Suroy Suroy to be enacted into ordinance

CAMOTES ISLAND – An ordinance making the Suroy Suroy Sugbo a permanent tourism program of the Cebu provincial government may be in place before July.

“This one will be passed quickly because it is a priority of the province,” said Provincial Board (PB) Member Arleigh Sitoy who joined the tour to Camtoes Island.

Sitoy joined 300 local and foreign guests  in the “Enchanting Camotes”   weekend tour.

The delegation headed by Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia and Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale was accompanied by Chinese consuls Zhang Wiegou and Cai Wong.

A chartered  Ocean Jet ferry made the two-hour sea trip to the coast of Camotes, where tourists  were greeted  at the port by  festival dancers.

Aboard buses, they visited the Bukilat Cave in Tudela, the Buho Rock Resort in Poro, Lake Danao, Santiago Bay and Mangodlong Resort. At each stop, they were served native delicacies and seafood.

The Suroy Suroy ordinance, which already passed  first reading, will be scheduled for a  public hearing.

Sitoy said the program, which promotes countryside tourism,  should be institutionalized.  He said he was   thinking of ways to improve it by inviting  travel agencies and resorts to support it so this lessens the burden on local governments to keep the program going.

“When they are involved, I am sure they will exert much effort to make it a success. Market forces should dictate when the Suroy Suroy happens. When there’s high demand especially during peak seasons, we must anticipate that,” Sitoy said.

Vice Governor Magpale said the 300 tourists who joined was  an increase by 100 from last year’s countryside tours  because more  resort rooms were available.

Mayor Aly Arquillano of San Francisco town said the  Suroy Suroy program helped increase tourist arrivals in their area.

“In fact, we had brownouts and water shortages during Holy Week because visitors flooded the resorts. We were not able to anticipate that. Those are things we could really work on,” Arquillano said.

The tour group will head for the town of Pilar to  explore  heritage houses and a  bee farm today to cap off the two-day tour.