Four Iloilo towns earn honors at 2026 ATOP awards
By Mariela Angella Oladive
ILOILO CITY — Four municipalities in Iloilo received recognition at the 2026 Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines (ATOP) National Tourism Pearl Awards held in Ormoc City, Leyte, on Oct. 21.
Tigbauan, Calinog, Barotac Nuevo and Leganes earned distinctions in various categories covering tourism development, event hosting and cultural preservation.
Tigbauan emerged as the grand winner in the Best International Event Hosting category at the municipal level.
It also placed second runner-up in the Best Tourism-Oriented Local Government Unit category and was named a finalist in the Best Local Events Hosting category.
Calinog, meanwhile, placed second runner-up in the Best Tourism Event – Cultural Category for its Hirinugyaw-Suguidadonay Festival.
Barotac Nuevo secured second runner-up honors in the Best Event Hosting category for hosting the National Vegetable Congress 2025.
Leganes was named a finalist in the Best Tourism Event – Religious Festival category for its Saad Festival.
The awards were presented during the 27th ATOP National Convention, which gathered tourism officers and industry stakeholders from across the country in Ormoc City from Oct. 20 to 22.
The ATOP National Tourism Pearl Awards recognize local government units for outstanding initiatives and practices in tourism development, destination management, cultural preservation and sustainable tourism.
The recognition highlights the four municipalities’ efforts to promote local festivals, preserve cultural traditions and develop tourism programs that showcase their respective communities.
The achievements also reflect the role of local governments, tourism stakeholders and residents in strengthening Iloilo’s tourism sector.
The Iloilo provincial government congratulated the four municipalities, citing their contributions to promoting the province’s cultural heritage and tourism attractions.
It also expressed hope that the recognition would encourage continued collaboration and innovation in developing sustainable tourism opportunities across the province.
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