TUGUEGARAO CITY, CAGAYAN – DILG R2 joined the first ever Cagayan Valley EcoTourism-Environment Summit held at the Cagayan Coliseum, Tuguegarao City, Cagayan on November 21-22, 2023. The two-day summit, spearheaded by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Region 2 in partnership with Department of Tourism and the Department, intends to present the various environmental programs and recent policies and guidelines on priority programs implemented, address environmental concerns, discuss the enhanced local climate change action plan, and promote ecotourism programs and activities in the region.

LGCDD Chief Elsbeth T. Maralli discusses the legal basis and process in the formulation of the ELCCAP of the LGUs

Meanwhile, DILG Regional Director Agnes A. De Leon was represented by Division Chief Elsbeth T. Maralli, where she presented the different procedures required in the formulation of the Enhanced-Local Climate Change Action Plan (ELCCAP) of the Local Government Units.

Discussion on the roles of the Regional Ecotourism Council in Promoting Ecotourism was done by Hon. Ruth R. Padilla as the CV-Regional Tourism Council Chairperson where she emphasized the need for familiarization tours in the different tourism sites, and the legislation of responsible tourism practices in all the different LGUs in the region.

“How can we promote and market our own tourist sites if we ourselves have not yet explored or visited these places?” she said.

Hon. Ruth R. Padilla as the CV-Regional Tourism Council Chairperson emphasizes the need for familiarization tours.

The sharing of the best ecotourism practices and showcasing of the different local ecotourism destinations and products in the five (5) provinces of the region were presented by their respective Provincial Tourism Officers.

Local products and good around the region were showcased through their respective local tourism offices in different booths during the environment-ecotourism summit

The summit was also attended by Cagayan Governor Manuel N. Mamba, Tuguegarao City Mayor Maila Ting-Que, Lal-lo, Cagayan Vice Mayor Ma. Olivia Pascual and representatives from the different provinces in the region and a cultural night featuring the different festivals and tour spots around the region was conducted.

(SOURCE: LGOO III MEYNARD ABRAM M. VENTURA)