San Jose dB prepares ELA 2013-16

Local elected officials, department heads and non-government organizations came together under the tutelage of the Department of Interior and Local Government to come up with a Capacity Development Plan and Executive Legislative Agenda on October 16-18, 2013 at the Adelaide Tourist Inn.

Mayor Rony Molina on his opening message.

Mr. Darcy Bungay discussing the output of the economic sector on issues relevant to the group.

Engr. Jose Magbanua discussing the issues relevant to the physical infrastructure group.

Vice Mayor Elmer Untaran giving a closing message.

According to this document, the ELA is a planning document, covering a three-year period corresponding to the term of localelective officials that is mutually developed and agreed upon by both the executive and legislative departments of an LGU. It is an integrated plan that contains the major development thrusts and priorities of both the executive and legislative branches towards a common vision for the locality and an instrument that will prioritize responses to
multi-stakeholder needs, e.g., programs, projects, activities, legislations and capacity development programs, and put into action local development plans.

The people from the  executive and legislative branches.

On the end of the three day seminar-workshop, the participants signed a pledge of commitment towards the completion of the ELA document and the ELA implementation.

Pledge of commitment.

Pledge of commitment.

University planning students on DRRM learning visit in San Jose dB

Students of Diploma in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of the Philippine in the Visayas came to San Jose de Buenavista to learn about disaster risk reduction and management best practices of the town.


After the sharing of best practices, the group visited the town's Farmville in Brgy. San Pedro, Antique Atelier Display Center in Tradetown, Funda-Dalipe and Coastal Marine Resource Gallery in Brgy. Funda-Dalipe.

DOt-trained site guide Ms. Lucia Bantolo introducing Farmville to DUPR students on tour.

DOT-trained site guide Mr. Godhel Basanes introducing the CRM Gallery to DURP students on tour.

What is in San Jose de Buenavista tourism industry?

What is in San Jose de Buenavista, Antique when we talk about tourism? Is there something for the Municipality in tourism? Wat needs to be done to encourage tourism in the Municipality?

These were the the questions the municipal LGU of San Jose de Buenavista, Antique is trying to answer in a multi-stakeholder workshop.

In attendance in the workshop were industry players - accommodation, food and beverage service, resort, transportation and souvenir sectors; local government decision-makers – planning officer, municipal engineer, investment promotion officer, sangguniang bayan members, barangay official, disaster manager; provincial government; academe; support agencies – Department of Trade and Industry; and local chamber of commerce.

This activity aims to were convened to determine the tourism direction of the town.

It is expected that after the workshop, the LGU will be able to come up a Municipal Tourism Development Plan and a Municipal Tourism Code.

Mayor Rony L. Molina, in his message stressed the importance of the multi-sectoral planning workshop so that the development effort of the private and public sector is synchronized.

San Jose de Buenavista is the capital town of the Province of Antique and is the center of trade, commerce and finance of the Province. It is the center of provincial government/ administration.

It serves as the tourism service center of the Province. It offers an array of conveniences, supplies and support facilities to visitors such as restaurants, fastfood stores, grocery and shopping stores, gaming and gambling establishments, banks and transport terminals. It also offers venue and infrastructure for various events such as sports competitions, meetings, trainings and seminars, and weddings and tourism activities like shopping and dining.

In the workshop, stakeholders sees that San Jose de Buenavista could capitalize on the available infrastructure, amenities and services to expand the business tourism market to MICE (meetings, incentives, conference and events/ exhibitions).


San Jose de Buenavista has been one of the pioneering LGUs in the Philippines in the Developing Tourism Statistics for Local Government Units project of the Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

It has been chosen as one of the presenter in the 1st National Tourism Statistics Conference (pictures album 1, album 2) held in Manila, February this year.


The local Planning and Development Office hopes that the Municipality will serve as model for other LGUs wanting to engage in tourism but sees little hope for the industry in their locality.