GENERAL LUNA, Oct. 7 -- The province of Surigao del Norte, particularly Siargao Island, will directly benefit from a new program of the Department of Tourism (DOT). The program, dubbed as TouRIST or Transforming Communities Towards Resilient, Inclusive and Sustainable Tourist Program, will also extend support to other areas, such as the provinces of Bohol and Siquijor, the Island Garden City of Samal in Davao del Norte, and Davao City. Surigao del Norte Governor Francisco "Lalo" Matugas expressed gratitude to the DOT for choosing Siargao Island as among the priority areas for the program. The identified areas to be covered by TouRIST will receive $300 million from the World Bank. Matugas said the amount will be used to fund tourism infrastr...