SAMAR CAVE. The mouth of Cathedral Cave at the town center of Matuguinao, Samar. The local government unit here is banking on tourism to change the image of the municipality from a conflict-stricken and poverty-ravaged area into a developed town. (PNA photo by Roel Amazona)
MATUGUINAO, Samar – The local government unit here is banking on tourism to change their image from a conflict-stricken and poverty-ravaged area into a developed town.
Mayor Aran Boller said on Monday the local government will launch on February 28 their tourism program that will promote the town’s natural wonders which are unknown to many.
He urged residents to join competitions that will showcase their best delicacies, handicraft, dishes or cuisine.
He also cited the local tourism branding contest, which the local government launched on Monday.
Winners for the delicacies, handicrafts, and cuisine category will be receiving cash prizes: PHP2,500 for the first prize, PHP2,000 for second prize; PHP1,500 for third prize; and PHP1,000 as consolation prizes.
Winners of the logo or branding contest will receive PHP3,000 for the first prize; PHP2,500 for second prize; PHP1,500 for the third prize and PHP1,000 as consolation prizes.
“We want people from outside our town to know us more through our food and local products. Whenever they visit our town and experience what we offer, they would say this is uniquely Matuguinao,” Boller said.
Aside from foods and handicrafts, the town also boasts of its natural attractions such as the Sulpan Cave, Cathedral Cave, and a number of waterfalls.
Boller said, however, that the campaign to promote tourism will not prosper if insurgency and criminality will continue to threaten local development efforts.
“How can we push for tourism if there’s still a presence of New People’s Army (NPA)?” he asked.
At least five of the town’s 20 villages have sightings of New People's Army (NPA) rebels. These are Carolina, San Roque, Ligaya, Inubod, Del Rosario, and Rizal.
Boller said the local government will provide PHP50,000 financial assistance to each NPA member who will surrender. If they fail to yield, he said the local government will give a PHP50,000 bounty to each informant who could give the rebels' whereabouts.
Matuguinao, a fifth-class town in Samar province, has a population of 7,288 people. The town is 105 kilometers north of Tacloban City, the regional capital. (PNA)
