Mayor Agatha Paula “Agay” Cruz of Guiguinto, Bulacan recently met with Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco at the Department of Tourism (DOT) in Makati City.
The officials threshed out potential areas for collaboration, including assistance that the DOT, through its infrastructure arm, the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), can provide, such as capacity building and guidance on enhancing tourism plans to incorporate important tourist touchpoints, ensuring a positive experience for visitors.
“The annual Halamanan Festival promotes community engagement through competitions, parades, and exhibitions featuring garden-themed installations and activities.”
Cruz provided updates on the various initiatives in place to boost local tourism towards the Municipality’s goal of becoming the “Garden Capital of the Philippines,” highlighting the annual Halamanan Festival, which celebrates local horticultural achievements and promotes community engagement through competitions, parades, and exhibitions featuring garden-themed installations and activities.
“We plan to develop a Garden Showcase Area—a two-hectare site designed to become a new tourist attraction.”
The lady mayor also explained the plan to develop a Garden Showcase Area—a two-hectare site designed to become a new tourist attraction and envisioned to have spaces for local growers, a souvenir shop, and a gazebo for community gatherings, and a central hub for ornamental plants, landscaping services, among others.
This initiative is an offshoot of the Innovative Tissue Culture Laboratory (iLAB), a collaborative project initiated by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the local government unit in 2021 under the leadership of former Guiguinto Mayor and current 5th District Representative of Bulacan, Ambrosio “Boy” C. Cruz, Jr. The iLAB serves as a modern facility for propagating and studying various plant species.
Rex Mangalindan, CPAO of the Office of Rep. Cruz, Jr., and DOT officials Undersecretary Ferdinand Jumapao, Director Glenn Albert Ocampo, and Head Executive Assistant Frances Jan Villarino were also present during the meeting.
