Koronadal City, South Cotabato -October 16,2025 —The Province of South Cotabato once again made its mark in the field of tourism as two of its representatives were elected to the National Board of the Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines (ATOP) during its 26th National Convention held in Baguio City from October 1 to 3, 2025.
Among the newly elected officers are Elric Batilaran from the City of Koronadal, who now serves as the National President of ATOP, and Franciso Cerbo, Tourism Officer I of South Cotabato, who also secured a seat in the national board.
Cerbo shared her delight and pride over the recognition and milestone, calling it a proud moment not only for their team but for the entire province.
“We are beyond grateful and proud that two of us from South Cotabato have been chosen to serve in the national board,” Cerbo said.
“This is a big honor for our province, and it shows how strong and active our tourism community has become.”
Adding to South Cotabato’s triumph, the Municipality of T’boli also brought home the Best LGU-Oriented Award under the One PEARL Awards, further cementing the province’s reputation as one of the country’s top cultural and tourism hubs.
Cerbo extended her heartfelt gratitude to the Provincial Government of South Cotabato, especially to Governor Reynaldo S. Tamayo Jr., and to their colleagues in the tourism sector for their continued support.
“We owe this success to our governor and to everyone who constantly believes in what we do,” she added.
He promised to keep promoting the beauty of our culture and the richness of South Cotabato’s heritage to the rest of the Philippines.
The ATOP National Convention serves as an annual gathering of tourism officers from across the country to share best practices, strengthen collaborations, and recognize outstanding local government units and officers in the promotion of Philippine tourism.
