DOT sets P1-M prize for best tourism village

BAGUIO CITY -- The Cordillera office of the Dept. of Tourism Cordillera recently launched the Search for Best Tourism Village in the region to enhance growth of the tourism industry amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
    DOT Regional director Jovita Ganongan said that the nomination for the search will be until Dec. 23.
    She said all entries shall be evaluated by the assessment team.
    The competition wants to award villages for embracing tourism that provide opportunities for growth in the countryside, she said.
    The Best Tourism Village will receive P1 million, a trophy and a token.
    The second placer will get P500,000 and the third placer will get P200,000.
    There will be five consolation prices that will receive P100,000 each, Ganongan said.
    The criteria for judging include sustainable management for 25 percent, socioeconomic sustainability for 25 percent, cultural sustainability for 25 percent, and environmental sustainability for 25 percent.
    Ganongan said the competition is open to all tourism villages in Cordillera covering Abra, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, Mountain Province and Apayao.
    The applicants will be evaluated by a screening committee.
    Qualified applicants will be notified by the regional DoT and a team will conduct a physical visit for authentication.
    Application forms for the competition are now available in all provincial and municipal tourism offices.