Melo Villareal
Puyat eyes Isabela as top agro-ecotourism destination
Ilagan City, Isabela — The Secretary of the Department of Tourism, Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, believes that Isabela could be a world-class agri-ecotourism destination.
It is because, according to the Tourism Secretary, the province touts a very promising agriculture industry and richly-diverse natural destinations.
“Your rich flora and fauna in the Sierra Madre Forest and Palanan rainforest, the Sta. Victoria Caves and long stretches of sandy beaches and coves in the Pacific Coast and not to mention the Philippine Rise for great dives, are exciting products that would draw the discerning eco-tourist interest,” said Romulo-Puyat.
The DOT Secretary was the Guest of Honor during the recent culmination of the highly-awaited “Bambanti Festival,” which is celebrated yearly in the province.
She further added that the province has rich potential in experiential tour packages in fruit picking, rice planting or harvesting, fishing, mushroom production, as well as fishing.
Bambanti Festival Activities
In the meantime, the said activity was attended by hundreds of people who gathered for the colorful parade that showcased humongous scarecrows, farm products of the province, including corn, rice, fruits, and vegetables, Pancit Cabagan (a local cuisine), as well as other delicacies.
Apart from those, local woodcraft, as well as furniture that was created through indigenous materials, were also featured during the event.
Secretary Puyat further said in her keynote speech that the Bambanti Festival 2020 is indeed a unique festivity as symbolized by the scarecrow which is believed to dispel pestilence. Moreover, she said that the said festival symbolizes the important virtues of Filipinos, including strong family values, hard work, and love for the fertile soil, which, she believes, helped the province become the Rice Granary of the North.
She also reaffirmed the support of the government for the tourism infrastructure development of the province. It is through the convergence initiatives with the Department of Public Works and Highways and the Department of Transportation.
In addition, she said the DOT Region 2 office reported that the visitor arrivals from 2017 to 2018 have increased, from 492,894 to 751,249. In the meantime, partial reports for last year stands at 536,182.
Searching for the best hotels and affordable flights? Check out our complete list of affordable hotels and resorts via Agoda or you may also see available Airbnb properties in the city.
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