DOT, DPWH to open roads to tourist destinations in E. Samar

Balangiga Encounter Monument, Poblacion, Balangiga, E. Samar [Photo by: Christoper Zamora]

BORONGAN CITY, Eastern Samar, April 26 (PIA) -- The Department of Tourism in Region 8 (DOT-8) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Eastern Samar District Engineering Office (DEO) held a meeting recently, this city.

The objective of the said activity is to find ways to alleviate poverty through infrastructure, tourism and employment projects.

Ricardo D. Odita, OIC-district engineer, said that national agencies like the DOT is tying-up with the DPWH to come up with infrastructure projects beneficial to urban areas in terms of tourism and employment. This is a dream of every local community that do not have the capacity to finance such projects.

Odita added that some of these projects had already started like the upgrading of access road in Brgy. Lalawigan, the jump-off point to Brgy. Divinubo island with a total cost of P16 million.

Another is the upgrading of access road leading to the municipality of Maydolong's Closed Canopy Forest Area costing P50 million.

There is also the upgrading of Brgy. Sulangan-Guiuan road with an appropriation of P100 million being implemented by the DPWH-8.

"Once this access road to the tourist destinations is rehabilitated and improved, it will result in the increase of commerce through economic development and tourist activity, not only in the province of Eastern Samar but in the region as well," Odita said.

Meanwhile, during the meeting proper, Karina Rosa S. Tiopes, regional director of DOT-8 presented the revised Tourism Road Infrastructure Priority Project Criteria (TRIPPC).

In her presentation, she emphasized the importance of 5As which means: Access, Accommodation, Attraction, Activity, and Amenities.

She also presented the list of projects evaluated by the Regional Technical Working Group (RTWG) using the TRIPPC.

For Eastern Samar, there are four projects, namely, 1) the rehabilitation/improved of 0.6 kilometers (km) access road leading to jump-off point of Ando Island (Brgy. Punta Maria), including the access roads leading to travel destinations within the island and Installation of safety devices, signage and lighting, Borongan City; 2) upgrading of access road (gravel to paved) from National Highway to Minasangay Ecological Park, including box culvert and signage, Brgy. 1, Balangkayan, E. Samar; 3) upgrading of access road (gravel to paved) from National Highway to Amandaraga Falls, Brgy. Ginob-an, Lalawigan, E. Samar; and 4) installation of directional and cautionary signage leading to Balangiga Encounter Monument, Poblacion, Balangiga, E. Samar.

Tiopes further said that these projects will be endorsed by Working Group to the National Technical Working Group (DOT-DPWH) for review and final approval.

"If this proposed project will be realized, it will create jobs, livelihood opportunities and business," Tiopes said.

Twenty-four participants attended the said activity composed mostly of municipal planning & development officers, municipal engineers, Tito Codoy, mayor of Llorente, and Jaime Ty, mayor of Gen. Mac-Arthur, E. Samar.

These projects are in line with the social contract of the President to the people. (SDC-PIA 89, E. Samar)