I remember meeting Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Wanda Tulfo-Teo in Davao City, where she told me she was looking for out-of-the-box tourism ideas.
Tulfo-Teo has been around travel and tour operation circles; she knows the industry well. Our own DOT-Region VI (DOT-6) Director, Atty. Helen Catalbas, is one such innovator and, knowing her, the local tourism sector is happy with her as regional director.
In Bacolod City, more should be done to promote local tourism, but those opportunities have not been tapped yet; even with Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia and City Administrator John Orola at the helm, both of which have exposure to the tourism industry. Leonardia once headed the DOT-Bacolod City office, while Orola was the former DOT tourism attaché to Japan.
When I started in the hotel industry three decades ago, I grew within the travel and tourism circles. Orola and I managed the MassKara Festival two decades ago.
If Bacolod City is seeking economic gains through tourism, it can happen very quickly and easily, it’s a matter of working together with active tourism stakeholders who work towards the general gain and not just their personal business interests.
Currently, I’m thinking about sharing my ideas with the city government, through the tourism office. Among my plans, which I have yet to share with Leonardia and Orola, are projects like Clean Toilets Bacolod, culinary tourism, farm tourism, the Hotel Weekend Family Escapade, highway color painting, street landscaping, arch beautification, a Manokan-Lechonan-Prutasan Country, among others.
All the projects mentioned can happen through cohesive partnership among stakeholders passionate about tourism.
It is high time Bacolod City becomes the center of fame, being named one of the most livable cities in the country, along with being business-friendly. If we do not roll up our sleeves, opportunities from tourism may slip away.

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This column greets DOT ASec Dan Mercado, DOT RD6 Atty. Helen Catalbas, DOT RD11 Robby Alabado, DOT’s Bong Bengzon, Cabinet Secretary Jun Evasco, Meloy Mercado, Michael Dalumpines, Tony Boy Floirendo, Jr., Bluboy Duterte, ES Bingbong Medialdea, Ray dela Paz, Atty. Jan Rubiato, Arwin Ardon, and Dindo Ilagan./WDJ