The House of Representatives has approved on third reading a bill declaring this city as the “Whitewater Rafting Capital of the Philippines.”
Misamis Oriental 2nd District Representative Yevgeny Vincente Emano, the primary author of House Bill 11108, said Wednesday that the measure aims to boost economic growth by promoting tourism and generating local jobs and businesses.
“The city is closely intertwined with the progress and development of the whole province of Misamis Oriental,” Emano said in an interview.
The proposed legislation seeks to integrate Cagayan de Oro into the Department of Tourism’s (DOT) national and regional promotion programs to attract more adventure-seekers to the city.
According to DOT-10 (Northern Mindanao) Director Marie Elaine Unchuan, Cagayan de Oro’s whitewater rafting activities draw an average of 20,000 tourists annually.
DOT-10 data showed that in 2023, the city welcomed 775,024 tourists, a 12.72 percent increase from the previous year. (PNA)
