CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA)--The Department of Tourism (DOT) continues to engage in programs to transform the country into a tourism powerhouse in Asia.

DOT Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco said they have commenced the rollout of the Philippine Experience program that supports the preservation of the country's artistic resources and cultural heritage.

"In order to ensure that we give equal opportunities to tourism development and anchor the success of the Philippine tourism on the strength of our heritage and our culture, gisugdan na nato ang (we have started the) Philippine Experience,” she announced during the 3rd NorthMin Dive Festival and MisOr Dive Festival celebration held in Gingood City, Misamis Oriental province.

Frasco said the Philippine Experience is a heritage, culture and arts caravan that seeks to give opportunities for tourists to visit not only key tourist destinations but also lesser-known destinations to experience their festivals, food, and local products.

Accordingly, the Philippine Experience also includes immersion with the local communities to experience the culture, heritage and arts, and gastronomy unique to each place. 

“And we are taking this caravan all over the Philippines,” added Frasco, emphasizing that the National Tourism Development Plan recently approved by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. envisions a Philippine tourism industry that is anchored in the rich and diverse Filipino culture, heritage, and identity while taking into account sustainability and resiliency.

The tourism secretary also said they launched the hop-on-hop-off bus tours so that tourists can discover heritage sites in Manila.

“To ensure that we bring the Philippines shoulder to shoulder with other key cities all over the world, we have introduced the very first Philippines hop-on-hop-off bus tours with the convenience of a mobile application in your cellphone where you can purchase a ticket that will allow you to ride the hop-on-hop-off bus tours and enjoy the many sites of Metro Manila and discover our heritage in these areas. It is an effort that we hope we would be able to replicate in other key cities in the Philippines,” she said.

Before attending the dive festival celebration, Frasco visited the Lagbas Ancestral House situated at the heart of Sugbongcogon town. Made out of "Tugas or Molave wood, it was said that the ancestral house was used as refuge/shelter during World War II. It was also used as a temporary school for the students when the schools were destroyed during the war. (APB/PIA-10)