Dressing up the Mt. Samat Shrine of Valor

Contributed by Dalyn Sugatain

The Mt. Samat Shrine of Valor in Pilar, Bataan, was chosen as the 2^nd recipient in the whole country to be part of Tourism Enterprise Zone (TEZ) Flagship Program of the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) for the year 2014 after the first public consultation held last April 15, 2015.

The consultation was conducted by Arch. Christina B. Banzon, Provincial Tourism Officer at the Bataan Government Center together with the dynamic mayor of Pilar, Alicia Pizarro,  welcoming all the sector leaders of the community who participated in the event.

For the past two years, the Municipality of Pilar continues to develop the eco-tourism industry of the town to simultaneously prepare for this amazing development. A joint initiative of the Department of Tourism and the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), the Flagship TEZ Project is aimed to proactively develop strategically important TEZs. This is part of the mandate of TIEZA under the Tourism Act of 2009 (R.A. No. 9593) and the framework of the National Tourism Development Plan to facilitate the development of Philippine tourism products and raise the competitiveness of the Philippines as a tourism destination.

Some of the developments made in the town are the improvements at Dunsulan Falls including the Tree Hopping Adventure and the ATV, the zip line and the shooting range are still frequented by tourists. In addition, an OTOP (One Town One Product) Pasalubong Center was established in Diwa, Pilar, Bataan last November 27, 2015. Various local products are on display on the store where visitors can enjoy the mouth-watering and sumptuous food products of Bataan. Non-food native products are also available.

You will also notice a lot of improvements near the foot of Mt. Samat and adjacent barangays such as a gasoline station, restaurants, convenience stores, and many other commercial establishments.

Mayor Pizarro, with the support of the Provincial Government of Bataan under the dynamic leadership of Gov. Albert S. Garcia, continuously initiates projects to ensure that Mt. Samat and the entire town is ready and equipped with the TEZ Program. This is in line with the vision of the province to be the preferred location for eco-industrial investments in the country.