Several roads leading to tourist destinations in Visayas and Mindanao were recently paved, the Department of Public Works and Highways announced.
Concreting of three roads leading to tourist spots in Kabankalan City in Negros Occidental have been completed while one more is under way, the department said.
The completed tourism projects include the 1.16-kilometer access road from the national road leading to Mag-aso Falls in Barangay Oringao, Kabankalan City. A total of P29.4 million was spent for the improvement works.
A separate P9.4-million access road in Barangay Oringao’s Sitio Pitgong going to Mag-aso Falls was also constructed. A road leading to Barangay Daan Banua’s Bird Watching Area was also paved under a P24.5-million fund.
A road project is currently being constructed in Sipalay City which to the city’s Sugar Beach and Langub Beach resorts. A total of P38.4-million was allocated for its construction.
Meanwhile, tourists and devotees will have better access to the historic Shrine of the Holy Cross in Cotabato as a two-lane, 2.5-kilometer concrete road along the muddy and mountainous terrain of Barangay Nueva Vida in M’lang, Cotabato is on its final phase.
The project is implemented under a P15 million budget which also covers the construction of a 40-meter parking space.
The first and second phases were implemented in 2018 and 2019 with budget allocations of P43 million and P20 million, respectively.
The mountain shrine, which was declared sacred by the Diocese of Kidapawan in 1990, is one of the most visited places in Cotabato especially during Holy Week since the elevated location allows devotees, hikers, and tourists to see parts of Kidapawan City, Makilala town, M’lang town, and Liguasan Marsh.
The road improvement projects are implemented in convergence with the Department of Tourism to promote both tourism and socio-economic development in the province.