BUTUAN CITY – This fast-growing Northeastern Mindanao city is hoping more and more tourists would be attracted to visit its Zoological and Botanical Park in the northeastern part with the construction of an access road leading to the park.

“A big help to our tourism and expected more tourists will visit this area,” said Butuan City Mayor Engr. Ronnie Vicente C. Lagnada.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) paved a road to provide better access to Sumile Zoological and Botanical Park in Barangay Sumile, Butuan City.

DPWH 13 Regional Director Engr. Pol M. Delos Santos said that the 556.30 meters road widening project was constructed in the amount of ₱11.8 million.

Barangay Sumile, a far-flung barangay in Butuan City, is home of the Zoological and Botanical Park, which showcases a magnificent and amazing botanical garden, and friendly monkeys.

“The Zoological and Botanical Park contributes to the preservation of biological diversity through protection of animals and growing of plants,” the region’s top DPWH 13 official pointed out.

“The facility also houses a scientific research facility where they continuously study the environment for the awareness of the general public,” Regional Director Delos Santos said.

Implemented by the DPWH Butuan City District Engineering Office, the project contributes to the city’s infrastructure development while maintaining the ecological balance in the area.

In another infrastructure development, the regional office of the DPWH 13 has recently completed a road improvement project that now benefits locals, especially farmers in Cabadbaran City, Agusan del Norte.

Regional Director Delos Santos also told The Manila Bulletin on Tuesday that with an allocation of P47 million, the DPWH Agusan del Norte District Engineering Office paved a 1.3-kilometer gravel road in the city’s Barangay Mabini connecting to Barangay Malingin, also of that province’s component city.

“The Mabini-Malingin Road is now a 2-lane concrete road with a width of 6.1 meters and one (1) meter shoulder on both sides. This route used to be dusty during the dry season and muddy during the rainy season,” Director Delos Santos said.

Prior to construction, motorists are avoiding to travel the area, particularly during rainy days for fear that their tires will be stuck in deep mud. The road condition also forced locals and farmers to travel by foot just to sell their agricultural products to market centers.

With this all-weather road now, the road completion will further increase economic opportunities, especially in agriculture which is the main source of income and commerce of the residents, the region’s top DPWH 13 official said.

Providing an improved road where it matters most is a profound accomplishment, indicative of the agency’s mission and President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s legacy of ‘comfortable lives for all Filipinos,’ Director Delos Santos added.