Leyte fest eyes visitors thru ecotourism sites

RITUAL DANCE Students in Matag-ob town in Leyte performa ritual dance during the opening of the monthlong Himorasak Festival on Sept. 7. The festival, nowon its third year, aims not only to highlight their palay harvest but also to entice tourists to visit the municipality. —ROEL AMAZONA/CONTRIBUTOR

TACLOBAN CITY—A town in Leyte province is banking on a festival highlighting its ecotourism destinations to entice local and foreign visitors to boost the local economy.

Mayor Bernandino Tacoy said Matag-ob town is drawing visitors from neighboring municipalities and even foreigners as it holds the third Himorasak Festival.

“Matag-ob is gaining recognition with tourists coming from outside the region. This is a promising development for our town,” he said.

According to the town’s tourism office, approximately 12,000 tourists visited Matag-ob in 2023, the second year of the Himorasak Festival.

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The festival aims to highlight the town’s cultural heritage and destinations, which are key components to its growth.

The monthlong Himorasak Festival officially kicked off on Sept. 7 with a range of activities, including cultural presentations and the opening of a food center showcasing Matag-ob’s local delicacies.

The town, with over 17,000 residents across 21 barangays, is known for its beautiful natural sites such as waterfalls and caves.

The festival’s name, “Himorasak,” which means “abundance,” reflects the town’s efforts to celebrate its natural and cultural richness.

Tacoy said the festival has been a catalyst for local government initiatives to further develop Matag-ob’s tourist destinations, including its 27 caves.

Catalyst

The mayor said they were coordinating with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to ensure the preservation of these caves while making them accessible to tourists.

“We are following all necessary processes to avoid legal complications,” he said.

In addition to tourism development, Mayor Tacoy’s administration is using the festival as an opportunity to support the less fortunate in their town.

During the monthlong celebration, approximately 1,000 beneficiaries will have the chance to purchase rice at P20 per kilogram. Each person is eligible to buy five kilograms.

Tacoy said he hoped to extend this initiative to all residents in the future.

“That is our ultimate goal,” the mayor said.

The P20 per kilogram of rice program was done to deliver the promise made by President Marcos to bring down the cost of the staple at that price when he was a candidate for the country’s top post two years ago.

Matag-ob has 1,443.85 hectares of land devoted to palay farming, involving over 1,000 farmers.