Call to visit Tutong tourist spots
By Tony Alabastro

Philippine ambassador Virginia H. Benavidez and Tutong District Officer Awang Hepnie bin OKPSD Abang Haji Abu Hanifah in a group photo with their respective officers during the recent visit of the Philippine Embassy officials to the Tutong District Office 

Tutong District Officer Awang Hepnie bin OKPSD Abang Haji Abu Hanifah invited a delegation of Philippine Embassy officials to see the tourist attractions which Tutong has to offer during a courtesy call recently. Ambassador Virginia H. Benavidez said the Embassy officers and staff are looking forward to visiting the Sungei Basong Recreation Park, a popular picnic spot along the Muara-Tutong Highway, Tasek Merim-bun, Brunei's largest and S-shaped lake with a small island in the centre, and Pantai Seri Kenangan, literally the unforgettable beach, with a narrow spit of land with the South China Sea on one said and the Tutong River on the other. She highlighted the importance of the visit to the Tutong District Office, and cited the rich cultural tradition of Tutong. A large number of Filipinos work in schools, garment factories and other places in Tutong, she said.

The visit aimed to familiarise embassy officials with government institutions in Brunei, and promote goodwill between the Philippines and Brunei, which is home to 18,000 Filipinos, she said. The delegation received a very informative briefing on the District's profile, and the District Office's structure, role, mission and scope of work.

The Tutong District Office provides basic infrastructure facilities; encourages more productive/economic activities to improve the quality of life; creates a clean and beautiful community; unifies the community, keeps the people secure and prosperous; appoints the Penghulu (chief) and Ketua Kampong (village head), and sets up the Mukim and Kampong Consultative Council. The Penghulu and Ketua Kampong communicate the government policies and activities to the people, and communicate the people's wishes to the government to keep their welfare.

Fifty years ago, Tutong grew the best bananas in Brunei. The township had a 700 population that looked forward to the completion of the Brunei Town-Kuala Belait all-weather highway. Travel between Bandar Town, Seria and Kuala Belait was over beaches and sand tracks, on powerful jeeps and Land Rovers. The third largest district in Brunei, Tutong has about 30,000 people, including the Tutong Malays, fishermen, rice, rubber and fruit farmers, craftsmen, carpenters and basket makers; Kedayan, Murut and Dusun indigenous races. Eight mukims (wards): Pekan Tutong, Keriam, Tanjong Maya, Telisai, Lamunin, Kiudang, Rambai and Ukong, divided into 34 kampong (villages).

Courtesy of Sunday Bulletin