ILOILO CITY, March 11 (PNA) — The province of Antique is appealing to the Department of Tourism (DOT) to be given the chance to show-off its natural and man-made tourism attractions which for several years remained in oblivion.
“Kami naman,” cries newly installed Antique Governor Rhodora Cadiao during the first anniversary celebration of “Experience Western Visayas First” held in this city by the Department of Tourism Region 6 over the weekend.
The program was participated in by six provinces and two highly urbanized cities of the region in reporting the tourism updates and new products to entice tourists to come.
Cadiao said her province has many things and tourism attractions they are proud of but due to years of neglect, these attractions failed to draw interest and appreciation. “Kami naman,” she said, reiterating her call to the DOT and other agencies to help her province.
Antique is considered a poor province but the lady governor said they are not poor literally but only lack the support and appreciation they deserved for several years. While other provinces and cities in the region are racing to the top, Antique is at the bottom waiting for helping hands to pull it up.
“We are proud of our natural attractions, our Binirayan festival and other municipal festivals. We are proud of our history, culture and heritage. We are proud of our people and their achievements in history. But we also need the chance to show-off what we have and we need you to help us get that chance of a lifetime,” Cadiao said.
The lady governor was the vice governor of the province until the Commission on Elections last month shoved out incumbent governor Exequiel Javier for his infractions of law committed during the election period in 2013.
But Cadiao said that setting aside politics, now is the correct time to rebuild Antique and tourism is an important earner for the province if given another crack in the tourism industry.
The DOT on the other hand, is studying several projects under the Experience Western Visayas First campaign implemented to enhance and boost the tourism industry of the region including the province of Antique. (PNA)