BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya—This province is expected to receive funding assistance next year to boost its ecotourism potential.
Gov. Carlos Padilla said P160.7 million is expected to be included in the 2018 General Appropriations Act for the development of various eco-tourism attractions in Nueva Vizcaya, particularly in the upland towns of Kasibu, Ambaguio and Diadi.
Kasibu hosts the world-class Capissaan Cave System, Ambaguio offers an alternative trail to Mt. Pulag in Benguet province, while Diadi prides its Lower Magat Eco-Tourism Park for local and foreign tourists.
Padilla said the tourism fund for the province will be sourced through the Tourism Roads Infrastructure Prioritization Program of the Department of Tourism and Department of Public Works and Highways, also known as the DOT-DPWH Convergence Program.
“We are elated because we were able to push and include this fund through the GAA for 2018. We expect that this will be approved for our province to further develop the access roads for our tourism sites and attractions,” he said.
According to Padilla, parts of the fund will be allocated to improve access roads that will lead the tourists comfortably to the Capissaan Tourist Village in Kasibu town and inside the Lower Magat Park, while the bulk of the fund will be poured into Ambaguio to develop the provincial road leading to Mt. Pulag through the Ambangeg-Akiki road.
The governor said Ambaguio has been the choice of several mountaineers and eco-tourists because of its exciting trails and “heavenly” sceneries.
“This road developments will further attract more tourists to savor the rural life in our province coupled with their cultural immersion among our indigenous peoples. This will further promote learning and understanding on the cultural treasures that our province offers through our IPs,” said Padilla, who also chairs the Regional Development Council’s Economic Development Committee.
He said the tourism fund was earlier proposed before the RDC in Cagayan Valley.