MAASIN CITY – Easier access to tourism destinations in Southern Leyte province for nature-loving tourists is expected with the near completion of P137 million road project.
DPWH Southern Leyte district engineering office chief Ma. Margarita Junia said they are speeding up the construction of the eight access roads, up for completion this quarter.
“Our reports show that six of the access roads are now almost complete while the two other roads are showing quick progress in the implementation. Hopefully, if problems do not arise, we will be able to finish this in due time,” Junia said.
Reports show that access road linking Buenavista Dive Site in Padre Burgos town and Calag-itan Fish Sanctuary in Hinunangan town posted highest accomplishment rate at 97 percent followed by Mainit Hot Spring access road in Anahawan town at 95 percent.
Other ongoing projects (with respective completion rate) road connecting Bitoon Beach in Liloan town and Doña Marta and Casa Isabel in Hinunagan town (89 percent), road leading to Hindag-an Falls in St. Bernard town (83 percent), road to Monte Cueva and Danao Camp Tree Park in Maasin (61 percent), and access road to Crater Lake in San Juan town (21 percent).
The infrastructure agency has earmarked P137 million to upgrade access roads to identified tourism destinations in the province.
“Through our coordination with Department of Tourism, we managed to identify sites that have the potential to draw more tourists in the province which would hopefully spur development for the communities near these sites,” Junia said.
The construction of tourism access roads is part of the 0+10-point economic agenda of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte aimed at promoting rural and value chain development toward increasing agricultural and rural enterprise productivity and rural tourism.
Southern Leyte province is known for its world-class dive sites, caves, extreme adventure sites, waterfalls, safari, river trekking crater lake trekking, fish feeding, rain forest tramping, scuba diving and whale shark interaction, island escapades, beach fun, and religious journeys. (PR)