City Tourism Promotion Board officers take oath

TOURISM BOOSTERS --- Cotabato City Mayor Atty. Frances Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi officiates the oath-taking of the new set of officers of the Cotabato City Tourism Promotion Board. (PHOTO BY ROMMEL BAGUIO – MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

COTABATO CITY ---The newly elected officers of the City Tourism Promotion Board here took their oath before Mayor Atty. Frances Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi in a gathering last May 2 at the People’s Palace.

The new set of officers are Bai Sandra Siang (Executive Chairman), Architect Christine Mañara (Vice Chairman), Averel Saglayan (Secretary), “Kap” Janeth Dalagan (Treasurer), and Gilmhar Lao (Information Officer).

The Board of Directors are composed of Pete Marquez (Business sector); Estosan Garden Hotel (Restaurant and Hotel sector); RVM College of Cotabato and Department of Education (Education sector); Manny Balabaran, Omar Patadon, and Ric Uday (Culture and Heritage); Norma Yap and Bai Kabai Canaya (Barangay Tourism); and Gurlie Frondoza and Ammarah Dumama (City Government).

Mayor Guiani-Sayadi said the City Tourism Promotion Board’s purpose is to serve as umbrella organization of different members or institutions in the private sector.

“The promotion board aims to boost tourism activities. It would encourage, promote, and develop tourism as a major socio-economic activity to generate foreign currency and employment, and to spread the benefits of tourism to both the private and public sectors in Cotabato City,” said the lady mayor.

Mayor Guiani-Sayadi said they are strengthening linkages and relationship with the private sector“purpose of which is to ensure that this is going to be a true partnership, not just among the people in the local government.”

Executive Chairman Bai Sandra Siang expressed the board’s commitment to boost tourism potentials of the city.

“The Tourism Promotion Board is strongly committed in its advocacy to fully promote tourism. It will be a collaborative effort of different sectors,” said Siang.

Gurlie Frondoza, City Tourism Officer, said the Tourism Promotion Board shall work hand in hand with the local government in terms of tourism, adding that they have prepared the “tourism development plan.”

“Our main objective is to encourage people to come to Cotabato city and join us in our various tourism activities,” said Frondoza. (GILMHAR A. LAO – MINDANAO EXPOSE’)