Gov. Lilia G. Pineda, together with stakeholders in business and tourism, inaugurated the two-story edifice housing various restaurants serving Kapampangan food, stalls selling organic produce as well as native “chichiria,” and furniture and handicrafts, including “santos” carved by the renown artisans of Betis.
The governor said Salilungan is a response to the “clamor of visitors to have a taste of the best of Pampanga and bring home mementoes of the good times they had here, in one accessible place.”
Said she: “Yung mga bumibisita dito sa atin, hinahanap yung mga pagkaing Kapampangan, yung mga gawang Kapampangan. Kung ituturo mo, ang layo ng mga pupuntahan nila. Kailangan isang lugar na lang ang pupuntahan lalo na ngayon maraming bumibisita sa mga old churches natin. So, ito pwede na silang dumaan sa pasalubong center bago umuwi ng Manila o kung saan pa.”
Salilungan is located along Jose Abad Santos Ave., at the former city central terminal. “This area is a very strategic location,” noted local business magnate Levy P. Laus, chairman emeritus of the Pampanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry (pamCham). “All that is needed now is just a matter of feasibility and strategic marking to be able to establish the place as premium pasalubong and craft center.”
PamCham Vice Chairman Rene Romero shared Laus’ bullishness, noting the Salilungan’s “positive impact on the economy of Pampanga in enterprise development and job generation.” For his part, Tourism Director Ronnie Tiotuico hailed the center as “timely complement” to the development of the province as “preferred site for MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, exhibitions),” announcing at least two national gatherings slated in Pampanga this year among government accountants and tourism officers.
Aurora Agustin, president of the Alliance of Travel and Tour Agencies of Pampanga, committed to include Salilungan in the tour packages they offer, citing the center “filled the needs of tourists looking for pasalubong to bring home.”
Trade and Industry Regional Director Judith Angeles pledged “total support” of her agency to what she called “the biggest pasalubong center in Central Luzon.” This, even as Pineda said “Salilungan is but the first of many such centers.”
“Umpisa pa lang ito, marami pa tayong gagawin na ganitong sentro ng pinagsama- samang Pampanga products. Mayroon tayong plano kasama ang PamCham na maglagay sa Clark airport o kaya sa loob ng Clark Freeport para ‘yung lahat na mga dumadalo sa mga convention doon sa mga hotel sa Clark ay may mapupuntahan at mabibilhan ng pasalubong,”
said the governor. Board Member Anthony Joseph Torres, chairman of the sangguniang panlalawigan committee on trade and industry, said Salilungan is operated by the provincial government.
“This project was the initiative of Gov. Pineda. It will not also be possible without the help of Vice Gov. Dennis ‘Delta’ Pineda and our fellow board members for supporting the project and providing the necessary legislation to make the project a reality, and other NGOs,” Torres added.
Salilungan opened with 20 stalls operated by primarily small and medium enterprises.
