ILOILO CITY — Mayor Jose Espinosa III on Tuesday afternoon stressed the importance of good tourism programs in improving the business industry of Iloilo City.
The mayor, in his speech to announce the Iloilo Paraw Regatta 2018, named the Regatta and the annual Dinagyang Festival as among the major tourism events in the city that help boost the income of restaurants, hotels and other business establishments.
Meanwhile, the Iloilo Paraw Regatta Foundation Inc. (IPRFI) has allotted PHP2.8 million for 2018 festival or PHP1.2 million higher than last year’s.
IPRFI president Ronald Raymond Sebastian, in a press conference, said the increase in the budget is to accommodate various activities in the festival to be held in February 2018.
Aside from the boat race, the festival to promote the Ilonggo culture and heritage, will revive the “Sinamba Regatta,” a celebration of music and dance.
A memorandum of agreement was signed between IPRFI and the provincial government of Guimaras making Travel and Marketing Experts Corp. as the official marketing arm of the festival.
The 15 candidates vying for the 2018 Miss Iloilo Paraw Regatta were also presented to the media.
While President Rodrigo Duterte is expected to grace the 50th anniversary of Dinagyang Festival in the last week of January 2018, Sebastian said that several personalities were also invited for the Regatta Festival. (Cindy Ferrer/PNA)
