MALABON Mayor Antolin ‘Lenlen’ Oreta III’s chef-wife, Melissa Sison-Oreta, has led a project dubbed: “Malabon Tricycle Tours” primarily aimed to boost the ‘sleeping’ tourism in the city which boasts of several century-old churches and ancestral homes.
She says: “I was called by the mayor and asked me what I can do to boost tourism in Malabon which is obviously a big part of the history of the Philippines so I did not hesitate to get others’ support to launch this particular campaign.”
The visibly-optimistic ‘first lady’ of Malabon told members of the Camanava Press Corps that the city government has just launched the project designed to promote it as a tourist destination through “tricycle tours.”
For a start, she says that at least 25 accredited tricycle drivers have been tapped as “tour guides” and their numbers are expected to double soon as they are properly registered with the concerned local authorities including the Philippine National Police.
“These tour guides will bring local and foreign tourists to the city’s historical sites and choice food destinations,” she said at the sideline of the launching wherein a simple ceremony was held inside the premises of the 400-year old San Bartolome Church and graced by the mayor and his mother, ex-senator Tessie Aquino-Oreta.
She says further: “We have a 400-year-old church (in reference to San Bartolome Church), historical houses of well-known political personalities and artists and good food destinations. We have a lot to offer to backpackers, mountain climbers and those beach people who come to the country.”
The program has been made sure that these tour guides have their tricycles bearing the ‘Visa Philippine 2015’ stickers as scheduled pick-up points have been designated to bring tourists back and forth, according to her.
“We have been closely coordinating with the concerned tourism authorities, including the Tourism Promotion Board, and we have designated pick-up points in Starbucks at Trinoma in Quezon City and another at the US Embassy,” she explains.
She says the local government has now more to offer as far as promoting tourism in the city is concerned.
“The Malabon Tricycle Tours is just one and we have more to come in the coming months,” she says as she cites the planned launching of ‘Carinderia Tours’ in February wherein the local government will take pride of several local food dishes like ‘tapa’ and ‘’Bisita Iglesia’ by April wherein century-old churches will be highlighted.
Both the mayor and the former senator gave their all-out support on her tourism project as they expressed full confidence that with the help of key officials, employees and residents, “she can be instrumental to finally boost the ‘sleeping’ tourism in Malabon.” GOOD RIDDANCE/ARLIE CALALO
