MassKara ushers
SEAG tourism bonanza

We are currently celebrating the MassKara Festival. But we must remember that this festival has a double impact -- its serves as a dry run for the Southeast Games when thousands of foreign visitors are expected to visit Bacolod for the games.

In short, it is time for us Bacolodnons and Negrenses to put our best foot forward to entice foreign visitors to learn more about the beautiful spots of the province which bids to become another prime destination of tourists.

The realities of the situation are that, unknown to most Negrenses, outside visitors have been discovering the beauty spots of the province, especially those in the south.

My own brother, Bert, who returned to Negros only recently post his retirement as a manager of a big business firm in Seattle, was head over heels last week when he recounted to me his "discovery of Guintubdan" in La Carlota.

"I have gone to a lot of tourist spots in the Philippines since my return, and it was only then that I learned how much I have lost in terms of local scenic spots and tourism destinations," he said.

Bert will host two families of American friends who are coming in to attend the Masskara Festival.

It was actually Rosendo Lopez, who pointed out to me that "I have seen many European and Korean tourists in Sipalay and Hinobaan in the South."

Apparently, he pointed out, the others have already been attracted by the scenic spots of Punta Bulata, the Maricalum Bay, and other scenic spots in nearby Hinobaan.

That was the same point raised by Raymond Montinola of Confed who expressed confidence that with the proper attitude by the population and with their security guaranteed, we may become the principal destination of tourists.

Mambukal Mountain Resort, for example, is a classic of a resort which had been rehabilitated, improved and now considered a major destination. Just based on the income of the mountain resort, it has recaptured its previous clientele and won a lot of new ones.

That's the reason why I suspect the Bacolod Pavilion Hotel and Resort had recently be been rehabilitated and restored to its pristine glory. Now, it is attracting more visitors, especially those who wish to catch the fast craft for Iloilo and to catch their boat rides in the nearby islands, like Mindanao and Manila.

As a matter of fact, BREDCO Port, pointed out Lito Jison, president of the Confed Cooperative, has proven a boon to local businessmen.

In the past, according to him, he used to ship fertilizers via Cagayan de Oro to Bacolod. He found it cheaper doing that than via Iloilo which proved more expensive.

Now, he added, "We can ship in our fertilizer cheaper via Bredco."

This is the importance of PNP Supt. Pedro Merced. The new police chief has earned a reputation as a no-nonsense police chief. And, I was surprised to hear from a group of motorists Saturday paying tribute to his having solved much of the Bacolod traffic mess.

Seldom does one hear such praise for any official until Saturday when the conferees unanimously paid tribute to Merced's handling this early the traffic mess.

Now, Merced must devote time to herding the many trisikads and tricycles that roam Bacolod streets sans licenses. And many of these trisikads are manned by small tots.

I have been counting the many who do not sport licenses. And, from what I have heard, some of these have forgotten the necessary permit because they are being operated by cops, themselves.

The point I am raising is simple. Licensing them is for the protection of the operators themselves. Second, by asking drivers to get their permits to drive trikes will go a long away in tracking down those who have used motorized trikes for holdups.

And enforcing the ordinance for these trikes to come up with lights will safeguard both the drivers and their passengers at night. And that also assures the operators that their investment will go a long way to provide them income.

Saving themselves a few pesos could mean a lot of headaches and possible losses of their investment. So with the drivers.

I guess it's time for Merced to convince operators that they have a lot to lose and more to gain by observing traffic rules and regulations as well as instituting devices that could protect their investments and their drivers as well as passengers.

And, yes use those motorcycle cops to help untangle traffic logjams in the city.

Anyway, MassKara, should be the acid test for all of us. It will determine whether we have internalized the tourism mindset that we need to make Bacolod and Negros Occidental a prime destination of foreign visitors.

So far, there is nothing safer for them in this country than Negros and Bacolod. But only we can make it not just a myth, but a fact.*

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