With its objectives to promote and sustain eco-cultural industry, the Allah Valley Landscape Development Alliance (AVLDA) conducted a Program Sustainability Planning Workshop on its Local Economic Development (LED) project, among its Core LED team, Technical Working Group members, private sector representatives (PSR) and other stakeholders at Monte Cielo, Lake Sebu recently.
AVLDA is an alliance of the two provinces of South Cotabato (SC) and Sultan Kudarat (SK) and their respective member-municipalities and tasked to protect and preserve the Allah Valley Landscape traversing in these municipalities.
The planning workshop centered on the two eco-tourism circuits developed by AVLDA for the past two years, namely; the Koronadal City – Lake Sebu – T’boli circuit and the Tacurong – Esperanza circuit.
Participants were grouped into five teams depending on their respective concerns to discuss and answer the issues and challenges in achieving project results.
DPWH, DENR, LEIPU-SK together with a Tour Operator (TO) discussed and answered the challenges about Cultural Eco-tourism Product Development and Infrastructure, while DTI, LEIPU-SC and TO also answered Tourism and Cultural Marketing Program/Investment Promotions challenges.
TESDA with a TO and other PSR likewise discussed Improving Service Quality/Workforce Development, and South Cotabato Tourism Council also with a TO and PSR group members, discussed on Raising Standards of Quality.
Team DILG, PNP with another TO also submitted their answers on Coaching of LGUs.
Afterissues and challenges identification, the five teams proceeded with identifying sustainability strategies for the local project and likewise presented it during plenary session.
Prior to the workshop, Local Governance Support Program (LGSP) Program Advisor Alfred Allaga which supervised the LED project presented the Local Project Results to Date during the opening program.
He likewise revisited the Project Baselines, Progress and Progress and presented preparations for the Stakeholders Forum.
LED is funded by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and supervised by (LGSP) under the Department of Interior and Local Government.
