RDC Bicol OKs P1.484B infrastructure projects for tourism dev’t

By Marlon A. Loterte

LEGAZPI CITY -- The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), regional office here has included in its priority projects for 2013 the Convergence Program on Enhancing Tourism Access in Bicol amounting to P1.484 billion.

DPWH 5 Regional Director Danilo Dequito said that the Regional Development Council (RDC) had already endorsed the DPWH and Department of Tourism (DOT) convergence program through Resolution No. 35, series of 2012.

Projects under the program include the improvement of Tabaco-Malinao-Buhi Road in Albay amounting to P591 million; President Cory Aquino Boulevard, inclusive of the construction of two bridges in Camarines Norte, with P450 million allocation; Iriga-Buhi Road in Camarines Sur, with P368 million; and, Virac-Pajo-Antipolo-Igang Road in Catanduanes, amounting to P75 million.

These road projects, according to Dequito, will provide safe, efficient, convenient and easy access to tourism identified areas fortifying Bicol’s tourism roadmap for development.

Bicol RDC chair and Albay Gov. Jose Salceda has initiated and been pursuing the strategic approach, through the Albay Masbate Sorsogon Tourism Alliance (AlMaSorTA) and the Catanduanes-Camarines Sur-Camarines Norte Tourism Link (CCTL), to accelerate tourism development and enhance the attractiveness of Bicol as a tourist destination.

Salceda further cited that the clusters need the completion of several priority projects with the likes of infrastructure development to make the region fully accessible for its external market access.

DPWH and DOT has since been pushing for an aggressive program on providing quality roads and bridges that will encourage tourist influx in Bicol.

“Increase in tourist arrivals will certainly step up economic opportunities not only in rural areas but also in urban centers,” RD Dequito said.

For the current year, P849.728M is allotted for roads leading to tourist destinations wherein P409.460M is allocated for the province of Camarines Norte, P250.268M for Camarines Sur and P190M for Sorsogon.