A number of tourism establishments and stakeholders, including local government units and national agencies, were recognized by the Provincial Tourism Office last week for their valuable contribution to the sustained growth of tourism in Catanduanes.
During the awarding ceremony for the Catanduanes Tourism Recognition for Enterprises and Stakeholders (CatRES) held last Sept. 29, 2026 at ARDCI Hotel, Governor Patrick Alain T. Azanza paid tribute to their great contribution to the upliftment of the province.
He pointed out that, after the service industry, the tourism sector is the second in terms of contribution to the provincial economy.
“It is also you who will make that experience great so that repeat customers, repeat tourists, and visitors will continue to flow into the island,” the chief executive stated.
Azanza disclosed that his administration is signing agreements with several cities in the country that will be the province’s tourism partners.
“We’ve already done it with Mandaluyong, Valenzuela is next, and we’re lining up Makati, Quezon City, and several other cities,” he said as he disclosed that soon, a tourism office will be established in Metro Manila to serve as Catanduanes’ business center to attract tourists all the way from abroad and from other sites and guide them as they fly into the island.
He likewise emphasized the significance of putting the province on the world map by securing a spot in the Guiness World Records for being the biggest supplier of abaca in the world, citing the experience of other provinces who had their names in Guiness and as a result their tourism arrivals increased along with their income.
Azanza bared that during the Catandungan festival set this Oct. 26 to 27, the province will launch a coffee table book entitled “Catanduanes: A Story of Hope and Progress”, showing the island’s history, scenic spots like churches, the food and its people.
“We will be producing it for free and we wanted to portray a futuristic Catanduanes but maintaining its beauty and nature,” the governor said. “We want that kind of concept of development that does not destroy our environment. Instead, we want to protect it and ensure that that the future generations will see the same Catanduanes.”
He cited the repair and upgrading of local hospitals as a primary support to tourism and the purchase of 1 buses, one for every municipality.
“I actually received an offer for SOPs and I told them to put the money back to the coffers of the government,” he disclosed.
The winning bidder, instead of just bidding for the 11 buses, threw in one extra bus because the governor does not accept SOP, Azanza said.
That extra bus will now be used as the tourism bus of Catanduanes and placed at the disposal of the tourism office, he added.
The governor said his travel to Manila to follow up funds for Catanduanes from the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone (TIEZA) Chief Operating Officer Mark T. Lapid, who approved P13.9 million for the tourism rest area in Virac as well as P20 million for the floating dock in Caramoran and P30 million for the tourism activity center in Pandan, with the latter projects still to be formally okayed by the TIEZA Board.
Baras Mayor Jose Paolo Teves III was likewise able to convince the agency to allot another P15 million for a tourism project for surfers in the town, Azanza added.
On the other hand, Provincial Tourism officer Carmel Bonifacio-Garcia said that the desire to recognize tourism stakeholders has always been there, from the very first Tourism Ambassadors Awards Night in 2017 to the first CatRES in 2022.
She called for the creation of a consistent, regular, legislated and institutionalized platform with the same objective of giving stakeholders a yearly event to celebrate their accomplishments, reflect on their performance, and be recognized for the work they contribute to the industry.
For her part, Sangguniang Panlalawigan tourism committee chair PBM Joy Tamayo assured the tourism officials and stakeholders that the provincial board will continue to support and work with them to help build a tourism industry that the people can participate in, benefit from and be proud of.
Here are the year’s awardees:
LGUs: Tourism Resilience Award, Bagamanoc; Community-Based Tourism Excellence Award, Bato; Signature Destination and Tourism Impact Award, Baras; Heritage and Culture Advocate Award, Caramoran; Fiesta Heritage and Community Award, Gigmoto; Tourism Digital Platform Award, Pandan; Tourism Statistics Data Reporting Award, Panganiban; Tourist Survey Compliance Award, San Andres; Culinary Heritage Award, San Miguel; Innovative Food Tourism Award, Viga; and Marine Conservation Stewardship Award, Virac.
Tourism Partnership Award for National Government Agencies: Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Catanduanes Police Provincial Office, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) and Philippine Ports Authority (PPA).
Highest Number of Tourist Arrivals: Resort Category – 1st Place, Twin Rock Beach Resort, and 2nd Place, Catanduanes Halfway Resort Hotel; Hotel Category – 1st Place, ARDCI Hotel, and 2nd Place, E-Crown Hotel and Resort; Mabuhay Accommodation Category – 1st Place, Rakdell Inn, 2nd Place, isla Grande Inn, and 3rd Place, Lucky Hotel and Resort.
Highest Number of Same-Day Visitors: Bagasbas Beach Resort in Yocti, San Andres (Sun and Beach Category); Karigusan sa Burabod in Sto. Nino, Virac and H2O Resort in Rizal, Viga (Pools and Spring Category); Maribina Falls in Marinawa, Bato (Waterfalls Category); Our Lady of Sorrows Shrine, Batong Paloway, San Andres (Cultural and Heritage Sites Category); Binurong Point in Guinsaanan, Baras (Twin Rock, Mountains, Hills, and Highlands Category); and Tagbak River Eco Tourism in Progreso, San Miguel (River Category).
Most Number of Events (MICE) Award: Twin Rock Beach Resort in Igang, Virac.
Most Compliant on Submission of Statistical Report: Carangyan Beach Resort, E-Crown Hotel and Resort, Catanduanes Midtown Inn, Isla Grande Inn, Queen Maricel Inn, and Casa Remedios Bed & Breakfast.
Mabuhay Hospitality Excellence Award: ARDCI Hotel.
Wedding Destination Award: Midtown Inn Beach Resort and Restaurant in Batag, Virac.
Island Serenity Award: L’Astrolabe – Oasis of Serenity in Benticayan, Baras.
Consistent DOT Accredited Secondary Tourism Enterprise Award: Jillian’s Kitchenette and Blue Café.
Happy island Tour Package Development Award: island Escapes Travel & Tours and Zchedulista Catanduanes.
Tourism Content Creator Award: Happy Islander TV.
Outstanding Tour Guide Award: Anthony M. Padel, Ryan R. Calderon and Paulo M. Gurrobat.
Tourism Advocacy and Partnership Award: Fatima D. Kozma
Tourism and Arts Partnership Award: Isla Catanduanes Visual Artists Guild, Sining Catanduanes, and Union of Catandunganon Artists and Talents.
Tourism Media and Partnership Award: Radyo Natin, 87.9 Radyo Peryodiko, Radyo Pilipinas, Philippine Information Agency, and Catanduanes Tribune.
In the same event, the officers of the Catanduanes Tourism Officers Association (CATOA) were inducted into office: President – Jericho R. Tating; Vice President – Gwendoline Britt A. Talaran; Secretary – Reymond S. Molod; Treasurer – Gerome B. Tapas; Auditor – Joy T. Soria; Public Relations Officer – Rose Ann Torres; Board of Directors – Lady Lyn Aguilar, Joey Torcuator, and Mark Anthony Gianan; and, Adviser – Carmel B. Garcia.