Capitol sets aside P13.5M budget for tourism infra

Aside from its popular river cruise and mangrove walkway, Aloguinsan town is developing its dolphin-watching program. (CDN PHOTO/TONEE DESPOJO)

About P13.5 million worth of infrastructure projects will be allocated by the province to develop tourist destinations in midwest Cebu.

Provincial Information Officer Ethel Natera said Gov. Hilario Davide III and Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale will review and approve these projects in January next year.

The Cebu Midewest Eco-Tourism Project was taken up in the  last quarter meeting of the Cebu Investment Promotions Board at the Capitol last November 23.

The project will be launched in March 2016 once all trainings and workshops for LGU representatives are finished.

The project was the result of a workshop among local tourism and community leaders last September assisted by tourism  consultant Boboi Costas.

Each LGU has its own eco-tourism program to develop.

Alegria town is offering canyoneering in Cambais falls and Kanlaob River.

Aloguinsan, an international awardee for its community-based tourism with the  Bojo River Cruise, developed six years ago, will embark on dolphin-watching activities.

Asturias will develop its Lake Buswang and promote its  native delicacy, bibingka (rice cake).

Balamban will also open up canyoneering activities that will lead to a mini-waterfall in barangay Gaas.

Tabuelan plans to host an interpretative Batawang River Cruise.

The eco-tourism projects will follow the Bojo River Cruise model, which won the United Nations-supported Tourism InSPIRE Award for Best Community-Based Tourism Initiative in Asia Pacific this year.

Natera said the project, which seeks to capitalize on local government units’ natural resources as tools for tourism, covers the towns of Alegria, Aloguinsa, Asturias, Balamban, and Tabuelan, among others.

Some of the proposed projects include road openings, footbridges, footwalks, viewing decks, restrooms, cottages, water systems, and tourist information areas.

Vice Governor Magpale, who chairs the  Provincial Tourism Council , said that if these LGUs can come up with viable eco-tourism plans, they can avail of funding  through the province’s Annual Investment Plan (AIP).

Benjamin Yap, chief of the Provincial Investment Promotions Office, said the budget for the infrastructure projects is included in the P500-million AIP for 2016.

The Provincial Development Council approved the AIP during a meeting last October.

Yap said the LGUs will present their detailed engineering plans and programs of work before the Cebu Provincial Tourism Council in January next year.