P13.5M allocated for Cebu’s Midwest

CEBU, Philippines - The Provincial Government has set aside P13.5 million for development projects in tourist destinations in the Midwest part of the province.

 The development of tourism sites is part of the province’s Midwest Eco-tourism Project, which covers Alegria, Aloguinsan, Asturias, Balamban, and Tabuelan towns.

Vice Governor Agnes Magpale, chairwoman of the Provincial Tourism Council, said the towns need to craft their eco-tourism plans to avail of the funding.

 The project was tackled during the last quarter meeting of the Cebu Investment Promotion Board last November 23 at the Capitol.

Benjamin Yap, chief, Cebu Investment Promotion Office, said the budget for the projects is included in the 2016 annual investment plan.

The local government units (LGUs) will present their detailed engineering plans and programs of work before the Cebu Tourism Council in January next year.

Capitol will launch an eco-tourism project in March next year once all trainings and workshops for local tourism officers are completed.

Joselito Costas, Capitol consultant for eco-tourism, said there is a need to focus on tourism development in the Midwest because there have been fewer tourism activities there, not to mention there are potential tourism sites in the area that remain untapped.  It was in July this year when Capitol assessed the eco-tourism sites in the midwest.

Among the potential tourism areas are the Mount Manunggal in Balamban where the plane of former President Ramon Magsaysay crashed, the Batawang River in Tabuelan that is “perfect” for kayaking, and Aloguinsan town where dolphin-watching can be established.

The other sites include the wetland ecosystem named Lake Buswang in Asturias and the Cambais Falls and Kanlaob River in Alegria, which is famous for its canyoneering activities.

Aloguinsan, an international awardee for their community-based tourism Bojo River Cruise, will embark on dolphin-watching activities.

The Midwest part of Cebu is also home to protected landscape and seascape – the nestling places of biodiversity.  Among the projects proposed by the LGUs include road opening, footbridge, footwalk, viewing deck, restrooms, cottages, water system, and tourist information area.

The Provincial Information Office reported that the eco-tourism projects will follow the Bojo River Cruise model, which won the United  Nation supported Tourism InSPIRE Award for Best Community-based Tourism Initiative in Asia Pacific this year. (FREEMAN)