• ANDREW ALTAREJOS

The Negros Occidental Tourism Division held its annual Appreciation Night at the Negros Residences in Bacolod City Monday, to show recognition to the different government agencies, tourism partners, and stakeholders for their contribution to the tourism industry.
Provincial Tourism Division head and Supervising Tourism Operations Officer Cheryl Decena thanked the different partners and stakeholders in the tourism industry as well for their continuous effort to promote the province to tourists.
Meanwhile, Department of Tourism Region 6 Chief Tourism Operations Officer for Tourism Regulation Division, Jennylind Cordero was happy to announce an increase in the number of DOT accredited establishments in the province, which shows the commitment of Negros Occidental tourism industry’s stakeholders to help in the promotion to increase tourist arrivals each year.
Also present during the event were Supervising Tourism Operations Officer Tim Ticar, Bacolod Chief Tourism Operations Officer Ma. Teresa Manalili, and Association of Tourism Officers and Workers of Negros Occidental President (ATWoNO) Juanily Pedrosa.
The event was part of the 24th Provincial Tourism Week celebration to recognize the contributions of our local tourism stakeholders and partners in the continuous progress of the tourism industry in the province.


A plaque of appreciation was awarded to its partner schools, namely Carlos Hilado Memorial State University, Colegio San Agustin-Bacolod, La Consolacion College Bacolod, STI-West Negros University, and University of St. La Salle.
Also recognized were the different Provincial offices and government partners were as follows: Provincial Administrator’s Office, Provincial Veterinary Office, Provincial Planning and Development Office, Provincial Environment Management Office, Provincial Accounting Office, Disaster Management Program Division, General Services Office, Information and Communications Technology Division, Public Information Office, Mambukal Resort & Wildlife Sanctuary, Food Terminal Market of Occidental Negros, Negros Residences, and Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office.
Other Tourism stakeholders and partners recognized were Department of Tourism- Region 6, Association of Tour Guides of Negros, Network of Independent Travel Agencies, National Association of Independent Travel Agencies, Negros Island Travel Agencies and Tour Operators Association Inc., Association of Tourism Officers and Workers of Negros Occidental, Ayala Malls Capitol Central, Philippine Life Saving, Philippine Biodiversity Conservation Foundation Inc., Negros Forest Park, Association of Negros Producers, The Negros Museum, Philippine Airlines, Negros Occidental Negros Occidental Historical Council, Negros Occidental Kennel Club Inc., and Team Acids production.
Individual recognition certificates were also presented to Ronnie Baldonado and Rudy Reveche.
The Province of Negros Occidental also presented certificates and tokens to recognize the efforts played by every local government unit through its city and municipal tourism officers in the province which includes Bacolod City.*