Bacolod officials say rivers are potential tourist spots

BACOLOD City officials have seen the potential of the Sum-ag and Cabug rivers as the future tourist destination in the city replicating the famous Loboc River of Bohol and Himogaan River of Sagay City.

According to City Administrator John Orola Jr., Korean tourists and some city officials visited Thursday the Sum-ag, Cabug rivers, where the visitors saw the potentials of the rivers to become a tourist hub with the help of the local government and its stakeholders.

Mayor Evelio Leonardia, who was also present during the visit, said that if we use the Loboc River of Bohol as a model, they (Sum-ag and Cabug rivers) are just about the same.

“It is just a question of developing it,” he added.

Leonardia said he was surprised to see the area maintaining its natural green surrounding.

There are residents in the area, but manageable and tolerable, Leonardia added.

He said that they already requested the amount of P2.5 million from the National Government under the anti-poverty program for the development of those rivers and hopefully they could have the budget by the second quarter of this year.

There is also a Gawad Kalinga housing project in the area which, Leonardia said, could be part of the tour package for foreign tourists, because it showcases the "bayanihan spirit" of the Bacolodnons and Filipinos.

Restaurants and eateries will also be established by the sea also as an added tourist attraction.

He said he agrees with Fr. Aniceto Buenafe that the Loboc River in Tagbilaran, Bohol has become a tourist attraction and is one of the wonders that made our tourism industry in the Philippines unique from the rest.

Leonardia said he hopes they can duplicate and approximate that kind of attraction that was created, because of the constant attention and continuing development that had been invested into the Loboc River.

Orola said, during the cruise expedition Thursday, for many years now, they have been trying to look into the potentials of the Sum-ag river and hopes it will soon become a reality.

Many of us have taken the river for granted without realizing that it is not just a source of water but could be a potential for tourism, trade and livelihood opportunities, especially for the puroks and barangays in the area, Orola said.

“We will not just put up structures, but will see to it that these will not affect the environment,” assured Orola, adding that he hopes “the river cruise from Sum-ag to Cabug rivers will become a regular activity in the area.”