This study aimed to describe the status of Tourism Cultural and Promotional Development Division Office (TCPDD) of City Economic Management and Cooperative Development Office of CEMCDO.
Specifically, this study determined the status of TCPDD of CEMCDO concerning its: mission, vision and objectives; current programs and activities, economic and social contributions of the program, and government support to ecotourism; established a profile of Barangay Conel in the following areas: location, topography, agriculture and socio-economic; and proposed strategies for ecotourism considering; natural resources, community participation and environmental conversation.This study used the descriptive method of research.
The locale of the study is in Barangay Conel of General Santos City, Philippines. The date taken were for the primary and secondary sources. The respondents were interviewed with both close-ended and open-ended questions, allowing single and multiple responses. The observations were done through the actual survey of the potential area for the ecotourism development while the documentary analysis was used after gathering the primary and secondary data. The data were presented in tabular for. The results of this study has shown that the TCPDD continues to do their functions and seeks help from the Local Government Unit (LGU) for the sustainability of the programs and activities with active participation for the private sectors and barangay officials. Barangay Conel was clustered by the TCPDD for having the potential for ecotourism development and the constituents particularly from Purok Guadalupe are supportive for ecotourism development. The continuing expedition of Sarangani Bay Outdoor Areas Club (SBAOC) has led to some people to invest in potential areas for ecotourism development.
The SWOT Analysis of City Development Council (CDC) shows the different existing projects for the conservation and protection of the city's rich natural resources in cooperation with the barangay people and different schools. The General Santos City's (GSC) 20-year Environmental Management Plan promises to be a tool for achieving the city's goal to have healthy environment. From the findings of the study the following recommendations are formulated: the LGU may consider the important role of the TCPDD; the City Environmental and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) and TCPDD may explore other ecotourism areas in General Santos City; the TCPDD and Department of Education Culture and Sports (DECS) may encourage colleges and universities in GSC to office Tourism Courses/Degrees; other individuals and LGU may conduct more research on ecotourism and follow the Integrated Protected Areas Laws; the CENRO , City Agriculture Office (CAO) and LGU may strengthen the Forest Land Management Agreement and may enlarge the forestland of the city; and the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) may apprehend the violators of forest laws, rules and regulations and undertake imposition of appropriate penalties.