BACOLOD CITY – Sipalay City in Negros Occidental was chosen as one of the five finalists in the Tourism Excellence Award-Tourism Destination Category of the 2025 Philippine Tourism Awards (PTA) organized by the Department of Tourism (DOT). 

It is one of the only two local government units in the Visayas, along with the municipality of Malay in Aklan, to make it to the shortlist. 

Supervising tourism officer Jerick Lacson on Monday welcomed the recognition of Sipalay City’s collective commitment to sustainable development through tourism and the humble stories of their own communities in southern Negros. 

“Just being in the Top 5 –joining other more established destinations in the list– is an achievement in itself. We’re honored to bring the hopes, voice, and heart of Sipalay to the national spotlight,” Lacson said in a statement.

The three other finalists are Baguio City, Biñan City in Laguna, and the municipality of Bolinao in Pangasinan.

The PTA, the highest and most prestigious citation in Philippine Tourism, is a recognition program of the DOT that seeks to honor industry players and local government units (LGUs) that have demonstrated excellence in the development and promotion of the country’s tourism sector.

Sipalay, the top tourist destination in Negros Occidental, is dubbed “The Jewel of the Sugar Island” for its pristine beaches and other attractions, such as forest protected areas, caves, and islands and islets.  

Lacson said the national recognition is the fruit of the city’s sustainable gains development agenda under Mayor Gina Montilla and Vice Mayor Oscar Montilla.

During the 2024 Pearl Awards presented by the DOT and the Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines, Sipalay City was the grand winner in three categories, including the highest award for Best Tourism-Oriented LGU (Safe and Sustainable Sipalay), Best Tourism Month Celebration (17th Sipalay City Tourism Month Celebration), and Best Practices for Sustainable Tourism (Lakbayon Women’s Beach Clean-up Volunteer Project).

In 2022, Sipalay City was declared the Kite Tourism Capital of the Philippines by the Kite Association of the Philippines for promoting the traditional Filipino kite culture through the annual Burangoy Kite Festival.

Through the Sipalay City Game Fishing Tournament, the LGU also promotes Sipalay as a new game fishing spot in the Visayas as it directly faces the Sulu Sea, one of the tuna highways in the country.