DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental, July 24 (PIA) -- Negros Oriental continues to build up its ridge to reef tourism in a bid to spur tourism growth in its three districts.

Governor Manuel “Chaco” Sagarbarria wanted to showcase the ridge for reef tours in the province for the locals as well as the visitors to experience sites in the coastal and mountain tourism destinations.

Sagarbarria, in a Provincial Tourism Council Stakeholders dialogue, said this will be achieved through the close collaboration between local and national government units and the private sector.

“This is also sharing of culture and arts with a progressive infrastructure program in my administration, but I have to make there’s a balance between tourism and environment,” he said.

Provincial Tourism Council Chairperson and Tourism Board Executive Director Woodrow Maquiling Jr., along with tour operators and members of the media, visited different mountain tourism sites in Canlaon City to see the huge potential for premier destinations.

Among these sites are the Rice Terraces in Brgy. Linothangan, the Inayawan and Quipot Falls in Barangays Masulog and Budlasan, respectively, the Padudusan Natural Water Slides in Brgy. Masulog, the centuries-old Balete Tree in Brgy. Ninoy Aquino, and KIRAET in Brgy. Malaiba. 

Canlaon City is also known as the home of Mount Kanlaon, an active stratovolcano that is considered to have the highest point in the Visayas.

The city also boasts of being the vegetable capital of the province, where a wide variety of vegetables are available year-round at an affordable cost.

Canlaon City Mayor Jose Chubasco Cardenas expressed happiness with this new development and optimism that the city will form part of the tourism highlights in the province. 

“As of this time, the only famous tourist attraction in Canlaon City is the Mount Kanlaon Volcano. However, our city still has more than 17 breathtaking tourist destinations to offer to any tourist who would like to enjoy the beauty of nature,” Cardenas said.  

He also thanked the new administration of Sagarbarria and the Tourism Council for their willingness to help develop and market the natural wonders of his locality and for including them as one of the tourism destinations in the tourism programs and activities of the provincial government.

Maquiling said he looks forward to conducting massive tourism promotional campaigns to ensure that Canlaon City becomes one of the leading destinations in the province.

The Tourism Council is also looking into developing “Viaje de Amor” (Journey to the Heart), which will showcase the different tourism destinations in Canlaon City, Vallehermoso, and Guihulngan City in the 1st district to form part of the Northern Negros Oriental Tourism Circuit.

Maquiling said the governor is also looking at sustaining and improving existing tourism spots while developing new ones.

He added that under the Sagarbarria administration, "no (tourism) destination is left behind.” (JCT/PIA7 Negros Oriental with reports from Antoine Duquenne, SU Intern)