The halls of the Residencia del Hamor buzzed with regional ambition on March 21 as mayors and their representatives gathered for the Beautiful Sorsogon press conference.
The event brought together local government leaders from across the province to discuss their tourism roadmaps — and LionhearTV was there to hear firsthand how each municipality is weaving sustainability and community-based approaches into their plans.
Gubat Mayor Ronnel Lim was candid about the challenges his coastal municipality faces. While Gubat boasts beautiful swimming beaches and a surfing spot in Buenavista, safety and regulation remain pressing concerns.
He acknowledged drowning incidents in both the current and previous year, though he noted that intoxication was a factor. On the surfing front, the local surfing community has established red flag protocols to mark off zones prone to riptide — a hazard he described as unbeatable even for strong swimmers. The bigger structural challenge, however, is the municipality’s large informal tourism sector. “For the longest time, the private sector was too vibrant; they overtook the plans of the municipal government,” he said, adding that his administration is now stepping up enforcement and working to bring unregistered operators into the fold. “We want to monitor tourist arrivals and at the same time make sure guests are informed that you are not supposed to swim while intoxicated,” he explained, stressing that better public information on beach and surfing safety remains a priority.
Bulusan Mayor Weng Rafallo Romano made a confident pitch for his municipality as a one-stop tourism destination. “Bulusan is everything,” he said, citing the Bulusan Lake within the Bulusan Volcano National Park, waterfalls, beaches, rivers, and mountains as draws for nearly every type of traveler. Seven community-based tourism projects are currently in development, building on the legacy of organizations like AGAP Bulusan that have long served as partners in promoting local destinations. “They are our allies and helpers in expanding tourism in Bulusan,” he said. He also credited Senator Chiz Escudero and Governor Buboy for key infrastructure support, including a new visitors’ center at Bulusan Lake, while noting a budding alliance with Northern Samar for diving opportunities around San Bernardino Island.
For Bulan Mayor Romeo Gordola, sustainable tourism begins with access. “One of the great contributions of our government to Bulan is the access roads,” he said, thanking the senator and governor for prioritizing road connections between the municipality’s northern and southern portions. With 277,000 tourists recorded last year and a vibrant Padaraw Festival supported by the provincial government, Bulan is now pivoting toward cultural and culinary tourism. “We are focusing on historical and cultural, and local gastronomy, or food tourism,” Mayor Gordola shared, highlighting the development of Lawlaw — the municipality’s local delicacy — as a centerpiece of that effort.
Perhaps no municipality better exemplifies community-based tourism than Donsol, whose whale shark interaction and firefly watching experiences are world-renowned. The representative of Mayor Ralph Walter Lubiano explained that the tourism ecosystem is almost entirely community-driven. “All of them are involved,” he said, noting that boat operators, dive guides, firefly guides, and even souvenir makers are organized from within the community. He pointed out that 95% of the roughly 5,000-peso boat rental fee goes directly to operators and crew. “Only 5% goes to the government,” he added. Upcoming activities like river cruising and kayaking are being developed with the same philosophy. “Our target here is to give communities additional income,” he said, with training being provided through the provincial government and the Department of Tourism.
Rounding out the conversation, Barcelona Mayor Cynthia Falcoleto-Fortes invited sustainability-minded tourists to experience AgriHope, a DOT-accredited farm school offering immersive organic agriculture training. “If that is the inclination of tourists — immersive experience — they can do activities there,” she said, noting that the site has been recognized by both the DSWD and DILG for addressing sustainable development goals. Sorsogon City’s representative shared that the city is piloting a circular economy model under the EU-PH and UNEP framework, with Buhatan as the community-based tourism pilot site. “It’s not just sustainable tourism, but circular economy — reducing our waste,” the representative explained. Irosin’s representative highlighted the municipality’s strict waste management practices, noting that Mayor Grace Hamor herself patrols as early as 5 AM to ensure cleanliness. And Casiguran’s representative described their faith tourism identity, anchored by a 52-foot statue of the Virgin Mary and 16,000 roses at Plaza Escudero. “We also have the support of the religious sector,” the representative noted, adding that the local government has provided carts to keep vendors and food stalls organized for incoming visitors.
Together, these municipalities paint a picture of a province that is not just growing its tourism numbers — but growing them the right way.
