With the improvement in our major road network and tourism infrastructures, the Province of Aurora gradually carves itself into the map of promising tourism destinations in the Philippines. Baler as her capital town rests in its old glory and magnificence with national and internation historical significance.

  a.      Development of Tourism Areas/Infrastructures

i.         Development of Eco-Strip

1.      Jetty boardwalk

2.      Wharf for river boat cruise

ii.       Development of Ermita Hill

1.      Tromba Marina Sculpture

2.      Pavillion and Souvenir and Coffee shops

3.      Tourism Information Center

4.      Aviary and Wildlife Park

5.      Butterfly Garden

6.      Lighting and landscaping

7.      Amphitheater and restaurant

8.      Kiosks improvement

iii.      Development of Dive Sites and Surfing Areas

iv.     Development of Nature, Culture & Wildlife Parks

1.      Waterfalls

2.      Trek, Mountain bike trails and Camp Sites

3.      Cultural Village promoting indigenous culture

4.      Aurora Forest Recreation and Wildlife Parks

v.      Established Aurora Performing Arts Group and Promotion of Comedia de Baler

vi.     Established of Quick response Team providing 24/7 assistance to tourists.

vii.   Organized Federation of transport Sectors for Tourists

b.      Tourism and Cultural Activities

i.         Hosted Philippine-Spanish friendship Day and managed Aurora Day Celebration as the flagship tourism events of the Province.

ii.       Hosted Federation Climb participated by 450 hikers/mountaineers from all over the Philippines.

iii.      Other Events Showing excellence

1.      Best Booth Design in North Luzon International Tourism Fair 2007 besting 185 booths

2.      Best Destination Pavillion in North Luzon Tourism and Travel Expo 2008 besting 100 exhibitors all over the Philippines

3.      Participant in International Tourism Fair in Cebu representing North Luzon.

4.      Participation in DOT Travel Missions in Macau and Hongkong in 2008 and Malaysia and Singapore this year.

iv.     On-going arrangements for showing “Baler” movie trees to public.

v.      Baler Quadricentennial Celebration: Presidential Proclamation No. 1696 declaring 2009 as the year of Baler and nation-wide celebration of the 400 years foundation of Baler.

c.      Tourist Arrivals increased by 12% from 10,782 in 2007 to 24,457 in 2008.

i.         1,476 foreign (Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, S. Korea, Singapore, Switzerland, U.K., USA, Taiwan, China, Belgium, Sweden, Saudi Arabia, Austria, Holland, Spain, Thailand, Norway, Ireland, Indonesia, New Zealand, Great Britain, Denmark, England, Brazil

ii.       22,981 local.

Our tourism development hinges upon our remaining forest and pristine environment. Aurora enjoys the distinction of having the biggest forest cover in the entire country. We need to manage and conserve it.

d.      Environemental Management

i.         DBP Forest in the Food Basket (Grant Fund from DBP amounting to Php 7,373,199.10 with PGA counterpart of Php 850,000) aims to implement a Model Forest Management Scheme to increase biodiversity, promote food security and generate livelihood.

1.      Project Site I: Rattan and Other Endemic Forest Tree Species Plantation.

a.      8,258 rattan seedlings planted to 20.66 hectares

b.      6,000 cashew and 4,170 ilang-ulang seedlings received from Forest Hil Garden.

2.      Project Site II: Rattan/Bamboo and Agroforestry Tree species Plantation

a.      Received 3,746 rattan, 2,960 jackfruit, 1,500 durian, 2,040 bamboo seedlings.

ii.       Sagip Kalikasan:

1.      Executive Order No. 024 s. 2008 creating the Provincial Task Force Sagip Kalikasan Composed of multi-sectoral agencies.

2.      Checkpoints of Dimani and Canili

iii.      Coastal Resource Management, Provincial Ordinance NO. 174 s. 2008 created a division under ENRO

iv.     Ridge to Reef Program piloted the municipality of Baler to showcase integrated management of natural resources from mountains down to coastal-reef zones.

v.      Integrated Solid Waste Management, all municipalities completed and submitted 10 year Solid Waste Management Plan.

vi.     Completed Forest land Use Plan for all municipalities

vii.   Sustained management of ISF Projects and technical assistance to upland farmers.

viii.  Generated revenues through Improved Quarry Management with the MOA signed by 79 barangays with quarry sites, 8 municipalities and the Provincial Government of Aurora.

1.      Increased overall collection of quarry taxes from Php 241,920 in 2004 to Php 7,222,683.37 in 2008.

2.      Share of the Province therefore increased from Php 124,176 in 2004 to Php 2,507,725.01 in 2008.

            What to look forward to: Intensified fiscal administration measures to increase revenue base and collection; more tourists to come, completion of our road network, more improvements in our tourist and provincial government facilities, create and expanded business opportunities in areas of food, accommodation, services (transport, communications, bank, allied sectors of hotels and restaurants), and more public and  private investments.