LEGAZPI CITY – The provincial government, through the Provincial Tourism and Cultural Affairs Office (PTCAO), has prepared local destinations and facilities to ensure that tourists will have a comfortable and enjoyable stay in Albay during the summer months.

In an interview on Wednesday, Albay PTCAO chief Dorothy Colle said they are ready for the arrival of local and foreign tourists as the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) welcomes the dry season, but they continue to monitor accommodation facilities to ensure these are fit to give the people a safe and worry-free vacation.

“We encourage them to become Department of Tourism (DOT)-accredited because being DOT-accredited means they comply with the standards set by the Department of Tourism. As such, we can guarantee the safety and services provided to tourists,” Colle said.

She added only tourism facilities accredited by the DOT can be promoted or recommended to tourists, as these are the ones that comply with the required standards for a service-oriented facility, and help the public prevent being victimized by online scams.

“The services offered by DOT-accredited establishments vary. We have accommodations, resorts, restaurants, hotels, and various other allied services. In terms of accommodation, there are at least 180 facilities across the provinces,” she said.

Colle added that their role is to further increase the number of facilities to accommodate visitors.

“We conducted a survey, and at one time, we found that if all accommodation facilities were fully booked, we could accommodate more than 2,800 people,” Colle said.

She said beaches are the top choice this summer, and Albay has plenty of these, with coastal areas on both its western and eastern sides.

“On the western side, this refers to the stretch of the Albay West Coast, which passes through the municipalities of Libon, Oas, Pioduran, and Ligao. There are several coastal beaches in these areas. On the eastern side, which faces the Pacific Ocean, popular destinations include the resorts on Cagraray Island, as well as the black and white sand beaches on the eastern seaboard, covering Tiwi, Malinao, Tabaco, Bacacay, and Santo Domingo,” she said.

Colle added Albay has beautiful waterfalls in Malinao, rivers, eco-farms, the Mayon Skyline, Kawa-Kawa Hill and Natural Park for pilgrims, the famous Cagsawa Ruins in Daraga, Quituinan Hills, and Quitinday Hills in Camalig town. (With reports from Lily Nocomora and Kryselle Perez, OJTs/PNA)