LIGAO CITY, Oct. 25 (PNA) — Since Albay has been emerging as one of the country’s top tourist destinations, the province’s third congressional district’s representative wants the Department of Tourism (DOT) to develop more local tourism sites out of the long stretches of untouched beaches within his district.
Under House Bill 4599 recently filed by Rep. Fernando Gonzalez, he said the unspoiled white-sand beaches along the Albay west coast, whose diversity and unique attraction offer an alternative to the highly commercialized beaches and mangrove or Boracay and Palawan, should be developed as an additional tourism site for the province.
The bill, when enacted into law, will declare the area as a tourism spot and task the DOT in its development through funds to be appropriated by Congress in line with the government’s drive to create multi-faceted tourist destinations.
The area includes the beaches along barangays Buenavista, Malidong, Basicao Coastal and Marigondon — all in Pioduran town; Maonon, Cabarian and Catbulawan of this city; Badian, Cagmanaba, Maramba and Nagas of Oas; and Apud, Rawis, Talin-talin and Pantao of Libon.
All barangays are located adjoining with each other at the Albay west coast that sits along the northern coastlines of Ticao and Burias Passes that are known as sanctuary of manta rays and seasonal home to whale sharks, the world’s largest marine mammal.
The manta Ray Bowl that draws a notable number of international leisure divers is located off the nearby town of San Jacinto at Ticao Island of Masbate while the whale sharks, locally called “butandings” and seasonally homed each year at the coastal waters of Donsol, Sorsogon, is another major tourist drawer.
The proposed beachfront tourism development will also add to the attractions of this city, which is the center part of the Albay third district and site of the marvelous Kawa-Kawa Hill — a 236-meter high land form resembling a cauldron (locally, kawa) developed by Gonzalez into one of Albay’s exciting tourist and religious destinations.
From afar, Kawa-Kawa may seem as ordinary as any other hill, but from its summit, one can see its unique feature in its full glory — an amphitheater-like six-hectare crater.
Because of this peculiar characteristic, it is also called “the hill without a hilltop” that offers a stunning 360-degree view of this city and neighboring towns, as well as sprawling green fields and nearby, the Mt. Masaraga and Mayon Volcano.
The proposed law says that “in coordination with other government agencies concerned, the DOT shall prepare, within one year from the approval of this Act a tourism development plan involving the construction, installation and/or maintenance of such appropriate facilities and infrastructure as shall encourage tourism in the area.”
The DOT shall also take the necessary steps to implement such development plan and incorporate the same in its tourism development program for the ensuing calendar year, the bill states.
“The amount required to carry out the plan shall be included in the General Appropriations Act of the year following its enactment into law and thereafter,” it added.(PNA)