BACOLOD CITY – The Department of Tourism (DOT) launched on Wednesday, November 29, the Philippine Experience Program (PEP) for Western Visayas in Silay City, Negros Occidental.
DEPARTMENT of Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco (second from left) and guests pose with the steam locomotive of the sugar mill Hawaiian-Philippine Company in Silay City, Negros Occidental during the Western Visayas launching of the Philippine Experience Program on Wednesday, November 29. (Tara Yap)
DOT Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco led the regional launching for PEP, the Marcos administration’s cultural tourism development program.
“This is the last regional kick off for the year,” said DOT-6 Regional Director Crisanta Marlene Rodriguez.
The PEP launching for Western Visayas covered Negros Occidental and the highly urbanized city of Bacolod.
It will also be launched in Iloilo and Iloilo City, the regional capital, on Thursday and Friday, November 30 and December 1.
PEP is pushing for recognition of lesser known destinations.
Western Visayas is in the national tourism map as the home region of world-famous Boracay Island, the country’s most popular beach destination.
“We are happy we have Boracay Island in Western Visayas, but there are other areas that are equally beautiful but not being visited,” Rodriguez said.
“We understand most of our foreign and domestic tourists prefer Sun and beach, but we have other tourism products we can offer. We have nature, we have food, we have culture, we have heritage,” Rodriguez added.
The DOT assured that PEP will also be launched in Aklan, Antique, Capiz, and Guimaras by 2024.