Shaping Ormoc City into another tourist destination in the Visayas takes Bohol for a model.
Awed by Bohol’s feat in tourism, Ormoc City Mayor Richard Gomez takes the rudder on Bohol’s path to the top.
“Ginagaya nga namin yong Bohol, because you are one of the places na very successful ang tourism program ninyo,” Gomez told members of the Bohol media who paid him a courtesy call yesterday from a tour at the NGCP facility.
Gomez elaborated that Ormoc’s future plans are directed at developing the city into a tourist destination, considering its potentials.
“Our thrust in Ormoc is to promote tourism, because we believe that ‘pag tourism, walang masyadong kalaban where you welcome people. You make them happy and at the same time, when people come sa isang lugar, you want them to spend money,” Gomez added.
He also cites a number of tourist spots that Ormoc can promote further.
“We are aiming Ormoc to be a tourist destination. Maybe we are not as beautiful as Bohol but we have some areas that we can be proud of like Lake Danao,” Gomez said.
He added that Ormoc City also hosts the Energy Development Corporation (EDC), the world’s pioneer in geothermal enegy industry and “the recognized world leader in wet steam field technology” which is the face of their engineering tourism.
“We can be proud of our engineering tourism. EDC is a fantastic place to visit for its engineering marvels. It is the largest steam field in the world,” according to Gomez.
He also cited Ormoc”s river system project built by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in 1993-1994.
Lake Danao tops Ormoc’s destination for its guitar shape where there are also floating cottages for some picnic, boats-for-hire for cruising.
It is niched in a 2,193-hectare natural park.
Other known lakes in Ormoc arr Lake Kasudsuran and Lake Janagdan.
Ormoc’s oldest bridge, Punta dela Reina, also attracts visitors for its historical significance that traces “the last evidence of Spanish colonization” when it served as “docking area for traders”, as described by bloggers.
Ormoc’s pineapple plantation span hundreds of hectares of rolling terrains.
PEACE AND ORDER
Gomez also takes pride of the peace and order situation in Ormoc City where crimes are only minimal.
He noted the improvement of Ormoc in terms of peace and order, considering that the city used to be among the top concern areas in the region in terms of drug menace.
In fact, the drug problem besetting his city was the reason he sought for mayoralty.
“I was not happy with what’s happening in Ormoc. Masama yong drug situation namin. We have to do something about it,” according to Gomez.
The actor admitted that serving as mayor of Ormoc is a sacrifice.
“In terms of time, nabawasan yong time ko with the family. Financially, yong sweldo ko as mayoe in one month is only half of the salary I get everyday (as an actor). That’s how much sacrifice I’m giving to Ormoc City. But ok lang. Malaki na ang improvement namin dito sa Ormoc,” according to the mayor.
He said the city has a program “to help the indigents get a job”.
“It is our first time in Ormoc to have a Public Employment Service Office. Yong PESO officer is the one tasked na kumausap ng mga investors, kumausap sa mga companies para mag-open at mabigyan yong mga nakatira ss Ormoc ng trabaho,” according to Gomez.
The city is also the first in Region 8 to have a Youth Development Council.
Gomez said it is necessary that “at the very early age, the children are already taught to do the right so that when they reach the legal age, they already have the right attitude towards work”.