DOT-Mimaropa pitches agro-tourism site for farm tourism award

In its bid to promote farm tourism as an emerging catalyst for sustainability and inclusive development in the country, the Department of Tourism (DOT) has started pitching farm tourism destinations for the Lakbay Bukid Awards.

The Lakbay Bukid Awards, which will be handed out during the 6th Philippine Farm Tourism Conference in Cebu City from Nov. 6 to 8, honors farm tourism pioneers, practitioners, institutions, and groups who have contributed to the development of the industry.

Co-organized by the International School of Sustainable Tourism, the tourism conference is being supported by DOT, which recently released the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 10816 titled "Farm Tourism Development Act of 2016."

In preparation for the farm tourism awards, DOT-Mimarapo has nominated Yamang Bukid Farm — a budding farm tourism destination in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan — to represent the region in Lakbay Bukid.

In a letter, Danilo Intong, DOT Mimaropa regional director, cited the farm destination’s efforts to promote community-participated farm tourism and for "pushing for a more sustainable and inclusive growth community through farm tourism."

The 20-plus hectare landholding in the hilly and forested area of Sitio (Sub-village) Candes III, Bacungan has been transformed into a virtual paradise of rural park, with well-manicured flower and vegetable gardens including a sunflower field, and Instagram-ready or "IG-ready" sites.

Courtesy of Yamang Bukid

The organic farm also houses a restaurant serving local dishes made from organically-grown and naturally-raised crops, as well as poultry and livestock being maintained by over 200-strong community of farmers who are former illegal loggers—turned-environmentalists.

The Farm Tourism Development Act of 2016 provides the policy and enabling environment for the encouragement, development and promotion of farm tourism in the country.

It recognizes the importance of agriculture in making available food and other products necessary to sustain and enhance human life, and in providing livelihood to a major portion of the population.

The DOT said it has so far accredited 174 Farm Tourism sites across the country, 31 of which are in CALABARZON (Region IV—A), but expects the numbers to grow as the demand for "low—impact tourism" increases. — MDM, GMA News