TAGUM City marked a significant milestone in its journey to become a premier cultural and tourism destination in Davao Region with the groundbreaking ceremony of the “Truly Tagum: Advancing the Benefit of an Enriched Heritage Tourism Circuit” project on Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025.
Department of Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco led the event, alongside Tagum City Mayor Rey Uy, councilors Arthur Ong and Agripino Coquilla Jr., Tagum City Tourism, Arts, and Culture Council chairperson Alma Uy, DOT undersecretaries Shahlimar Hofer Tamano and Ferdinand Jumapao, Assistant Secretary Judilyn Quiachon, Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority assistant chief operating officer Gregory Oller, DOT director Glenn Albert Ocampo, and DOT XI regional director Tanya Rabat-Tan.
The project, funded by a ₱13 million grant from TIEZA (the infrastructure arm of the DOT), is a result of Tagum City’s recognition as the 4th-place Mindanao entry in the first Tourism Champions Challenge in 2023.
The TCC, a flagship DOT program, supports sustainable tourism infrastructure development across the Philippines. With a total of ₱255 million allocated to 15 outstanding projects nationwide, the initiative celebrates local government units for their innovative proposals that highlight unique heritage, creativity, and natural assets while promoting inclusive and sustainable tourism growth.
In her address, Secretary Frasco commended Tagum City’s efforts “for showing us the true power of tourism, and that is to transform and uplift the lives of our fellow Filipinos.”
She also expressed gratitude for Davao Region’s strong participation in the TCC, noting that three of the five Mindanao winners hailed from the region.
The “Truly Tagum” project is expected to boost local tourism by enhancing visitor experiences at the city’s key heritage sites and fostering community-driven development.
