BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya—The provincial government here will be pouring more funds to further develop its eco-tourism and historical potentials to attract more local and foreign tourists.
Former governor Ruth Padilla, president of the Nueva Vizcaya Tourism Council, said they are now preparing the documents for the declaration of the Capissaan Cave System in Kasibu town, Mt. Palali in Bayombong town and Mt. Ugo in Kayapa town as protected areas through the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
“These are some of our eco-tourism attractions that need to be preserved and protected not only for its tourism value but more so because of their significance to our eco-system and the environment,” she said.
Padilla said the number of Mt. Ugo trekkers last year was recorded at more than 5,000, based on the log book of the Philippine National Police.
She also announced that the access road going to the Capissaan Cave system in Kasibu town has been completed through the implementation of the Department of Tourism-Department of Public Works and Highways Convergence Program.
With this, travel time to the cave system is now reduced from 8 to 3 hours and tourists can now be accommodate through DOT-accredited homestay services near the area, tourism officials said.
The former governor added that the Balete Pass, also known as Dalton Pass in Sta. Fe town will soon have a Memorial Wall where names of the gallant soldiers who perished during the 2nd World War will be marked.
“We will coordinate with the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office regarding this project,” Padilla said.
She also added that Boundary Arcs in the towns of Sta. Fe town, Kayapa and Diadi will also be constructed as part of its tourism promotion program including the establishment of a tourism information center in Dalton Pass.
The Lower Magat Eco-Tourism Park in barangay San Luis in Diadi town, Padilla said will also be added with other attraction such as a flower cultural garden, more lodging houses and Olympic-sized swimming pools.
Last month, LMET generated more than P1 million due to influx of foreign and local tourists in the area, where P.5 million of this amount was generated only during the Holy Week.
According to Padilla, the provincial government will also conduct a training for mountain guides and the establishment of local tourism offices in the 15 towns of the province in partnership with the local government units.
“This will also trigger the planning and development of our waterfalls as eco-tourism sites which will be spearheaded by our municipal local government units,” she said.
Padilla also said they will pursue networking and partnerships with the private sector to pursue more programs and projects to boost local tourism in the province by harnessing the Investment Code and the Public Private Partnership Codes of the province.
“These are needed especially that the Bagabag airport will be fully operational for domestic flights on May 17. We will also develop tour packages to bring tourists to our province before going to other tourism sites,” she said. #