DOT Region 02 Pilots Lakbay-Likha Creative Tourism Circuit Through Successful Dry Run in Quirino Province
The Province of Quirino successfully hosted the first leg of the dry run of Lakbay-Likha: A Creative Tourism Experience from June 15 to 16, 2026, as part of the broader pilot implementation of the Creative Tourism Circuit in Cagayan Valley.
Lakbay-Likha is a program initiated by the Department of Tourism (DOT) Region 02 in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Region 02, with the support of the Provincial Local Government Units of Quirino and Nueva Vizcaya. The initiative aims to develop creative tourism experiences that showcase local culture, skills, products, and community-based enterprises while creating opportunities for tourism and livelihood development.
During the Quirino leg of the dry run, participants from government agencies, local government units, the academe, tourism stakeholders, and the private sector visited several creative tourism sites and engaged in hands-on activities designed to provide a deeper understanding of the province’s creative industries.
At the Q-Life Processing Center, participants were introduced to local food processing initiatives and products. The group also visited the Gomez Ethnic Women Weaving Association, where participants designed their own shirts using fabric scraps from woven textiles, highlighting sustainable production practices and the advocacy of reducing textile waste.
The circuit also featured Melizabeth Food Products, where participants learned the process of producing chips from malunggay, and Flowery Hue Fossilized Flowers Handicrafts Manufacturing, where they created handicraft items using fossilized alibangbang leaves.
A visit to the Egongot community provided participants with an opportunity to learn about indigenous traditions and craftsmanship. Community members performed traditional dances and shared the process of creating their traditional ornaments and handicrafts, providing insight into their cultural heritage and practices.
Participants likewise visited RJS Furniture Shop, where they crafted wooden keychains, and Leonora’s Coffee by El Sur Place, where they took part in cake decorating and coffee preparation activities.
The dry run served as a platform to assess the readiness of the tourism circuit and gather feedback from participants for further enhancement of the program. It also demonstrated the potential of creative tourism as a means of promoting local culture, supporting community enterprises, and diversifying tourism experiences in the region.
The successful implementation of the Quirino leg of Lakbay-Likha marks an important step in the development of the Creative Tourism Circuit in Region 02 and reflects the commitment of DOT Region 02, DTI Region 02, the Provincial Government of Quirino, and local stakeholders to advancing sustainable and community-based tourism development.#