PHILIPPINES: Tourism Road Projects In Panay Island Underway

At least P464.57 million worth of road projects leading to tourism destinations in Panay Island are underway.

Engr. Wenceslao Leano Jr., acting Regional Director of the Department of Public Works and Highways in Western Visayas (DPWH-6), said these tourism infrastructure projects are currently being constructed in Aklan, Antique and Capiz provinces.

Many of the infrastructure projects specifically involve upgrading of roads leading to world-famous Boracay Island in the town of Malay, in Aklan.

Such projects, for instance, include the P138.27- million widening of the Kalibo-Nabas section of the Aklan West Road in Tangalan municipality. There is likewise the construction of the P78- million Kalibo Cimcumferential Road. These are two major roads from the capital town of Kalibo to Malay, where geographically, Boracay Island is located.

Leano said DPWH-6 is also widening major road networks in Capiz province, which altogether, comprise of major road arteries serving travelers in Iloilo province bound for Boracay and Capiz’s provincial capital, Roxas City. The latter is also dubbed the Philippines’ “Seafood Capital.”

The road infrastructure projects in Capiz include the P89.35-million widening of the Dao-Sigma road section and the P79-million widening of the Cuartero road section, both of which belong to the new Iloilo-Capiz Road network.

In Antique province, the DPWH-6 is upgrading the Sitio Apong Road in Simbalom town, a construction project which costs about P80 million. This road leads to such tourist spots as the Sibalom Natural Park, where mountain climbing aficionados can trek up the mountains and where one may also find a virtual world wonder, the giant floral specie known as Rafflesia speciosa.

The road tourism infrastructure projects on Panay Island are part of the Convergence on Tourism Infrastructure Program jointly implemented by the regional offices of the DPWH and the Department of Tourism since 2012.

What is needed in panay island is the expressway in Y configuration to maximize the tourism potential of the island and the travel of goods and commerce will be accelerated. If in northern Luzon they have the TPLEX, why panay could not be since the potential is great compared to the TPLEX in the long run especially when it comes to tourism.