ILOILO CITY (PNA) – The Local Government Support Program–Local Economic Development (LGSP-LED) is now working hand-in-hand with the provincial government of Guimaras to further enhance the agri-tourism potential of the province.

Guimaras, according to its provincial tourism officer Angeles Gabinete, is a recipient of a P10 million support for their community-based rural tourism (CBRT) projects that will be developed in about 10 months.

The end goal is to raise community awareness on environmental management and protection, cultural preservation and promotion and economic empowerment.

It kicked off with awareness on tourism appreciation, tourism mapping that covers villages and municipalities, project planning, and implementation.

Gabinete said they have identified at least 36 CBRTs but to date, 11 are already matured or those that have been capacitated, trained on project management and operation, financial management and structure and policies.

Six of the 11, she said, received funds from the LGSP-LED.
The projects are situated in the municipalities of Jordan, Nueva Valencia and Buenavista which include a marine rescue center, weaving, among others.

“These projects really contributed much to poverty alleviation and poverty reduction of local government units (LGUs),” she said.

Gabinete further added that the province is also being assisted by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) through the Canadian Urban Institute (CUI).

She said that they are looking forward to really place the province in the tourism map because it now has a direction and clear framework contained in their provincial physical framework plan integrated with their tourism master plan.

“For 30 years, Guimaras envisions to become an agri-tourism destination in Western Visayas,” she said. “We have kicked off with community/barangay-based community tourism awareness and appreciation because of that direction and clear framework,” she said.

Tourism awareness at the local level or those in villages, schools, transport sector and other tourism industry organization is already about 40 percent, she said.

At the international level, Gabinete disclosed that Guimaras is the only province that was invited to present about the CBRT during the recent Asia Pacific Economic Promotions in Malaysia.

Guimaras Gov. Felipe Hilan Nava also talked about the province in several international gatherings held in Cambodia, Spain, China and other Asian countries.