KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato (PIA) – Tourism leaders, entrepreneurs, environmental advocates, academicians and others, will convene in Koronadal City Friday, September 22, 2023 for the 2023 SOX Regional Summit.
 
“The tourism summit is a gathering of stakeholders, private and public, so that we will know where we are right now and how to move forward so that we’ll be able to enhance, and improve,” Nelia Arina, regional director of the Department of Tourism (DOT) XII said.
 
Meanwhile, Teresita Socorro Ramos, regional director of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) XII said, the event is also an opportunity for everyone to discuss issues and concerns that beset the visitor industry in the region.
 
“It is really our hope that every LGU will be able to identify what infrastructures are needed in each tourism circuit,” Director Ramos said, adding that the LGUs should be able to determine where roads, pit stops, and pasalubong centers may be constructed.
 
Anchored on the theme, “SOX Tourism and Green Investments,”  the 2023 SOX Regional Summit will be keynoted by South Cotabato 2nd District Representative Peter Miguel and DOT Undersecretary Shalimar Hofer Tamano.
 
There will also be breakout sessions that participants can choose to participate in, including: Green Investment Success Story: Green City Action Plan of General Santos City with Gensan City environment officer Allan Marcilla; Linkage of the National Tourism Development Plan 2023-2028 to Local Tourism Development Plan with NTPD consultant Maria Cherry Lyn Rodolfo; Philippine Awards on Tourism with DOT Assistant Secretary Maria Rica Bueno; and SOX Peppers: Green Investment Success Story with SOX Peppers proprietor Josue Carmen Jr.
 
On June 21, 2023, the Regional Development Council XII, by recommendation of the Economic Development Committee XII, passed Resolution No. 82 series of 2023 enjoining all regional line agencies, local government units, and private organizations to support the Regional Tourism Summit.
 
This emanated from Representative Miguel’s suggestion for the SOCCSKSARGEN tourism sector to come up with a consolidated itinerary and travel guides for tourists during the RDC XII Joint Advisory and Executive Committee meeting in February, this year.
 
To prepare and carry out the tourism summit, DOT XII is backed by the regional offices of the National Economic and Development Authority, Department of Agriculture, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Philippine National Police, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Commission on Higher Education, and Philippine Information Agency as well as the local government units  of General Santos City, Koronadal City, Kidapawan City, Tacurong City, Cotabato Province, South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, and Sarangani.
 
Post summit, DOT XII will conduct validation tours for two tourism  circuits: Tausox Tours and Mt. Apo Foot and Climb and Matigol  Falls Tours.  (DED/PIA SOCCSKSARGEN)