Skip to main content

DOT Launches 1st HOHO Travel Tour PH

The Department of Tourism-National Capital Region made history as it officially launched the Hop On Hop Off (HOHO) Travel by Hub Program held at Glorietta 2, Makati City on May 28. The HOHo is a tour program using state of the art bus transport and a digital application where tourists can enjoy the Cities of Manila and Makati through specially-crafted tours using the hop on hop off system and a contactless payment card. The project takes inspiration from world-class hop-on hop-off buses in cities such as Abu Dhabi, Argentina, London, Madrid, New York, Singapore, among others, will feature a dedicated website with all essential information, a reloadable EMV-capable card, and to complete the tourist experience, a mobile app for booking tours, making cashless payments, GPS networked-bus arrival monitoring and video guides, as well as information on hotels, food, and tourism merchants. It is expected to go full blast by mid-year of 2023.
DOT Sec. Christina Garcia-Frasco led the launch with a kick-off tour of Makati together with the city officials led by 1st district Representative Romulo Peña Jr., 2nd district Representative Luis Campos, and Vice Mayor Monique Lagdameo, Head of International Relations Ms. Ichi Yabut, as well as DOT officials Undersecretary Shahlimar Hofer Tamano, OIC-Undersecretary Verna Buensuceso, Assistant Secretary Maria Rica Bueno, and DOT-NCR Director Sharlene Zabala-Batin.
"...the Hop-On Hop-Off tours gives opportunities for our tourists not only to be reminded of the spirit of modernity and innovation that Makati has always been known for, but also to get to know the soul of your city that lies in your hidden gems, in your museums, in the many stops that are covered by this tour that will allow our tourists–domestic and international alike– to get to know the people of Makati, to get to know your rich history, culture, and heritage,“ Frasco said in her speech. "This is an effort that we wish to replicate in all the other areas in Metro Manila [and the Philippines] and this is just the beginning," she added.
Meanwhile, Rep. Peña referred to the project as "a terrific way to experience what NCR has to offer at your own leisure." "Makati, the business hub, is proud to be included in the initial launch of this project. We are happy, actually very happy, to invite and welcome you all to visit and enjoy Makati, the premier city," enthused the Congressman.
"I am particularly happy that the Secretary, the DOT, has chosen our city to be the take off point for the Hop-On Hop-Off project," said Rep. Campos. "We see this as an opportunity to open our cultural treasures not only to our local citizens, Makatizens, but also to the rest of the country and to the rest of the world," he added. Also in attendance were leaders of tourism stakeholder associations, Tourism Congress of the Philippines (TCP) President Bob Zozobrado, Philippine Tour Operators Association (PHILTOA) President Fe Abling-Yu, Ayala Malls Head of Marketing and Communications Chrissy Roa, and Marinel Barquin Lee of Positive Exposure, the integrator for the Philippines HOHO bus project.
The curated tour took the guests to the Washington Sycip Park for interactive demo by artists and health drinks, followed by a quick stop in Ayala Malls Circuit for Filipino snacks, Museo ng Makati for coffee culture presentation, museum tour, and entertainment by Makati performers. The tour ended in Poblacion for a street party featuring performances by local artists and culinary treats from Makati's top-rated restaurants and bars. Meanwhile, preparations are already underway for the launch of the Philippines HOHO project in the cultural hub of Manila next. Both the Makati and Manila Hubs of the Philippines Hop-On Hop-Off program will become fully operational after the grand launch slated some time in June this year.
Upon full implementation of the Philippines Hop-On Hop-Off in Makati, tourists can take the bus in designated stops within the city to enjoy its best spots and activities following suggested itineraries curated by the DOT-NCR team per stop, with the option to avail of private and guided tours. The HOHO tour will cost about Php 1,000 per person. #PHExperienceMakati #DOTNCR #hoponhopoff #HOHOPh #DepartementofTourism

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Nippon Paint unveils new Weatherbond Quartz Series

Nippon  Paint officers, f from left: Calvin Tan, Senior Sales Manager Luzon; Chen Lee Siong, General Manager; Marizette De Torres, Senior Technical Manager; and Danny Diluvio II, Senior Sales Manager VisMin, proudly present the Weatherbond Quartz series, a breakthrough in durable exterior wall protection designed for the Philippine climate . Press Release   Nippon Paint (Coatings) Philippines, Inc. recently unveiled its latest breakthrough in exterior wall protection -- the Weatherbond Quartz series –- promising to set a new standard in shielding homes and buildings from harsh weather conditions. A major milestone in Nippon Paint’s ongoing commitment to the Filipino market, the company reinforced its dedication to understanding and addressing the distinct needs of Filipino homes.     The event was attended by key distributors who play a vital role in bringing Nippon Paint’s solutions to homeowners, and trusted industry partners who understand the importance of q...
Post a Comment
Read more

PAFI’s ASTIG Program Empowers Communities Affected by Mindoro Oil Spill

Pioneer Adhesives Foundation Inc. (PAFI) has recently taken a significant step towards uplifting the lives of communities through the pilot launch of the Angat Sining Tibay at Galing (ASTIG) program in communities affected by the oil spill incident in Oriental Mindoro. This CSR initiative of Pioneer Adhesives aims to deliver practical and sustainable alternate livelihoods to affected local fishermen who have been banned from fishing since the oil spill in February. ASTIG graduates from the Municipality of Pola with Hon. Mayor Jennifer M. Cruz and PAFI Executive Director Janie Alfonso Held from August 28 to September 3, 2023, local fisher folks in the municipalities of Pola and Pinamalayan in Oriental Mindoro -- two of several communities gravely affected by the oil spill -- underwent various trainings on the essential construction skills covering masonry, tiling, roofing, and waterproofing. They were also given comprehensive training sessions on the proper usage of Pioneer product...
Post a Comment
Read more

With Toujours Travel and Tours, no one is left behind

  Founded on the belief that travel should be accessible, inclusive, and stress-free for everyone, Toujours Travel and Tours curates special packages for groups or families with member/s facing physical challenges or having restricted mobility.   Toujours Travel and Tours has been operating virtually since 2024, got incorporated on the 17th of February 2025 and became SelCarra Global Corporation – derived from the name of its owners, Abigail Mae Fuentes Selma and Jhona Viscarra.   “We have done our soft opening and since then Toujours has continued to receive and assist clients with all their travel needs," Abigail shared during the grand celebration and official opening of its physical office at Bonifacio Global City on April 29. Abigail is CEO, President, and Founder of Toujours Travel and Tours, while Jhona is the chief operating officer. Abi is a travel bug herself while Jhona has been Abi's trusted virtual Travel Consultant for the longest time. It was only in 2...
Post a Comment
Read more