NegOr allots P16-M total to improve tourism sites
by Rachelle M. Nessia
DUMAGUETE CITY, May 26 (PIA) --- The provincial government of Negros Oriental is eyeing to develop the various tourist spots in the province to lure more tourists into discovering Negros Oriental.
Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo has alloted P11 million to develop tourism areas in eight local government units (LGUs) here.
Records from the Office of the Provincial Engineer show that Tanjay City will receive the lion's share of the total amount with P6.1 million for the boardwalk development in Brgy. Luka.
The other sites slated to receive their share of the budget for tourism area development are the following: Cantalina Falls in Amlan with P200,000; Palaypalay Falls in Pamplona with P400,000; Bulwang Cave in Mabinay wih P1.2-M; Balinsasayao Twin Lakes in Sibulan with P1.2-M; Balanan Lake in Siaton with P1-M; purchase of Aquatic Rescue Vehicle for Mantalif Reef in Bindoy with P400,000; and concreting of road in Casaroro Falls, Valencia with P500,000.
Engr. Franco Alpuerto of the Provincial Engineer's Office, in an interview, said that another P5 million have been allocated for the construction and repair of rest rooms along 10 strategic tourism routes provincewide.
Of the total funding, for comfort room construction, P200,000 have been set aside for the Cantalina Falls in Amlan; P400,000 for Bulwang Cave in Mabinay; P200,000 for Baslay Hot Spring in Dauin; and P900,000 for the boardwalk in Brgy. Luka, Tanjay City. Also alloted are for the repair of comfort rooms at Balinsasayao Twin Lakes in Sibulan with P300,000, Balanan Lake in Siaton with P600,000, Casaroro Falls in Valencia with P350,000 and Palaypalay Falls with P150,000.
On the other hand, P1.9 million from the same funds will go to the construction of two public rest rooms along the Dumaguete-Bacolod and Dumaguete-Canlaon routes. “This will be for the passengers also of public utility vehicles which automatically make pit stops along these routes,” said Alpuerto. (RMN/PIA Negros Oriental)
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2,500 Dumaguete trike drivers to receive P150 fuel assistance
by: Jennifer Catan-Tilos
DUMAGUETE CITY, May 26 (PIA) A total of P334,500 has released by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to local government unit of Dumaguete City in line with the implementation of Pantawid Pasada program.
Some 2,230 tricycle drivers in Dumaguete City will start receiving the P150 fuel cash assistance on May 30 from the city government and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).
The local government unit (LGU) in a memorandum of agreement with DILG will be the one to release the onetime grant of P150 for tricycles with franchises registered with the LGU as of March 28, 2011.
While Dumaguete has a total registered number of 2,500 tricycle drivers, the remaining 270 will also be given the same amount after renewal of their units.
As a counterpart, according to CLGOO Felix Ablir of City DILG City Mayor Manuel Sagarbarria has pledged to allocate some P33,500 for those drivers not included in the list of DILG.
Apart from the P150, the LGU, if it has the capability, may opt to provide a counterpart grant or shoulder the administrative cost in the implementation of the program.
In a Kapihan forum, Ablir asked the tricycle drivers to coordinate or be with their operators in claiming the cash grant for it is really intended for the drivers.
DILG province also advised tricycle drivers or operators to claim their P150 assistance to their respective local government units as DILG starts distributing the checks already.
Meanwhile, Robredo renewed his call on the city and municipal mayors nationwide to provide counterpart funding for the program to help tricycle franchise owners cope with the continuing hike in fuel prices
President Benigno Aquino III, in issuing Executive Order 32, launched the Pantawid Pasada Program or the Public Transport Assistance Program (PTAP), as one way to extend assistance to jeepney and tricycle drivers affected by the continuous increase in the prices of petroleum products. (PIA NegOr/JCT)