Tourism stakeholders organize ONTA
BY DINDO GENEROSO
The president of COSCA (College of Sta Catalina de Alexandria) and that of the Tour Guides Association of Negros Oriental with three others from the Dumaguete Press Club, the Dive Guides Association and Divers Association, were elected co-chairmen of the all-private oriental Negros Toursim Association. (ONTA). The ONTA is the umbrella organization of all tourism stakeholders who comprise about 45 other stakeholders groups who contribute their share in promoting the tourism industry in the province.
In a novel election process, following the semi-parliamentary procedure, all 47 stakeholdler presidents were all candidates. The five elected cochairmen are Fr. Enrique “Eking” Balongag, president of COSCA; as chairman- 1; Tour Guides Association of Negros Oriental president Janine Flores- Lawas, chairman-2; both tied with 13 votes; Dumaguete Press Club founding president and as (From page 2) print media group president Ely Dejaresco, chairman-3; 12 votes; Artists Guild AlON president Pamela Galvez, chairman-3; 11 votes; Dive Guides and Rescue Group president, Jonathan Alerre, chairman- 4; 7 votes; and Dive Operators President Joey Varela , chairman-5; 6 votes.
The stakeholders followed the semi-parliamentary procedural election wherein all 47 stakeholder presidents were candidates. They chose from among themselves the first five majority vote getters who became the five-co-chairmen.
The purpose of having 5 co-chairs of the ONTA is that in case the top vote getter fails to perform satisfactorily within his term, the entire ONTA board will convene and choose a grievance committee who will decide on the fate of the first chairman. If the committee from ONTA chosen at random, votes against his retention, automatically, the second co-chairman takes over and so forth. There is no need for the chairman to finish his or her term of office if he or she is replaced during a midyear evaluation.
Aside from the 5 cochair, the entire body of ONTA stakeholders presidents are themselves members of the board who will elect among themselves those who are willing to accept the needed positions. The five were immediately inducted to office by Gov. Arnaiz.
The ONTA will be the private sector counter part of the Tourism Board which is composed of government policy makers. The government and private sector will join hands in realizing the overall objective of putting Negros Oriental on the tourism map, domestically and globally.
Other stakeholderspresidents who voted during the ONTA tourism summit were: Dondee Señeres, bikers association; Divinagracia Yee, SOMEONE producers; Michael Figaoa, one touch; Prodi Sirilan, special events; Ranuo Fonollera, porters association; Catherine Divinagracia ,LUPPA; Rolf Muemlemann, Dive Tourism Foundation; Antonio Wenceslao, outdoor adventurers; Myrna Solibas, Magdalena group; Sammy Gargaritano, Ceres manager, Transport industry; Ricarte Duran, DASA airport skycaps; Ricardo Sales, APDCI; and Jeffrey Dasian, cave guides association. Other groups invited by Gov. Arnaiz to attend the summit were: Ernesto Quiamco, NOCCI president; Youman Uymatiao, NOHRRA president; Macrina Fuentes, ATOON travels agents; Kitty Taniguchi, Galleria Maria represented by Danny Sollesta.
Jenny Tilos, PIA manager; Earl Jude Celope, SU office of instruction; Nick Elman, tourism provincial council chairman; Mark Uy, shaman air; Marius Oncog, Cebu Pacific; Alex Pal, Dumaguete Press Club president represented by Ely Dejaresco; Fernando Martinez, REACT; Ruben Tiro, SRECON; Alex Sy, UFCCCI president.

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