SURIGAO CITY — Tourism in the renowned "little Venice" of Surigao City gets a delicious upgrade as the Day-asan Matatag Sustainable Livelihood Program Association (SLPA) recently opened its STK Hauz. Funded through a PHP450,000 livelihood grant from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Caraga, this new culinary hub aims to elevate the local travel experience. Located at the heart of the iconic floating village at the Day-asan Pavilion Hall in Barangay Day-asan, it serves fresh, authentic, and customizable seafood dishes, aiming to be the city's premier stopover for both residents and travelers.
A Feast of Fresh Seafood in a Unique Setting
After a day of navigating the village's stilt houses, crystal-clear waters, and scenic mangrove channels, visitors can wind down and indulge in a true feast with the menu of 'sugba, tuwa, kilaw' (STK). This culinary trio is commonly known as either grilled (sugba), stewed in a savory broth (tuwa), or served raw in a citrus marinade (kilaw). STK is a popular culinary concept across the Visayas and Mindanao regions, making it a classic and authentic choice for visitors seeking a true taste of local flavor. Surigao City Tourism Officer Roselyn Armida B. Merlin said that the menu sets the dining hub apart from other local restaurants. She emphasized that STK Hauz offers an interactive experience where guests can personally select from a wide array of freshly harvested seafood, local fish, and premium meats, and have them prepared exactly to their STK liking.
A Milestone for Community-Led Tourism
More than just a restaurant, STK Hauz represents a milestone in community-led tourism, according to Merlin. By choosing to dine here, tourists are directly contributing to the economic resilience of the Day-asan community. This initiative aligns with national directives to provide opportunities to communities, with DSWD's SLP providing financial and technical support to the SLPA, empowering members to manage sustainable businesses. According to Jennifer Clor, President of the SLP Day-asan association, "The seed capital belongs to every single member of this association. It represents the government's trust in our collective capacity to run a successful, sustainable enterprise that will uplift our families and our community."
