CEBU - More tourists are expected to visit Aloguinsan town in southern Cebu as the roads leading to its famous tourist destinations are finally completed.
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The
more than P200 million road project, which was started during Governor
Gwendolyn Garcia’s term as congresswoman in partnership with the Department of
Tourism and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), was recently
inaugurated.
“Mosamot
kadaghan ang atong turista ani kay dali na lang ang access. Problema nato sauna
ang access pero karon sayon na ang pag anhi,” Aloguinsan Mayor Cesare Ignatius
Moreno said as he thanked Garcia for making Aloguinsanon’s long-held dream a
reality.
“Sometimes
we call this the last mile. The purpose of the partnership of the Office of the
Congressman, DOT-7, the national office and DPWH is really sumpayon ang
destinasyon sa tourism spots sa existing roads, mao gitawag siya nga final
kilometers na lang,” said Department of Tourism Regional Director Shalimar
Hofer Tamano.
Tamano
said Garcia provided P60 million funding for the road leading to the Bojo River
Cruise.
This
year, the Office of Deputy Speaker Pablo John Garcia representing 3rd district
of Cebu provided P135 million funding for the remaining road stretch leading to
Hermit’s Cove in Kantabugon. “Gisugdan ni January, paspas kaayo.
Congratulations Gov. Gwen and Cong. PJ,” Tamano said.
The
Garcia siblings also inaugurated the new bridge in Barangay Bojo prior to the
Bojo-Kantabugon inauguration. They then proceeded to the inauguration and
groundbreaking of the road concreting and improvement of the Zaragosa-Rosario
Road Section in Aloguinsan, which is part of the governor’s 2020 road
infrastructure projects.
Aside
from the river cruise, Aloguinsan is also known for the Hermit’s Cove or the
Kantabugon Beach which boasts of its stretch of white beach and a view of Mount
Kanlaon in Negros Island.
Jewel in our midst
The
Bojo River Cruise opening was historic as the site underscores Cebu’s tourism
landscape which boasts of underwater activities to above-water adventures. The
Bojo River Cruise, in particular, was hailed as the world’s top 100 sustainable
destinations for three consecutive years from 2016 to 2018 as it showed that
nature and people can coexist to protect each other.
Garcia,
who had been instrumental in the opening of the river cruise during her first
term, reminisced how this enchanting site was given international accolade for
being the best community eco-tourism project.
She
gave credit to the role of former Aloguinsan mayor Cynthia Moreno for her
steadfast commitment to push the Bojo River Cruise and the locals, especially
the fisherfolks and various people’s organizations, for their work. “Basta
maningkamot ug nagkahiusa og paningkamot pagkanindot gyud sa resulta. I believe
this is really the best example of a community based eco-tourism project,”
Garcia said.
The
tour guides were once fisherfolks who relied not just on fishing but making
salt and cutting mangroves to sell them as charcoal and firewood. But this
all changed when the Bojo River cruise was launched in 2009.
During
the boat ride, guests are treated to an enjoyable tale of the history of the
site, and legends of mythical fairies that once resided in stones and caves in
the mountains that engulf the river. Tour guides also name with ease the 24
varieties of mangroves, including their scientific names.
“This
was the result of the community coming together in order to make something
better of what they already had and to make something better of their lives.
Dinhi mismo sa Aloguinsan, we have a jewel in our midst. Let us treasure this,”
Garcia said.
Open to all
Moreno
said that since August, local tourists have been slowly coming back to the
town, but they had to refuse them entry because this was still not allowed by
the Province.
At
the time, Cebu province has only opened tourism activities in Moalboal, Oslob
and Barili and later on Cordova, Camotes Group of Islands, and Bantayan Island.
“From this day forward, di na ta mubalibad. We will now welcome them with open
arms,” Garcia said.
Since
the issuance of Executive Order 20-A which laid down the Province’s
tourism-related protocols, more and more tourism spots in Cebu have been
re-opened.
For
the 43-members of the Bojo Aloguinsan EcoTourism Association (Baetas), it was a
day of jubilation and gratitude as this signaled the revival of their
livelihood. Tour guides earn an average of P200 to P300 a day prior to the
pandemic. During peak season, they earn as much as P600 a
day. “Nagpasalamat gyud mi pag-ayo kang Gov sa pagbalik sa river cruise,”
said 48-year-old widow Marivic Arcaya.
When
the tourism industry was put to a halt at the onset of the pandemic, Arcaya, a
mother of four, resorted to planting vegetables in their backyard for her
family’s subsistence.
Baetas
President Rudney Carcuevas said when the lockdown was implemented in March,
they distributed one sack of rice to each of their members. They also
encouraged them to find ways to survive as their organization did not have
enough funds to support them.
For
eight months, members went back to fishing and sold vegetables and other goods
to survive. “Nalipay na lang sad mi bisag di daghan ang guests, (basta) naa
siya makita namo nga income,” Carcuevas said.
Because
restrictions on carrying capacity is only 50 percent, the river cruise can only
accommodate 30 to 40 guests a day or a drop from their previous average of 70
persons. Entrance fee to the river cruise remains at P20.
Guests
can book their tour to the Bojo River Cruise, Hermit’s Cove and other tourist
accommodations in Aloguinsan through discover.cebu.gov.ph.
Last
month, Garcia said local tourists should not be given a hard
time by requiring them with many documentary travel requirements and even
announced that there are no age restrictions for Cebuanos who wish to visit
renowned tourist spots in the province.
Garcia also announced the formal re-opening of tourism in the charming and breath-taking Bantayan Island, considered as the “Paradise of the North.”
She said guests are required to present their confirmed booking at hotels and resorts upon embarking at the ports. These confirmed bookings will also serve as requirement for the purchase of the two-way boat ticket in going to the island tourism sites.
Garcia said every Cebuano, regardless of their age, can visit any tourism sites in Cebu since the province is already under Modified General Community Quarantine.
She underscored that reopening tourism is a priority as millions of Cebuanos whose income and livelihood were lost have been suffering since the start of the lockdown in March.
“I don’t think anyone can accuse me now that I am making light of Covid-19. Because I have suffered through Covid-19 and I continue to suffer because I have lost two brothers. And I continue to suffer as governor when I see the suffering of the Cebuanos precisely because of these restrictions that have been imposed for Covid-19. Apan nia ko, to tell you and to sound the clarion call that Bantayan Island and the municipalities of Sta. Fe, Bantayan and Madridejos are open for the tourism business,” Garcia said.
Last month,
the islands in Cebu and the Visayas have been named Top Island in Asia, leading
three other Philippine islands in the Top 10 of the Condé Nast Traveler's (CNT)
2020 Readers' Choice Awards.
CNTraveler is
a luxury and lifestyle travel magazine published by Condé Nast. The magazine
invited 600,000 travelers to vote online for the Top Islands in six areas such
as Asia, Australia and the South Pacific, the Caribbean and the Atlantic,
Africa and the Indian Ocean, Europe, and North America. (Vanessa L. Almeda)
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