LINGAYEN -- The Alaminos City Government has started its massive restoration of the Hundred Islands National Park (HINP) to bring back its old glory as the number one tourist destination in Pangasinan province.
City Tourism Officer Miguel Sison said the project, which started on Saturday, would initially focused on Quezon Island, the biggest and the most frequented island in the 100 island group.
He said the cleaning and clearing operations of the Quezon Island was under way while privately-owned cottages were already demolished for a better view the island's contour.
The City Government plans to construct two guest houses (one single and one duplex) and four gazebos to be built in the island. Each guest house is allocated a budget of P1.5-2 million while each gazebo has been allocated a construction cost of P150,000.
“We intend to finish the construction of these projects by December so as to have something to showcase for possible investors/donors of guest houses for the other islands,” Sison said.
According to their plan, anyone who will provide a guest house will have free access to the same but such will be owned and managed by the city tourism office.
Last July 24, the City Government conducted an ocular inspection of the islands followed by a meeting with the concessionaires of these cottages.
“There was no problem with the demolition of their cottages. The concessionaires were amenable to it for the betterment of the Hundred Islands,” Sison said.
Meanwhile, all the canteens in the park will be placed in just one location in order to have a centralized dining area. It will also lead to a good waste management, said Sison.
Hundred Islands’ peak season is from October to May but for the month of July this year, the Park already reached about 6,000 tourist arrivals, the tourism officer said.
Apart from the park, the City Government is in consultation with some foreign investors regarding the improvement and management of the Hundred Islands Hotel in Barangay Lucap. (PNA)