Suroy-Suroy Sugbo now fully booked

CEBU, Philippines - All tickets for the Suroy-Suroy Sugbo on January 20 – 22 have been sold out, the provincial government announced.

Provincial tourism officer Grace Paulino said a big bulk of the tickets was purchased by three big groups of “balikbayans” from the United States.

Package rates for the caravan range from P7,000 to P14,000, which covers transportation, accommodation, and full board meals.

The caravan will visit major eco-tourism areas in southern Cebu, most of which were the stops last year, including the five-tier Aguinid Falls in Samboan and the Mainit Springs in Malabuyoc.

The annual Suroy-Suroy Sugbo takes place on the Wednesday after the Sinulog festivities.

It was launched in 2005 by the Balik Cebu Group as part of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s Cebu Business Month celebration to promote Cebu’s tourism industry.

The province adopted the program during the time of former governor and current third district Representative Gwendolyn Garcia.

The program was institutionalized by the present administration through an ordinance authored by Board Member Arleigh Jay Sitoy.

Today, five towns in the Midwest are set to present their respective community-based eco-tourism project proposals at the Capitol Social Hall. The plans are required before the towns of Alegria, Aloguinsan, Asturias, Balamban, and Tabuelan can avail of funding from Capitol as part of the Midwest Eco-tourism Project.

The provincial government has set aside P13.5 million for development projects in tourist destinations in the Midwest.

Joselito Costas, Capitol consultant for eco-tourism, said earlier there is a need to focus on tourism development in the Midwest because of its untapped ecotourism sites and fewer tourism-related activities.

Among the potential tourism areas identified in the Midwest are the Mount Manunggal in Balamban, the crash site of the late president Ramon Magsaysay’s presidential plane; and the Batawang River in Tabuelan, which is reportedly suitable for kayaking.

Other sites include the wetland ecosystem named Lake Buswang in Asturias and the Cambais falls and Kanlaob River in Alegria, which is famous for its canyoneering activities.

Dolphin-watching activities will also be established Aloguinsan town.

The Midwest part of Cebu is also home to protected landscape and seascape – the nestling places of biodiversity.  (FREEMAN)