To modernize and revitalize its tourism sector, the local government of Daraga, Albay has partnered with a tech startup to launch Viaje, a website designed to consolidate tourism services and connect travelers directly with local businesses.
This initiative, developed through a public-private partnership, addresses a persistent issue in Philippine tourism: disjointed and hard-to-navigate systems for booking transportation, accommodations, and experiences. This is especially challenging in destinations like Daraga, which are rich in potential but lack a cohesive visitor infrastructure.
At the Viaje Merchant Caravan held on Friday, July 5, project lead Ikeen James Torres said the event aimed to onboard as many local businesses as possible before the full launch, which is now projected for August.
“We’ve moved from saying, ‘We’re building a platform,’ to ‘We now have a platform,’” Torres said. “But before we go live, we need local merchants—hotels, transport providers, tour guides, food vendors—to be part of it. Otherwise, we’re launching a marketplace with no products.”
The caravan served as both orientation and recruitment, introducing potential vendors to the website’s features and encouraging them to sign up for free. A Google Form is available for interested businesses, and onboarding is handled by Viaje’s business development officers.
Unlike most platforms where users switch between apps for bookings, rides, and tour planning, Viaje offers a one-stop solution for visitors to Daraga.
“The inspiration was the tourist experience,” Torres explained. “If you’re not from the area, you end up using five different platforms—Airbnb for lodging, Grab for transport, Facebook groups for tours. Viaje brings all of that together in one place.”
Through the platform, users can browse and book bundled tourism services from verified local providers and complete their transactions through a unified checkout system.
Torres credited the municipal government, particularly Mayor Victor Perete, for turning the idea into reality.
“This came from their desire to strengthen local tourism in a sustainable way. The local government isn’t just supporting this—they’re part of it. And through the partnership model, they benefit as well,” he said.
Under the setup, the municipal government does not use public funds for development or operations. Instead, the private partner handles both while the LGU receives a share of revenue from minimal convenience fees designed to remain affordable for local businesses.
“Other platforms charge high fees, which get passed on to tourists. We’re only asking for 10 percent, so our merchants can stay competitive,” said Salvador, a representative from the project team.
According to Torres, the Bicol International Airport records over 600,000 arrivals annually, but only around 60,000 of those travelers engage with Daraga’s local tourism services.
“That’s a 90 percent drop-off. People land, but they don’t stay—because they don’t know where to go or how to access what we offer,” he said. “Viaje was created to change that. Our goal is to capture at least half of those arrivals by making it easier for them to book and explore.”
The platform aims to turn brief stopovers into immersive experiences, keeping tourism revenues within the community and encouraging longer stays.
Torres also assured the public that Viaje complies with Philippine data privacy laws. Before going live, the platform will undergo vulnerability testing to ensure user data remains secure.
While the team initially aimed for a late July launch, integration with banking systems, particularly APIs for payment gateways, has caused some delays. The launch is now set for August, with a formal announcement expected soon.
Despite the adjustments, enthusiasm for the project remains high.
“This is a new way of doing tourism,” Torres said. “We’re using technology not just to attract more tourists, but to make sure they engage with and support the local economy. And we’re doing it in a way where everyone—the LGU, the businesses, and the travelers—benefits.”