Murcia Launches Pasalubong Center

To further boost the town’s business and tourism activities, Murcia Mayor Gerry Rojas, Vice-Mayor Johnny Reosura and Sangguniang Bayan Members led the inauguration last Friday of the Murcia Pasalubong Center strategically located along the Negros Occidental Eco-Tourism Highway at Brgy. Salvacion, Murcia.

“Our Pasalubong Center will tremendously help market the agricultural and livelihood products of the 23 barangays in our town. This one-stop-shop pasalubong center will serve as the showroom and marketing arm for our products, making it easier for local and foreign tourists to buy pasalubong items and food stuff,” said Mayor Gerry Rojas.

He thanked former 3rd District Representative Francisco “Kiko” Benitez for his collaboration in funding the project, and he also made special mention of the Dela Rama Family for donating the land for the project.

Aside from kiosks for various pasalubong items, such as decorative plants, fresh fruits and vegetables, baskets and other handwoven products, local food and condiments, and the famous brooms and coffee, the Pasalubong Center also features restaurants, coffee shops and food stalls where tourists can eat and take a rest, effectively making the place an ideal stopover site for bikers and motorists passing along the eco-tourism highway.

Cheryl Decena, Provincial Tourism Officer, praised Murcia officials and the Murcia Tourism Office headed by Estela Yu Barbo for making the Pasalubong a reality.

“Murcia’s Pasalubong Center is unique among its kind in the province. While most Pasalubong Centers are inside buildings and thus are often not easily visible, the Murcia Pasalubong Center is located along a major eco-tourism national highway, making it easily visible and readily accessible to tourists,” Decena said, adding that the provincial government will always extend its full support to Murcia’s tourism program.

The inauguration of the Pasalubong Center was the highlight of the series of inauguration of three other projects last Friday. Earlier that Friday morning, Mayor Rojas also led the blessing and inauguration of the Juan dela Cruz Welcome Monument at the town plaza, the Annex Building of the Rural Health Unit and the newly-renovated commercial wing of the Murcia Public Market.

Gracing the occasion were 3rd District Provincial Board Members Andrew Montelibano and Atty. Bambi Depasucat, and Benjie Villa, the Murcia Geographical Coordinator for the Office of the 3rd Legislative District. Barangay chiefs and their officials, particularly officials of host Brgy. Salvacion headed by Punong Barangay & SBM ABC President Jenny Jimenea, also came in full force.* (MMIO)