pastor Lozada Jr., secretary Maria Florence Valera, treasurer Jeanne April Kroell, auditor Gene Bangayan, business manager Dr. Austerio F. Obenza, and PIO Edgar Lagura.
“The Samal Island Tourism Council is very important in the local sustainable development in the tourism industry of the island. We need the support of the local government unit of Samal as partners in this development and to backup our proposed policies and programs for the good of the tourism industry,” Ayuste said.
The composition of the SITC were made-up of 60 percent from the private sectors and 40 percent from the government based on R.A 9593, otherwise known as the Tourism Act of 2009. Cito, being the head secretariat of SITC, is tasked to assist the documentation of all the meetings, programs, and events related to the tourism sector.
After the oath, Ayuste then called an immediate meeting to the new set of officers and discussed some priorities of tourism development particularly the problem in the sea and land transports, inventory on illegal and legal tour operators, and possibility of conducting trainings.