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Reference Number :
2018-NA07-022
Central Visayas opens the 29th National Statistics Month (NSM) celebration on 01 October 2018 at the Health Management Complex, Municipality of Dalaguete, Cebu.
This year’s opening ceremony was hosted by the Department of Tourism Region VII (DOT VII) that started with a motorcade from Plaza Independencia, Cebu City to Municipality of Dalaguete. The Municipality of Dalaguete is a recipient of various projects funded by DOT. The kick-off was anchored on the theme “Exploring Philippine Wonders in Numbers: Statistics Towards Sustainable Tourism Development”. The theme reflects the relevance of statistics in achieving a sustainable and progressive tourism growth for our country. It also emphasizes the need for statistics to identify potential tourism havens and also areas which require interventions.
Hon. Ronald Allan G. Cesante, Municipal Mayor of Dalaguete welcomed the heads and members of the Central Visayas Regional Statistics Committee (CV-RSC) Member Agencies and sectors that included the Department of Tourism (DOT) VII, National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) VII, Department of Science and Technology (DOST) VII, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) VII, Department of Energy (DOE) VII, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) VII, Department of Health (DOH) VII, and Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) VII. Mayor Cesante, in his welcome remarks, expressed his gratitude to the team in choosing Dalaguete as the venue for the launching of 29th NSM. He added that Dalaguete is kind enough to support the National Agencies in providing livelihood programs and opportunities aside from vegetable farming and other industries. In addition, Dalaguete has been providing the necessary investments for eco-tourism since then, though he admitted that they are still about to rise to compete with other rising products and eco-tourism not just in Central Visayas but hopefully to the world as well. In his conclusion, he is open to suggestions of valuable ideas from these agencies on how they can compete and thrive to survive locally and internationally.
Director Efren Carreon, the chair of the Regional Statistics Committee and Regional Director of NEDA VII delivered his keynote speech. He thanked Mayor Cesante for accommodating and congratulated for his active support on tourism development of his town. He admitted that this was the first time the region do-away the traditional opening program of the NSM since the agencies were brought outside their regional offices closer to the people and to appreciate the eco-tourism sites that they want to promote in line with the theme and the development plan of the province. Tourism, according to Director Carreon, contributed around 12.2% of the gross domestic product of the country based on The Philippine Tourism Satellite Accounts (PTSA) compiled by the Philippine Statistics Authority. He strongly believed however, that the tourism industry contributes more than the statistical survey data, it is more than 12.2% in Central Visayas. He further explained that most people in Central Visayas has been enjoying high tourist arrivals since most of the transportation process are mostly well-developed and is mobile. It is expected that more tourists (domestic and foreign) will flock in the region following the opening of Mactan Cebu International Airport Terminal 2, soon-to-open new Bohol International Airport in Panglao Island, completion of Siquijor Airport Terminal and the proposed new Dumaguete International Airport which is now on its final stage of feasibility study for funding. He concluded that the arrivals of tourist both local and international alike is what inspired them in their service of bringing the best experience in local tourism in our country. Right after his speech, variety of cultural dances from the high school students of Dalaguete National High School and elementary students from Cawayan Elementary School entertained the visitors.
Ms. Judilyn S. Quiachon, Chief of Staff / Supervising Tourism Operations Officer of DOT VII, shared the 2017 Tourism Statistics and its Relevance to Sustainable Tourism Development. The main component of her speech apparently was the presentation of data gathered from 2017 up to the present and the statistical framework for tourism — one that integrates the various dimensions of sustainable tourism (economic, environmental and social) and across relevant spatial levels (global, national and subnational). She said that Dalaguete is one of the municipalities in the region that truly supports the development of tourism sites thereby recipient of several projects of DOT together with the Department of Public Works and Highways. She ended that sustainable tourism is increasingly relevant in national agendas for its role in fostering economic growth, social inclusiveness and the protection of cultural and natural assets.
The closing remarks was delivered by Director Ariel E. Florendo, Vice-chair of the Regional Statistics Committee and Regional Director of PSA VII. He expressed how astounded he was for just being there since it was his first time to be in Dalaguete. He appreciated the economic growth of Dalaguete as a first-class municipality and can still see its potentials. Aside from that, he promised to come back someday with his family to explore more of the town.
In the afternoon, member agencies of CV-RSC, were made to explore Dalaguete during the technical assessment of Mt. Talongon, Osmena Peak and the Trading Center at Mantalongon. This is one way of evaluating the tourist sites at the same time appreciating the wonders of the Philippines. Many of them were able to buy fresh vegetables from the Trading Center. They enjoyed fresh air at the top of Osmena Peak and took endless photos at the flower garden.
The CV-RSC, in its expression of gratitude, gave Mayor Cesante a plaque of appreciation in his valuable support and cooperation that made the conduct of the 29th National Statistics Month opening ceremony an overwhelming success.
The annual celebration of National Statistics Month is pursuant to Presidential Proclamation No. 647, “Declaring the Month of October of Every Year as the National Statistics Month.” The NSM aims to: (a) promote, enhance and instill awareness and appreciation on the importance and value of statistics to the different sectors of the society; and (b) elicit the cooperation and support of the general public in upgrading the quality and standards of statistics in the country.
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 2018-NA07-022.pdf |
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