The Department of Tourism recently held its 10th Philippine Experience Program, taking delegates to the Caraga Region in Mindanao to showcase its tourism potential.

The delegates, comprising local and national officials, members of the diplomatic community, media, influencers, and tourism stakeholders, were taken through the cities of Butuan and Cabadbaran in Agusan Del Norte, as well as Bayugan and Prosperidad in Agusan Del Sur.

The cities presented various local feasts, crafts, live performances, and trade booths highlighting their unique offerings.

Butuan City showcased the Agusan River through a cruise, offering up-close looks at balangay replicas and discovered remains dating back to the 8th to 10th centuries at the Butuan Archaeological Park and Butuan National Museum.

Cabadbaran City, chosen by the Spanish as a settlement in the past, showcased its preserved colonial houses through a walking tour, including the Atega Ancestral House and other nearby ancestral houses: Casa Alburo, Mortola Ancestral House, Dulanas Ancestral House, Paduganan Ancestral House, and Domicillo de Villanueva.

Delegates were also taken to the Brgy. Islang Bato Viewing Deck, where local crafts and products were showcased.

One of the tour's highlights was a visit to the Bega Falls Eco Tourism Park in Prosperidad, the capital of Agusan Del Sur, which features seven major falls and eighteen miniature falls. Three of the major falls are open to the public, while the remaining falls serve as local conservation areas.

The DOT's Philippine Experience Program aims to highlight the natural wonders, living traditions, and the rich cultural, culinary, and artistic heritage of the various regions of the country. It also aims to link key destinations to lesser-known destinations, as well as expand the country's tourism portfolio.