DPWH completes P85-M tourism road in Leyte

CARIGARA, Leyte, Dec. 11 – The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials opened on Monday the PHP85-million newly-completed road section leading to the region’s top farm school and tourism destination in Jaro, Leyte.

The road leads to the Villaconzoilo Agri and Eco Tourism Farm and Silawa Falls located in Villaconzoilo village in Jaro town, DPWH Leyte 2nd district chief Carlos Veloso said in a phone interview.

The project involves concreting of 3.5 km-long and 6.1-meter wide road. Also installed are culverts, excavation and embankment.

Villaconzoilo, an upland village, seven kilometers from the town center, offers farm tourism and fast becoming a favorite tourist destination among locals and foreigners.

Through the farmers’ organization, Villa Conzoilo Community Association, it produces high-value crops, including lettuce, broccoli, carrots, cauliflowers, rambutan, radish, asparagus, grapes and strawberries which are sold in shopping malls and hotels in the region.

The village, with a population of almost 400, is near Mount Amandewing or the Alto Peak, considered the highest point of the province and endowed with natural wonders and pristine, unspoiled environment.

On the other hand, Silawa Falls is nature’s jewel hemmed beside cloud-capped mountain ranges.

Wild animals roam its surrounding forest, making it a hunter’s paradise and home of endangered species both flora and fauna including insects, butterflies, deer, wild boar, monkeys and other different types of birds from the Central Amandewing mountain ranges.

To fully pave the road leading to the Silawa Falls, the DPWH is currently implementing a PHP9.85 million-project under the Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (Pamana) funded by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process.

“The road project is vitally important for the dispersal of tourists beyond major gateways and the facilitation of self-drive tourism,” Veloso said.

Veloso also vowed to aggressively implement infrastructure projects geared toward bringing livelihood and development to rural communities.

The DPWH has secured the backing of the national government in funding tourism support programs, allowing local communities that are dependent on tourism to earn more income. (LAAA/PNA)