GENERAL SANTOS CITY (PIA) -- The Department of Tourism (DOT) XII is set to launch the SOX Moto Adventures (SMA) Festival on November 11-12 at the Robinson's Place here.
During the Kapihan sa PIA Tuesday at the SM City General Santos, DOT XII OIC Regional Director Armin Hautea explained the concept of motourism which aims to help build back Soccsksargen from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hautea said the event will encourage people’s movement, generate economic activities, and promote beautiful sights in Soccsksargen since motoriders post pictures, produce vlogs, and tell something about the areas they’ve been to that were worth seeing and promoting to local and international tourists alike.
"This time during the pandemic napansin natin kahit na may konting mga lockdowns, ang mga motorista natin passion kasi talaga nila ang mag-ikot, nakakarating sila sa mga lugar na hindi nararating, nakita, nadiskubre; na marami pa pala tayong mga tourist resources na dapat nating maipagmalaki at mai-share sa ating mga traveling community," he said.
This is why the DOT XII is eager to push for the SMA Festival topbilled by activities like the motoshow, motoriding involving 750 kilometer endurance fun ride, and the SMA Summit, he added.
Hautea said the biggest and the first-ever moto festival further intends to draw public appreciation for motourism, and for SOX tourism to lead the economic recovery in the region, as he empahasized that the motoride "is not a competition but only a fun ride."
Also present during the Kapihan was Jong Co, the event organizer for endurance fun ride and motoshow, who said that they had screened over 250 riders from Soccsksargen and some areas in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao who will be partaking in the event. He said that they only chose the "best of the best" out of the hundreds online registrants.
Co also said that aside from homegrown riders there have been a number of people from around Mindanao who expressed enthusiasm and interest to participate in the event. But registration, according to him, is now officially closed.
Meanwhile, PMaj. Alexander De Pedro from the Police Regional Office 12 discussed the security plan for the region-wide festival especially for the motoriding, which will set out from Robinsons Place Gensan going around the four provinces-- Sarangani, Sultan Kudarat, North Cotabato, South Cotabato, and back.
"Meron na po tayong security plan dyan, and of course nakalatag na po ‘yan. And, we will be having our final coordination meeting mamaya [Tuesday] pertaining sa ating security measures.
"Matagal na po ito, napagplanuhan na rin po ng ating mga provincial directors at mga chief of police na madadaanan po ng ating rides,” De Pedro said.
Both De Pedro and Co assured the lined-up activities for the festival will be fun and safe for the motoriders, spectators, and visitors since security measures have already been in place. (Harlem Jude Ferolino, PIA SarGen)
