NORTHERN MINDANAO — The Department of Tourism (DoT), here, considers the Sub-Saharan Africa tagging of Mindanao by political analyst Richard Heydarian over foreign media as an opportunity to showcase Mindanao and the Philippines to the world.

DoT-10 Regional Director Marie Elaine Unchuan, in an interview Monday, 17 March, told the DAILY TRIBUNE that “while Heydarian’s statement looked down on Mindanao and took offense on its people, the statistics say otherwise.”

“However, we consider it as an opportunity to show people worldwide what Mindanao truly is,” Unchuan said.

“Regional directors (of DoT) in Mindanao have been struggling (to correct) bad impression, but people here continue to help us by promoting the beauty of Mindanao,” she added.

Unchuan said it is heartwarming to note that people show the passion of showcasing Mindanao’s beauty and pride following Heydarian’s derogatory statement.

“This is the time for vloggers to show off. There is so much information about Mindanao that people should not just make generalized statements,” Unchuan said. They should find out what are these, and we, as Filipinos, should support each other and promote what is ours,” she added.

“That is what our slogan, ‘Love The Philippines’ means, not just Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, but the country, as a whole."

“We (therefore) invite tourists from Europe to come to Mindanao and see for themselves how rich Mindanao is,” she said. “Let us show the world how beautiful Mindanao, Luzon and Visayas are,” she stressed.

Unchuan mentioned the continuing efforts of the Department of Tourism in Region 10 in enhancing Northern Mindanao’s tourism, highlighted by the achievements of accrediting 474 establishments, last year, and maintaining world-class standards.

DoT-10, in promoting the “Moving Forward” program, outlines several initiatives planned for 2025, including: Launching the Climb NorthMin Sustainable Mountain Tourism Program; Promotion of slow food and product development; Holding the 5th NorthMin Dive Festival; Conducting accreditation caravans and skills training; Organizing the Northern Mindanao Tourism Officers’ Summit; Promoting Northern Mindanao Festivals; Inaugurating tourist rest areas in Initao, Laguindingan, and Maigo; and Launching the NorthMin Philippine Experience in Lanao del Norte and Misamis Occidental.

She also highlighted tourism infrastructure projects and events in Mindanao, Philippines in 2024, key initiatives of which included the construction of Tourist Rest Areas across various locations, aiming to provide clean facilities and shopping opportunities for tourists.

“Several projects are planned by TIEZA (Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority), including improvements to the Cinchona Forest and a hyperbaric chamber in Camiguin Island,” she said.