Davao Region gets huge chunk of tourism roads infra

DAVAO CITY March 20 (PIA)- The Davao Region is getting the biggest chunk of the tourism roads project for 2013.

Based on Department of Tourism (DOT) figures Region XI was allotted P1.4 billion from the P11.8 billion Tourism Road Infrastructure Program (TRIP). It got the biggest share among other regions.

The  Provincial Tourism Officers, Provincial Planning Officers have submitted  many proposals, we vetted it and submitted it to Manila.” Art Boncato, regional director DOT-XI said of the huge share the region got from the first convergence project between the DOT and the Department of Public Works and Highways.

“The DPWH has also been very good in evaluating our projects.” Boncato cited the support given by the DPWH office in the region. The DOT-XI head was among the guests during the Club 888 Media Forum held today (March 20) at the Marco Polo Davao.

The TRIP aims to build and develop road networks which connect to various tourism products and destinations. In Davao for 2013, there had been 16 road projects of which five are completed and 11 are still on-going.

In Davao City among the TRIP projects include the Quezon Boulevard widening and improvement, the thoroughfare connects Magsaysay Park to the City’s downtown area, the Mamay and Bacaca Road widening and improvement improves accessibility to the Davao International Airport and the Barrio Obrero streets improvement aims to complement the nearby University of Southeastern Philippines (USEP) gymnasium as a MICE destination. MICE stands for Meetings Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions.

In the region other notable TRIP projects include the Island Garden City of Samal circumferential road network, the improvement/concreting of the Panabo Coastal Road, the improvement of the Suaon-Sambajon road in the towns of Kapalong and San Isidro in Davao del Norte and the Mt. Apo circumferential road network which will connect the highland resorts located in the foothills of Mt. Apo in the province of Davao del Sur.

Boncato said that in 2014 they will be submitting 34 road projects for the TRIP with an estimated budget of P2-billion. (PIA/RG Alama)