Mayors: Suroy-Suroy spurs local economies

ASIDE from promoting countryside tourism, some mayors in northern Cebu see the Provincial Government’s Suroy-Suroy Sugbo as an opportunity to boost their local economies.

The three-day activity kicked off at Cansaga Bay in Consolacion town on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2020. It will end on Friday, Jan. 24.

Consolacion Mayor Joannes Alegado said it was a privilege to open the first Suroy-Suroy Sugbo of the year and to welcome the nearly 300 participants to the Northern Escapade trail.

He believes that the Capitol’s tourism program can bring the name of the northern Cebu towns to the world.

“We could be welcoming more interested investors if they see the potential in our town. The opportunity is endless; the possibilities are infinite,” Alegado said.

Consolacion, said Alegado, is an ideal place to live and do business in as the town is accessible to seaports and the Mactan-Cebu International Airport in Lapu-Lapu City. It is also gearing toward cityhood.

Approximately 43.9 kilometers from Cansaga Bay, Carmen town could be developed into a foremost tourist destination in Cebu, said Mayor Carlo Villamor.

“Suroy-Suroy Sugbo is a big help to Carmen. As you can see, we have a lot of mountain resorts to offer. We also have religious tourism with our monasteries and the Cebu Safari, of course,” he said.

Villamor said boosting the town’s tourism could also give livelihood opportunities to his constituents. Among the locals in Carmen who are looking forward to livelihood growth brought about by the Suroy-Suroy Sugbo is abaca weaver Ade Batikin, 59.

Batikin, who hails from the mountain barangay of Ipil, said being able to showcase her village’s local products through the activity could help bring in more customers for her and her fellow weavers.

“I’ve been weaving since I was 14, and this livelihood helped me send my kids to school. Most of my customers are Asian tourists. And now that these new tourists have seen our sinamay products, I hope they will return and explore our town,” she said in Cebuano.

The abaca Batikin wove was made into hats that were given as tokens to the participants.

Aside from Consolacion and Carmen, other participating local government units (LGU) are Sogod, Daanbantayan, Medellin, San Remigio, Sta. Fe, Madridejos and Bantayan.

Also joining are the City of Bogo, and the towns of Tabogon, Borbon, Catmon and Liloan.

An LGU is given an hour to showcase its products and culture to the participants. (RTF)

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