By Jennifer S. Allegado
CALBAYOG CITY, Feb. 15 (PNA) — The local government unit in this city identified tourism development as one of its priorities for 2015.
Mayor Ronaldo Aquino said that concreting of access road from Amampacang to Lungsob villages is now underway to ensure that Mapaso Hot Spring is accessible.
Mapaso Hot Spring, located in Oquendo District is among the city’s tourist sites being developed since 2013.
The mayor added that the city is likewise implementing a project for the access road leading to Mawacat slide in Mawacat village.
This tourism site has a natural spoon-like formation, which inclined about 45 degrees and stretching a length of about 50 meters. Water flows along the giant and from the top one can slide through the mossy lane to the cool inviting pool below.
Aquino told reporters that the development of Malajog Beach is on progress. The local government allocated an additional Php10 million pesos for the completion of the project.
Component of the project is to put-up a zip-line as an added tourist attraction. According to the city mayor, the owner of the islet fronting the beach has agreed to negotiate with them to use the place for tourism development.
Malajog Beach is one of the tourist haven in Samar province with its grayish sand and cold blue waters with towering rocks.
Meanwhile, the Php50 million Bangon Falls access road development project in Tinaplacan village will be implemented this year by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
The city government is also implementing projects to further beautify the city proper. Within the year, the development project for Nijaga Park will be launched.
Aquino stressed the need to make the city’s center attractive to both tourists and investors.
Meanwhile, the city tourism and information office said that hotels and lodging houses reported a tourist arrival of 93,826 in Calbayog in 2014, higher than the 61,092 visitors a year ago.
Of the total, 89,984 were local tourists while 3,842 were foreigners. The report does not capture number of tourists who stayed with their friends or relatives.(PNA)