Negros Occidental bagged nine national tourism awards during the 10 th Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines National Convention Best Tourism Practices Awards Night in General Santos City Saturday.

The province was awarded the Best Tourism Week trophy. This is the third time the same award was given to Negros Occidental, provincial tourism officer Jennylind Cordero said yesterday.

The award of Most Outstanding Tourism Officer of the Philippines was given to Ver Pacete, tourism officer of Silay City , president of the Association of Tourism Officers of Negros Occidental, the press release added.

The event was sponsored by the ATOP and the Department of Tourism.

Secretary Joseph “Ace” Durano and Roselin Merlin, ATOP national president, presided over the awarding.

Negros Occidental received eight other awards – Best Tourism Officers' Club of the Philippines – ATONO; Best Provincial Tourism Week Celebration; Best Tourism Week Celebration – Escalante City Tourism Week (city category); First Runner-up Best Tourism Week, Sipalay City (city category); Best Tourism Event (cultural category), Sigabong Sang Kanyon Festival of Bago City; Best Tourism Event (festival category), Hugyaw Kansilay Festival of Silay City; and the Province of Negros Occidental has been recognized as “One of the Fifteen Tourism Friendly LGU's in the country,” the press release said.

Gov. Isidro Zayco said that he is extremely happy because of the best efforts of Negros Occidental Tourism Officers spearheaded by the Provincial Tourism Office and the ATONO.

The Negros Occidental delegation was composed of tourism officers from Sipalay, San Carlos, Silay, Sagay, Escalante, La Castellana, the Negros Occidental Tourism Office staff , PIO and Public Affairs Office staff with acting PPDO head Marlin Sanogal.*

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