MANILA, (PNA) — The P49- million road upgrading of the Fatima-Parola-San Agustin Road, which will provide better access to tourism destinations in Davao Oriental, will be finished soon.
In a statement, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) reported that based on the latest field inspection by DPWH Davao Regional Office, the gravel to concrete road upgrade that traverses the national highway boundary of Brgy. Lavigan, Governor Generoso to the southern tip of Davao Oriental is now 95 percent complete.
Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson said the road project, which also includes the construction of an 18-linear meter bridge, is one of the priority projects included in DPWH’s goal of paving 100% of the unpaved national roads in the country by 2016.
Once the Fatima-Parola-San Agustin Road is done, local and foreign tourists will be able to visit the famous three-generation lighthouses easily and view Cape San Agustin, Pujada Bay, Davao Gulf and the Pacific Ocean all at once.
“It’s a wonderful 180-degree view and really awe- inspiring”, DPWH Region XI Director Mariano Alquiza.
DPWH District Engineer Cynthia Grace C. Tiu, on her part, expressed her appreciation to the local people for their support in resolving the expected challenges as they progress with the project.
“We are grateful to the people of Barangay Lavigan for the cooperation, especially in providing us the use of the right of way,” Tiu said.
This project is in line with the DPWH’s convergence program with the Department of Tourism (DOT), as one of the agency’s key strategic programs to realize its goal to provide better access to tourism destinations.
There are also two Davao Oriental 2nd District Engineering’s major projects under this (DOT-DPWH Convergence) program. Other projects are:
(1) The Php 139.796 million upgrading (gravel to concrete) of the Junction-La Union-Mt. Hamiguitan Road, situated in the Municipality of San Isidro, with a progress of 24.89%; and
(2) The Php137.142 million improvement/upgrading (gravel to concrete) project of Junction Menzi-Dahican-Lawigan Road at Mati City which is now 59.16% completed.
Alquiza said once all these 3 road projects are completed, “it will definitely provide further growth to the tourism market in the region that could significantly improve the livelihood of the people in the area.”
He also mentioned his anticipation to the inclusion of Mt. Hamiguitan as a UNESCO World Heritage site, saying he wants to make the experience of tourists and mountaineers to be both engaging and educational by providing excellent quality road access.
On May 17, 2013, President Benigno Aquino III declared Davao Oriental as a Tourism Development Area under Republic Act 10560.