MANILA, Philippines – A new mobile application featuring a food guide around Metro Manila has been launched by the Department of Tourism (DOT) as part of its efforts to promote the country as a global culinary destination.
The mobile app – My Metro Manila, now available for download on Google Play Store and Apple App Store, features a guide on local cuisines, restaurants and even tourist spots around the metropolis.
It also comes with a real-time message feature enabling users to forward queries to DOT – National Capital Region representatives.
DOT will also soon roll out its accredited tours and accommodations listings within the application, enabling users to conveniently book tours and hotels via their mobile phones.
Alongside the app, DOT also launched a guidebook – Metro Yummy Picks which highlights local and iconic food.
Among the dishes highlighted in the 76-page guidebook are “Inutak” from Taguig City made with rice pudding and ube (purple yam), “Waknatoy” also popularly called “Marikina menudo,” and more.
“This is an implicit invitation for tourists to stay longer in Metro Manila, and try the local flavors and the diverse food offerings available,” DOT-NCR Regional Director Woodrow Maquiling said in a statement Friday.
The tourism department said the selection of food featured in the guidebook were based on its “iconic attraction and popularity among locals and tourists alike; long-shared history as a destination’s unique food offering/culture and authentically rooted in the locality and a must-try when visiting the area.”