DESTINATION

MANAGEMENT
TACLOBAN CITY
PROPOSAL
PLAN
 RATIONAL

The fundamental reason for this study is to offer and

improve great place to live, and work as well as visit.
Developing the destination will attract new
investment, keep value-added jobs and stimulate
innovation.
 INTRODUCTIO
N
Tacloban City was formerly known as Kankabatok, which means
Domain of Kabatok. Kabatok was a prominent settler who occupied
an area of what is presently Downtown Tacloban, by the bay that has
also come to be named after him (Cancabato Bay). In 1770, following
the first arrival of Augustinian Missionaries, Kankabatok was
officially proclaimed a municipality. Its name was changed to
Tarakluban, which means the place where inhabitants used the taklub,
a bamboo contraption for catching crab, shrimp, and fish. The name
Tarakluban has since evolved to its present form, Tacloban. Because of
the ideal location of its port, Tacloban developed into a major trading
point between the provinces of Leyte and Samar, and was chosen to be
the capital of Leyte in 1830. On June 20, 1952, Tacloban became a
chartered city through Republic Act No. 760, signed by then President
Elpidio Quirino. On December 18, 2008, the people of Tacloban –
under the leadership of Mayor Alfred Romualdez – unanimously
ratified Tacloban City’s conversion to a Highly Urbanized City (HUC)
– the first in Eastern Visayas and 34th in the Philippines.
Tacloban City is located in the northeastern part of Leyte, one of
the islands in Eastern Visayas or Region 8. As the major tourism
hub, Tacloban City yielded the highest contribution with
472,300 tourist arrivals in 2015. This figure comprises 44.87%
of the regional total tourist influx and surpassed its 2015 target
by 16.72%. The City contributed the highest tourist receipts
amounting to Php 4.05 billion taking almost half of the regional
tourist receipts or sharing 45% to the total regional earnings
generated. Tacloban is home to the three biggest state
universities in Region 8, the Leyte Normal University, the Eastern
Visayas State University, and the University of the Philippines
Visayas Tacloban Campus. Also in Tacloban City are the
Remedios T. Romualdez Medical Foundation, the Asian
Development Foundation College, and franchised computer
technology schools STI, AMA, and ACLC. Tacloban’s ever
increasing crop of fresh graduates hailing from all over the
Region makes for a rich pool of skilled technical and professional
workers for a variety of industries.
POPULAR ATTRACTIONS IN
TACLOBAN CITY, LEYTE
 San Juanico Bridge

San juanico bridge - Formerly called the

Marcos Bridge in honor of the late President
Ferdinand Marcos, the San Juanico Bridge is
the longest bridge in the Philippines. The
bridge has 43 spans and medium size boats can
pass beneath its large main arch the top of
which rises 41 meters above the sea.
Construction commenced in 1969 over San
Juanico Strait from Cabalawan, Tacloban City
to the municipality of Santa Rita, Samar, with
completion in 1973.
 MADONNA OF JAPAN & KANHURAW HILL

Madonna of Japan & Kanhuraw Hill - The Maria

Kannon or Madonna of Japan became one of the
historical landmarks in Tacloban City and
became known as the Madonna of Japan
Memorial Park. It also serves as a memory to the
brave soldiers who fought and died in the
battlefield. A symbol of friendship between
japanese and filipinos.
 LEYTE PROVINCIAL CAPITOL

The Leyte Provincial Capitol in Tacloban dates

back to the American colonial administration. The
construction of the building began on 1917 during
the administration of then-Leyte Governor
Salvador Demeterio and was completed and
inaugurated in 1924 during the tenure of Leyte
Governor Honorio López. The capitol underwent
renovations in 1964 during the tenure of then-
Leyte Governor Norberto Romualdez Jr.
 STO. NINO CHURCH

Sto Nino Church - The Santo Niño Parish in Tacloban City is a historical landmark
in the city. In 1596 the Jesuits built a small chapel or ‘visita’ under the titular
Dulce Nombre de Jesus. The small chapel was made up of light materials and
nipa. When the Jesuits where expelled from the country, the Augustinians from
nearby Cebu’s‘Basilica del Sto. Niño’ took over and renamed the chapel Sto. Niño.
This all happened in 1768, the same year when Tacloban was declared a city and
the first Spanish settlers settled in. The Franciscans came in around 1843 to
manage the parish and by 1860, a new Romanesque Church was built with a
towering appearance and the prominence of round arches and small windows
ventilating around the church. The church was made of adobe and a mixture of
coral stones, a common style and method during this period. It was in 1990 that
the church was handed over to the Archdiocese of Palo. The church has since
then battled and sustained a few typhoons and earthquakes. The strongest
typhoon being in 2013 when Yolanda (Haiyan) destroyed most of Tacloban and
the church provided cover and shelter saving human life. A big rehabilitation
project started in 2014 with the help of donations to make the Parish shine again
after the typhoon in 2013. The indoor and outdoor lighting we designed to bring
out the beauty in the classic structure with various Schréder and TAL exclusive
products. We received a well appreciated ‘plague of recognition’ from Archbishop
of Palo, John F. Du for our support and services in the project.
 STO. NINO SHRINE

Sto Nino Shrine & Heritage Museum - It is the patron saint of the city
and many of its people’s religious events revolve around the Santo Niño.
Although the real miraculous image can be found inside the Sto. Nino
Church, there is another image that can be found inside the Romualdez
museum. This one is made of Italian ivory and is the centerpiece of the
altar that welcomes the guests visiting the Shrine. Beside the Sto. Niño
were icons of St. Remedios and St. Vincent. Next to the latter is a
monstrance, decorated with diamonds. That section of the museum is lit
by beautiful chandeliers hanging above rows of pews made of narra.
The Sto. Niño Shrine and Heritage Museum is one of the many rest
houses that the Marcoses had built. It houses 7 bedrooms built for the
members of the Marcos family, 13 guest rooms, a ballroom and what
looked like conference rooms. Each room is magnificently designed and
decorated. Each with a theme. Each with a diorama of the life story of
Imelda. The site is also littered with numerous expensive, even
priceless, pieces of art that will introduce your jaws to the floor each
time. From imported furniture to local artworks, the place just screams
magnificence, loud and clear.
 M/V EV JOCELYN

Eva Jocelyn Shrine - There is one Yolanda memorial that stands

out for its uniqueness, quirkiness, and expanded symbolism for
what took place here on that fateful November day. It also
happens to be named after a woman. “M/V Eva Jocelyn” is the
name of a large cargo vessel that was swept ashore in the coastal
barangay of Anibong amid the huge storm surge triggered by the
deadly super typhoon exactly five years ago Thursday. It
technically never left its place, as the bow of the ship has been
transformed by the city government into a tourist spot where
one can reenact Kate Winslet’s iconic pose in the “Titanic” movie,
among other things. Now a symbol of what could be called
“Yolanda tourism” in Tacloban, the bow has been prettied up for
this purpose since the time it became a landmark. Specifically,
there’s now a steel barricade around the body has been
repainted blue and brown from the original blue and red, the
name “M/V Eva Jocelyn” has been picked out in white paint, the
deck has been fully tiled, and a Philippine flag has been hoisted
on it.
 DESTINATION ANALYSIS

STRENGTH WEAKNESS OPPORTUNITIES THREAT

• Get away to many • Expose to typhoons • Land suitable for • Prone to calamities
tourist attractions in • High density agriculture and agro
the region. population industrial development
• Center of trade, are available especially
education, in the northern part of
communication and the region.
technology. • More job
• Suitable for urban opportunities
development.
• Hospitable People
KE PHYSICAL PRODUCT PROGRAMS
Y
• Fresh farm products • Festivals
• Souvenirs
FO • Delicacies
C
US

A
RE PACKAGES PEOPLE
A
• Event Packages • Friendly
• Travel & Tour • Hospitable
Packages
SUGGESTED PROPOSAL

 Bike Lane
 More programs for conservation of natural resources

Proper location/space for public vendors.

 CONCLUSION

The destination management plan proposal for Tacloban City,

Leyte will benefit both workers and tourists
(local/international). Tacloban City, Leyte's economic growth
will arise as all destinations will improve, be acessible and be
more eye catching to guests. To make this plan possible, it stand
the need of a lot of helping hand from both private and public
sector to ensure the sustainability and durablitu of the
destinations in Tavloban City, Leyte.