Department of Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco brings an important gathering of diving industry stakeholders to Cebu for a two-day convention, and the Capitol showed its all-out support by hosting a welcome reception for them.
Vice Gov. Hilario Davide III, as well as Board Members Red Duterte, Mike Villamor, and Cesar Baricuatro played host to the over 300 delegates of the Philippine Tourism Dive Dialogue at the Capitol Social Hall on Thursday, Sept. 14.
The Vice Governor thanked Sec. Frasco for her steady leadership at the DOT and for always involving Cebu in all the DOT’s initiatives and programs.
“You created a climate of cooperation among national and local governments, private sector partners and other stakeholders,” Vice Gov. Davide told Sec. Frasco in his speech.
“The Philippine Tourism Dive Dialogue is the first step in the right direction,” he added.
Sec. Frasco, for her part, thanked the Capitol for the warm welcome even as she welcomed the delegates to her home province as well.
“This is Cebu, and in Cebu, our pride of place burns so bright that it fuels everything that we do,” Sec. Frasco said.
The DOT-led Philippine Tourism Dive Dialogue, slated from Sept. 14 to 15 in Cebu City, gathered over 300 stakeholders and experts from the public and private sectors composed of mayors, resort owners, dive shop operators, dive masters, and dive enthusiasts in tackling challenges besetting the industry, as well as the myriads of opportunities that are up for grabs now that the country emerges from the crippling grips of the pandemic.
The dialogue also fostered collaboration between the different agencies of government, the LGUs, and the private sector in promoting and advancing sustainable tourism practices.
Sec. Frasco was also accompanied by Usec. Shalimar Tamano, Usec. Atty. Elaine Bathan, Usec. Ferdinand Jumapao, Congressman AA Legarda of Antique, as well as DOT regional directors. | Babie Jane Revecoy