Media Release

DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM
10 October 2016

Stakeholders, DOT boost Bacolod tourism

STAKEHOLDERS are rallying behind the Department of Tourism (DOT)
to boost inclusive tourism in Bacolod City and other localities in the area, in
the spirit of the 37th MassKara Festival graced by President Rodrigo Duterte
recently.
Travel and tour operators, hoteliers, restaurateurs, and community
leaders joined officials of DOT, as well as local government unit officials in
affirming their support for the governments tourism-for-all program
spearheaded by Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo.
During the colorful festivities, the stakeholders pledged not only to
work for the benefit of the poor rural folk but to make tourism more
accessible to persons with disability, handicapped, elderly and pregnant
women.
The consensus dramatizes yet the Filipino resiliency that gave birth to
the MassKara festival almost four decades ago when economic depression hit
the sugar capital of the country, said DOT Asst. Sec. Gwen Cads-Javier.
Javier lauded the local tourism sector, as well as the Bacolod City
Council, for the successful staging of the MassKara festival, which has
become a tourism icon that caters to international and domestic tourists.
The DOT official assured that a wide array of projects will reach
Bacolod City, known as the City of Smiles.
These projects include infrastructure along destination routes,
ecotourism, agri-aqua tourism, adventure, river boat tours and international
cruise tourism in Bacolod, Silay, Talisay and Bago, Javier said.
She also encouraged tourism-related local establishments to get
accreditation by the DOT-Negros Island Region to assure tourists of worldclass standards.
MassKara festival reflects our never-ending spirit of optimism. We
anticipate the festival for more color, pageantry and excitement. The festival
has likewise become an occasion to reminisce and to reunite as a people
here and from other countries, Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Bing Leonardia.
Duterte is the only President ever to grace the spectacular MassKara
opening rites.

I had visited Bacolod when I was mayor of Davao City. I believe

MassKara has evolved into one of the more colorful festivities in the country.
It has its own identity different from other festivals, Duterte said.
CNN has recognized MassKara as One of the 12 Best Things to Do in
the Philippines while National Geographic proclaimed it as One of the 10
Must-Do Festivals for the Month of October in the World.
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