P1.1B infra projects to boost Cordillera tourism industry

By Carlito Dar

BAGUIO CITY -- Over P1.1 billion worth of road infrastructure projects are set to implemented  next year in the Cordillera  under  the Department of Tourism and Department of Public Works and Highways convergence program to  boost the  tourism industry. 

The amount of P37.6 million was allocated for tourism roads leading to the Chico River White Water rafting take-off area  to the Naneng Heritage Village and to  rice terraces area in Tabuk, Kalinga.

In Abra, P23.148 M road projects are expected to draw more tourists to  Bani Hot Spring in the municipality of Boliney.

The province of Apayao will get P200 million tourism road projects that will connect Lusok Cave and Marag Valley, both located in the municipality of Luna.

Benguet province will get P378.8M for road projects leading to Binga Dam and the Mt. Ugo (site of PhlSkyrunning event) in Itogon; Am-am Observatory rock, burial cave, Kada farm and Kenny farm in Mankayan; Mt. Pulag and other tourist attractions in the municipality of Buguias.

In Ifugao P279.1 million  was approved to  connect Ambuaya Lake, Yamashita Shrine and Kiangan settlement to Lagawe; Kinakin and Cambulo native villages and Banao rice terraces in Banaue; barangays of Chaya and Nagchayan and Apfo’ or in Mayoyao; and Pula village and rice terraces and the Dalican-Batad road also in BanaueIfugao.

Mountain Province will get P200 million for road infra that will lead to caves, burial caves, rice terraces and waterfalls in the municipalities of Bontoc and Sagada and to Mogao Mountain and Gawaan Lake in Bauko and Tadian.

DOT regional director Purificacion Molintas, in a recent memorandum of agreement signing with the corresponding Cordillera local chief executives, highlighted the importance of the tourism road networks in the government’s goal to achieve 10 million foreign tourist arrivals by 2016 which is part of the Philippine Tourism Development Plan.

For the convergence project with DPWH, Molintas said project proposals (for 2016 projects) must have a project development plan endorsed by the Regional Development Council.

It must be an existing road with road right of way and located within 60 km from a tourism gateway or tourism service center (such as Baguio City).The project must also have concept study and a record of consultation with at least one stakeholders group, she added.