P390M DOT-DPWH convergence program up in IN this year

By Leilanie G. Adriano

Staff Reporter

Access roadS leading to Ilocos Norte’s promising tourism spots such as waterfalls, beaches and eco-cultural heritage sites are up for implementation this year with an initial P390 million fund for the concreting of roads covering the towns of Pagudpud, Adams and Nueva Era.

At present, one of the priority projects in the Department of Tourism and Department of Public Works and Highways convergence program on enhancing tourism access include the P190 million concreting of Saud-Caparispisan-Caunayan road, P100 million concreting of Pancian, Pagudpud-Adams road leading and to different waterfalls and another P100 concreting of Ilocos Norte-Abra road leading to Tubeg view deck, Imelda Park, Hercules Mines access to Mount Sicapao campsite in Nueva Era, Ilocos Norte.

Early this year, representatives of the DOT and DPWH conducted on-site inspections in the said areas which is expected to boost local tourism sites and create job opportunities in the tourism-related projects.

Apart from Pagudpud, Adams and Nueva Era towns, DOT provincial director Ma. Milagros Gonzales said road projects covering Laoag City and five more towns in neighboring Bangui, Burgos, Vintar, Piddig and Carasi are expected to be included in the next 2015 budget to be endorsed to the Tourism Coordination Council for final evaluation.

With these upcoming multi-million projects, Gonzales expressed optimism “tourism arrivals in Ilocos Norte [will] continue to increase as roads leading to these promising tourism destinations will become more accessible.”

In 2013, the DOT-DPWH convergence program also included at least P70 million upgrading from gravel to concrete of Burgos Kapurpurawan Rocks Formation access road including P100 million widening of Maoini-Baduang-Saud, Pagudpud road.

Pursuant to Sections 34 to 37 of Republic Act 9593, otherwise known as the Tourism Act of 2009, The DOT-DPWH Convergence Program on Enhancing Tourism Access is a joint undertaking of the Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) which aims to develop and market competitive tourist destinations and products, the DOT is working with national government agencies, like the DPWH as well as local government units to implement a sustainable tourism transportation and destination infrastructure development program in the strategic destinations.

Also, the DOT aims to facilitate the development of mixed-use tourism complexes and community-based tourism programs in the strategic destinations, and enhance efforts to safeguard natural and cultural heritage sites.

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