Public Works Secretary Mark A. Villar anticipates more tourists will visit Eastern Visayas with the completion of roads leading to tourism sites in Samar and Leyte.
The statement followed after DPWH Region 8 Director Nerie Bueno reported that they have completed the construction of the 1.7-kilometer access road leading to Calabato Hot Spring in the municipality of La Paz, Leyte.
A total of P46-million was allotted for the concreting of the two (2) lane tourism road and construction of arch bridge aimed to improve the municipality’s tourist spot after it was damaged by Super Typhoon Yolanda in 2013.
“This road development will not only boost tourism leading to Calabato Hot Spring but will also allow farmers in Barangay Bocawon to transport their produce faster and easier,” said Sec. Villar.
In Samar, tourists are now enjoying the famous Lulugayan Falls dubbed as “mini Niagara Falls” with the completion of the 7.78-kilometer road project in the Municipality of Calbiga.
The tourism road project involved the construction of a two (2) lane concrete road, a 1.57-kilometer reinforced concrete girder, and a 3.22-kilometer reinforced concrete pipe implemented in three phases, amounting to P350-million.
Locals and tourists noted that travel time from Calbiga proper to Lulugayan Falls traversing the mountainous Barangays of Polangi, Panayuran and Literon was reduced from 40 minutes to 10 minutes with the new access road.
“These tourism road projects are a part of the government’s commitment to provide quality infrastructure that speeds up movement of people, goods, and services and spur economic growth,” added Sec. Villar.