Matugas gave an additional P200,000 from his provincial development assistance program (PDAF) for the big event.

The solon met Tuesday with Siargao Island’s nine mayors and ranking officials of government agencies involved in the tournament, such as the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and Department of Tourism (DoT).

Aside from several activities during the four day fishing competition,

A “Miss Siargao” contest, in the charge of Dapa Mayor Peter Ruaya is expected to add color to the four-day festivities.

The tournament to is the first of its kind in the southern island and President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, a surfing dilettante, is the scheduled guest of honor and speaker at the opening ceremonies at the Magpopongko Beach.

Among the entries are those from Australia, United States of America, Hongkong, Japan, Malaysia, Korea and Indonesia, and other neighboring Asian countries.

Matugas added that three of the country’s national and prestigious game fishing clubs, the Philippine Game Fishing Foundation, the Philippine Sports Fishing Club and the Silver Jack Fishing Club of Manila, have also confirmed participation.

Meanwhile, in an effort to make other tourist destinations accessible in this so called “Siargao Island of Paradise”, where the famous surfing sports haven is also located, the DPWH is also fast-tracking several multi-million infrastructure projects in the island.

Concurrently, Ratugas said the DPWH regional and provincial district engineering offices and local government units (LGUs)are cementing the P130-million Dapa-Del Pilar section of the highway.

Construction and improvement of the P140-million airport’ terminal, runway extension, parking area, fencing and ATO offices is ongoing while a P70-million bridges in General Luna is alo under construction.

In an interview conducted recently, Sec. Durano said that tourists are now looking for another attraction and experience while they are in Siargao for surfing. “With this development, DOT finds “Magpupungko” lagoon a perfect place to develop”, Durano said.

To date, Sec. Durano said DOT has allocated around P1.6 million as a share to the municipal government in developing access roads and basic facilities around the lagoon area.

Sec. Durano added that DOT’s share was already given to the municipal government of Pilar for them to implement the project as soon as possible. Durano also said that he has already signed the memorandum of agreement which means that the project will be realized soon through the local government unit of Pilar as the implementing body.

Meanwhile, Sec. Durano also announced that the Agusan River Cruise Development project for this city has been approved and assured that before this year ends, the said project will be materialized and will draw local and foreign tourists to visit the city. “Here in Butuan City, the Agusan River Cruise Development project has been already approved and expect that before 2008 ends, local and foreign tourists will be coming over to experience river cruising”, he said.

True to his commitment to give additional tourism development in the region, Sec. Durano is optimistic that with the efforts of the national government in strengthening tourism, the country’s economy will continue to soar high.

Photo Credits : Kage Gozun

The campaign of the Department of Tourism (DoT) to make the country a premier surfing destination is beginning to get recognition. With a coastline twice as long as the United States, the Philippines is slowly but surely securing a place in the surfing world.

In cooperation with Department of Tourism, Onboard Philippines hopes to grow the local surfing industry, explore the numerous opportunities that it presents for Philippine tourism as well as empower and support the country’s growing community of local surfers, says Freddy Gonzalez of Aloha Board Sports Inc.

“With each discovery, however, one realizes that we have barely plumbed the extraordinary depths of our country’s surf culture –a facet of the Philippines that can potentially secure our place on the international tourism map,” he adds.

Gonzalez, along with the Aloha Boardsports Surf Team, plans to surf across the country’s most notable surfing destinations, which include Badoc Island in Ilocos Norte, Baler in Aurora, Catanduanes, Daet in Camarinas Norte, La Union, Pagudpud, Samar, Siargao Island, Cabugao in Ilocos Sur and Zambales.

These are only a few examples of the country’s notable surf-spots, where tales of monster swells and majestic waves are the primary lure.

The campaign will be supported by DoT Secretary Ace Durano, also an honorary Aloha Boardsports Surf Team member.

The move hopes to explore the country’s top tourism and surfing destination.

Flanked by beach-breaks powered by a living and breathing ocean, it was only a matter of time before the Philippines left its legendary mark on international surf-lore.

This is a whole new tourism wave that will bring a different segment of tourists to Philippine shores, Gonzales says.

The Philippines is already a unique tourist destination unto itself surfing is an opportunity to broaden its inherent potential to be recognized by a rising new global tourism sub-culture,” he adds.

Surigao del Norte – For the second time around, the contingent from the Municipality of Bacuag, Surigao del Norte, was declared the grand champion in the Bonok-Bonok Maradjaw Karadjaw Festival 2007 held on September 10 at the City Hall grounds in Surigao City.

This after Bacuag out-smarted the other six contingents coming from Butuan City, Surigao del Norte National High School (SNNHS), Province of Misamis Oriental, Surigao City Pilot School (SCPS), Cabadbaran City and Municipality of Jabonga, by showcasing the Inuwak Festival, Bacuag’s famous local festival.

The Bacuag contingent was led by mayor, Sheila Mae Orquina-Cebedo, who also participated as one of the tribal dancers. Orquina-Cebedo also joined in the Bonok-Bonok Maradjaw Karadjaw Festival 2006, where Bacuag likewise emerged as the grand champion. The contingent received P200,000 in cash and a trophy from the Bonok-Bonok Culture and Arts Association Inc., the organizer of the annual Bonok-Bonok festival. Besides the major prize, Bacuag also received the Best in Coreography and Best in Costumes and Props awards, giving the contingent additional P10,000 in cash prize and a trophy in each special award.

Robert Lyndon S. Barbers, the chairman of the Bonok-Bonok Culture and Arts Association Inc., also announced during the awarding of the winners that the prizes for next year’s Bonok-Bonok festival will still be the same, but if Bacuag still arise as the grand champion, a “Hall of Fame” award will be given to the contingent including a P100,000 cash. Once Bacuag attains this, the contingent will be barred from joining future Bonok-Bonok competitions.

Other winners in the competition are the SNNHS as the first placer, receiving P150,000 in cash and a trophy; Municipality of Jabonga (Sumayajaw Festival) as the second placer, receiving P100,000 in cash and a trophy; and SCPS as the third placer, receiving P75,000 in cash and a trophy. Jabonga was also awarded the Best in Musicality for exhibiting the best beat against other performances, giving the contingent an additional P10,000 and a trophy.

The Bonok-Bonok Maradjaw Karadjaw Festival is an annual event held in Surigao City in honor of the city’s patron saint, Sr. San Nicolas de Tolentino. It is usually described as a convergence of regional festivals, as contingents are coming from different parts of the country representing their own local festivals. Previous competitions include street-dancing and a grand showdown held at the Surigao del Norte Provincial Grand Stand. But due to the Grand Stand’s reconstruction, the Bonok-Bonok Culture and Arts Association Inc. proclaimed different changes in the festival, making this year’s competition as a street-dancing with stationary dances performed at strategic locations around the city.

The Bonok-Bonok Maradjaw Karadjaw Festival 2007 was presented by the City Government of Surigao, led by Hon. Alfonso S. Casurra, mayor of Surigao City; the Provincial Government of Surigao del Norte, led by Hon. Robert Ace S. Barbers, governor of Surigao del Norte; the Surigao City Tourism Council; and the Surigao del Norte Provincial Tourism Office. It was sponsored by Coca-Cola, San Miguel Corp., Asian Spirit Airlines and Smart Communications. (PIA Surigao del Norte) Photo Credits : http://www.surigaocity.gov.ph/

This was learned from Miro Ajoc, coordinator of the Sohoton Cove located in the northern part of Siargao Islands and Bukas Grande during the visit of the first inter-regional caravan team recently.

According to Ajoc, Sohoton Cove is one of the hidden treasures of Caraga Region and has been declared protected area because of its uniqueness having rare species of flora and fauna as well as the marine lives present in the area.

The landscapes and seascape of the island is considered a surfer’s paradise with extensive system of old-growth mangrove forest and rich marine reserves.

Ajoc added that aside from the Siargao and Bukas Grande Islands, Agusan Marsh in Agusan del Sur was also declared protected because it is a sanctuary for wildlife. It is the most biologically diverse marshland in the country, where more than 200 species of birds from neighboring countries like Japan and China, and even as far as Russia spend during the winter months.

Other protected areas in the country are the Batanes Protected Landscapes and Seascapes, Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park, Subic-Bataan Natural Park, Apo Reef Natural Park, Mount Kanlaon Natural Park, Mount Kitanglad Range Natural Park, Mount Apo Natural Park, and Turtle Islands Wildlife Sanctuary.

Located at the northernmost part of the Philippines, Batanes Protected Landscapes and Seascapes is composed of scenic islands and beautiful seascapes inhabited by the indigenous Ivatans peoples. It has a high level of floral endemicity and is a major flyway for migratory birds from northern Asia.

The largest and most important protected area in the country in terms of biodiversity is the Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park. It is the home to 12 of habitat types and 40 species of wildlife (most of them endemic) included in the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) list of globally threatened species.

The Subic-Bataan Natural Park is the major protected area nearest to Manila and a test case to demonstrate how the nation’s economic development can take place successfully alongside the conservation of the country’s last remaining forests.

The Apo Reef Natural Park is the biggest atoll-type reef in the Philippines and a natural haven for marine and bird life, and a variety of endangered plants.

Mount Kanlaon Natural Park in Negros is an active volcano and the tallest peak in the Visayas Group of islands, which is also a microcosm of the fragmented state of Philippine ecosystems.

Another protected area located in the central part of Mindanao is the Mount Kitanglad Range Natural Park. This is the second highest peak in the country and the headwater catchment area for the major rivers of Northern Mindanao and home of the Talaandig, Higaonon, and Bukidnon tribes, as well as the Philippine eagle.

The country’s tallest peak and host to a diverse variety of endemic flora and fauna is the Mount Apo where its Natural Park has been included in the areas that has been protected. Mount Apo is the home to numerous indigenous cultural communities.

Finally, Ajoc said, the Turtle Islands in Tawi-Tawi is considered protected due to its wildlife sanctuary and is the only remaining large marine turtle rookery in Southeast Asia.

With these developments, Ajoc urged the participants to help protect these tourist sites that will serve as income drawers for the country.