PALOMPON, Leyte — The Department of Tourism (DOT) has turned over PHP1.5 million worth of various gears to three people’s organizations (POs) in this town as part of the post-Yolanda Comprehensive Recovery and Rehabilitation Project for tourism.
On Sunday, DOT Regional Director Karina Rosa Tiopes handed over gears to members of the Liberty Eco Adventure Park, Palompon Eco Park, and Palompon Tour Guides Association.
“I would rather have a people’s organization as beneficiaries every time we have projects because it really benefits poor communities,” Tiopes said during the turn-over ceremony.
She added that the gears and equipment for the POs will help them in promoting other destinations in the town aside from Kalanggaman Island, which is already known as the region’s prime destination.
“I hope that you will take care of these equipment and use it to make the mainland of Palompon shine and not only Kalanggaman so that you can earn more,” Tiopes said.
Liberty Eco Adventure Park tour guides received PHP873,000 worth of rope, harness, rescue pulley, rescue helmets, head lamps, tents, sleeping bags, hammock, cook set, solar camping lantern, survival knife, trekking shorts, compression pants, compass, trekking pole, flashlights, among others.
Palompon Eco Park members received PHP218,250 worth of search lights, night vision binoculars, military torch, tear gas, handheld radio, jacket, raincoat, handcuff, boots, outdoor pants and shorts, water sports shoes and shirts.
Meanwhile, the Palompon Tour Guides Association received PHP436,500 worth of equipment such as handheld radios, scuba air tanks, dive mask, dive fin, dive computer, side mount, underwater flashlight, dive regulator, weights, weight belts, dive knife, wetsuits, polo shirts and long sleeves, outdoor pants, boots, and water sports shoes.
“With these gears, tourists who will visit Palompon will really enjoy because they have lots of things to do aside from visiting Kalanggaman. Their long hour of travel will be reciprocated with the numerous activities that they can do while they are in this town,” Tiopes said.
“Whatever income Palompon is gaining now, it will now spread to the community because of these destinations that the town developed,” she added.
The Palompon local government, on the other hand, received PHP2.9 million for the repair and rehabilitation of local tourism building; PHP1.89 million for the rehabilitation of Tabuk Marine Park, Fish and Bird Sanctuary; and PHP388,000 for further improvement of Kalanggaman Island.
Located in the western part of Leyte province, Palompon is more than 120 kilometers away from Tacloban City and can be reached after two-and-a-half hours of land travel.
The town is famous for its Kalanggaman Island that is known for its sandbar stretching to about 753 meters at the eastern side.
In 2018, Kalanggaman Island exceeded its income target of PHP21 million with a total earning of PHP22.19 million generated from tourist receipts.
The town welcomed 104,203 domestic tourists and 9,353 foreign tourists last year.