TOURISMExisting Situation:Dumangas has a rich cultural and historical heritage and in fact the first stone church in Iloilo was constructed in Araut presently known as the Ermita Shrine declared by the National Historical Institute as a Historical Landmark and has a significant contribution in religion, commerce, agriculture and fisheries in the entire Province of Iloilo.Presently, the Municipality of Dumangas has put significance in Cultural, Historical, Arts and Tourism program and projects, among these are the institutionalization of the annual Cultural and Historical Week and Haw-as Festival which coincide with the Cry for Freedom and Liberty on October 28 and the celebration of the Birth Anniversary of Col. Quintin Salas, our local hero, on October 31.This milestone in the cultural heritage of our town establish the personality of a Dumangasanon which has their own identity through the preservation of our history as a people thereby encouraging the young generation to understand fully of who they are and encourage their potentials to develop their God-given talents in the form of arts and cultural activities as a way of self-expression.These craft were given opportunity during the annual Agro-Industrial, Cultural Fair and Sports Festival otherwise known as the Dumangas Town Fiesta which showcase the local produce or products, skills in arts and sports and cultural presentations/competition in which Dumangsanon around the country and world known as balikbayan were reunited with their folks, families and friends to commemorate the past and celebrate the present once accomplishment and achievement.Tourism is one of the tools to promote our town as an alternate destination for tourists and visitors in that way we can boost the local economy through the creation of an alternative source of income and livelihood as well as employment.Presently, Dumangas has a great opportunity particularly in Eco-Tourism, considering that we have a vast natural resources, protective areas and marine sanctuary among others and if develop can be a potential tourism attraction in the future.Limited attraction are available typically historical in nature, that is the Ermita Shrine and the Dumangas Catholic Church, the Rizal Monument which is considered one of the most beautiful Rizal Monument in the Region and the Quintin Salas Monument.There are existing facilities in the locality that can cater to the needs of tourists and visitors. However, it is privately owned and man-made mostly coastal restaurants that offers the freshest aqua-marine products in Iloilo and an inland resorts, the IJT Katamnan, which can cater to transient visitors which can offer board, lodging and other amenities for the convenience of there guests.In summary, there is a need to invest in potential tourism activities, facilities and program to develop the possibility of Dumangas as an alternative tourism destination in the Province of Iloilo in even the whole region.Issues and Concerns:Despite the efforts of some quarters to improve the potentials of our town in Cultural, Historical, Arts and Tourism facilities and activities there is a need for a concerted efforts of the Local Government unit to establish linkages and networking to stakeholders and investors particularly our kasimanwa here or abroad to tap whatever resources that can promote and improve our tourism activities and facilities.Economically, tourism activities can foster the livelihood and derive the income of our people in particular and the town in general, thus there is a need to maximize the available resources available in our town. Thus there is a need to intensify the One-Town, One Product scheme and localize further the production of other products in the One-District, One Product, in order to achieve this, financial and technical support must be provided to stakeholders through the support of other agencies particularly the TESDA, DOST, DTI and NGOs, among others.Tourism forecasting and mapping is an essential aspect to attain a Comprehensive Tourism Plan in order to foresee what matter most in the funding scheme of the Local Government in the potential tourism facilities and activities to be effective there is a need to establish a Tourism Promotion Center with assigned personnel/staff to handle solely the operation, management and implementation of the Comprehensive Tourism Plan.Tourism Analysis MatrixTechnical Findings/StrategiesImplications (Effects)Policy Option/Interventions

Intensify Production of One-Town-One-Product (OTOP)Generate Livelihood, Job and Income CreationIncrease Financial Capacity

Download Capitalization to Local Entrepreneurs to engage in tourism related activitiesIncrease Financial CapacityFinancial Empowerment and Capability Building through Livelihood Assistance

Provide Technical Education to Improve Services and Management of Tourism BusinessAwareness and CompetitivenessIncrease Knowledge and Education

Establish Tourism Promotion Office with Assigned PersonnelCentralize the Tourism Operation and ActivityGive Focus to Tourism Related Activities and Intensify Promotion Campaign

Encourage the Establishment of Foundation or Organization which and can Promote TourismNetworking with Support GroupIncrease Linkages, Involvement and Participation

Organize Dumangas Artist Guild and Performing ArtsProvide Venue to Develop Local Talents/ArtistsDevelop the Potentials and Talent

Put-up Local Archives or MuseumData Gathering and Preservation of Local ArtifactsCreate Awareness and Information of Cultural and Historical Heritage

Increasing Pollution of BeachesDecrease in Tourist AttractionStrict Implementation and Monitoring of Pollution Control Measures (Solid Waste Mngt.)

Increasing Cases of Prostitution (Videoke Bars and Inns)Moral Corruption and Crimes Committed Against YouthIncrease Education and AwarenessIncrease Police Visibility and Anti-Crime Operation

Develop/Improve the Socio-Cultural and Recreational Center (Gym at the back of the DES)Venue for Social, Cultural and Recreational ActivitiesIncrease Awareness and Involvement to Various Socio-Cultural and Recreational ActivitiesMinimize Crimes particularly the Youth

Build Convention Center with Function RoomsVenue for Seminars, Trainings, Meetings, Conferences and even ConventionsMinimize rental expensesDevelop Amenities and Venue for Activities

Open possibilities for Eco-Adventure TourismCreate Awareness in the Preservation of Natural Resources and Appreciation of the Beauty of NatureIncrease Mangroves and Tree Planting Activities, coastal Clean-up and Intensify the Program Buhayin ang Ilog DumangasProvide Bird Sanctuary and/or Animal Preservation Area

Programs and Projects: Establish a Tourism Promotion Office with modern facilities and permanent personnel Establish Official Website and Intensify Tourism Promotion Campaign in the Internet and other media outlet Conduct of Annual Tourism Conference Operation of Information and Pasalubong Center Poblacion and Dumangas Port Organize the Dumangas Artists Guild for Performing Arts (DAGPA) Intensify the One-Town, One-Product (OTOP) production and Construction of a Municipal Processing Center Production of Locally Made Products (One-District, One-Product Concept) and Extension of Livelihood Assistance, e.g. shell craft, handicraft, food processing, woodcraft, other cottage industries, in close coordination with TESDA, DOST, DTI, DepEd and NGOs Provide technical education and improve services and management of tourism business Arts Exhibit/Competition and strengthen the Agro-Industrial Fair Construct Municipal Convention and Training Center with Function Rooms Accreditation of Mini Hotel or Lodging Houses for transient visitors Mandating all resorts, restaurants and lodging houses to register all guests and visitors Improvement and Accreditation of Coastal Beach Restaurant and cottages with strict registration of guests/visitors Beautification Drive in major streets going to the Poblacion Encourage investor/entrepreneur to engage in tourism related activities and facilities Hold annual eco/adventure tourism event e.g. mountain biking, jetski, baroto race, hiking and camping, mangrove exploration, firing competition, etc. Promote recreational activities e.g. Kite Flying, camp survivor, Work-arts summit (Sculpture, Clay Art Making, Wood Carving, T-shirt Printing, etc.) Institutionalize the Search for Outstanding Dumangasanon (Pasidungog) Establishment of Museum and Historical Archives Conversion and enhancement of the Covered Gym (back of DES) into the Socio-Cultural, Recreational and Sports Center Encourage the establishment of foundation/organization which and can promote tourism and/or linkages to existing NGOs/association/organization Development and enhancement of the Town Plaza as Tourist AttractionTable 85. Inventory of Tourism Establishments, Year 2012Location (barangay)Name of EstablishmentArea (hectares)Type of AttractionFacilitiesOwnership

PulaoJardinErmitaSapaoSapaoErmitaBantud FabricaErmitaErmitaKatamnan Inland ResortNokies Pension HouseCoastal RestaurantVilla Rosario Beach ResortLevis Beach ResortPrincess Ciara Coastal RestaurantSiete Pecados RestaurantJoy-Joys RestaurantPiads Restaurant12 has.1.5 has.1 has.1 has.1 has..5 has..5 has..5 has.Natural and Man-MadeMan-MadeMan-MadeMan-MadeMan-MadeMan-MadeMan-MadeMan-MadeMan-MadeSwimming Pool, Kiddies Pool, Rock Climbing, Mango Picking, Billiards, Function Rooms, Cottages, Camping Area, Training Rooms, Pavilion, Videoke, Aircon Rooms, Dormitories, Parking AreaAircon Rooms, Canteen, Parking AreaRestaurantRestaurant, Cottages, Beach Volleyball, Rooms, Training Hall, Videoke Hall, Shower Area, Parking Area, Cooking AreaCottages, Videoke Hall, Parking Area, Sari-Sari Store, RestaurantRestaurant, Parking AreaRestaurantRestaurantRestaurantPrivatePrivateLGU-PrivatePrivatePrivatePrivatePrivatePrivatePrivate

Source: Municipal Tourism Council, 2012Table 86. Accessibility of Existing Tourism Establishment and Tourist Attraction, Year 2012Name of Tourism EstablishmentMeans of Transportation AvailableDistance from Nearest Airport (km)Distance from Nearest Seaport (km)Distance from National Highway (km)Access RoadAccessibility

PavementCondition

Ermita ShrineCatholic ChurchRizal MonumentKatamnan Inland ResortNokies Pension HouseCoastal RestaurantVilla Rosario Beach ResortLevis Beach ResortPrincess Ciara RestaurantSiete Pecados RestaurantJoy-Joys RestaurantPiads RestaurantLandLandLandLandLandLandLandLandLandLandLandLand3032322833273030272626266881064.5.54555211320.550000UnpavedPavedPavedPavedPavedPavedUnpavedUnpavedPavedPavedPavedPavedFairGoodGoodFairGoodGoodFairFairGoodGoodGoodGoodAll year roundAll year roundAll year roundAll year roundAll year roundAll year roundAll year roundAll year roundAll year roundAll year roundAll year roundAll year round

Source: Municipal Tourism Council, 2012Aquaculture like fish farming is accessible, profitable, and attainable in Dumangas, Iloilo. Being the most prominent and fastest livelihood form in the province, it is widely practiced by rice farmers as it cannot be denied that it is the main source of their income to help improve their families' living condition. Therefore, the annual Haw-as Festival is a form of thanksgiving for a plentiful fish harvest in the municipality of Dumangas and is the perfect time for people to commemorate the said abundance through music and entertainment. The iconic 'bangus' acts as symbol of the fiesta due to the fact that it is the municipality's number one delicacy.

Since its humble beginnings, the festival has become a piece of the local tourist calendar and aided in sustaining Dumangas economy. It is a unique pride that gives fun and amusement to both locals and foreign visitors likewise.

Location:IloiloVenue:Dumangas, IloiloDate:From October 26, 2014 to October 29, 2014Time:6:00 amEvent Website:www.picocent.com