ZAMBOANGA CITY -- The Department of Tourism (DOT) is set to launch “Mi Ciudad: Limpio y Floriao” (My city: clean and blooming), a beautification campaign to boost tourism in this southern port city.
“We have made arrangement and received commitment from the local government of Zamboanga, barangay officials, and owners of business establishments downtown to be part in this campaign,” DOT Regional Director Antonio Fernando Blanco on Tuesday said.
This city has been known as the City of Flowers and was later promoted as Asia’s Latin City.
Zamboanga City was then called “Jambangan” - a Malay term for land of flowers.
Before the Second World War, the downtown area and its public square was festooned with flowers.
Blanco said they have started procuring seedlings that would be distributed to the barangays leaders.
He said the official launch of the campaign will be on Monday, October 9, at the scenic Paseo del Mar.
The launch coincides with the activities of the month-long celebration of the Zamboanga Hermosa Festival.
Blanco said that part of the process is also to encourage this city’s residents to maintain cleanliness.
“A clean surrounding will entice people and visitors to enjoy walking and watch the sceneries,” Ricardo San Juan, tourism consultant and former DOT regional director, said.
The initial number of barangays that will be part of the campaign are those within the 13-kilometer radius from downtown.
“Gradually, we will expand it,” San Juan said.
For the main thoroughfares, the DOT plans to plant flowers at all center islands.
Blanco said the main driver of the promotion is the community themselves. (PNA)
