CEBU, Philippines - Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) commended the mass motion approval of the ordinance authored by PB member Arleigh Jay Sitoy institutionalizing the Suroy-Suroy Sugbo program.
According to its president Prudencio Gesta, CCCI considered the institutionalization of the Suroy-Suroy Sugbo program as a pro-active initiative of the Cebu Provincial Board to develop tourism culture all over the province.
“We are very glad to learn that the Cebu Provincial Board in mass motion has approved the ordinance. The benefits and impact to our tourism especially at the countryside are very noticeable, thus, we congratulate the leadership of the Province of Cebu headed by Governor Garcia and members of the Provincial Board for institutionalizing Suroy-Suroy Sugbo which other provinces and cities are trying to duplicate,” he told The Freeman.
Further, Gesta said there may be other areas for enhancement to be taken into consideration but emphasized that the structure to develop tourism culture down to the countryside should remain as the focal point by the sectors involved.
He added that the program as an effective tourism tool is evident by the higher volume of local and foreign tourist arrivals in the towns of Cebu, serving as one of the growth drivers of the local economy at the same time.
CCCI, during the Presidency of Francis Monera in 2005, conceptualized the Suroy Suroy Sugbo as a way of support to the Cebu Provincial Government to promote local tourism in the countryside and develop a culture of tourism in the entire province.
“This is basically a public-private partnership for the common good of Cebu Province and of Metro Cebu,” Gesta continued.
He pointed out the issue on culture of tourism in Cebu as critical to be implemented during the launching of the Cebu Tourism Roadmap last week.
The Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Bosconian International Chamber of Commerce - Cebu also expressed support and favor to the institutionalization of the tourism program.
In earlier reports, the ordinance that was approved last Monday cited the positive recognition by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Cebu of the Suroy-Suroy Sugbo as an effective tool in the promotion of local tourism and in the development of culture, heritage and arts.
Considered to be necessary to have a legal guarantee, the measure is intended to ensure that the sustainability and effectivity of the program as an important component of the policy agenda of every administration.
Records show that the total number of foreign and domestic tourist arrivals in Cebu has reportedly contributed to the increase from 1,247,487 in 2006 to 1,922,238 in 2011.
Moreover, the annual growth rate from 2008 to 2011 was recorded at 11.9 percent for foreign arrivals while domestic tourist arrivals grew at 7.1 percent. (FREEMAN)