DOT backs FedEx Tour

The Department of Tourism has thrown its all-out support for the grand staging of the Air 21-FedEx Express Tour ng Pilipinas next year, a 14-stage cycling tour promoting a handful of tourism spots in the country.

In a recent meeting with Express Tour officials, DOT director Romulo de los Reyes spoke in behalf of Tourism Secretary Richard Gordon and signified the agency’s support through accomodations on some of the key stops for the 500-strong Express Tour entourage.

De los Reyes, who mans the DOT’s Bureau of International Tourism Promotion, also said the DOT would help organize an array of cultural shows on certain stages to provide entertainment for the Express Tour’s legion of fans in the provinces.

"We’ll identify the stages where we could put up the shows and, together with the DOT, map out the programs for its success," said Air 21-FedEx Express Tour executive director Mar Mendoza, who, along with Air 21 government affairs coordinator Rodrigo Mercado, worked for the DOT’s support.

Mendoza said the cultural shows would come in the form of a mini-concert, featuring some of the best entertainers in the land.

A series of qualifying races are on tap beginning Nov. 10 designed to select the best 84 riders who will see action in the tour proper tentatively scheduled on the last week of April.

Application forms are available at the Professional Cycling Association of the Philippines at the Amoranto Stadium in Quezon City. Deadline for submission of entries is Oct. 31. Interested parties may call PCAP president Paquito Rivas or Nel at telephone no. 8794374.

Airfreight 2100-FedEx chairman Bert Lina was all priases with the development, pointing out that the DOT support will provide a big lift as far as promoting the sports of cycling is concerned.

Airfreight 2100-FedEx president Lito Alvarez echoed Lina’s sentiments, saying the assistance of the DOT will add color and glamour to the Express Tour, which kicked off earlier this year with a four-stage event at the Calabarzon growth area.