Regional Development Council Region 3 (RDC3) chairman Hermogenes E. Ebdane Jr. said the continued development of transport networks in the region will further attract tourists from neighboring regions to Central Luzon.

Ebdane made the statement during the 8th Annual Convention of the Association of Tourism Officers of Central Luzon (ATOCEL), held in San Antonio, Zambales, on 30 July 2026.

With the theme “From Smart Destinations to Sustainable Futures,” the event served as a platform to discuss new ideas, strengthen relationships among tourism officers, and promote innovative programs on destination development and tourism governance.

As keynote speaker, Ebdane highlighted programs and projects that would boost the tourism industry in Central Luzon, including the continued development of infrastructure and transportation to provide faster travel to various destinations in the region.

“Continuous development of transport networks in the region helps attract visitors from neighboring regions to visit famous tourism and ecotourism sites,” Ebdane said.

The program also featured the oath-taking ceremony of newly elected ATOCEL officers, administered by Ebdane.

The new ATOCEL officers are President Darmo A. Escuadro, city tourism officer of San Jose City, Nueva Ecija; ATOP Regional Representative Danica Lolita C. Tigas, acting provincial tourism officer of Bataan; Vice President Ana Risa S. Mendoza, provincial tourism officer of Aurora; Secretary Emisonia C. Gante, municipal tourism officer of Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija; Treasurer Paul L. Alata, municipal tourism officer of Capas, Tarlac; and Auditor Gennessy D. Villar, municipal tourism officer of Botolan, Zambales.