06/10/2026
𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐂𝐒: 𝐅𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐒, 𝐅𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐒 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐅𝐈𝐆𝐔𝐑𝐄𝐒 📊💧
In celebration of the 37th National Statistics Month, the Iligan City Tourism Office joined the discussion on the importance of tourism data and statistics through “TuristATISTICS: Falls, Facts and Figures,” held at the CED Amphitheater of Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT) yesterday October 5, 2026.
The program brought together tourism and statistics professionals to highlight how data can help us better understand Iligan City as a tourism destination and guide the decisions that shape its future.
Resource speaker Mrs. Hanna Mae Padilla-Standfield, OIC of the Iligan City Tourism Office, discussed the Tourism Office’s process of gathering tourism influx data and the different types of information collected by the Tourism Support Services Section.
Mrs. Padilla-Standfield also introduced the Tourism Management Information System (TMIS), the Iligan City Tourism Office’s updated digitalized data collection system, which was gradually rolled out beginning in 2025.
With the digitalization of tourism influx collection, the Tourism Office has seen a significant increase in recorded tourist numbers, reflecting a more systematic and accurate approach to gathering tourism data. As more Tourism-Related Establishments are trained and integrated into TMIS, the Iligan City Tourism Office continues to work toward more reliable data that can support informed tourism policies and better planning.
Ms. Joniffer G. Tompong also presented the study on the Carrying Capacity of Tinago Falls, emphasizing the importance of understanding how much visitor activity a destination can sustainably accommodate without compromising its natural environment, cultural value, visitor experience, and the well-being of the communities surrounding it.
Understanding carrying capacity allows tourism stakeholders to balance accessibility and conservation. For a destination as significant as Tinago Falls, data can help guide visitor management, infrastructure planning, environmental protection, and sustainable tourism practices.
In his Welcome Remarks, City Administrator Dr. Darwin J. Manubag expressed his enthusiasm for giving greater value to data and emphasized its importance in legislative decisions, policy development, and tourism decision-making.
Closing the program, Ms. Brenda Lynn M. Castro, Supervising Statistical Specialist of the Philippine Statistics Authority – Region X, left a fitting message: “The falls give us the destinations, the facts give us the evidence, and the figures give us the direction.”
As we celebrate the 37th National Statistics Month, we are reminded that every number tells a story and every well-understood narrative can lead to better decisions.
With data as our guide, Iligan City moves toward a tourism future that is more inclusive, more resilient, and more sustainable.
