Gov. Alfredo Marañon yesterday highlighted  the campaign of  Negros Occidental  to go organic in his presentation on the  annual Panaad sa Negros Festival before a panel of judges tapped to choose the best tourism-oriented local government units and best tourism event in 2013, at the Diliman Preparatory School, in Quezon City.

Marañon said the two-decades old Panaad is a potent vehicle to promote the province's food security programs centered on organic agriculture, a Capitol press release said.

Negros Occidental, Davao, Capiz and Laguna, were  nominated for the Best Tourism-oriented LGU in the provincial category of the Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines Pearl Awards that will culminate on October in Legaspi City, Albay.

The annual summer festivities, Panaad, which had its maiden staging in 1993, was also nominated in the Best Tourism Event category with Albay's Magayon,  presented by Gov. Joey Salceda,  and Laguna's La Laguna Festival with Gov. ER Ejercito taking the cudgels for his province's campaign, the press release said.

The judges were Ivan Henares, a professor at the University of the Philippines Asian Institute of Tourism; Ellen Fullido, vice president for administration and human resource of the Manila Broadcasting Center; Francis Gentoral, program director of the LGSP-LED, and Anabelle Tario, athlete and coach of the world champion Philippine Dragon Boat Team.

Marañon was joined by Provincial Planning and Development Office head Marlin Sanogal, Tourism Operations Center chief Christine Mansinares and Karen Dinsay, the press release said.

Former Senator Anna Dominique "Nikki" Coseteng, whose family owns the DPS, that  hosted the ATOP 2013 Pear Awards Defense Sessions, rallied governors and mayors of nominated LGUs to level up in their respective tourism promotions campaigns and find new avenues to promote the Philippines such in the area of space tourism.

Coseteng, who also has roots in Negros Occidental, promised Maranon that she will bring to the province one of DPS' travelling space station/planetarium so that local students would be able to enjoy the wonders of Earth Science through its facilities, the press release said.

 Adlaw sa Suba and Sinigayan Festival of Sagay City  are also short-listed in the Best Tourism Event city category together with Silay City's  Hugyaw Silay and Christmas Village.

Silay City was also in the run for Best Tourism Officer honors as well as Best Tourism Week celebration and Best Tourism-Oriented LGU city level.

 Winners in the various competition categories will be awarded on Oct. 4, Mansinares said, the press release added.*

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