San Juanico bridge project to usher in 'new era in sustainable tourism'

SAMAR. Artist rendition of the San Juanico Bridge lighting system project courtesy of Samar Provincial Government. (PNA)
SAMAR. Artist rendition of the San Juanico Bridge lighting system project courtesy of Samar Provincial Government. (PNA)

THE P80-million aesthetic lighting and music of the iconic San Juanico Bridge will bring in “a new era in sustainable tourism and investments” in Eastern Visayas.

Pocholo Franco, co-chairman of the technical working group (TWG) on San Juanico Strait Development, said the public will soon witness vibrant tourism activities along the San Juanico Strait.

“Side by side, Tacloban City and the Province of Samar will be coming up with developmental concepts at the Strait that will be offered to the private sector for investments either as a joint venture or on a Build Operate Transfer Scheme under the Public Private Partnership Program of the government,” Franco told SunStar Philippines.

The groundbreaking of the project was held on July 26.

“When all developmental concept designs from both Tacloban and Samar is done, these will be offered to the private sector for investments,” added Franco, who is also the president of Eastern Visayas Tourism Association (Evta) and the private sector representative of the Regional Development Council (RDC) on tourism.

“We will be needing all the support and cooperation of everyone in these. All these will be good for the Region’s Sustainable Economic Development,” Franco said.

He said Evta is a group of tourism stakeholders from travel agencies, tour operators, hotels, restaurants, transport group, tourist guides, event organizers, academe, and others.

It has members around the region.

“Foremost is our advocacy to collaborate with Department of Tourism (DOT) and other national and international tourism stakeholders to promote, market and invite investments to our region,” he added.

“At the very core of this endeavor is to add luster to the Spark Samar Development Agenda by boosting tourist visits and providing tourism-related livelihood programs to our People’s Organizations in surrounding areas, and increase income of adjacent towns,” said Samar Second District Representative Sharee Ann Tan, the project proponent.

“We will forever be grateful to Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (Tieza) and DOT, and all other National Government agencies for their overwhelming support and assistance in all our SSDA programs!” she added.

Meanwhile, DOT Eastern Visayas Regional Director Karen Tiopes said the bridge lighting project “is the first of many development projects along the San Juanico Strait Development area.”

“This project stands to benefit the provinces of Samar and Leyte and the City of Tacloban. A TWG that will oversee the sustainable and harmonious development along the San Juanico Strait was organized by the Eastern Visayas Regional Development Council. This TWG is chaired by DOT 8 (Eastern Visayas),” added Tiopes.

A bay-walk structure worth P97 million was approved by Tieza for the additional feature in the project.

Built in 1969 and completed in 1972, the 2.162-kilometer San Juanico Bridge connects the islands of Leyte and Samar. (SunStar Philippines)

Trending

No stories found.

Just in

No stories found.

Branded Content

No stories found.
SunStar Publishing Inc.
www.sunstar.com.ph