Danao City to upgrade tourism facilities

CEBU, Philippines – The Danao City government tapped the services of consultants to help the city in its move to upgrade facilities to attract more tourists through historical and cultural places.

A three-day training-workshop on participatory cultural mapping was conducted recently to discuss issues and concerns related to the program.

The Danao City LGU headed by Mayor Ramon "Nito" Durano III, in coordination with the Danao City Tourism and the Sangguniang Panlungsod, implemented a series of interrelated cultural and heritage activities between now and December this year.

The first of these activities is the conduct of a one-and-a-half day, live-out Training Workshop on Participatory Cultural Mapping in two clusters.

Cluster A was held on October 15 until noon of Thursday, October 16. Cluster B was held in the afternoon of October 16 and ended in the late afternoon of October 17.

Cluster A was comprised of 21 contiguous barangays of the north, northeast and northwest, including public school teachers located therein and the Danao Historical Society, as well as city councilors in charge of Culture, Education, and Tourism.

Cluster B, on the other hand, was comprised of the other 21 contiguous barangays of the south, southeast and southwest, including public school teachers and Cebu Technological University faculty.

The presentation of rationale and cultural mapping and community development by Dr. Jojo Bersales highlighted the first day of the workshop.

Orientation on the cultural mapping form by Professor Ruel Rigor was among the main topics discussed.

Cultural mapping can be used to develop Danao's economic and cultural potentials.

It aims to identify and document local tangible resources such as craft industries, ancestral houses, distinctive landmarks, local events, festivals and industries.

Furthermore, it also tackles intangible resources such as memories, personal histories, music, arts, attitudes, and values.

Its most fundamental goal is to help communities recognize, celebrate, and support cultural diversity for economic, social, and regional development.

Among the topics discussed were the requisites of the mapping which include establishment of a cohesive cultural sector, increase in community engagement in cultural activities, improvement of the city's cultural profile and increased investments in culture.

Moreover, the presentation of tentative results by Dr. Bersales and a workshop fieldwork using the cultural mapping form were emphasized in the second day of the workshop.

The said activities were geared towards instilling pride of place and awareness and promotion of the city's own culture and heritage beginning at the barangay level as well as among particular sectors of the community.

Also present in the workshop were Provincial Board Member Carmen Remedios Durano-Meca and Vice Mayor Ramon "Red" Durano VI.