Tourists traveling to the northern part of Cebu can now enjoy the convenience of the first ever completed Department of Tourism (DOT) tourist rest area (TRA) in the Philippines.
Visitors on a road trip traversing the town of Medellin can now enjoy the facility with Filipino-inspired interior and furnitures for free.
Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco was in Cebu to inaugurate the facility, along with the DOT officials, and turned it over to the Municipality of Medellin.
She was welcomed by Cebu Gov. Gwen Garcia, local mayors, congressmen, board members, the members of the Consular Corps in Cebu and various business groups and tourism stakeholders who expressed their support to her leadership as the country’s tourism chief and her #LoveThePhilippines campaign.
The facility is equipped with a charging station, comfortable couch, toilets, shower area and features local products for pasalubong (souvenirs) crafted by local Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
Secretary Frasco announced that 15 more TRAs will be added to the DOT's initial roster of 10 TRAs.
Gov. Gwen said the Capitol will match the number of TRAs the DOT will put up in Cebu, with the first to be constructed in Bogo City.
The DOT broke ground for four TRAs in Cebu last year, with the other three located in Carmen, Carcar City, and Moalboal. | with Niña Tricia Caritan, CNU Broadcast Journalism Intern