DAVAO Region got the highest budget allocation for tourism projects this year, an official of the Department of Tourism (DOT) revealed.
DOT regional director Art Boncato said Davao got P1.488 billion allocation from government for the construction of 25 identified local and baranggay roads leading to existing tourist destinations.
Boncato said this is in accordance with the DOT-Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Region XI Convergence project which started last 2010.
Dennis Florres, public information officer of DPWH, said the projects include the upgrading of gravel road into concrete widening of existing roads in the regions that will help the tourism industry.
Davao City District Engineer Office (DEO) was allotted P44 million while the second distinct of Davao City DEO received P20 million.
Davao del Norte got P95 million. Davao del Sur 2nd DEO P50 million and Davao Oriental another P50 million.
The regional office has P1.229 billion budget for tourism projects.
Flores said that as of April 15, there are 15 ongoing project in the whole region, which includes building of roads and bridges.
Flores said that the project in Malita, Davao del Sur is the one nearing completion at 77 percent.
About 56 percent of the project in Davao Oriental is completed and about 4 percent of the regional tourism projects were accomplished by the DPWH Regional Office. All in all, about 12.30 percent of the regional projects are completed.
One project the director cited is the Circumferential Road in the Island Garden of Samal amounting to P27 million. The road was converted into a national road. (CRP)