DOT promotes ecotourism in Region 12

KORONADAL CITY, Philippines – The Department of Tourism (DOT) in Central Mindanao is trying to sell Region 12’s eco-tourism potentials through a week-long information campaign in the cities of Iloilo and Bacolod that started Wednesday.

Nelly Dillera, DOT’s director for Region 12, said they are to project Central Mindanao as the country’s '12th Paradise,' which is a safe and attractive tourist destination for Western Visayas residents.

“This is our strategy to achieve maximum exposure of the region’s tourism destinations, dubbed as the 12th Paradise, Dillera said.

Dillera said their main objective for their 12 Paradise initiative is to encourage the Ilonggo- the Hiligaynon-speaking folks in Western Visayas- to come to Region 12 and tour its scenic tourism spots.

“We have more than a dozen tourist destinations in Region 12 which are ideal for family and business gatherings, reunions and other events,” Dillera said.

Dillera said negative news reports about security problems besetting isolated areas in the region do not reflect the area’s general eco-tourism climate.

“The region is generally peaceful, home to very hospitable people,” she said.

“We want to show to the people of Western Visayas and the country that we have the best places they can visit, where they can spend vacation,” Dillera said during the launching of their 12 Paradise project.

Among Region 12’s most attractive eco-tourism sites are the scenic Mt. Apo, which is the country’s highest peak teeming with wildlife, the Asik-Asik Falls in Alamada town in North Cotabato, the Seven Waterfalls,  the Lake Sebu, in South Cotabato’s Tiboli and Lake Sebu towns, respectively.

Asia’s longest zipline is found in Barangay New Israel in Makilala, North Cotabato. The country’s Tuna capital, Gen. Santos City, is also in Region 12.