Governors accuse tourism director of non-cooperation in exposition

CEBU, Philippines - The six governors of Region 6 expressed dismay over the failure of the tourism director of Western Visayas to participate in the putting up of a tourism booth at the Cebu International Convention Center for the ongoing “One Visayas (A Showcase of Culture and the Arts)” exposition.

Antique Governor Salvacion Perez, chairperson of the Regional Development Council-6, said she got upset upon learning that the tourism booth space provided for them at the CICC supposedly for the display of products and crafts, and information on tourism practices and services, among others, in the region’s six provinces - Aklan, Capiz, Antique, Iloilo, Guimaras, and Negros Occidental, was empty.

Perez blamed the failure on regional tourism director Edwin Trompeta for his alleged “non-cooperation to the affair”.

“Napahiya tayo dito dahil tayo lang ang wala. Nando’n ang Regions 7 and 8, samantalang tayo wala. We have Boracay which is the jewel of Region 6 pero kahit picture, wala doon,” Perez yesterday morning shared her disappointment in a meeting with the other five governor-members of the Visayas-Regional Development Committee.

But when Trompeta was confronted by Capiz Governor Victor Tanco, he pointed a finger at the One Visayas committee, saying he had sent a written communication. 

Ian Fresnido, one of the organizers of the activity and also one of the consultants of Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, made it clear though that Trompeta “had declined from joining One Visayas” in favor of the Visayas-Mindanao 2009 travel and lifestyle show here from March 6 to 8.— Garry B. Lao/MEEV (THE FREEMAN)