By: Emme Rose Santiagudo
For the first time, lloilo City is a recipient of the prestigious Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Clean Tourist City Award.
The award is given to the cleanest urban tourism destinations in Southeast Asia.
In a letter addressed to Mayor Jerry Treñas, Department of Tourism (DOT) Office of Tourism Standards and Regulation Director Rebecca Villanueva-Labit informed the mayor that the city is among the three Philippine areas that qualifed for the ASEAN award.
“We are happy to inform that Iloilo City has successfully garnered the number of points to be one of three Philippine winners to receive the award. In behalf of the Department of Tourism, a heartfelt congratulations to you and the people of Iloilo for their contributions in making Iloilo City, a clean, more exciting and fun destination,” the letter said.
The ASEAN Clean Tourist Award is given to cities that have endeavored to beautify public areas, improved the environment and sanitation, enhanced urban spaces and promoted their man-made and natural attractions.
Treñas said he dedicates the prestigious award to the hardworking employees of the city government particularly the workers under the city’s beautification program.
“I am very proud of this. We are very happy and proud of our workers especially na gid sa aton mga nagatinlo sa siyudad, nagapatahom sa siyudad paagi sa aton nga tanom nga ginapananom. We are very happy to have earned one of these awards kay para sa akon ang hard work sang aton mga tawo daw balos man ni para sa ila,” he said in an interview on Wednesday.
The mayor said he was invited to receive the award in a ceremony to be held at The Empire Hotel & Country Club, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam on January 16, 2020.
Recently, Treñas said a team from the Standard Development Division visited the city to evaluate its compliance on the set of criteria requirements on the international award.
