ππ π¨π‘ππ’π‘ ππππ₯π‘π¦ π£ππ π£ππ‘ππβπ¦ πππ¦π§ ππ¨ππ§π¨π₯ππ π£π₯πππ§ππππ¦
By: Joy Ann L. Gurtiza, GPC-LUPTO | Photos By: Jestoni βTonetβ Gaerlan, LUPTO and Sonny Buenaventura, PIO | Date: November 10β12, 2022
To learn from other Local Government Units (LGUs) that have excelled in promoting local culture and tourism, the Provincial Government of La Union under the leadership of Gov. Rafy Ortega-David along with the Provincial Technical Working Group (TWG) on the Establishment of La Union Center for Ilokano Studies conducted a 3-day benchmarking study tour to the selected tourism and cultural sites in the Province of Pampanga on November 10 β 12, 2022.
Members of the benchmarking team include Executive Assistant V Kevin David; Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University (DMMMSU) β Mid La Union Campus Library Services Head Ruby Lyn Narra; DMMMSU Open University System Director Cristita Guerra; Department of Education β La Union Division MAPEH Supervisor Delia Hufalar; Commission in Higher Education Supervisor and Focal Person for Cultural Affairs Al Gerald Bard; Information Officer Camille Bumatay; Provincial Tourism Officer Arthur S. Cortez, Jr.; and other technical staff from the La Union Provincial Tourism Office. They were able to benchmark best practices of Juan D. Nepomuceno Center for Kapampangan Studies at Holy Angel University (HAU) focusing on their small beginnings in building a Center for Kapampangan Studies and their cultural and heritage mapping initiatives, where they utilized students in gathering notable cultural heritage elements as well as in creating partnership with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts through their governmentβs special powers. The team also pursued collaborative opportunities and were able to meet with the top management of HAU including University President Leopoldo N. Valdez and Center for Kapampangan Studies Director Robert P. Tantingco.
βWe believe that adopting the best practices and outstanding operational standards of your organization in various key areas will further improve the Provincial Government of La Union particularly in the establishment of our own Center for Ilokano Studies. We would like to extend our gratitude for heeding our call for a collaborative partnership in this benchmarking activity,β said Gov. Rafy during the courtesy visit at the university.
On the other hand, the team was also able to immerse and learn from the Provincial Government (PG) of Pampanga's relevant and innovative initiatives on culture, arts and tourism. The TWG were oriented on the provinceβs best practices, particularly on their UNESCO Bid: Enlisting of the duman-making tradition of Santa Rita to the UNESCOβs prestigious list of intangible cultural heritage on safeguarding a note-worthy food tradition. They also had the opportunity to meet and converse with some members of the Provincial Board at the Pampanga Sangguniang Panlalawigan Session Hall. Special Assistant to Governor of Pampanga Ms. Angelina S. Blanco, who represented Governor Dennis G. Pineda, together with Pampanga Culture, Arts and Tourism Officer Randy del Rosario warmly welcomed the team and discussed and exchanged strategies and best practices.
Provincial Tourism Officer Art Cortez, Jr. also expressed his gratitude to PG Pampanga for all the inputs and information they provided. According to him, the benefits of their benchmarking activity in Pampanga are worth the time as it opened for La Unionβs door to various opportunities and gained better understanding on how to fit in with the provinceβs future plans and programs for a more sustainable tourism and cultural management and development.
The team were also able to visit the New Clark City and International Airport and Bale Balayan, a Museum for the poor and unprivileged children. The benchmarking activity was concluded with an exchange of tokens of appreciation between the 2 provinces and photo opportunity to commemorate a successful event.
Through the benchmarking activity, PGLU hopes to assimilate the values and practices that have enabled the Province of Pampanga to uphold a brand of catalyst for development in Central and Northern Luzon and become center for excellence in cultural heritage conservation, and use these tools in its own journey towards #LaUnionPROBINSYAnihan.
Related Photos:
