CEBU CITY – Dapitan City and Siquijor province are partnering for a project to boost the economy and tourism of the two local government units (LGUs).
Almost a year after forging a sisterhood agreement, the two LGUs will inaugurate the Dapitan-Siquijor Tourism Connectivity on January 14 at the port of Lazi town in Siquijor.
SIQUIJOR Gov. Jake Villa (left) and Dapitan Mayor Seth Frederick Jalosjos signed a sisterhood agreement between the two local government units last October. The two LGUs are set to launch a tourism project next week. (Contributed photo)
Dapitan Mayor Seth Frederick Jalosjos and Siquijor Gov. Jake Villa, who signed the sisterhood agreement last October, will spearhead the inauguration.
Under the tourism project, a boat trip from Dapitan to Siquijor and vice versa will already be available through the L/B Nanay Nene vessel.
“Not just anybody can just ride the boat. It should be in a tourism package. Those who wish to visit Dapitan or Siquijor for tourism purposes can ride the boat for free,” said Apple Marie Agolong, tourism officer of Dapitan.
The inauguration of the Dapitan-Siquijor Tourism Connectivity will also serve as the launching of Dapitan’s major tourism promotional campaigns – the Unlimited Fun in Dapitan (Unlifudap) and Visitamos Rizal.
Agolong said the Unlifudap comes in two packages: P1,999 for local tourists and $150 (about P8,400) for foreign tourists.
The Visitamos Rizal is a tourism package for students worth P1,500.
“Unlifudap is for people who want to visit Dapitan but cannot do so due to budget constraints,” said Agolong.
The tourism packages offer free tours, accommodation, and meals.
“The inclusion of Unlifudap is actually P11,000 worth of tours but we offer it for only P1,999 and P1,500,” said Agolong.
Agolong said the tourism packages became affordable after former Zambonga del Norte Rep. Romeo “Nonong” Jalosjos Sr. agreed to subsidize the tourism program.
“Sir Nonong wants to give back to the community. If someone avails of the program, he will be subsidized by Sir Nonong. He will be the one to pay the stakeholders that part of the promo,” said Agolong.
Agolong said Unlifudap, headed by main coordinator Mark Lloyd Jamelo and the Dapitan City Tourism Office under the guidance of Mayor Jalosjos, is part of the city’s efforts to maintain its status as the most-visited place in Zamboanga Peninsula.
“We need to defend our throne as the most visited place in Zamboanga Peninsula. After the pandemic, almost all LGUs are promoting their municipalities as tourism potentials. So, we don’t want to become complacent and wake up one day to find that Dapitan has already lost the distinction,” said Agolong.
Agolong added that if the Dapitan-Siquijor Tourism Connectivity becomes successful, a commercial route that will serve Dapitan to Siquijor may also be offered.
“Those who will travel from Dapitan to Siquijor and vice versa will no longer have to pass through Dumaguete. It will save time and resources for travelers,” said Agolong.