The province of Surigao del Norte, particularly Siargao Island, will directly benefit from a new program of the Department of Tourism (DOT).

The program, dubbed as TouRIST or Transforming Communities Towards Resilient, Inclusive and Sustainable Tourist Program, will also extend support to other areas, such as the provinces of Bohol and Siquijor, the Island Garden City of Samal in Davao del Norte, and Davao City.

Surigao del Norte Governor Francisco “Lalo” Matugas expressed gratitude to the DOT for choosing Siargao Island as among the priority areas for the program.

The identified areas to be covered by TouRIST will receive $300 million from the World Bank.

Matugas said the amount will be used to fund tourism infrastructure projects.

The initial meeting of the identified provinces with the DOT and the WB was facilitated last October 2 in Manila, the governor added.

He said that a follow-up technical mission will be facilitated in Siargao on October 8 – 11 to finalize the priority investment projects in the area.

“The technical mission will also discuss the concept, scope, institutional arrangements and other details of the program,” Matugas said in a statement released Monday.

Siargao Island is among the top tourist destinations in the country hosting two major international watersports events every year, the International Surfing Cup and the International Game Fishing.

Matugas said the DOT program and the support of WB will provide a big boost to the tourism industry on this island. (PNA)