Soon, “Bukidnon Dairy”, a carabao-based products outlet of the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Carabao Center at Central Mindanao University (DA-PCC@CMU), which was previously named Buffalo’s Milk Sales Outlet, will be an accredited tourism spot in Maramag, Bukidnon upon compliance to accreditation standards of the regional Department of Tourism (DOT).
This was following a “Tourism Awareness and Stakeholder’s Forum on Department of Tourism’s Proper Accreditation” at The Margarette Business Hotel, Maramag, Bukidnon last March 3.
Said forum aims to prepare the tourism and business establishments about the salient features and the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of RA 9593 or The Tourism Act of 2009 including matters pertaining to business licensing procedures.
”Bukidnon Dairy”, recognized as one of the tourist destinations in Northern Mindanao, was renamed as such and launched on September 14, 2019 during the celebration of the 5th National Carabao Conference hosted by DA-PCC@CMU and co-hosted by the Central Mindanao University.
DA-PCC@CMU Center Director Dr. Lowell Paraguas sets his hopes high that the outlet will pass accreditation standards to gain advantage on mainstreaming its products.
“Getting a DOT accreditation will further improve our products and service delivery to delight our customers coming from different places,” Dr. Paraguas said.
In the forum, it was mentioned that establishments accredited by DOT as tourism site will be prioritized on DOT training programs, issued a certification and DOT identification card for bonafide employees and included in the bi-annual publication of all accredited tourism establishments and frontliners for Region X.
The Municipality of Maramag is dubbed as the “Tourism Highway of Northern Mindanao”.
This, according to Oscar Navacilla, public information officer, benefits nearby provinces both economically and socially.
Thus, Maramag Mayor Jose Joel Doromal said potential tourism sites should get ready and upgrade their service delivery in preparation for the influx of more visitors once they get DOT accreditation.
Beverly Tagpongot, tourism operations officer II of DOT-Region X, said getting certified by the DOT means compliance to the minimum standards to operate a tourism facility.
Tagpongot shared that the DOT’s goal is to develop an environmentally and socially responsible tourism industry that delivers more widely distributed income and employment opportunities.
Meanwhile, Rico Libre, tourism operations officer II of DOT-Region X, said the Province of Bukidnon’s Tourism Program is categorized into the following types: Recreational, Cultural, Religious/Faith, Medical/Health, Adventure, and Farm.
