CITY NEWS

DOT presents Sipalay Tourism Development Plan
March 16, 2010
 

The Department of Tourism (DOT) through the Office of Tourism Development Planning headed by Dir. Rolando Cañizal presented the Tourism Development Plan of Sipalay City at the Office of the City Mayor yesterday.

The plan aims to develop tourism anchored on sustainable tourism development while generating revenue and creating employment for its residents and to provide a framework and direction, protection of its natural resources, conservation of cultural heritage, development of community-based tourism projects and formulation of appropriate policies to efficiently manage tourism development in the area.

Priority tourism attractions included in the said plan are Poblacion Beach, Mamara Cave Campomanes Bay, Tinagong Dagat, Punta Ballo Beach and Malinab Lagoon. Dr. Erwin Balane, Chief Tourism Operations Officer of the Regional Development Planning Division highlighted the numerous activities in his presentation that will induce longer stay of guests in the city as well as the required tourism-support facilities towards a tourist-friendly destination.

The initiative of Sipalay in crafting the said plan is in consonance with the Tourism Act of 2009 which encourages local government units to prepare their local tourism development plans for sustainability as stressed by Dir. Cañizal.

The presentation was attended by the city officials and concerned heads of offices in the City as well as a representative from the Department of Trade and Industry-Negros Occidental since tourism is the city’s One Town One Product (OTOP).

The said plan was realized through the assistance of the Regional Development Council- Region 6 that strongly supports Mayor Soledad C. Montilla and Acting City Mayor Oscar C. Montilla, Jr. in their tourism development thrusts in Sipalay City
 
Officials Break Ground For Sipalay Eco-Center
January 07,2010
 

A ground breaking ceremony for Sipalay Eco-Center was held in Sitio Can-arao, Brgy. Cabadiangan yesterday.

The Eco-Center which is composed of a sanitary landfill, composting wetland, wastewater treatment chambers, and monitoring pond is one of the priority projects of Mayor Soledad Montilla in partnership with the DED (Deutscher Entwicklungdienst) and its representative Engr. Stefan Schell. The Eco-Center plan started in 2006 with the site selection process and is expected to be operational June of this year.

Rev. Pastor Samuel Garcia headed the blessing rite. Attendance at the ceremony included Acting City Mayor Oscar C. Montilla, Jr, City Administrator Maria Gina Lizares, Acting Vice-Mayor Ma. Myrna Fernandez, Councilors Agripino Alvarez, III and Bebsie Villegas Provincial Environment Management Officer Atty. Edwin Abanil, residents of Brgy. Cabadiangan, barangay officials and city employees.
Sipalay City Wins Provincial Tourism Awards
October 09,2009
 

Sipalay City garnered three recognitions during the Provincial Tourism Excellence Awards rites at the Provincial Capitol in Bacolod recently.

Sipalay City earned the Excellence Award for Local Government Unit Implementation of Tourism Regulations and Function and received a plaque of appreciation acknowledging the city’s support to the tourism agenda of the province.

City Tourism Officer Cristine C. Mansinares got the Best Tourism Officer of Negros Occidental Award.

Mansinares has been serving Sipalay City for the last four years under Mayors Soledad and Oscar Montilla, Jr.

Sipalay City acknowledges the active involvement of the Department of Trade and Industry, the Negros Island Tourism Incorporated and the tourism stakeholders in sustaining the city’s tourism industry.
Sipalay's Tourism Week Celebration Gets National Recognition
October 09,2009
 

The Tourism Week Celebration of Sipalay City was awarded first runner up during the Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines’ (ATOP) Tourism Best Practices Awards Night held in General Santos recently.

Activities during the Tourism Week celebration included the two months Tourism and Environment Awareness Forum to 32 schools and 17 barangays, Adventure Tour for City Employees, Tourism Quiz for elementary and high school students, Tourism Essay Writing Contest, and Skills Training on Food and Beverage Operations. The celebration was actively supported by the Department of Trade and Industry, the City Environment and Natural Resources Office, the Office of the Sangguniang Palungsod and Sipalay Resorts Association working on the theme “Tourism Responding to the Challenge of Climate Change.”

Secretary Ace Durano together with the ATOP Officers presented the awards to the winning entries.

Sipalay: A Diving Destination
April 01,2009
 

With such a rich history and diverse natural attractions, Sipalay is fast becoming a popular destination for visitors. Among the well-liked activities, diving gained much attention. Currently, there are forty-two enchanting sites including the three wrecks. Foreign and local visitors spend time to go scuba diving or take a diving course from PADI-accredited diving schools situated in Punta Ballo and Sugar Beach . 

One of the popular wrecks is the SS Panay in Campomanes Bay . It is an American warship from WW II that was sunk by Japanese torpedoes in March 1942. Currently, it serves as an artificial reef that supports the marine life in the area.

In keeping up its tourism industry, the City government had formulated local policies and ordinances. The establishment of the Marine Protected Area in 2001 greatly helped Sipalay in giving specific conservation value to its marine resources. Disneyland and Eva's Point were two of the scenic dive spots located within the MPA.

Moreover, due to the crown of thorns starfish outbreak that threatens the reef, an ongoing operation in collecting these coral predators is being conducted. With sustainable coastal practices, Sipalay is treading its way towards tourism promotion and environmental protection.

Diving in Sipalay is not limited to scuba diving, as snorkeling in the shallow reefs of Barangay IV and Brgy. Maricalum yields incredible sights and experiences, especially for the inexperienced divers or those traveling in family groups with younger children.
Officials break ground for the Sipalay Government Center
March 20, 2009
 

The ground breaking ceremony for the New Sipalay Government Center in Barangay Gil Montilla was held yesterday.

The time capsule was lowered by Mayor Soledad Montilla, assisted by Vice Mayor Oscar Montilla Jr., members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod, barangay officials, Landbank of the Philippines-Sipalay manager Miguelito Guiritan, and representatives from Dynamic Builders.

The construction of the government center is one of the major development undertakings noted in the City Master Plan and Comprehensive Land Use Plan. Its objective is to establish a new site for the government center that can accommodate future development in response to emerging needs of the city as prompted by the conversion of Sipalay from a municipality to a city in March 2001.

Plans for the project started during the time of when Oscar Montilla Jr. was mayor and was pursued to be put into reality by the incumbent mayor.
Sipalay City Tops Hiyas Ng Turismo Search
April 06,2006
 

Sipalay City garnered the grand prize in the 1 st Hiyas Ng Turismo Search conducted by the Women in Travel Manila in cooperation with the Department of Tourism. Tourism Operations Officer Cristine C. Mansinares received the award at Hyatt Regency, Pasay City last March 28, 2006. The city received P 100,000 cash prize, a round-trip ticket to Singapore for two (2), & and a trophy. Marketing collateral materials were also granted to the city. Senator Richard Gordon, one of the prominent guests during the awarding ceremony, gave 5 Million to the nine (9) destinations to be shared out for their tourism development projects.

There were 28 sites that competed in the semi-finals and 9 were chosen to vie in the final judging. Other winning entries were Sibang Cove, Cagayan Valley-3 rd Place , Cavinti Twin Falls, Laguna-2 nd Place , and Bugang River , Antique-1 st Place . Rosales in Pangasinan, Sacobia Valley in Pampanga, Municipality of Magdalena in Laguna, Lake Apo in Bukidnon and Mount Hamiguitan in Davao Oriental were the other national finalists.

Sipalay Celebrates its 5 th Charter Anniversary
April 03, 2006
 

The City of Sipalay commemorated its 5 th Charter Anniversary last March 27-31, 2006 with the theme: “Development Change for a Better Tomorrow”. It featured various sports events that gathered the crowd three days before the official opening rites started. There were weekend concerts 3-4 weeks prior to the actual fiesta celebration, band exhibitions, agro-aqua trade fair, rides , beauty pageant, cultural show, street dancing competition and many more.

In its five (5) years of existence as a city, Sipalay has numerous developments in the aspects of social services, economics, environment, governance, agriculture, tourism, infrastructures, school buildings, farm-to-market roads, public market, irrigation, irrigation and dikes to name some. Mayor Oscar C. Montilla is encouraging Sipalaynon to intensify the bond of unity as the city had started to triple the development pace undertaken by the local government unit.

Pasaway Adventure Challenge marks Sipalay City Fiesta
March 28, 2006
 

The 1st Pasaway Adventure Challenge was in conducted at Sipalay City last March 24-27, 2006 featuring various tourism sites of the city as control points.

T There were a total of 15 teams that participated. The top 3 awards were all bagged by teams from Dumaguete City . The 3rd place went to the Outdoors-Habagat-Cuernos, followed by the Dynasty Agri-Aqua Fairies team, and romping with great honor and pride to finish first in the race was the Hayahay Orient Wind-Cuernos2 team.

The team received cash prizes and trophies from the city. The event was made possible thru the support of Mayor Oscar C. Montilla, Jr. in cooperation with SP Nathaniel Jan Celiz and Mr. Troy Gedang. The team who facilitated the event headed by Mr. Pobbie Limas was also recognized for making the Pasaway Adventure Challenge possible. This is the city's response to the thrust of the Provincial Government for Adventure Negros.

The race will be featured in the entire episode of Gameplan at Studio 23 on May 7, 2006 at 1:30pm.