PGIN asks TIEZA to turn-over tourism sites in Pagudpud

By Leilanie G. Adriano

Staff reporter

Laoag City—The Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte (PGIN)has requested the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) to turn-over the administration, maintenance and operation of the Banua Presidential Rest House and Bagong Lipunan Lodge in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte.

The said edifices were built during the time of former president Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr.

The two old buildings located along the national highway and on a slope of the northern Cordillera mountain ranges overlooking the South China Sea has been assigned to the Philippine Tourism Authority and the local government unit of Pagupdud on May 31, 1990 but both have never been operated and properly maintained since then, leading to its deterioration.

As the Ilocos Norte government continues to develop and promote various tourism destinations in the province, Sangguniang Panlalawigan member Portia Pamela Salenda, chairperson of the committee on tourism said these state-owned buildings, if properly maintained and operated can be a potential tourism revenue-generating project here.

In a draft provincial resolution certified as urgent by Ilocos Norte Gov. Ma. Imelda “Imee” R. Marcos, it states that is meant to encourage concerned authorities of TIEZA to allow the provincial government to manage both buildings and cause for its redevelopment and rehabilitation.

Under the 2015 annual investment program of Ilocos Norte, the provincial government has proposed at least P5 million for the improvement of the Pagudpud presidential rest house and P8 million for the redevelopment of the Bagong Lipunan Lodge to be implemented jointly by the local government of Ilocos Norte’s Engineering Office and the Department of Tourism.

Like the Malacañang of the North which is now under the management of the provincial government after the PTA turned-over its administration to the latter, local officials here hope that the deteriorating government buildings in Pagudpud will finally be turned into income generating projects.

According to Ms. Salenda, the provincial government remains committed to develop idle government properties to spur economic development particularly to host communities.

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