Municipality of Pagsanjan
LGU Issues and Concerns

ISSUES

I. TOURISM:

A. Tourism Issues

1. LACK OF SKILLS, NO SENSE OF VISION / DIRECTION, UNCOOPERATIVENESS OF BOATMEN AND BUILDING OF NEGATIVE IDEAS AND OPINIONS.
   
   
2. LACK OF FUNDS AND INADEQUATE RESOURCES TO SUSTAIN CLEANLINESS AND BEAUTIFICATION PROJECTS.
   
   
3. MISINFORMATION AND MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT PAGSANJAN.
   
   
4. NO POLITICAL WILL, MOTIVATION, SINCERITY AND COMMITMENT IN PURSUING THE PROJECT.
   
   
5. NO ADDED PLACES OF ATTRACTION AND EVENTS.
   
   
6. NON-EXISTENCE OF CREDIBLE, EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT LOCAL TOURISM DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY.
   
   
7. NO ASSURANCE OF SAFETY (PEACE AND ORDER) DURING 2 HOURS BOATRIDE TRIP.
   
   
8. NO LIVELIHOOD PROJECTS FOR BOATMEN.
   
   
9. NO ADDITIONAL BENEFITS FOR BOATMEN.

B. Tourism Concerns

1. PROFESSIONALIZING AND ORGANIZING POOL OF BOATMEN BY PROVIDING THEM WITH SKILLS TRAINING, CHARACTER AND MORAL VALUE FORMATION SEMINARS, SAFETY, SWIMMING AND RESCUE LESSONS, INSPIRE THEM BY A CURRENT MORAL RECOVERY PROGRAM AND COME UP WITH MEASURES TO HEAL THE RIFT BETWEEN BOATMEN ASSOCIATIONS AND THE LGU AND RELEASE THEM FROM THE HOLD OF NEGATIVE-SOCIO-CULTURAL VALUES AND IMPRESSIONS. ESTABLISHING MUTUAL COOPERATION, COMMUNICATION, COORDINATION, NETWORKING, AND ALLIANCE BUILDING BY ORGANIZING A COMMUNITY WIDE CAMPAIGN OF HONESTY, COURTESY, POLITENESS AND UNITY FOR TOURISM DEVELOPMENT ----- TO TEACH AND INFORM THAT TOURISM SHOULD BE SERVICE ORIENTED & TO MAKE PAGSANJAN A REALLY TOURIST-FRIENDLY TOWN.
   
   
2. GENERATE FUNDS FROM THE SENATORS, GOVERNORS, CONGRESSMEN, NGO's, THE PRIVATE SECTOR, AND THE LOCAL AND FOREIGN INVESTORS. DONATIONS FROM PAGSANJEÑOS ABROAD WILL BE AVAILABLE.
   
   
3. REVITALIZING THE INDUSTRY BY ESTABLISHING CLOSER TIES WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM AND ITS ATTACHED AGENCY --- THE PHILIPPINE TOURISM AUTHORITY AND THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY-PHILTOA (PHILIPPINE TOUR OPERATORS). CONDUCT A DIALOGUE WITH THE DOT, PTA & PHILTOA AND COME UP WITH A COMPREHENSIVE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM AND CREATE TOUR PACKAGES. THESE AGENCIES NEED TO BE RELEVANT AND RESPONSIVE TO THE NEEDS OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF PAGSANJAN.
   
   
4. COMING OUT WITH AN INTENSIVE ADVERTISING, PROMOTION & MARKETING CAMPAIGN IN SELLING AND BUILDING UP PAGSANJAN AS A PREMIERE WORLD- CLASS TOURIST DESTINATION. A SPECIAL PROMOTIONAL PACKAGE FOR LOCAL AND FOREIGN TOURISTS TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO VISIT PAGSANJAN WITH THE ASSURANCE THAT ITS CLEAN, PEACEFUL, ORDERLY & SAFE.
   
   CREATION OF INFORMATION MATERIALS SUCH AS DIRECTORIAL SIGNS FROM CALAMBA ALL THE WAY TO PAGSANJAN TO GUIDE VISITORS. PRINT A TOURIST'S GUIDE TO THE TOURIST CAPITAL OF LAGUNA BROCHURE COMPLETE WITH AN ESTABLISHMENT DIRECTORY, CONTACT NUMBERS AND A VICINITY LOCATION MAP ON HOW TO GET TO PAGSANJAN. PRODUCE A HEART-STIRRING DOCUMENTARY VIDEO ADVERTISEMENT ON THE BEAUTY OF PAGSANJAN AND THE NOBILITY OF HER PEOPLE -- IT'S HISTORY, CUSTOMS & TRADITIONS AND ITS CULTURE OF TOURISM.
   
   
5. A SPECIFIC SEMINAR TO EXPLAIN THE ESSENCE OF MY TOURISM DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM WHICH IS AIMED , AMONG OTHER THINGS, TO ENCOURAGE TOURISM REVIVAL ACTIVITIES, TO REACTIVATE POSITIVE ATTITUDES AND LOCAL TRADITIONS TO COMPLEMENT EACH OTHER IN CREATING A NEW CONSCIOUSNESS ABOUT WHAT PROGRESS & DEVELOPMENT IS ALL ABOUT, AND TO ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION AMONG THE DIFFERENT SECTORS PARTICULARLY THE YOUTH, IN LOCAL TOURISM PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES.
   
   
6. TO DEVELOP AND IMPROVE THE 4 YEAR OLD ANNUAL "PAGSANJAN BANGKERO FESTIVAL" (MARCH 6-10), ( WHICH INCLUDES THE BOAT RACE AND FLOAT CONTEST WITH CASH PRICES) TO FURTHER PROMOTE PAGSANJAN, ESTABLISH THE FESTIVAL AS AN ADDITIONAL TOURIST ATTRACTION AND ANNUAL " MUST SEE" MAIN EVENT TO WATCH AND TO DRAW MORE CROWD IN THE NEXT YEARS TO COME. ALSO TO IMPROVE THE SEARCH FOR LAKAN AT BINIBINING PAGSANJAN CONTEST AND TO SEND THE WINNER AS THE OFFICIAL REPRESENTATIVE TO THE BB. LAGUNA & GINOONG PILIPINAS CONTEST AND JOIN IN ITS PARADE OF TOWNS FROM SAN PABLO CITY TO STA. MARIA LAGUNA WHICH HIGHLIGHTS PRODUCTS OF EACH TOWN IN LAGUNA. PAGSANJAN'S ANNUAL FLORES DE MAYO & SANTACRUZAN ALWAYS HAS A HUGE PARADE PARTICIPATED BY PRETTY LASSES AND THEIR DASHING MALE ESCORTS. EVERY MAY 15, THE TOWN HONORS SAN ISIDRO , THE PATRON SAINT OF FARMERS. DECEMBER 12 IS THE TOWN FIESTA. LAST SUNDAY OF JANUARY IS THE FEAST OF SAN SEBASTIAN.
   
   
7. CREATION OF THE PAGSANJAN TOURISM AND CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT OFFICE AND STRENGTHENING OF THE PAGSANJAN TOURISM INTEGRATED COUNCIL WITH TWO SATELLITE OFFICES. FORMAL LAUNCHING OF THE " SAVE THE PAGSANJAN RIVER PROGRAM". – TO RESTORE THE RIVER'S LOST GRANDEUR: ITS PRISTINE BEAUTY, HEALTHY ATMOSPHERE, AND ITS GLORIOUS PAST AS A PREMIERE TOURIST DESTINATION AND RECREATIONAL AREA.
   
   
8. FORMATION OF THE PAGSANJAN TOURISM POLICE FORCE / RESCUE (BOAT & CREW) & RESCUE FACILITIES WITH BASIC MEDICAL TRAINING-TO ASSURE THE SAFETY OF THE TOURISTS.
   
   
9. PROVIDE LIVELIHOOD PROJECTS FOR BOATMEN IN COORDINATION WITH THE SPECIAL LIVELIHOOD OFFICE.
   
   
10. PROVIDE ADDITIONAL BENEFITS THROUGH THE OPERATION OF A BOATMANS COOPERATIVE AND PROVIDE A FUND SYSTEM.