CEBU CITY–  Bohol Gov. Erico Aristotle Aumentado and TIEZA Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Vice Chairperson Mark Lapid inspected several TIEZA-funded tourism infrastructure projects in Panglao, Bohol on Tuesday, August 18, to assess the progress of their implementation and discuss measures to further improve tourist safety and visitor experience. 

Among the projects inspected were the Alona Shoreline Rehabilitation and Slope Protection, the Floating Dock at Alona Beach, the Panglao Tourism Information Center and Green Comfort Room, and the Hyperbaric Chamber Center. 

During the inspection, Aumentado highlighted the importance of the shoreline protection project in preserving the beach while protecting establishments and visitors. 

For his part, Lapid said the project serves an important purpose, particularly in protecting the shoreline from strong waves that previously reached the nearby resorts. 

“Kasi dati, dumidiretso lahat yan dito sa shoreline. So ngayon, hindi na. Maprotektahan na natin ang shoreline, at the same time, safe pa ang mga turista natin,” he said. 

The TIEZA official also noted the significance of the floating dock, which is intended to provide a safer access point for tourists participating in scuba diving and island tours. 

Previously, boats and other watercraft would proceed directly toward the shoreline. Lapid said they are coordinating with the provincial government for additional safety measures to be installed in the area, including barriers or ropes in the seawall to prevent tourists from accidentally falling. 

Officials likewise inspected the Hyperbaric Chamber Center, which Aumentado and Lapid agreed should begin operations at the soonest possible time, with trained and professional personnel assigned to manage the facility. 

Lapid emphasized that a hyperbaric chamber is an important facility for Bohol, particularly as Panglao is one of the country’s established scuba diving destinations. 

“Very famous din ang probinsya ng Bohol for scuba diving. So one of the main facilities that is being required in international standards is to have a hyperbaric chamber,” Lapid said. He added that the facility could serve not only scuba diving-related emergencies but also provide potential wellness and medical applications for certain conditions, subject to appropriate medical supervision. 

Apart from the ongoing tourism infrastructure projects, Aumentado and Lapid also discussed the possibility of establishing an additional TIEZA-managed landfill facility in the northern part of Bohol. Lapid said TIEZA currently manages a landfill facility in Albuquerque in the southern part of the province, which is undergoing repairs and improvements. 

The proposed northern facility would help address the province’s growing waste management needs. 

Aumentado, meanwhile, said the establishment of another landfill should be properly justified and planned, particularly in consideration of Bohol’s status as a UNESCO Global Geopark, underscoring the need to balance tourism development with environmental protection.