DOT-VI adds 3 major awards to Miss Iloilo Dinagyang 2018

The Department of Tourism Region VI (DOT-VI) is making the Miss Iloilo Dinagyang 2018 grander with three additional major awards for the said pageant, just in time for the celebration of the festival’s 50th anniversary.

The three additional major awards for Miss Iloilo Dinagyang include Miss Iloilo Dinagyang Ecotourism, Miss Iloilo Dinagyang Farm Tourism and Miss Iloilo Dinagyang Faith-based Tourism.

The said awards aim to promote community awareness on ecotourism, farm tourism and faith-based tourism which are considered as emerging tourism products of Western Vissayas.

The winners of the said awards will serve as ambasadress for tourism sustainability by dedicating their year of reign in implementing projects and address issues concerning their respective advocacies together with the DOT-VI.

The winners of Miss Iloilo Dinagyang Ecotourism, Miss Iloilo Dinagyang Farm Tourism and Miss Iloilo Dinagyang Faith-based Tourism will each receive P10,000, a Certificate of Award, bouquet and sash on coronation night. In addition, they will also receive a monthly honorarium worth P10,000 each or a total of P120,000 each for one year to fund their sustainable programs and projects.

To choose the winners of the said awards, all candidates of Miss Iloilo Dinagyang 2018 will be given a chance to present their concept paper to the panelists of DOT-VI. The concept paper will include the plan of each candidate on how they will implement it and promote the tourism product she is representing.

Miss Iloilo Dinagyang is one of the highlights of the annual Dinagyang Festival. Every year, DOT-VI plays a major role both in the pageant and in the festival as a whole.

“Just like Dinagyang festival, the search for Miss Iloilo Dinagyang Festival is already a tradition among the Ilonggos. Now is the time for us to upgrade and use this pageant as platform for us to further promote emerging tourism products not only of Iloilo, but also of the region as a whole,” DOT-VI Regional Director Atty. Helen Catalbas said.