The province’s Arts, Culture, Tourism and Museum (ACTM) Unit has started their Tourism Accreditation Caravan for the first semester of 2022 with three (3) nubicipalities in South Cotabato accomplished for the month of March.
ACTM Accreditation, Marketing and Promotions chief Tourism Operations Officer I Francisco M. Cerbo, Jr. identified the 3 towns of Lake Sebu, Norala and Tampakan, each with their respective emerging tourism oriented and related establishments (TO/TREs) that has the potential to be accredited by the Department of Tourism (DOT) 12.
“The goal is to professionalize and standardize the level of services provided by tourism enterprises that provide lodging, ticketing, packaged tours and transportation, among others,” Cerbo added.
DOT 12 and PGO-ACTM are partners in this endeavor wherein PGO-ATM will assist DOT 12 in the Accreditation Caravan to ensure that the TO/TREs are within the parameters of tourism standards.
PGO-ACTM debuted their caravan in Lake Sebu on March 22 with a total of sixteen (16) TO/TREs assessed/validated by the Accreditation Team. These are the LASIWWAI, Our Lady of Divine Mercy Shrine and Retreat House, The Dreamweaver’s Hill, Nadine’s Resort, Tolento’s Pension House, Lang Dulay Museum, Centro Inn and Water Tubing; (March 23) – Lake Sebu Paragliding, Cendy Farm, Ramfels Paradise Resort, Punta Isla Lake Resort; (March 24) – Merl Spring Garden Resort, Garden by the Lake, Camp Lake View, Sa Balai Lake View Resort, Emilio’s Kawa and Flower Garden.
Likewise, on March 29, the team assessed the TO/TREs in Norala, namely; Lampara Pension House, 326 Hotel, Purple D Snack House, Atin Bahay Kainan, Lucillas Bakeshop,, Cocoy’sInasal, Frostbite Café, Sotelo Barbequehan, Sotelo Buko Halo and Norala Star Resort. The team finished their accreditation run in Norala on March 30 with the assessment of Obsessitea Café, Pedrito’s Snack House, White House Diner, Talk Hang Food House, Cravings and Cakes Snack Bar.
The last town visited was Tampakan on March 31 with only Ernesto’s Farm,South Ultimate Airsoft and Dizon Blessed Garden assessed by the team.
PGO-ACTM will continue the tourism accreditation caravan in the municipalities of Banga, Tupi and Tantangan after the May 9, 2022 Synchronized Automated National and Local Elections to complete their 4-town accreditation target.
