Mayor Jerry Treñas will push for the inclusion of either the Iloilo Dinagyang Festival or the historic Molo church in the next promotional video of the Department of Tourism (DOT).

“Now that the contract of DOT for the ‘Love the Philippines’ video and promotion was already terminated, perhaps in the next video/promotion, the Iloilo Dinagyang or the Molo church can now be included,” he said in a statement on Tuesday.

The Dinagyang Festival has been hailed as the Best Tourism Event of the Philippines Hall of Fame Awardee by the Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines (ATOP) and one of the Top 10 Best Local Governance Practice Awardees in the 2012 Galing Pook Awards.

“As a festival, it has earned its right to be included,” he said, adding the city government will be sending an official letter to the DOT for the intent.

Iloilo City Tourism and Development officer and ATOP national president Junel Ann Divinagracia, in a separate interview, said the Molo church is one of the oldest and prettiest churches in Western Visayas.

It is also unique because all saints inside the church are female.

The church, also known as the Saint Anne Parish Church, is a heritage and national landmark.

Divinagracia said she can even endorse their inclusion through the ATOP because it is fitting and proper that the best tourism festival and destination of the city will be part of the DOT promotional video.

“I can tackle that with the (ATOP) board because we have an upcoming meeting. I will push for that,” she added.

The inclusion of one or two destinations in the promotional video would bring pride to Ilonggos, she said.

“We know that the promotion of DOT is all over the world. That would stir the interest of people in other countries,” Divinagracia said. (PNA)