“We are getting a Department of Tourism Office in Negros Occidental,” Bacolod Rep. Evelio Leonardia said yesterday after the committee hearing that deliberated on his House Bill 4702.

The bill seeks to create a Negros Island Tourism Office that will coordinate the tourism efforts of the two provinces in the island. After due deliberation, the Congressional Committee on Tourism that discussed the bill approved a Negros Occidental office, instead of an island-wide one, Leonardia said, a press release from his office said.

He said Committee Chairman Rene Relampagos of Bohol and Rep. Gwen Garcia of Cebu had suggested that, since the Negros Island Region is still in the works, it would be more appropriate and practical to settle for a Negros Occidental office meanwhile.

Leonardia said he saw the wisdom in the recommendation because, for one, it will be faster to pass this through the legislative mill, the area could have that island-wide office in due time.

And it will still work towards promoting the one-island region tourism, Leonardia said. “It is still a foot in the door, so to speak,” but added, “We still continue to lobby for the one-island region.”

“No man is an island, it is true, “Leonardia told the committee hearing, “but Negros is an island that can stand on its own."

A locally-based DOT office will accelerate tourism regulation, development and promotion, Leonardia said, and will report to the regional and national Department of Tourism, instead of the local governments that have their own tourism offices.

“The establishment of a DOT office will also be a recognition of our vast tourism potentials because, at present, only Boracay, aside from the regional office, has a DOT field office,” Leonardia said.

Before he joined politics, Leonardia was Negros Occidental provincial tourism executive of the DOT.*

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