P137-M earmarked for south Leyte’s tourism road upgrade

TACLOBAN CITY, May 17  -- The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has rolled out PHP137 million worth of projects meant to enhance access to tourism destinations in the province.

In a press statement issued Friday, the DPWH Southern Leyte field office announced the kick-off of access road projects leading to 10 less developed destinations.

These infrastructure projects aim to improve access to Mainit hot spring in Anahawan town, Crater Lake in San Juan town, Monte Cueva and Danao Camp Tree Park in Maasin City, Bitoon Beach in Liloan town, Buenavista Dive Site in Padre Burgos town, Calag-itan Fish Sanctuary and Doña Marta and Casa Isabel Cave in Hinunangan town, and Hindag-an Falls in St. Bernard town.

Ma. Margarita Junia, DPWH Southern Leyte district engineering office chief, said these projects are part of the continuing convergence between their office and Department of Tourism.

“These roads will not just attract tourist, but also improve the mobility to less developed communities near these tourism attractions. We prioritized these projects based on the number of tourists coming and the potential to unlock economic growth,” said Junia in a mobile phone interview Saturday.

The DPWH eyes to complete the project within the year.

DPWH will continue to build projects that will promote rural and value chain development toward increasing agricultural and rural enterprise productivity and rural tourism. The initiative is part of the 0+10-point economic agenda of President Rodrigo Duterte.

The 2017-2022 Eastern Visayas Regional Development Plan identified infrastructure development as among the top priority concerns of the government “to accelerate economic growth and improve the quality of life in both urban and rural communities.”

Southern Leyte province, the birthplace of President Duterte, is known for world-class dive sites, caves, extreme adventures sites, waterfalls, safari, river trekking, crater lake trekking, fish feeding, rain forest tramping, scuba diving and whale shark interaction, island escapades, beach fun, religious journeys.

Southern Leyte is accessible from Cebu through regular ferry and fast crafts. There are also bi-weekly flights available to Maasin through Air Juan from Cebu.

The province can be reached from Tacloban City, the gateway to Eastern Visayas region through a three-hour land travel. (SQM/PNA)