DOT-W. Visayas honors 126 tourism stakeholders

By Mariela Angella Oladive

A total of 126 tourism stakeholders across Western Visayas were recognized during Pagdayaw 2025: The 3rd Western Visayas Tourism Awards held by the Department of Tourism Region VI on March 5.

The recognition program honored local government units, tourism enterprises, media partners, and industry stakeholders that helped strengthen tourism development in the region for calendar year 2024.

Of the total awardees, 110 were pre-determined honorees across various categories, while 16 winners were selected through a nomination-based process that recognized outstanding initiatives and leadership in the tourism sector.

Among the pre-determined awardees was Daily Guardian, which was cited under the category “Media Partners in the Promotion and Development of Regional Tourism.”

With the theme “Tourism and Sustainable Transformation,” the ceremony highlighted the role of collaboration, innovation, and responsible governance in advancing sustainable and resilient tourism development in Western Visayas.

The nomination-based awards covered several categories, including Tourism Champion on Gender Mainstreaming, Top MICE Destination, Tourism Champion on Product Development, Tourism Champion on Promotion of Multidimensional Tourism Product, Western Visayas Outstanding LGU in Accreditation Implementation and Sustainability, Best Tourism-Oriented LGU: Excellence in Tourism Governance and Development in the province, city, and municipal categories, and Outstanding Stakeholder Association for Tourism Sustainability Excellence.

DOT-6 Regional Director Crisanta Marlene P. Rodriguez said the awards program aims to honor institutions and individuals whose commitment continues to elevate the region’s tourism sector.

“Pagdayaw, true to its name, is our way of giving honor where it is due. It expresses our deepest appreciation to those whose consistent support and excellence have strengthened Western Visayas as a vibrant, competitive, and responsible tourism region,” Rodriguez said.

Now on its third year, the Pagdayaw awards program has become DOT Region VI’s platform for recognizing key tourism players and partners across Western Visayas.