Skip to main content

Bike zipline to rise soon in Vintar

On this site shall rise a bike and surf zipline in sitio Bucana, Barangay Parparoroc, Vintar, Ilocos Norte. (File photo)

Staff reporter

Vintar, Ilocos Norte—A zip bike and surf zipline will soon operate in this town.

Overlooking the vast Bislak River near the 16 by 50-square meter Vintar dam at Sitio Bucana, Brgy. Parparoroc, town officials here and representatives of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) broke ground on January 18 the proposed site.

They expect construction to start in March this year.

Vintar mayor Larissa C. Foronda said it took about three years for the municipality to conceptualize the project as she shared her excitement that it is now turning into a reality.

“It took us more than three years to start this project and we grateful for the DENR and those who helped in the processing of a special patent that shows the lot where the project will be erected is owned by the municipality,” Ms. Foronda told reporters after the groundbreaking ceremony.

With an initial funding of PHP11 million, the ride-a-bike zipline and surf zipline measuring 230 meters long each hope to bring back the glory of this town in the tourism map, said municipal tourism officer Erwin Suguitan as he recalled that during the 1970’s, the Vintar river is a favorite ground for picnickers.

For his part, provincial tourism officer Ianree Raquel said the Umok ni Siwawer Eco-Tourism Nature Park, once completed, will also contribute a lot to the overall tourism development of Ilocos Norte.

“We’ve seen and always that Vintar has a very strong potential in terms of tourism growth not only because of its proximity to Laoag capital and the international airport but most especially because of its God-given gifts,” Mr. Raquel said.

During summer, the Bislak River offers various water activities initiated by the local government unit.

Over the years however, neglect marred its beauty and everyone seemingly forgot it. But due to a renewed spirit of residents to bring back its lost glory, the municipal tourism office together with a developmental team introduce a master plan for tourism development, hence, the Vintar dam is now an emerging hub for water sports enthusiasts.

Some of the water sports activities offered at the moment include kayaking, water biking and water zorbing among others.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Empanada festival: A celebration of good taste and good life

By Dominic B. dela Cruz & Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporters BATAC CITY—If there is one thing Batac is truly proud of, it would be its famous empanada-making business that has nurtured its people over the years. Embracing a century-old culture and culinary tradition, Batac’s empanada claims to be the best and tastiest in the country with its distinctive Ilokano taste courtesy of its local ingredients: fresh grated papaya, mongo, chopped longganisa, and egg. The crispy orange wrapper and is made of rice flour that is deep-fried. The celebration of this city’s famous traditional fast food attracting locals and tourists elsewhere comes with the City Charter Day of Batac every 23 rd  of June. Every year, the City Government of Batac led by Mayor Jeffrey Jubal Nalupta commemorate the city’s charter day celebration to further promote its famous One-Town, One Product, the Batac empanada. Empanada City The Batac empanada festival has already become an annua

PIDS expert says income tax cuts justified; warns gov’t of revenue loss

Proposals to amend the personal income tax schedule appear to be well-justified. However, these proposals should include measures that will allow government to recover the revenue loss from lower income taxes. Dr. Rosario Manasan, senior research fellow of state think-tank Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS), said at a seminar sponsored by the Philippine Senate, that government should look for new revenue measures to compensate for the projected revenue loss that will arise as a result of the implementation of any of the various proposals to restructure the personal income tax. Currently, there are several income tax reform proposals pending in both houses of Congress. All of them, according to Dr. Manasan, have the same objective of addressing the phenomenon of bracket creep, which results from “non-indexation to inflation of personal income tax brackets”. Simply put, bracket creep occurs when employees’ income increases over time as a result of inflation. Th

PGIN honors Ilocano heroes of past, present through Heroes Walk

SPO1 Allan Lampitoc Franco of Banna, Ilocos Norte and PO2 Jovalyn D. Lozano of Adams, Ilocos Norte receive a resolution of commendation, a certificate of college scholarship grant to their family members and a P20,000 cash incentive each from the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte represented by Governor Imee R. Marcos and Vice Governor Angelo M. Barba in recognition of their bravery and heroic acts in the Mamasapano clash in Maguindanao on January 25. Mr. Franco and Mr. Lozano were recognized on March 10 in time for the unveiling of the second batch of Ilocano heroes at the Heroes Walk located along the Sirib Mile in Laoag City.  (Lei Adriano) By Jennifer T. Pambid PGIN-CMO In honor of the heroes who brought freedom, fame and glory to the province as well as to the country in the past century, the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte (PGIN) through the Education Department and Sirib Youth Office launched the second batch of Ilocano Heroes Walk on March 10, 2015.