Our Lady of Fatima University

1 Esperanza Street, Hilltop Mansion Heights, Quezon City, 1100

Metro Manila

SUSTAINABLE TOURISM DESTINATION MARKETING

PHILIPPINE GASTRONOMY TOURISM DEVELOPMENT
The Art of Romblon

Presented to the faculty of

College of Hospitality and Institutional Management
Our Lady of Fatima University

In Partial Fulfillment
Of the Requirements for the Course
STDM311

PGTO311

Submitted by

BSITM TTO 3Y2-3

Alvear, John Clauhd E.
Bacud, Edelaine Mae
Castañeda, Dianne L.
Descalzota, Gerielyn S.
Salvador, Rachelle Mae Q.

Submitted to

Aisha Janinne Q. Escabillas. MSHM,DBA

Emily Villaverde-Banzel
May 2021
I. Background of the Destination

1.1 General Information

Romblon is an archipelagic province of the Philippines located in the

Mimaropa region. Its main islands include Tablas, which covers nine
municipalities, Sibuyan with its three towns, as well as the smaller island
municipalities of Corcuera, Banton, Concepcion, San Jose, and Romblon, the
provincial capital. The province lies south of Marinduque and Quezon, east of
Oriental Mindoro, north of Aklan and Capiz, and west of Masbate.

Romblon's aboriginal inhabitants were the Negritos from Panay and

Mangyans from Mindoro, who settled in the islands during the precolonial period.
Ancient wooden coffins discovered in the Guyangan Cave System of Banton
Island in 1936 signify a rich ancient civilization and culture in the province before
the arrival of the Spaniards in 1569. These artifacts are currently on display at the
National Museum in Manila. Remnants of Negrito and Mangyan aborigines now
live in the mountains of Tablas and Sibuyan after they were displaced by the
influx of Hiligaynon, Aklanon, Bicolano and Tagalog migrants as early as 1870.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romblon
1.2 Geography
1.2.1 Physical Features
Romblon is strategically situated at the center of the Philippine
archipelago. It is composed of three major islands (Tablas, Sibuyan and
Romblon) and 17 smaller islands. Romblon is surrounded by deep waters,
and is bounded by Masbate in the east, Mindoro in the west, Marinduque
in the north and Panay in the south. It is generally mountainous with
about 40 percent of its land area having an inclination of more than 50
percent. Only four percent of the total area has an inclination of three to
eight percent, while a sparse 10 percent has an inclination of three to zero
percent. Narrow strips of coastal lowlands, low hills and plains typify the
topography of some of the islands.
Romblon Island is hilly with a maximum elevation of about 400
metres (1,300 ft) above sea level. Tablas Island shows varied relief
characteristics. Extremely rugged areas can be found in the central section
of the island. The highest elevation is almost 500 metres (1,600 ft) above
sea level. The western portion of the island may be characterized as
extensively rugged, having ascents of 60 percent or more while the eastern
section is relatively undulating to rolling.

1.2.2 Biological Features

Romblon, particularly Sibuyan Island, is among the few places in
the Philippines with a well-preserved natural environment. Uninterrupted
rainforest covers 75 percent of the island. It is also home to the country's
cleanest inland body of water, the Cantigas River, as well as 34 waterfalls.
Sibuyan is commonly known in the country as the "Galapagos of Asia"
because of its many endemic plant and animal species, some of which
have just been discovered recently. Among these endemic species are nine
mammals, seven lizards, two amphibians, three birds and 112 vascular
plants.
Flora:
● Nepenthes argentii - is a highland Nepenthes pitcher plant native to
Mount Guiting-Guiting on Sibuyan Island in the Philippines. It is
possibly the smallest species in the genus and does not appear to
have a climbing stage.

https://www.hantsflytrap.com/nmc077-nepenthes-argentii-226-
p.asp
● Nepenthes sibuyanensis - is a tropical pitcher plant endemic to
Sibuyan Island in the Philippines, after which it is named.

https://www.hantsflytrap.com/nmc077-nepenthes-argentii-226-
p.asp
● Nepenthes armin - is a tropical pitcher plant native to the
Philippines. The type specimen was collected in 1989 on Sibuyan
Island, at an elevation of 750 m above sea level. The specific
epithet armin honours Armin Rios Marin.
 http://cpphotofinder.com/nepenthes-armin-21801.html
Fauna:
● The Philippine tube-nosed fruit bat - locally known in Tagalog as
Bayakan is a species of bat in the family Pteropodidae. It is
endemic to the Philippines and known from the islands of Cebu,
Negros and Sibuyan. It occurs in and near primary and secondary
subtropical or tropical dry forests. It is often found near water.

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/40866-
Nyctimene-rabori
● The Indigo-banded kingfisher
- is a species of bird in the family
Alcedinidae. It is endemic to the
Philippines, where it is generally
uncommon but locally widespread in the northern and central
islands.
 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indigo-
banded_kingfisher#/media/File:Ibkf.jpg
● The Romblon hawk-owl or Romblon boobook - is a species of owl
in the family Strigidae that is endemic to the Philippines.

https://cdn.download.ams.birds.cornell.edu/api/v1/asset/21112437
1/
1.3 Population
Demographic Profile
The province of Romblon is a 3rd class province in the
MIMAROPA region with 17 municipalities and 219 barangays. According
to the 2015 Census of Population (POPCEN 2015), it has a total
population of 292,781 persons, of which 50.6 percent are males and 49.4
percent are females.

Language
 The languages of Romblon, as well as all languages native to the
Philippines, belong to the Austronesian language family, the second
largest language family in the world with 1,257 known languages, second
only to the Niger–Congo family's 1,538 languages. All of the languages of
the Philippines, except Samalan, are classified as Philippine languages
under the Western Malayo-Polynesian branch of Austronesian. The
Philippine language group has three main branches: Northern, Southern
and Central, the latter of which is composed of the Bisayan, Bikol and
Tagalog languages.

Religion

The people of the province are predominantly Roman Catholic. In

2012, the UP School of Economics reported that in recent years, 69
percent were Catholics, 30 percent belonged to Iglesia Filipina
Independiente while five percent to Muslims, and around three percent
belonged to Iglesia ni Cristo.

Ethnic Groups

The inhabitants of Romblon are divided into three ethnolinguistic

groups: Romblomanon, Onhan and Asi. These groups occupy specific
islands in the province and have their own language and customs.
Romblomanon is mainly spoken in the town of Romblon, in all three
towns of Sibuyan Island, and the town of San Agustin in Tablas Island.
Onhan is mainly spoken in the municipalities in the southern part of
Tablas Island (Alcantara, Looc, Ferrol, Santa Fe, San Andres, and Santa
Maria) as well as in the island municipality of San Jose. The northwestern
part of Tablas Island (in Odiongan and Calatrava, as well as the island's
municipalities of Corcuera, Banton, and Concepcion, speak the Asi
language.

Economy
 Romblon used to be one of the poorest provinces in the Philippines
until 2015 when it recorded a lower poverty incidence of 38.63 percent,
according to the Philippine Statistics Authority. Poverty incidence in the
province further declined to 28.28 percent in 2018. The provincial
economy is heavily reliant on agriculture, tourism and mineral extraction
which can be greatly affected by typhoons that frequently pass through the
province yearly.

1.4 Major Industries

The islands are dispersed and accessible only via sea transportation except
for Tablas Island where a domestic airport is located in the municipality of
Alcantara. Agriculture is the main industry in Romblon like coconut in which it
has one of the most extensive areas with coconut plants. Fishing industry is also
one of the major enterprises and big contributors as Romblon is surrounded by
water on all sides.

Marine resources
Fishing industry is a major enterprise as Romblon is surrounded by
water on all sides. The fishing grounds of Romblon are a migratory path of
fish from Sulu and Visayan Seas passing Tablas Strait, Sibuyan Sea and
Romblon Pass. The waters also abound with demersal fish due to the coral
reefs surrounding the islands.
Because the province has a great potential for aqua-marine development,
the province implemented a coastal and resource management program.
Each municipality established a fish sanctuary and passed laws on fishery.
Mineral resources
Marble is the most significant mineral deposit of Romblon and is
the most renowned product of the province. Romblon marble is of very
high quality and comes in shades of white, green, pink, red and black. The
Mines and Geosciences Bureau has estimated that Romblon is endowed
 with about 150 million metric tons of marble. At current rates of
extraction, the supply may last for three more centuries.
Marble quarrying and processing are major activities in Romblon.
Among the most common marble products are categorized into the
following: novelty items (gifts, ashtray, table bars), furniture (dining
tables, baptismal fonts) and construction materials (tiles, balusters, marble
chips). Other mineral resources with considerable quantities include nickel
ore and gold mostly to be found in Sibuyan Island. Gold panning and
small-scale mining is a lucrative undertaking in Magdiwang.

1.5 Major Tourist Attraction

Romblon is a province in the Philippines rich in both marble deposits and
stunning tourist spots. Being an archipelago of 20 islands and islets, it is gifted
with the country’s most pristine islands, beaches, sandbars and coves.
● Cresta de Gallo is one of the best tourist spots in Romblon situated off the
east coasts of Sibuyan Island. The island has very unique and interesting
features. This 5-hectare paradise island is best known for its powdery
white sand, long stretch of sandbars, rock formations, picture-perfect
views, turquoise and crystal clear waters. It is an unexploited island at its
raw natural form without any developments.

https://www.thecoastalcampaign.com/cresta-de-gallo-island/
● Carabao Island is a famous island in Romblon lies in the southern tip of
Tablas Island. It is politically named as San Jose but locally known as
Hambil. It is a beautiful beach arrayed with some bent coconut trees, white
sand and turquoise waters. It is considered as the twin beach of the nearby
30-minute boat ride famous Boracay Beach.

https://www.ttrweekly.com/site/2019/11/can-carabao-catch-boracay/
● BonBon Beach is one of the most beautiful tourist spots in Romblon. The
beach features over a kilometer long stretch and vast expanse of fine white
sand, rock formations, verdant greens lined-up on the shoreline and
gradually sloping ocean floor with alluring clear turquoise waters. The
best and unique feature of the Bonbon Beach is its beautiful sandbar that
connects the beach to the nearby uninhabited Bang-ug Island.

https://www.journeyera.com/bonbon-beach-sandbar-romblon/
● Talipasak Beach Resort, also known as San Pedro Beach Resort, is one of
the famous beach resorts in the island of Romblon perched in a serene and
quiet private cove. Talipasak Beach features a short stretch of creamy
white sand shore, clear and calm waters perfect for swimming, shoreline
arrayed with verdant trees and rock formations clad with greens on both
ends.

https://www.journeyera.com/talipasak-san-pedro-beach-romblon/
● Aglicay Beach Resort is one of the most-visited tourist spots in Romblon
situated in a private cove on the east coasts of Tablas Island. Given its
proximity to the airport, it’s a notable destination among foreign and local
visitors. The resort has a privately owned long and wide stretch of white
sand beach dotted with coconut trees and rolling hills as a backdrop where
guests can surely enjoy its sense of privacy.

https://www.journeyera.com/aglicay-beach-viewpoint-resort-tablas/
● Looc Bay Marine Refuge and Sanctuary is a 48-hectare marine sanctuary
in Romblon. It is a home of diverse marine life forms including hard and
soft corals, different species of fishes, giant clams, lobsters, turtles,
octopus and eels among others. A floating kiosk amid the Looc Bay is
where guests can enjoy feeding the fishes through a small opening at the
center of the kiosk. A beautiful old lighthouse nearby can also be spotted.

https://www.journeyera.com/looc-marine-sanctuary-tablas-island-
romblon/
● Mount Guiting-Guiting is one of the popular tourist spots in Romblon
rising 2,058+ meters above sea level in the middle of Sibuyan Island. The
mountain is covered with thick forests and a home of numerous endemic
flora and fauna. The climb features a rocky trail passing through steep and
jagged ridges which few are named Knife Ridge, Kiss the Wall and Peak
of Deception were said to be impassable when slippery.
 https://www.journeyera.com/trekking-mt-guiting-guiting-g2/
● Saint Joseph Cathedral is considered as the most famous and oldest 15th
century Roman Catholic Church in Romblon. The church was built by the
Recollect Fathers between 1640’s and 1726’s with a magnificent
architecture made of coral bricks and stones. Major reconstructions have
been done with its facade made of marbles and a bell tower on its side. It
also has a beautiful interior showcasing crafts, religious paintings and art
designs by talented local artisans.

https://www.bestpricetravel.com/travel-guide/saint-joseph-cathedral.html
● Cantingas River is one of the main tourist spots in Romblon which is
recognized as one of the cleanest rivers in the Philippines. The river has
clean and refreshing waters where-in visitors can enjoy the wide natural
 pool. For thrill seekers, built on one side of the river is a concrete diving
platform on different high levels enough to pump some adrenaline rush.

https://www.journeyera.com/cantingas-river-cliff-jump-sibuyan-island-
romblon/
● Dagubdub Falls is an interesting destination in Romblon composed of 4
waterfalls on different levels with crystal clear freshwater plunge pools
alluring for swimming and cliff diving. Going to the falls is a considerable
adventure following a trail leading to the falls with a beautiful view of
Mount Guiting-Guiting passing through easy terrain, a small clear river
and a bridge.
 https://www.journeyera.com/sibuyan-island-waterfalls/

1.6 Tourism and Hospitality Service Industries

Romblon has several affordable and budget-friendly hotels, guest/pension

houses and inns for you to stay in.

PLACES STAY IN SIARGAO

● Lunas Beach Resort- has a restaurant, bar, a shared lounge and garden in
San Jose. With a terrace, the 3-star hotel has air-conditioned rooms with
free WiFi, each with a private bathroom.

https://tropicaldiscovery.com/accommodation/luna-beach-resort/
● Sunset Cove Beach & Dive Resort- features a restaurant, outdoor
swimming pool, a bar and garden in Romblon.
 https://www.tripadvisor.ca/Hotel_Review-g2154777-d17409715-Reviews-
Sunset_Cove_Beach_Dive_Resort-
Romblon_Romblon_Island_Visayas.html
● Tinaoog Beach Resort- is an eco-friendly resort that features solar
powered electricity and sources rainwater. The property has a private
beach area and garden.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g13322594-d13196611-
Reviews-or10-Tinaoog_Beach_Resort_Eco_friendly-
Alad_Romblon_Island_Visayas.html
● Tabas Point Resort- offers 2-star accommodation in Santa Fe and has a
restaurant, bar and garden. With free WiFi, this 2-star guest house offers a
private beach area and a tour desk. The accommodation features karaoke
and room service. At the guest house, rooms include a patio. Featuring a
shared bathroom, rooms at Tablas Point Resort also boast a sea view.
 https://www.agoda.com/tablas-point-resort/hotel/romblon-ph.html?
cid=1844104
● Tablas Seaview Resort- has a restaurant, outdoor swimming pool, a bar
and garden in Ferrol. This 1-star guest house offers water sports facilities,
room service and free WiFi. The guest house features family rooms. At the
guest house the rooms have a private bathroom. Guests at Tablas Seaview
Resort can enjoy a continental breakfast.The accommodation offers a sun
terrace. You can play billiards at Tablas Seaview Resort, and the area is
popular for hiking and snorkelling.

https://maps123.net/en/PH/tablas-seaview-resort-p45355
1.7 Food Culture and Current Gastronomic Offers
● Sarsa is a local dish found only in Romblon. The dish is made out of
small shrimps caught in streams, mixed with young coconut and chili.
 https://awesome.blog/2016/09/romblon-food-trip-8-local-dishes.html
● Taghilaw is pork meat and intestines cooked in vinegar sauce. A dish
similar in preparation to "dinuguan" but minus the blood.
 https://awesome.blog/2016/09/romblon-food-trip-8-local-dishes.html
● Gayabon is Romblon's version of Laing. But what makes it different is
that they use fresh gabi cooked until the leaves are mashed into a pasty
texture.

https://awesome.blog/2016/09/romblon-food-trip-8-local-dishes.html
● Sihi shells a local edible shellfish. Often cooked in coconut milk, you can
find them in carinderias in Looc Town.

https://awesome.blog/2016/09/romblon-food-trip-8-local-dishes.html
● Inaslum is a healthy vegetable soup that makes use of any available fresh
vegetable in season. It is not sour like what the name suggests, but actually
very bland.
 https://awesome.blog/2016/09/romblon-food-trip-8-local-dishes.html

1.8 Destination Access

By air
There are no direct flights from Manila to Romblon Island. The
nearest airport is located on Tablas Island, Tugdan. From Tugdan, take a
jeepney or tricycle to San Agustin. Land travel is about 1.5 hours and it
costs P250 for a special trip on a tricycle. From the port at San Agustin,
take a pumpboat directly to Romblon Town.

By sea
Three ferries: 2Go Travel, Navios Lines and Montenegro Lines
offer daily trips from Batangas port to Romblon port. From Manila, you
can take a bus (ex. JAC Liner) to get to Batangas Pier. Make sure to arrive
2 hours prior to the scheduled departure of the ferry. Travel time by sea
from Batangas to Romblon takes about 8 – 12 hours.

1.9 Infrastructure
Transportation
Romblon province is connected by a network of national and
provincial roads. The primary modes of land transportation in the province
are jeepneys, passenger motorcycles, minibuses and tricycles that serve
inter-municipal movements and linkages.
 Electricity
Power supply in Romblon is generated by the National Power
Corporation (NPC) and serviced by two electric cooperatives. Romblon
Electric Cooperative (ROMELCO) supplies electricity to the capital town
of Romblon through a 1.720 MW diesel power plant and a 1.30 MW
power barge.
Water supply
Out of 17 municipalities, 14 have Level III water supply systems
serving 18,590 households or about 32.57 percent of the total provincial
households. Level III has a reservoir with house-to-house connections.
5,252 households were serviced by Level II water systems and 24,700
households by Level I water systems.
Healthcare
There are eight government-owned hospitals in Romblon that serve
the local population's healthcare needs. Four of these hospitals are located
in Tablas Island.

II. Destination Marketing

2.1 Project Name and Description

Project Name: The Art of Romblon

Description: The project is titled “The Art of Romblon”. This is a campaign to

promote the wide array of attractions, and activities that Romblon has to offer to
tourists and locals. Romblon is known for its local marble industry and is the
second biggest producer of the mineral in the country. The project's main purpose
is to address Romblon’s sustainability and destination marketing plan, on how
people will know and witness the wonders of Romblon Philippines while
maximizing its resources at the same time developing the island.

2.2 Vision, Mission, Objectives

Vision: In the year of 2026, Romblon will be internationally recognized as a
preferred travel and getaway destination.

Mission: To promote the island of Romblon and preserve its culture.

Objectives:
1. To build a sustainable place for both locals and tourists.
2. To promote a developed place to enjoy and feel secure for everyone’s
welfare.
3. To let everyone be amused by what Romblon can offer without harming
the place.

2.3. Promotional Strategies

Romblon is making sure that all its products and services will be known.
We promote Romblon's elegance on social media to attract visitors to come. We
have commercials, such as sharing amazing clips about the amazing things to do
in Romblon and the uniqueness of the island.
 Slogan: Up, up and away with Beauty of Romblon
Tagline: We’ll show you the
world of rocks and beaches
Logo:
Logo Description

It depicts Romblon's elegance, and the ambiance of the place that will
remind tourists to unwind. The logo's distinct look and color scheme show that
the venue exudes an optimistic vibe conducive to having a good time. It creates a
feeling of uniqueness and an urge for visitors to come see the beauty of the place.
Programs/Activities:
● Launch Blogs and vlogs to promote multiple assets at once in Romblon.
Blogs and vlogs can provide a deeper look into niche topics as it relates to
a destination, than say, a brochure could.
● A mini concert series features performers for every musical taste and is
held every Thursday, Saturday and Sunday night, from 7 to 10 pm with a
P30 entrance fee. Featuring a lineup of local artists, bands on the beach
delivers an eclectic musical experience throughout the entire summer.
Spectators are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs and blankets.
They can also buy food and beverages to enjoy the music.
● Drive exposure with influencer programs- Influencers are people who
have established a following around their personal online brand. Like
bloggers, YouTubers, vloggers, Instagrammers. Influencers can help to
create content and experience something new and expose Romblon by
doing blogs and vlogs to new audiences.

2.4. Target Market

Our Target market are those people who want to enjoy a peaceful, relaxing
trip and love to do some adventurous activities such as cave exploring, island
hopping, hiking, and cliff jumping. You can also engage in their activities such as
their religious celebration, the biniray festival and learn more about their culture.
Romblon is giving its best service to tourists, couples, families, and millennials
who want an excellent experience to travel in Romblon.

2.5 Trends and Influences

 In a world more aware of sustainability issues, travellers are increasingly
being involved in seeking options that reduce the negative impact on the
environment. Because of travellers’ interest in connecting more with the
destination they visit, they prefer to do other different activities. Instead of
seeking experiences focused on the large masses of tourists, the most demanding
travellers prefer to live authentic and local experiences. From cultural visits where
you can learn about the history and traditions of the place, to gastronomic routes
to taste local products.

2.6 Competitive Advantage

Romblon is increasingly becoming known as a tourist destination because
of its unspoiled beaches and Spanish-era twin forts. There are numerous island
gems that will satisfy your leisure and are budget friendly which will complete
your experience.
Romblon has many popular attractions that tourists will love, especially the
environment that is made of nature like pools and forms of rocks in other parts of
the island. The sea here is calm, gentle, and suitable for swimming, or you can
take a barefoot stroll through the white sand while looking out over the crystal-
clear water. There are so many different activities such as bicycle and motorcycle
rentals, sightseeing views, island tours and many more. You will not get bored
while staying at Romblon beach. The restaurants there is instagramable to take a
good photo and have a lot of choices to eat depending on your taste and of course
the room and accommodation is relaxing as well as the peace you will get by just
staying there.

2.7 Packages

These Romblon Day Tour Packages consist of 3 unique sets of adventure

slated within and/or across the isle’s diverse region, each package catering to
different tastes. Experience any of these unique and delightful offerings at
Romblon by booking now.

PACKAGE A
Rates: Php 1,675/pax
Packages Inclusions:
● Entrance fees
● Boat fees
● Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
● Homestay rest

Place to visit: Carabao Island

● White Beach
● Cathedral Cave
● Koding koding Point
● Tagaytay Viewpoint
● Ngiriton Bat Cave

PACKAGE B
Rates: Php 1,900/pax
Php 8,500 for 4 pax
Php 9,900 for 5 pax
Packages Inclusions:
● Entrance fees
● Boodle Fight
● Boat transfer
● Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
● Guide free

Place to visit:
● Cobrador Island
● Alad Island
● Logbon Island
● Bonbon Beach
● Cliff Diving Spots

PACKAGE C
Rates: Php 1,700/pax
 Packages Inclusions:
● Entrance fees
● Transportation
● Homestay rest
● Breakfast, lunch, and dinner

● Guide free

Places to visit: The Enchanting Cresta De Gallo

● Cresta De Gallo Island
● Busay Falls
● Cantingas River
● Lambingan Falls

III. Food Tourism Development

3.1 Introduction

Romblon is abundant not only in nature and tradition, but also in culinary
delights that will undoubtedly captivate visitors' hearts and senses. To highlight
the province's culinary pride, a project called "Fresh taste at Best Price in
Romblon". Any of these may be consumed fresh or on their own. Using raw
ingredients from their own farm, they've made a delicious stew.

3.2 Vision: In the year 2026, Romblon strives to be an internationally and locally
recognized food and agriculture organization that contributes to the well-being of
the community.

3.3 Mission: Aiming to improve people's lives, we offer our local foods that bring
pleasure: sustainable, healthy and convenient, pursuing excellence and innovation
and thinking of people.

3.4 Project Objectives:

1. We always source ingredients from sustainable, local suppliers.
 2. It’s our promise that all of the seafood we serve is sourced to the highest
standards.
3. To keep food and beverage costs as low as possible while maintaining
quality and service to both tourists and locals.

3.5 Gastronomic Products and Services

● Sarsa- One of the local delicacies usually peddled on the streets of

Romblon is this, Sarsa. It is traditionally made of large freshwater shrimp,
red chili peppers, and coconut. These ingredients are mixed with garlic,
ginger and whole peppercorn.
● Balichow na Gamus- Romblon has their own version of “bagoong.”
Basically, it is a salted and fermented fish or alamang (krill). In Romblon,
the fermented krill is sauteed with coconut milk. The coconut milk added
creamy flavor and nice aroma to the “bagoong.”
● Ginataang Langka- refers to any dish cooked with coconut milk. Coconut
is among the top produce in the province of Romblon. So, coconut milk is
often used in Romblon as one of the main ingredients in their dishes like
this Ginataang Langka. The dish has a subtle bitter taste coming from
Lumbay leaves, a rare leaf that may only be found in Indonesia and the
Philippines.
● Tinnies Peanut Butter- The province of Romblon is known as a producer
of peanuts and, thus, producer of peanut butter. If you’re thinking of
pasalubong (take home) from Romblon, a jar of peanut butter should be on
your list.
● Combi- Ginger and Turmeric- Ginger and Turmeric Tea in Romblon if
you like a pasalubong from Romblon that has various health benefits.
Among others, this tea can give health benefits to your skin, stomach,
sugar level, immune system, blood pressure, heart, and brain. It may also
help you control your weight.

WHERE TO EAT IN ROMBLON

 ● Seaport Bar & Grill- is a festive local restaurant that serves hearty comfort
food and Filipino favorites. Located along the main street of the town
proper near the port area and plaza, this cozy café is ideal for couples,
families and barkadas.
● Dream Paradise Mountain Resort- is a tranquil getaway that offers villas
with a view of the natural surroundings of coconut groves, rice fields, and
mountains. This homey family-run resort serves classic Pinoy staples like
sinigang na hipon, pork chops, ensaladang talong, fresh seafood, crabs and
more.

● JD & G Italian Foods and Real Italian Pizza serves handmade pizza, pasta,
antipasti and more along with wine and cheese. Aside from pizza, pasta
and Italian dishes, they also offer a few Filipino, Asian and vegetarian-
friendly options on their menu.

3.6 Competitive Advantage

Many gourmet restaurants serving fresh seafood can be found in Romblon.
Foreigners own a large number of fine dining establishments in the city and as a
result, they have an international menu which will give travellers and locals an
option where and what to eat. You can also find a local diner which serves local
delicacies of Romblon. Experiencing the local dishes of Romblon will help you
get to know more about its produce, history, and people.

3.7 Market Characteristics

Romblon is one of the places here in the Philippines that focuses on

unique selling and is always on the lookout for new consumer preferences. They
are conscious about their consumer buying behavior.

The people in Romblon are most fishermen and farmers. Rice, coconut
and abaca are major products of the small farms on the islands. Fishermen harvest
the bounty of the surrounding seas. Romblon is famous for its traditional weaving
and basketry. Handicrafts are a major home industry in which the women are
engaged. The province is noted,
especially, for its fine and delicate crochet laces and bedspreads.

3.8 Promotional Strategies

We are using social media to invite visitors to come to Romblon to see the
sights and taste the local cuisines.
● We’ll use advertisements, such as uploading pictures of numerous
Romblon delicacies on our blog, Instagram, and Facebook accounts.
● We’ll also use the online selling platform to sell our products to be
convenient for everyone who wants to purchase.
● We will sponsor influencers to promote the local cuisines of romblon.
Slogan: Deliciousness jumping into the mouth.
Programs/ Activities:
Community event
● Master Chef program- participating by local people and judging by a
professional Chef. We will also include the votes of tourists in criteria.
During the event, visitors have a unique chance to interact with the local
community, gaining a deeper experience of the ambience, customs and local
culture. The winner in this activity will be given a certificate of participation
and a grand prize.
Your favorite dish
● Online Food Plating Contest- Another activity that we want to execute is by
letting people showcase their creativity making their favorite dish on how
they will present it online. All participants will receive a consolation prize
and certificate of participation.
Tag a friend
● We will have a comment-to-enter contest in which you will tag a friend with
whom you would like to have dinner in Romblon and explain why. We will
choose one lucky winner and award two free tickets to Romblon as well as
free dinner.

3.9 Tourism and Culinary Packages

There are a variety of choices in every island from local eateries serving
home cooked Filipino dishes at P50 a meal to restaurants offering a fusion of
different cuisines for P250 a plate. Group meal packages are also offered by some
eateries for an affordable price. Sadly, fast food restaurants like Jollibee are only
available in Odiongan, Tablas Island.

Set 1 - Ala Carte

● Longganisa with rice and drinks (P65)
● Taghilaw with rice and drinks (P65)
● Gayabon with rice and drinks (P65)
 ● Chicken Katsu with rice and drinks (P75)
● Grilled Tuna/Tanigue with Sauteed Mushrooms (P85)
Set 2 - Family Packages
Good for 3 to 4 person (P430)
● Gnocchi with mushroom sauce
● Ginataang langka
● Romblon Pizza (Large)
● Strawberry Cheesecake (small)
● Rice
● 1 Liter Coke
Set 3 - Party Packages
Good for 8 to 9 person (P850)
● Sihi Shells (1 Tray)
● Stuffed Baked Mussels (1 Tray)
● Crab in coconut milk
● Sarsa (8pcs)
● Inaslum Soup
● Rice
● 1 Liter Coke
Set 4 - Food Souvenirs
● Balitsaw- P70.00 - P120.00
● Tinnie’s Peanut Butter- P65.00
● Combi (Ginger and Turmeric Tea Powder)- P115.00

IV. Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation

4.1 Health, Safety and Security
Health
● Until their arrival in Romblon, tourists must follow strict quarantine
protocols. This involves the use of face masks and shields, as well as
proper social distancing and hand sanitization on a regular basis.
 ● To have a playground for those who wish to participate in athletics. It can
help them to improve their health and wellness.
Safety and Security
● Increase cross-border security and visa controls and their implications for
tourism
● To identify the risks associated with travel and tourism and design
ways to reduce it.
● The city's police department will toughen proactive security measures with
good teamwork and collaboration with institutions involved to improve
security activities in the tourism sector.
4.2 Protection of the Natural Environment
● Resources such as land, water, air, minerals and biodiversity will be
managed in a manner consistent with the viability of ecological processes.
● Environmental management systems will be encouraged to be flexible so
as to adapt to changing situations like climate change, invasive species and
living genetically-modified organisms and adopt the Precautionary
Principle.
● Education at all levels will be promoted in a manner designed to increase
the level of awareness of all aspects of the environment and its care and
management among all stakeholders.
4.3 Visitor Management
Managing visitors is one of the important ways of managing the impacts
of tourism, particularly impacts on the environment, but in addition managing
socio-cultural and economic impacts.
Ways to Manage Visitors
● The use of signs, Travel Information Centres and information points/
boards to provide visitors with specific information.
● Controlling the number of visitors either by limiting numbers to match
capacity, or spreading the number throughout the year
● The use of wardens, guides and even guards to watch over and/or
supervise to prevent unruly behaviour, theft or deliberate damage.
 ● Educating visitors by having visitors guidelines and codes of conduct.
4.4 Waste Management
The Province of Romblon is implementing waste management to protect the
public health and minimize impacts to the environment by using systems that
are simple, sustainable, and economically affordable.
● By having 3R: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. Reducing means lessening the
amount of trash/garbage produced. Reusing refers to using materials more
than once while recycling means creating new material or product out of
trash/garbage.
● Adopting an eco-friendly practice, by reducing and minimizing use of
plastic bags and polystyrene foam.
● By using traditional disposal methods where at landfill sites are the least
desirable outcome for any material or product.
4.5 Important Issues, Challenges and Opportunities
Romblon is the recipient of a number of projects with an ICM component.
Of Romblon’s 17 municipalities, three are currently covered by the SMART-
SEAS Project, which is being implemented by Conservation International
Philippines Foundation, Inc. in coordination with the Department of
Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

4.5.1 Short Term

The MIMAROPA Regional Project Monitoring Team (RPMT)

conducted field monitoring in Romblon on March 10-15. The team
monitored 25 ongoing/completed projects located in the islands of
Sibuyan, Romblon, and Tablas. The team verified the status of the
Department of Health (DOH) Health Facilities Enhancement
Program (HFEP) funded – romblon District Hospital in Romblon
under 2018 General Appropriations Act (GAA) and the Provincial
Hospital in Odiongan, Romblon under 2017 GAA. The completion
of the Romblon District Hospital main building has 80 percent
 physical accomplishment while the construction of the building III of
the Romblon Provincial Hospital has 52 percent accomplishment.

Meanwhile, completion of the Olango and Punong bridges

monitored in Sibuyan and the 13,495 linear meters of the three
sections of the Sibuyan circumferential road were delayed due to
lack of manpower and equipment. Punong bridge has 58 percent
physical accomplishment while Olango bridge has 74.64 percent
physical accomplishment as of March 11. The contractors were
subjected to liquidated damages because of this. The team also
visited the construction of Poctoy Shore protection/causeway in
Odiongan, Romblon which was issued a cease and desist order by
the Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA) on February 6 due to
lack of necessary permit. The project has 96.68 percent
accomplishment with target completion in February 2019. The
DPWH is now in the process of securing the clearance from PRA for
reclamation works.

4.5.2 Long Term

Tablas Island is a mountainous area in Romblon which covers

critical watershed and forest reserves that provide vital water supply
to agriculture, small industries and tap water for human
consumption. Its rich gold, copper, marble, and other deposits
attracted Ivanhoe Philippines Inc., a subsidiary of Canadian
company Ivanhoe Mines Ltd., to propose a mining project covering
15,000 hectares on the island. However, such mining activities
would threaten the indigenous Ati community living there, who were
worried about mining activities having already made their land
vulnerable to mine dialing flooding, landslides, and storm surges.
Approximately 70,000 trees would also have to be cleared to
establish the mine. These trees are home to more than 123 species
 and are a conservation priority zone for amphibians and reptiles.
Mine wastes would furthermore devastate the marine life which
locals depend on for their fishing livelihoods during a time when the
locals had already been suffering from limited food and water
supplies from previous agribusiness exploitation. The Ati had not
consented to mining exploration in their territory and were
unanimously against the project.

The workshop reviewed ICM activities that had been undertaken

since 2014, including outcomes from two consultation workshops in
2015 and 2017. The indicators of progress for the ICM program
focusing on habitat protection and management (e.g. areal extent of
critical habitats) and MPA management (e.g. management
effectiveness rating) were discussed in detail, including the timeline
and budget and how the various outputs and proposed activities will
contribute to achieving the target indicators.
4.6 Sustainable Practices
● Employment opportunities to have a viable option to earn a decent living
and stay in their own community
● Patronizing local products people in romblon is famous for its traditional
weaving and basketry, thereby ensuring ongoing demand.
● Restrain the use of natural resources to ensure availability for the future
generations.

4.7 Estimated Project/Marketing Costs

Destination Marketing Cost

Project: Maintenance for Tourist Destination

Particulars Price per Unit Cost

Boat Maintenance Cost (6 boats per 1,200 86,400

 month)

Learning Materials/Posters/Signs 85,000 85,000

Radio Communications 1,850 3,700

Life Jackets (15 sets) 2,500 37,500

Whistles (17 sets) 80 1,360

Training and Devt. of New Diver Guides 25,000 125,000

Total Cost: 338,960

Project: Promotional Activity

Particulars Price per Unit Cost

Boost on Social Medias (facebook 3,000 36,000

page & Instagram) (per month)

Influencers rate (3 heads) featured on 15,000 45,000

their social medias

TV Commercial (30 seconds) 270,000 270,000

Total Cost 351,000

Project: Mini Concert

Particulars Price per Unit Cost

Talent Fee for Local Artists (2 heads) 15,000 30,000

Lights and Sounds 10,000 10,000

Stage Equipment 5,000 5,000

Microphones (3) 1,200 3,600

Security (2) 3,000 6,000

Manpower (5) 2,500 12,500

 Total Cost 67,100

Food Marketing Cost

Project:Promotional Activity

Particulars Price per Unit Cost

Boost on Social Medias (facebook 3,000 36,000

page & Instagram) (per month)

Sponsorship on Influencers (3) 10,000

Total Cost 46,000

Project: Master Chef

Particulars Price per Unit Cost

Talent fee of judges (3 person) 2,500 7,500

Host 2,500 2,500

Consolation Prizes (per program) 18,000 18,000

- 3rd Prize 3,000
- 2nd Prize 5,000
- Grand Prize 10,000

Printing Materials (Flyers, 4,000 4,000

Certificates, Tarpaulin)

Chairs (40) and Tables (6) 9,200 9,200

Total Cost: 41,200

Project: Online Food Plating Contest

Particulars Price per Unit Cost

Talent fee of judges (2 person) 2,500 5,000

Consolation Prizes (per program) 18,000 18,000

- 3rd Prize 3,000
 - 2nd Prize 5,000
- Grand Prize 10,000

Printing Materials (Flyers, 2,000 2,000

Certificates,)

Total Cost: 25,000

Project: Tag a Friend

Particulars Price per Unit Cost

Tickets and Dinner (2 person) 15,000 15,000

Set up in Restaurant 5,000 5,000

Hired Musicians 8,000 8,000

Total Cost 28,000

4.8 Return on Investments

Destination: Revenue Sales (150 person per package, per year)

Package A 1,675 251,250

Package B 1900 285,000

8,500 (4 pax) 381,750

9,900 (5 pax) 297,000

Package C 1700 255,000

1,470,000

Daily Revenue 4,027

Weekly Revenue 28,189

Monthly Revenue 120,810

Yearly Revenue 1,470,000

15% A Lot for Marketing Cost 18,121.5

 Yearly Marketing Cost 220,500

3.4 or 4 years

Food: Revenue Sales (150 person per package, per year)

Set 1 355 53,250

Set 2 430 (3 to 4 pax) 16,125

Set 3 850 (8 to 9 pax) 14,195

Set 4 300 45,000

128,570

Daily Revenue 352.25

Weekly Revenue 2,465.75

Monthly Revenue 10,567.5

Yearly Revenue 128,570

15% A Lot for Marketing Cost 1,585.13

Yearly Marketing Cost 19,285.5

7.27 or 8 years