5 Community-Based Organizations Receive Aid From Capitol

Community-based organization in five tourist destinations South of Cebu can now serve as food caterers, aside from being guides, as Capitol allocated each of them with kitchen and cooking wares.

People’s organization from Boljoon, Alcoy, Alegria, Argao and Aloguinsan towns will each receive a total of 454 cooking wares worth P48,272 through Capitol’s Community Development Assistance (CDA) program.

In its first batch of engagement last June 20, acting Gov. Agnes Magpale turned over dinner sets, utensils, cooking pots, pans and various types of glasses to a worker’s and a farmer’s group in Boljoon and Alcoy, respectively.

Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) chief Marivic Garces and Provincial Tourism Office (PTO) head Boboi Costas assisted Magpale as Boljoon Mayor Merlou Derama witnessed the activity.

Derama thanked acting Gov. Magpale and Gov. Hilario P. Davide III representative, Provincial Administrator Mark Tolentino, for supporting their tourism endeavor.

Nozzie Medida of Boljoon’s Asosasyon sa mga Boljoanong Mamumuo sa Turismo received cooking wares including dining tables and gas ranges.

Fe Anore Villarta of Alcoy’s Kapunungunan sa mga Mag-uuma sa Yutang Lasangon sa Bulalacao (KMYLB) received similar items.

Villarta, who acts as guest guide and caretakers of Nug-as forest research station in Alcoy, said her organization used to depend on donations from guests with no fix amount for maintenance.

Now they can serve food and earn more, thanks to Capitol-donated cooking implements.

CDA, one of the programs of PSWDO, fills the gap of business needs of existing community organizations, said Garces.

Costas said they chose these five since these people’s organizations are already “empowered” to manage their own tourist activities and already in existence for years.

He said Alcoy people’s organization has been operating since 1988 and Aloguinsan was organized in 2014. Both have been active since then.

Magpale, who chairs the Provincial Board’s Committee on Tourism, said she will seek the help of multi-media members to put these tourist spots at the center to make these places more inviting and attractive to guests.

The next people’s organizations to receive aid are from Alegria, Aloguinsan and Argao towns.

cebu.gov.ph